12. MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development, 19 July 2023

21 year Celebration and Alumni Dinner at Queens’ College, University of Cambridge

The Water Conservation Trust has been funding a bursary for students on this course for the past ten years; as Master I was honoured to be invited to attend the celebration dinner in the impressive Tudor surroundings of Queens’ College.  It was a great opportunity to meet past and current students who have benefitted from this bursary.

I met Ishwar Gurung whom the Trust currently supports.  He was a Gurkha and now lives in Ipswich with his young family.  He completed his first degree part-time whilst working in the British Armed Forces.  During his time with the Army he was involved in a project helping villagers to procure and purify canal water.  He is investigating how water services can be delivered in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way that is beneficial to the economy and to social development.

I was delighted to meet Professor Richard Fenner who has been liaising with the Water Conservation Trust on behalf of the course for many years.  I was also pleased to meet the Course Director Dai Morgan, Madeline Woodruff and other colleagues.  My thanks to the staff and students for a most enjoyable and interesting evening.

Before the dinner we did what all visitors to Cambridge do - we took a punt on the river.  After the Doggett’s race on the Thames, this was extremely gentle.



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