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Join us for an unforgettable evening of Persian classical music, presented by the Nahoft Ensemble. This concert beautifully combines the rich traditions of Persian music with the elegance of Western classical instruments, creating a unique and inspiring experience for all music lovers.

More fires, taking hold over more months of the year, are causing more carbon to be released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

Fires on peatlands, which are carbon-rich, can almost double global fire-driven carbon emissions. Researchers found that despite accounting for only a quarter of the total UK land area that burns each year, dwarfed by moor and heathland, wildfires that burn peat have caused up to 90% of annual UK fire-driven carbon emissions since 2001 – with emissions spikes in particularly dry years.

Peat only burns when it’s hot and dry enough - conditions that are occurring more often with climate change. The peatlands of Saddleworth Moor in the Peak District, and Flow Country in northern Scotland, have both been affected by huge wildfires in recent years.

Unlike heather moorland which takes up to twenty years to regrow after a fire, burnt peat can take centuries to reaccumulate. The loss of this valuable carbon store makes the increasing wildfire frequency on peatlands a real cause for concern. 

The researchers also calculated that carbon emissions from fires on UK peatland are likely to rise by at least 60% if the planet warms by 2oC. 

The findings, which are broadly relevant to peatlands in temperate climates, are published today in the journal 'Environmental Research Letters'.

“We found that peatland fires are responsible for a disproportionately large amount of the carbon emissions caused by UK wildfires, which we project will increase even more with climate change,” said Dr Adam Pellegrini in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Plant Sciences, senior author of the study.

He added: “Peatland reaccumulates lost carbon so slowly as it recovers after a wildfire that this process is limited for climate change mitigation. We need to focus on preventing that peat from burning in the first place, by re-wetting peatlands.”

"We found that in dry years, peatland wildfires were able to burn into the peat and release significant quantities of carbon into the atmosphere. In particularly dry years this contributed up to 90% of the total wildfire-driven carbon emissions from the UK," said Dr Sarah Baker, lead author of the study which she conducted while at the University of Cambridge. Baker is now based at the University of Exeter.

The researchers found that the UK’s ‘fire season’ - when fires occur on natural land - has lengthened dramatically since 2011, from between one and four months in the years 2011-2016 to between six and nine months in the years 2017-2021. The change is particularly marked in Scotland, where almost half of all UK fires occur.

Nine percent of the UK is covered by peatland, which in a healthy condition removes over three million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere per year. 

The researchers estimate 800,000 tonnes of carbon were emitted from fires on UK peatlands between 2001 and 2021. The 2018 Saddleworth Moor fire emitted 24,000 tonnes of carbon, and the 2019 Flow Country fire emitted 96,000 tonnes of carbon from burning peat.

To get their results, the researchers mapped all UK wildfires over a period of 20 years – assessing where they burn, whether peat burned, how much carbon they emit, and how climate change is affecting fires. This involved combining data on fire locations, vegetation type and carbon content, soil moisture, and peat depth. Using UK Met Office model outputs, the team also used simulated climate conditions to project how wildfires in the UK could change in the future.

The study only considered land where wildfires have occurred in the past, and did not consider the future increases in burned area that are likely to occur with hotter, drier UK summers.

An average of 5,600 hectares of moor and heathland burns across the UK each year, compared to 2,500 hectares of peatland.

“Buffering the UK’s peatlands against really hot, dry summers is a great way to reduce carbon emissions as part of our goal to reach net zero. Humans are capable of incredible things when we’re incentivised to do them,” said Pellegrini.

The research was funded by Wellcome, the Isaac Newton Trust and UKRI.

Reference: Baker, S.J. et al: ‘Spikes in UK wildfire emissions driven by peatland fires in dry years.’ February 2025, Environmental Research Letters. DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/adafc6.
 

A new study led by the University of Cambridge has revealed that as our springs and summers get hotter and drier, the UK wildfire season is being stretched and intensified.

Peatland fires are responsible for a disproportionately large amount of the carbon emissions caused by UK wildfires, which we project will increase even more with climate changeAdam PellegriniSarah BakerFire on UK moorland

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Applications are invited for a Maintenance Technician Apprentice at the Sainsbury Laboratory University of Cambridge (SLCU). SLCU is a plant research institute, based in the beautiful Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

You will become part of a small and friendly team, participating in routine activities and providing general technical assistance to the Institute. This is an opportunity to get hands-on experience, gain new skills and work alongside experienced colleagues.

What you will do

You will gain hands-on experience under the guidance of skilled technicians while completing an accredited qualification in electrical maintenance. The role-holder will be exposed to both simple and complex technical systems which will enhance their knowledge and understanding of complex-built environments.

