Forward Together: 50 years of women at Sidney

Over the coming academic year, we will be celebrating 50 years of gender inclusive education at Sidney and placing a spotlight on members of our community who have used their Sidney foundation to create all manners of change worldwide.

We began with the launch on 18 June which marked exactly 50 years since the election of the first female Fellow, Dr Lynne Brydon. Thereafter, there are events and initiatives in the pipeline from oral histories to art installations, to a thought-leadership speaker series.

The flagship event on 14 and 15 February will be a weekend of great content, opportunities to reconnect with the wider community, and celebration of the best Sidney has to offer. This is purposely timed to honour Lady Frances Sidney and the 430th anniversary of our Foundress' Day.

One of the most enduring and meaningful outcomes of this celebration is the creation of the Sandra Dawson Fellowship, which will be supported through philanthropic contributions. This Fellowship honours the remarkable achievements of Professor Dame Sandra Dawson - the first female Master of Sidney Sussex and the first woman to lead a formerly all-male Cambridge College. For countless alumni, Sandra has been a source of inspiration and encouragement, both during their time at Sidney and beyond. The Fellowship will nurture emerging academic talent and advance the College’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion: reflecting Sandra’s lifelong passions and professional legacy.

‘Forward Together’ will also provide an opportunity to review our approach to gender, to create a legacy that continues to empower women in all walks of life, and to ensure our wider inclusive approach is visible in everything we do and say. The specific nature of the legacy has yet to be finalised, and we are eager to hear your suggestions: for example establishing meritocratic and proportionate goals for recruitment and retention of female students, academics, and professional staff; increasing representation of Sidney women undertaking research, teaching, and pastoral care; and more female donors effecting lasting change at Sidney establishing career development programmes for female PhDs and postdocs and early career scholars from other currently underrepresented groups.

While we are proud of our history, we recognise the importance of presenting our story honestly (warts and all). Sidney has seen great achievements on its journey to gender inclusivity, but we have a long way to go, and we know we haven't always succeeded: there will be stories of setback, personal obstacles and disappointment. As we look to the future, we will learn from our past and challenge ourselves to create an equitable and united future. So, whatever your Sidney story, good or bad, we want to hear from you communications@sid.cam.ac.uk.

It is such an exciting time to be part of the Sidney community. Please get in touch with ideas for change or suggestions for events and activities during this year of celebration.

Professor Mette Eilstrup-Sangiovanni, ‘Forward Together’ Chair
communications@sid.cam.ac.uk