Sandi Toksvig, OBE the award-winning author, broadcaster, entertainer and founder of the Women’s Equality Party, is elected a Bye Fellow of Christ’s College, Cambridge.
She is also awarded the first Qantabrigian Q+ Fellowship by the LGBTQ+ research programme in the Department of Sociology whose founding Director is Christ’s Fellow Professor Sarah Franklin.
The Q+ Fellowship enables distinguished Cambridge LGBTQ+ alumni to spend time in Cambridge to conduct a research project or incubate a new idea.
During her time at Cambridge Sandi will develop ‘The Mappa Mundi Project’, a digital resource documenting women’s position, achievements and struggles across the globe.
Working in partnership with Women of the World (WOW) of which she was a founding committee member, Sandi will convene a series of events, workshops and meetings to promote and progress the initiative with Cambridge academic staff, students and support services.
Sandi said:
“I’m delighted to be returning to my old stomping ground of Cambridge to lead such an innovative project.
The Mappa Mundi Project will be a three-dimensional, world-changing, interactive view of the globe from a female perspective, with the goal of changing the world by learning to see it differently.
It will be story-led, data driven and allow women from all countries to present their stories, their hardships, and their triumphs.”
Professor Sarah Franklin said:
“The Q+ Fellowship is dedicated to recognising the many extraordinary achievements of Cambridge’s LGBTQ+ alumni over many centuries and across the globe.
It also aims to show that building partnerships through research engaging ever more inclusive audiences is an important way we can fulfil the University’s core mission.
I cannot think of a more inspiring individual to launch both these exciting new initiatives than the brilliant Sandi Toksvig.”
Simon Lord McDonald of Salford, Master of Christ’s College, said:
“Sandi Toksvig’s Q+ Fellowship comes at a vital time for both the College and the University communities as we continue to redefine learning, education and knowledge in the digital age.
Thinking creatively about how we build publicly engaged and inclusive college communities is essential to the delivery of world-leading teaching and research, as well as excellence in education and scholarship.”
Read more about lgbtQ+@cam.