Alumni News

Image of the front of the Sedgwick Museum entrance with bikes parked outside

Alumni News

14/10/2025

Dr Peter Friend

We are very sad to announce that Dr Peter Friend passed away on Thursday 9th October. Peter spent his whole career in the Earth Sciences Department and was a very prominent sedimentology researcher, lecturer and field-trip leader. He was known and well liked by many students over the years and therefore remembered very fondly by many of our alumni. He ran the Friends of the Sedgwick Museum for many years. 

You can read the full obituary, written by Nigel Woodcock, here.

We have opened the Peter Friend Fieldwork Fund Appeal for alumni wishing to remember Peter's legacy of kindness, generosity and his passion for field teaching,

18/03/2025

Professor Richard Fortey, OBE FRS

We are deeply saddened by the recent passing of Professor Richard Fortey OBE FRS.

Richard Fortey was a well-known palaeontologist with a specific interest in trilobites (an extinct group of arthropods). He worked at the Natural History Museum in London and had a talent for science communication, publishing nine books and appearing in many television and radio programmes. His academic journey began here in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Cambridge where he completed his undergraduate degree and PhD. His PhD research on trilobites was supervised by Professor Harry Whittington and he ‘lived in the Sedgwick Museum for nearly 3 years, happy as Larry.’

Richard Fortey will be greatly missed and he will be remembered for his substantial contributions to Earth Sciences.

25/02/2025

Professor Ekhard Salje, FRS

It is with immense sadness that we share the news that Professor Ekhard Salje passed away peacefully yesterday. He had suffered from a prolonged illness for some time. We will all miss Ekhard dreadfully. He was not only an eminent and great scientist and a former Head of Department, but also our dear friend and colleague.

You can read the obituary written by Michael Carpenter, a colleague of Ekhard's for 40 years, here. 

09/01/2025

Mr Jim Webb

We are sad to share the news of the passing of Jim Webb, who was the Department Accountant for many years. Jim passed away after a battle with cancer, in December 2024. Even after his retirement he remained in touch with the Department, making regular contributions to support the students and staff in their endeavours.

21/05/2024

Dr Alan J Wells

It is with sadness that we share the news of the passing of Alan James Wells. You can read the full obituary, compiled by Alan's daughter-in-law, Caroline Wells, here.

07/02/2024

Professor Aral Okay

It is with sadness that we share the news of the passing of Professor Aral Okay. A PhD student in the Department during the 1970s, his initial papers established him as a world-class petrologist and brought the geology of Turkey to the attention of the international community. You can read more about Professor Okay's life and research on the memorial here.