**Cambridge Professor Jason Arday Withdraws from Public Engagements Amid Plagiarism Controversy** Jason Arday, the academic who recently resigned from his position at the University of Cambridge following allegations of plagiarism, has canceled several upcoming public appearances. The decision comes as scrutiny intensifies over his academic record and personal achievements. The Royal Geographical Society confirmed that Arday’s scheduled participation in a "fireside chat" at its London conference on September 2 has been withdrawn at his request. Additionally, his name has been removed from the lineup of two other events: a bookshop appearance in Edinburgh on September 18 and a luncheon hosted by the Arizona Women’s Board on October 24. The Edinburgh venue declined to comment on the cancellation. Arday remains listed as a speaker for the Stroud Book Festival in November, though organizers have not addressed whether his participation is still confirmed. In a separate development, BBC News has learned that Arday stepped down on Sunday from his roles as publication director and trustee of the British Sociological Association (BSA). The organization, which had previously hosted Arday for a lecture earlier this year, stated it would update its website to reflect his departure. During that lecture, Arday had claimed that Black academics were being subjected to "evil" targeting. Arday’s professional affiliations have come under review in recent weeks. The NHS Race and Health Observatory still lists him as a member of its academic reference advisory group, though his Cambridge title is no longer current. Neither the Observatory nor the Royal Society of Arts, which had named him a fellow upon his Cambridge appointment, responded to requests for clarification on his status. Other roles, including his positions on ITV’s Cultural Advisory Council and the Welsh Government’s anti-racism accountability group, concluded earlier this year. Advance HE, the organization responsible for awarding senior fellowships in higher education, declined to confirm whether Arday retains his fellowship, citing data protection policies. The Runnymede Trust, where Arday served as a trustee until this year, issued a statement last week defending him against what it described as "racialised, hyper-aggressive media scrutiny." Meanwhile, the release of his memoir, *Great and Unfortunate Things*, remains on schedule, with the U.S. edition set for Tuesday and the U.K. version following on August 27. The book chronicles his journey from non-verbal childhood to academic prominence, though some aspects of his narrative have faced skepticism. Allegations of plagiarism in Arday’s PhD thesis and questions about the accuracy of certain claims—including a 600-mile run in six days and a £5.5 million charity fundraising effort—have fueled the controversy. On Wednesday, the University of Cambridge announced an investigation into his "academic qualifications and honorary appointments." In his resignation statement, Arday acknowledged the personal toll of the scrutiny, stating, "While criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what I have experienced has gone far beyond scholarly disagreement. The relentless accusations, speculation, and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and those I love." He emphasized that his departure should not be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing. The fallout from the allegations continues to raise questions about academic integrity and institutional oversight at Cambridge.