News and events
News and events
Other College events for alumni are listed on the Development Office website.
Downing College Photographic Competition 2026
Sponsored by the Downing College Alumni Association
Theme: "Sports, Games and Pastimes"
Downing is a community which stretches well beyond the academic achievement at its heart and for which it is known. With their focus on wider activities for students, the Master and fellowship are encouraging students’ wellbeing through activities, from sport to music and theatre to art. Downing’s facilities and dedicated participants - from DCBC in rowing, to the choir, to student writing in The Leaves, to the Howard Theatre and The Heong Gallery - are second to none.
This year’s photo competition aims to capture the Downing Community in all its varied activity beyond the academic, to highlight the many and various activities in which members of the college participate. Downing has many clubs and societies, ranging from music and drama to sport and the arts to chess and board games, as well as subject-based societies, but you might equally wish to capture more informal pursuits: enjoying the sun on the paddock in a stolen moment, for example.
Find out more about the rules and eligibility requirements.
Entires must be submitted to downingcompetition@gmail.com no later than midnight on Sunday 21 June 2026.
The prize photos of 2025
1st Prize
One night during residential by Alexander Bolshakov
2nd Prize
Frosted by Jia Yi Lee
3rd Prize
Aurora's Dance over Downing by Dylan Holbrook
Hopeful by Jonathan Chu
Highly Commended
Fantastic Professor Fox by Imgoen Knight
Peripatetic Pedagogy by Andrea Rubbi
A night from a wishboard by Alexander Bolshakov
Irreverant Crow by Andrea Rubbi
Pensive by Jonathan Chu
Commended
Pillars Galore by Bryan Abi Karam
Downing's old cedar now a sculptured shelter for webs and memories by Navaroshini Bala Muraly
Secret Meeting by Tharini Ravindra Kumar
Howard Court in September by Alexander Bolshakov
Downing's Eden by Navaroshini Bala Muraly
Leadership Panel event
Leadership is often portrayed as the work of someone (usually a man) who, born with rare skills, makes inspired decisions that direct a country or a company. But anyone who’s ever tried to arrange an evening with more than one other person has experienced life as a leader. Between those extremes, how can we all lead successfully?
On November 20th, around 30 current leaders of Downing’s sports clubs and societies attended a panel discussion addressing this question. The panellists, former Downing student leaders who have gone on to lead in the commercial and charitable sectors, shared what they’d learned about leadership while at Downing, what they wished they’d known and how their understanding of leadership had grown in their careers.
The Downing Alumni Association thanks the panel, Carrie Sage (1983), Lydia Donaldson (2010) and Robert Macleod (1983), the panel’s Chair, Chris West (1987), the organiser, Sadie Hubbard (1983) and are very grateful to current Captain of Boats, Katy, for initiating the event and co-ordinating the evening within College.
The event will be the first of many where the current body is able to question and learn from returning Alumni.
On this occasion, enthusiastic engagement from the student leaders led to a most inspired (and very Downing) view of leadership - and how it relates to benzene.
If you would like to contribute your skills and experience on a future panel discussion, please contact Downing College Alumni Association at association@dow.cam.ac.uk
"It was such an inspiring event! It was brilliant to see how we can go on from Downing to achieve big things. The panel gave us plenty to think about in terms of applying the skills we build during our time at College".
Ethan, 3rd year undergraduate studying Chemical Engineering
“It was a real pleasure to speak with the students from Downing. Thinking about your leadership style and how to get the best out of a team is important while at University, but essential in the workplace. Hopefully this session helped them to prepare for their next stage - something that would have helped me all those years ago”.
Robert Macleod (1983) - Chemical Engineering Graduate
Downing Gifts
Support the work of the Alumni Association by purchasing a special Downing gift. All profits from the sale of merchandise are donated to the Association's Alumni Student Fund, providing grants to Downing students facing financial hardship.