The research will examine the financial benefits that Cambridge may have gained from the slave trade, as well as investigate how scholarly work may have perpetuated race-based beliefs from the 18th to early 20th centuries. Estimates suggest that between 10 million and 28 million Africans were transported across the Atlantic from the 15th to 19th centuries, with many perishing during the journey and those who survived facing a life of oppression on plantations. Although Britain banned the trans-Atlantic slave trade in 1807, it took another generation for slavery to be fully abolished. Martin Millett, the head of the advisory group overseeing the Cambridge study, expressed uncertainty about the findings of the investigation but stated that it is reasonable to assume that Cambridge University had profited from the slave trade. Millett, who is a professor of archaeology, noted that many British institutions during the colonial era likely benefited from and contributed to the practices of the time. He emphasized that the inquiry will also examine how scholars at the University influenced public and political opinion on racial attitudes. The investigation will be carried out by two full-time post-doctoral researchers from the Centre of African Studies. The research will investigate specific donations, inheritance, and historical ties to the slave trade. It is unclear what steps Cambridge University will take if it discovers any involvement or support of slavery. Some of the leading universities in the Western world have been reviewing their histories and the origins of their wealth. In the United States, universities in the South have been facing debates regarding the confederate flag. In 2017, Yale University changed the name of its Calhoun College following protests, as they believed the school should not honor an alumnus who strongly supported U.S. slavery. Grace Hopper College is now named after the computer scientist. In the UK, Oxford University is facing a debate regarding the removal of a statue of Cecil Rhodes, a 19th century colonialist. Glasgow University has announced plans for a reparative justice program after finding out it profited from historical slavery. The vice chancellor of Cambridge, Stephen Toope, believes that universities should not hide from their past but instead understand and acknowledge their role in history. Opponents argue that investigations into historical injustices are influenced by a modern trend, lack depth, and if done broadly, would call into question nearly every aspect of the early history of ancient institutions. Gill Evans, a retired professor at Cambridge University, stated that universities are now compelled to examine their historic ties to colonialism due to the current anti-colonial atmosphere. She emphasized the importance of understanding the context of past actions before assigning blame, as culpability cannot be transferred from one era to another without careful consideration. Cambridge University, one of the oldest universities in the world, can trace its roots back over 800 years to 1209 when scholars from Oxford sought refuge in the city. Oxford University, which also has a long history, dates back to 1096.