Punt of order

Few will forget the stunts of Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey during the 2024 general election campaign, from falling off paddleboards to whizzing down waterslides. More than a year on, the fun has certainly not gone away. On Saturday, the politician met with local councillors to discuss repairs to the River Cam’s crumbling locks. Later that day, Davey, sporting a straw hat, shared an Instagram snap of himself punting on the Cam, captioned: “Do you want to save our rivers and wildlife? Take a punt, join us today!” For once, Davey managed to stay afloat.

No sign of magic

Cambridge City Council has refused permission for the House of Wizard on Market Hill to keep its hanging sign, ruling that it causes “visual harm” to the Grade I Listed building and local conservation area. The council referenced the sign’s large bracket and the lack of public benefit to the owners’ proposals. The wizard-themed gift shop had also sought approval to install “cool white LED” lights, but planning officers said this would be “inappropriate” on the historic frontage. In planning documents, the owners of the House of Wizard argued that the designs had minimal impact on the “physical fabric of the building”. Last year, Popeyes on Market Hill faced a similar ruling after installing unauthorised signage.

A wall lot cooler

Hauwa Busari, a Cambridge MPhil student in Architecture and Urban Studies, has developed sustainable wall panels filled with spirulina, a blue-green algae, to cool buildings. The Mastercard Foundation Scholar from Nigeria explained: “The algae panel acts as a thermal shade against the sun keeping the building cooler.” The panels could reduce interior temperatures by 8-10°C without air conditioning, whilst absorbing CO2 and filtering air. Busari’s panels are reportedly easy to fit and could be used in shelters for displaced people. Her idea won the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund Competition, with runners-up proposing solar-powered classrooms in Kenya and smart water systems in Zimbabwe. Busari described the experience as “life-changing” and hopes her work will help communities impacted by climate change.

Stormzy swells with pride

Rapper Stormzy has said he is “really proud” of the 56 Cambridge students supported by his scholarship scheme. The artist, who launched the programme in 2018 to fund Black UK students, was awarded an honorary doctorate in law by the university in June. Speaking on The One Show, he said: “I’m just really proud of them. Hopefully in 10, 20, 30, 40 years I’ll hear a story about someone who cured this disease or someone who pioneered in this field, and they’re like, actually, they had the Stormzy scholarship all those years ago.”