You will also have regular weekly training towards a Level 3 Installation and Maintenance Electrician apprenticeship with West Suffolk College.

Main duties include:

• To support the maintenance and repair of electrical systems and other equipment across the site, ensuring safe, efficient, and effective operation of facilities

• To learn to perform planned and corrective maintenance activities on electrical, mechanical, and other building services where necessary and reasonably necessary

• To support fault diagnosis and repair of electrical equipment and systems

• To ensure compliance with electrical safety standards and regulations by applying their learning to real-time activities and scenarios

• To gain knowledge of relevant legislation, such as the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations)

• To assist the Facilities Supervisor as required

• Any other duties as required by the Facilities Supervisor, appropriate to skills, knowledge and grade

Manual handling and working at heights will be required, after full training has been given. You will need good basic IT skills, with some experience of Microsoft word, excel and outlook. You will also need to be a logical thinker, with good attention to detail. You must be educated to GCSE level or equivalent with a minimum of a grade C or level 4 in Maths, English and Science.

The Laboratory provides a welcoming and collaborative environment with a wide-range of family-friendly benefits and development opportunities. More about the Sainsbury Laboratory and details of what the University offers to employees, can be found at: http://www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/

Fixed-term: 4 years.

All applications are being managed by the training provider. To apply for this post, please use this link to access the National Apprenticeship Service site and follow the on-screen instructions on how to submit your application:

https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/VAC1000299064

Please quote reference PT45111 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

'Challenges in UK Foreign Policy' with Baroness Catherine Ashton LG GCMG, PC

The Cambridge University Indian Classical Music Society and Centre for Music Performance present an evening of enchanting music to welcome the spring, showcasing compositions and ragas that celebrate nature in many of its forms.

The Cambridge University Gamelan Society and its Director Rob Campion offer a 90-minute daytime community workshop for local families ahead of their concert in the evening.

The Cambridge University Samulnori Society, comprising of university students and Cambridge residents, perform dynamic, vibrant pieces on four different instruments, reflecting the cultural and historical spirit of Korea.

Prepare to be enchanted by a captivating evening of music featuring the renowned Cambridge Takht and the vibrant The Pomegranates.

Cambridge University Chamber Choir performs Shostakovich’s ‘Ten Poems on Texts by Revolutionary Poets’ and other choral works, conducted by Sarah Latto.

As part of the Shostakovich festival, a selection of Cambridge University’s finest pianists tackle Shostakovich’s 24 Preludes and Fugues for piano, each taking on a selection from this vast work, within Sidney Sussex College Chapel.

As part of the Shostakovich festival, ensembles from the Instrumental Awards for Chamber Music Scheme perform Shostakovich quartets and trios.

Lecture by Professor Sir John Aston, Kt FRS on his vision and plans for research activities at the University of Cambridge.

Cambridge guides' scariest storytellers take you to the darker byways of our city, where the spirits of the dead still hover ...

This exhibition, which will be inaugurated with a lecture by Professor Eamon Duffy, co-editor of a new annotated edition of Benson’s diary, illuminates Benson’s remarkable family background, the Edwardian literary scene in which he was a significant figure, and the academic world before, during and in the aftermath of the First World War.

The University’s student-run ensemble features students from a range of musical backgrounds, who will be sharing their love for Steel Pan and Caribbean Music in this informal concert setting.

Do you have experience of working in a busy office environment in role assisting various stakeholders? Are you an energetic highly motivated individual with excellent administrative and organisational skills? Can you make a positive contribution to our team?

The role holder will work as part of the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute Administrative team, as the main day-to-day admin contact for all Graduate matters. The role holder will be the first point of contact for general queries from current students and will provide assistance to the Institute Director and PhD Programme Director in all Graduate student matters, to ensure that all Graduate students at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute have a positive experience. The role holder will co-ordinate the admissions processes and course(s) support systems within the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute (CSCI) in order to provide an efficient admissions experience for prospective students, be a point of contact for current students and organise the course schedule and two annual student events.

This role will be based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements. This is a part time role of 21.9 hours per week or 0.6 FTE.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a health assessment and a standard Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

The closing date for applications is 6th March with interview date to be confirmed.

Informal enquiries about the post are also welcome via email to Danielle Daft, Research Manager, dmj34@cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference PS45171 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

The post King’s College and Founders at the University of Cambridge launch new SPARK incubator programme to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurs appeared first on Cambridge Enterprise.

