Announcing the new Medwards Photography Competition — Win £100!

Murray Edwards College is delighted to launch the Medwards Photography Competition - an invitation for students to capture the character, creativity and community that define our College. Under the theme “The Spirit of Medwards – College and Community,” the competition celebrates the moments, both large and small, that shape daily life here, from the friendships that sustain us to the spaces that inspire us. With a £100 cash prize and the chance for your work to be showcased, this is an opportunity to help shape how the College sees itself and is seen by others.

We warmly invite all students, regardless of experience, to pick up a camera or phone and share their vision of what makes Medwards extraordinary.

Upload your competition entry here

Our judging panel includes Professorial Fellow in Oceanography Professor Michael Meredith, whose award-winning field photography (pictured here) has helped bring the remote landscapes of Antarctica to global audiences. His reflections remind us of the power of images not only to document, but to communicate emotion, identity and place—an ethos at the heart of this competition.

Michael emphasises the power of photography to communicate Antarctica’s vastness, beauty and vulnerability. Although not a professional photographer, his fieldwork with the British Antarctic Survey has taken him to extraordinary places, and his images, recognised by the Royal Society, the British Geophysical Association and major media outlets, help bring the continent’s “last true wilderness” to wider audiences.

Michael says:

“Antarctica is one of the most visually striking places on the planet.  It is a real challenge to capture the scale and emotional impact of the place with a simple two-dimensional picture, yet such imagery is vital in terms of conveying the beauty and fragility of the place, and making people care about its future.  The British Antarctic Survey places great emphasis on photography and videography as part of its work, both for scientific and communications purposes, and participants in fieldwork are encouraged to try their hand at acquiring dramatic and engaging content.

I’m not an expert photographer - I know many who are much more skilled than me - but I’m lucky enough to visit amazing places, and I always take a camera or a phone when I go. Shots I’ve taken have won awards and commendations from organisations such as the Royal Society and the British Geophysical Association, and have featured across diverse media such as the BBC and the Guardian. As well as preserving memories of incredible journeys, they also help others share in the experience, and help us convey the impact of the last true wilderness.”

Professor Michael Meredith is Professorial Fellow in Oceanography, Murray Edwards College, an oceanographer at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in Cambridge, and Joint Director of the UK National Climate Science Partnership.

Senior Tutor, Dr Victoria Harvey is also a judge on the panel and says:

“This competition is a wonderful opportunity for students to reflect on what makes Murray Edwards such a distinctive and creative community. Your images allow us to see College through your eyes and to celebrate the everyday moments, relationships and spaces that give Medwards its unique spirit. I encourage all students, regardless of experience, to take part. Your images will help shape how we understand and share the life of our College, and I cannot wait to see the stories you choose to tell.”

You can upload your competition entry to this google folder. Entries must be clearly labelled with a title and your name. Closing date is 15 January 2026. All students entering the competition agree that any photographs submitted may be reused by the college and appear in public communications - credit will be given to the creator. Only Murray Edwards students are eligible to enter the competition.