The research will examine the financial benefits Cambridge may have gained from the slave trade and also explore how academic studies may have perpetuated race-based beliefs from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. Estimates suggest that between 10 million and 28 million Africans were transported across the Atlantic as part of the slave trade between the 15th and 19th centuries, with many perishing during the journey and those who survived facing a life of servitude on plantations. The trans-Atlantic slave trade was abolished in Britain in 1807, but slavery itself was not fully abolished until a generation later. Martin Millett, who heads the advisory group overseeing the Cambridge study, mentioned that it is uncertain what the investigation will uncover, but it is reasonable to believe that Cambridge had profited from the slave trade. Millett, a professor of archaeology, stated that it is likely that, like many other British institutions during the colonial era, the University had directly or indirectly benefited from and contributed to the practices of that time. The benefits could have been financial or in the form of other gifts. Additionally, the panel is interested in exploring how scholars at the University may have influenced public and political opinions, either supporting, reinforcing, or challenging racial attitudes that are considered unacceptable in the present day. The inquiry will be carried out by two full-time post-doctoral researchers based in the Centre of African Studies. The research will investigate specific donations, inheritances, and historical ties to the slave trade. It is uncertain what steps Cambridge University will take if it discovers that it benefitted from or supported slavery. Some of the leading universities in the Western world have been analyzing their history and the sources of their wealth. In the US, universities in the South have been facing controversies regarding the confederate flag. In 2017, Yale University changed the name of Calhoun College after protests argued that the school should no longer honor an alumnus who strongly advocated for slavery in the US. Grace Hopper College, named after the computer scientist, was formerly known by another name. In the UK, Oxford University is facing a debate over the removal of a statue of colonialist Cecil Rhodes from one of its colleges. Glasgow University has announced plans for a reparative justice program after discovering it gained a significant amount of money from historical slavery. The vice chancellor of Cambridge, Stephen Toope, believes that it is important to acknowledge and understand the university's role in the dark history of slavery, rather than trying to erase it. However, critics argue that such investigations are driven by a contemporary trend of revisiting past wrongs, often oversimplifying complex issues. Broadly applying these inquiries could call into question various aspects of the early history of ancient institutions. Gill Evans, an emeritus professor at Cambridge University, noted that in the current atmosphere of anti-colonialism, universities feel compelled to examine their historical connections to colonialism. She emphasized the importance of understanding the context of the time before assigning blame, as actions may have been perceived differently in the past. Evans stressed the need for nuance when considering culpability across different time periods. Cambridge University, one of the most ancient universities in the world, can trace its roots back over 800 years to 1209 when scholars from Oxford sought shelter in the city. Oxford University itself has a history dating back to 1096.