Travel Funds and Academic-Related Awards

With the support of the Melandra Castle Fund, Ashita was able to cover the costs of travel to Delhi where she conducted research for her DPhil project on feminist engagement with rape law reform in India. She was able to access the National archives of Delhi as well as visit the National Commission for Women in Delhi where she made valuable contacts and read important reports which informed her DPhil work. Whilst in Delhi, Ashita had the opportunity to meet scholars and activists of the Indian feminist movement in the 1990s, which led her to discover even more helpful resources. 

"I am extremely grateful to have been jointly awarded the Melandra Castle Travel Prize. It provided me with the opportunity to access primary resources essential for my research and I hope through this work I am able to present a comprehensive analytical framework that can contribute to future discussions on sexual assault in feminist discourse and rape law reform in India," shares Ashita. 

Read Ashita's full report here.

Freddie travelled to six cities in China with the help of the Stanley Ho Travel Fund, visiting historical sites from the Summer Palace to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square as well as places of natural beauty such as Kunming Lake, the panda sanctuary in Chengdu and Qingcheng Mountain. 

Freddie describes his trip to China as "transformative," adding that "the country’s landscapes, from majestic mountains to modern cityscapes, were extraordinary. I was continually impressed by the warmth and hospitality of the people, who were always eager to help or share a story. Each city had something unique to offer, making my journey a mosaic of unforgettable experiences."

Read Freddie's full report here. 

With the support of the Alan Jones Travel Fund, Katie spent some time in Morocco where she took language lessons in Arabic, focusing on advanced literary translation from English to Arabic. Whilst in Morocco, she lived with host families who spoke French, Moroccan Arabic, and Modern Standard Arabic, giving her the opportunity to practice her speaking skills in those languages. In Marrakech, Kate experienced cultural celebrations for Eid al-Arash, the anniversary of the King's accession to the throne and from there drove to Agafay Desert and the Ouzoud Waterfalls where she witnessed Morocco's natural beauty. 

Katie shares that "this trip was an unforgettable experience that allowed me to practice my language skills in real-life contexts, connect deeply with Moroccan culture, and make lasting memories. I’m very grateful to Pembroke College for making this possible."

Read Katie's full report here. 

Having been awarded the Arthur Felix Broomfield Prize, Katrin spent part of her summer in Florence where she could contextualise her studies, focusing on the city's history between 1450-1530. With a keen interest on Florence's architecture, Katrin visited the Catherdal of Sana Maria del Fiore and the Palazzo Vecchio. She also visited the Uffizi Gallery where she saw masterpieces by Botticelli and Artemisia Gentileschi. 

"I focused my trip on visiting the Uffizi Gallery, as well as the churches and convents in the surrounding locality, in order to immerse myself into the cultural and geographic context of the sources I would be studying this year," shares Katrin. 

Read Katrin's full report here. 

Marigold was able to spend over a month in mainland China, where she visited thirteen cities and towns across ten different provinces and municipalities, with the support of the Stanley Ho Travel Funding. Her trip allowed her to compare the culture and lifestyle in China to that in Taiwan where she spent her year abroad for her degree in Chinese. Whilst in China, Marigold visited several sites of historical interest, including the Nanjing Massacre Museum and the site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China as well as areas of natural beauty in Guillin city, Yangshuo, Longsheng, and Zhangjiajie. 

"This trip allowed me to see China from so many different perspectives, from its ancient capitals and huge municipalities to natural magnificence," shares Marigold. "The funding allowed me to engage with China on a scale I had not thought possible, and experience more than I could ever have alone."

Read Marigold's full report here. 

As part of her Thesis research, Marysia travelled to Andalusia in southern Spain with the support of the Patrick Higgins Travelling Scholarship in Theology to investigate the multicultural society created by the Moors in Medieval Spain. During her trip, Marysia conducted research in monastery libraries, using the Arabic she studied in first year and visited both the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba and Medina Azahara. Marysia also had the opportunity to visit Seville where she saw the Alcazar of Seville. 

Marysia's trip to Andalusia "traced Cordoba's multicultural history from its Roman ruins to the Moorish architecture, and its later churches and Christian palaces."

Read Marysia's full report here.

As part of a travel course for her Biology degree, Maya travelled to Borneo to study tropical forest ecology with the support of the George Bredin Travel Fund. Maya and her course mates stayed at the Danum Valley Field Station in Sabah, one of Southeast Asia's most significant areas of lowland forest, to aid in data collection and visit sites of ongoing research projects. During the trip, Maya carried out her own research project on the relationship between insectivory and herbivory. In between data collection, lectures, and research, there was plenty of time for swimming, walks and bird watching. 

