Research

Dr Ann Duncan was an Oxford Graduate who taught at Exeter University until she came to Newnham in 1970 as Director of Studies in Modern Languages where she remained until her death in 1989, aged only 48. She was a modernist working in nineteenth and twentieth century French studies as well as on contemporary Latin-American literature. She earned her Cambridge doctorate from her publications, not by thesis.

She was a stimulating and demanding teacher, with a lively sense of humour; never satisfied with easy answers, pompous authoritarianism or received wisdom. Despite being a paraplegic from the age of thirteen she travelled widely, never allowing her disability to limit either her freedom of movement or her independence.

The Ann Duncan Memorial Fund was set up immediately after her death with donations from her family, her students and friends. In making grants from the fund the awarders try to choose those projects which they feel would have interested Ann.

Applications are invited for a number of small grants to be awarded for foreign travel during Summer 2011 to junior members of the University currently studying for the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos or a research degree in modern languages, particularly those with special interest in contemporary French or Latin-American studies.

 

Consideration will also be given to applicants who read Part I of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos and are now studying aspects of French or Latin-American society for another Tripos or postgraduate qualification.

 

Enhanced grants may be available for students with special difficulties of mobility.

 

The awards are not intended to fund the MML year abroad, nor are they intended for language courses.   In recent years awards have gone mainly to those whose travel plans have a distinctive social or intellectual purpose.

Applications must be made on-line at https://app.casc.cam.ac.uk/fas_live/duncan.aspx , no later than 13 May 2011.

The application will comprise:

Once the application has been completed two emails will be sent to the named Director of Studies or Supervisor requesting a letter of support for the applicant. It is recommended that applicants pre-warn the person providing their letter of support that a request will be forthcoming.
 

Any queries should be directed to  the Principal's Secretary, Newnham College, Cambridge CB3 9DF, (email: cb560@cam.ac.uk).