A post-doctoral position funded by the BBSRC is available in the Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology working within the laboratory of Dr Paolo D'Avino, to undertake a research project investigating the regulation and function of the midbody by phosphorylation (see D'Avino and Capalbo, 2016, Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 53:57-63; Capalbo et al., 2019, Nature Communications, 10:4513; and Halcrow et al., 2022, Cells, 11:3337).

Candidates should have a PhD and a track record of success in molecular and cellular biology research. Significant experience in human cell culture, molecular biology, and microscopy is required. Experience in CRISPR gene editing and/or proteomics would be an advantage.

The ability to work both independently and as part of a team, coupled with excellent communication, organizational and problem-solving skills is required. Other duties/responsibilities include developing and driving research objectives and writing up work for presentation and publication. For more information about the laboratory please visit: https://www.path.cam.ac.uk/research/cellular-and-molecular-pathology-division/davino-group.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 30 November 2025 in the first instance.

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a health assessment.

Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

The deadline for applications is 9th March 2025. Interviews will take place in the last two weeks of March.

Informal queries should be directed to Dr Paolo D'Avino, ppd21@cam.ac.uk

General queries should be directed to Ellie Watson, ew649@path.cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference PK44968 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Cambridge Centre for Proteomics core facility is currently looking to recruit a Research Laboratory Technician to perform sample preparation from user samples.

The successful candidate will be required to perform routine proteomics sample preparation (run SDS-PAGE gels, in-gel digestion, solution digestion, protein/peptide estimations, and employ sample clean-up techniques). They will also need to collect and log samples, perform routine health and safety tasks, maintain equipment and order lab consumables. The role-holder will be an integral member of CCP and will need to interact closely with other members of CCP and internal and external users of the service to provide help and guidance with sample preparation.

The role holder will have first degree in biochemistry, biology, chemistry or a related subject.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Dr Mike Deery via: md289@cam.ac.uk

If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact the Biochemistry HR Team: personnel@bioc.cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference PH45160 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Applications are invited for a 3.5 year PhD studentship based within the MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge. The student will be working on a collaborative project jointly supervised by Anne E. Willis (MRC Toxicology Unit and Paul O'Mahoney (NIHR Health Protection Research Unit).

Human skin provides a barrier against the external environment and is therefore exposed to a variety of environmental insults. When skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight, both acute and long-term local responses are stimulated including, inflammation, epidermal hyperplasia, carcinogenesis and keratinocyte cell death. Many of the harmful effects of UV-light on skin have been attributed to DNA damage and the activation of DNA damage signalling pathways. More recently, however, it has become clear that UV-induced RNA damage also plays a major role in the acute response of skin to UV radiation [1,2]. UV-induced lesions within RNA cause stalling of translating ribosomes, which leads to activation of the ribotoxic stress response (RSR) [2, 3]. To date, the RSR has been implicated in acute cell cycle arrest, the inflammatory response, epidermal thickening and keratinocyte cell death [1-3]. However, a more complete understanding of RSR's role in the response of skin to UV, and the mechanisms through which this is achieved, remain to be determined.

There is evidence that many proteins involved in post-transcriptional control of gene expression are phosphorylated in cells exposed to UV-light in an RSR-dependent manner, suggesting that the UV RSR targets post-transcriptional gene expression. Thus, the goals of this project are to determine how post-transcriptional gene expression is influenced by the RSR when skin is exposed to UV-light and what effect these mechanisms have on the fate of skin cells. Cell-wide proteomic techniques will be used to highlight novel post-transcriptional targets of the RSR. The influence of these target proteins on post-transcriptional control will be investigated using RNA sequencing technologies. Finally, the biological impact of these targets will be explored in human primary keratinocytes and human ex-vivo skin cell models.

The overall aim of this project is to provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms and functional consequences of the response of skin to UV-light to help develop an informed approach to UV radiation risk management and health protection.

Applicants should have or shortly expect to obtain a first or good upper second-class degree from a UK university, or an equivalent standard from an overseas university, in a relevant subject such as Biomedical Science. Strong analytical skills, in addition to creativity, curiosity, enthusiasm, and the ability to work in a team are essential.

Full funding is provided by the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Radiation Threats and Hazards and the MRC Toxicology Unit. This includes Maintenance and the University Composition Fee (Home Fee rate only) with effect from 1 October 2025.

This studentship is open to UK citizens or overseas students who meet the UK residency requirements (home fees) or who are able to augment the funds to cover the extra costs associated with international student fees. Full details of the University's entrance requirements are specified here: http://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/application-process/entry-requirements.

All formal applications will need to be made through the University Application Portal: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/bltopdtox

If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact hradmin@mrc-tox.cam.ac.uk

Further information can be found on our website: https://www.mrc-tox.cam.ac.uk

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.