"The field course to Borneo was an immensely productive and gratifying experience which has truly enriched my understanding of tropical forest ecology," shares Maya. "The research I was able to undertake while there was a fascinating experience, and the practical research skills I learnt are invaluable."

Read Maya's full report here. 

Amelia spent two months in Oman with the support of the Alan Jones Travel Grant. She studied Arabic at the Sultan Qaboos College for Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers in Manah, a programme which brought together students from all over the world. At weekends, Amelia travelled around the country, visiting the souq in Nizwa, the forts nearby, and the mountains of Jabal Akhadar and Jabal Shams. She went swimming in wadis, spent time with Bedouin families, and learnt about Omani history and traditions. 

"What made the trip so memorable was the kindness and hospitality of everyone I met. Whether chatting in Arabic after class or sharing a meal with friends, I always felt welcomed and included. This experience helped me grow in confidence with the language and gave me a much deeper understanding of Omani culture. I am very grateful to Pembroke for giving me the opportunity to take part in such a unique and enriching experience."

You can read Amelia's full travel report here. 

Thanks to the George Bredin Travel Fund, Amelia spent the summer vacation working as a research intern at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), based in Nairobi, Kenya. During her time at the lab, Amelia worked in both the tissue culture and molecular labs, learning essential techniques in in-vitro propagation and maintenance as well as core molecular techniques. 

"Beyond the scientific training, the internship was deeply meaningful because of the people I worked with," shared Amelia. "The lunch breaks were my highlight as everyone in the lab would sit and talk and share different dishes they had cooked at home. There is nothing better than a homemade chapati for lunch." 

You can read Amelia's full travel report here. 

With the support of the Robert Baldick Memorial Scholarship, Avin spent five days in Paris conducting archival research for her dissertation. She made good use of the Archives Nationales, researching how the Institut Kurde de Paris used exhibitions and cultural programming as tools of visibility and diplomacy. Avin also visited the Kurdish Regional Government of Iraq's French Embassy, the Centre Culturel Algérien Paris and the Institut Kurde de Paris. Avin took the opportunity to explore the city's cultural life and exhibitions, including Paris Noir at the Centre Pompidou and La Joie Collective at the Palai de Tokyo. 

"This trip was foundational to the archival spine of my dissertation, but also allowed me to situate my work within a wider sensory, intellectual, and emotional landscape. I return to Oxford with a camera roll full of documents, exhibition leaflets, and notes - but more importantly, a renewed clarity of purpose."

You can read Avin's full travel report here. 

Thanks to the generous support of the Sandrew Grant, Benoit spent ten days travelling and researching in the United States. The trip facilitated key archival research for his MPhil thesis which explores the experiences of interracial couples, mixed-race children and multi-racial families in the US during the second half of the twentieth century. 

Benoit was able to visit Harvard University Law School's Special Collections and the Alain Locke Gallery of African and African American Art in Cambridge, Massachussetts. He also spent time in New York, making the most of the New York Public Library's resources and visiting exhibitions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. 

"It was amazing to visit the US and I am especially grateful to receive the support of the Sandrew Grant which not only facilitated key research but also allowed me to further engage with American culture and history."

You can read Benoit's full travel report here. 

Cecilia travelled to Cologne in Germany to carry out research on the role of Islam and pluralism in contemporary German society, with the support of the Patrick Higgins Travel Grant. She visited the Cologne Central Mosque and Cologne Cathedral as well as the University of Cologne as part of her research. 

"Information gained from this trip was deeply relevant to both exam-based and coursework-based papers of degree, and allowed me to partake in discussions which I had, up until now, only read about in academic scholarship. The timing of my travels, during Ramadan and right after the elections, was an especially important and illuminating moment to visit, and I am very grateful for the generosity of Pembroke and the Patrick Higgins travel grant." 

You can read Cecilia's full travel report here. 

Having received the Melandra Castle Travel Prize, Clemens travelled to Grenoble in France, where he attended the Conference of European Emotion Research. There he presented results from his DPhil project, which investigates how emotion processing develops across childhood and adolescence. Whilst in Grenoble, he explored various neighbourhoods and tried the local cuisine. 

"I am sincerely grateful to the Melandra Castle Travel Prize for making this experience possible," shared Clemens. "The conference allowed me to share my research, connect with leading scholars, and gain valuable insights, while also giving me the chance to explore Grenoble."

You can read Clemens' full travel report here.