Dear Clare Hall members and friends,

Please find below a list of events taking place this week and beyond, to which you are warmly invited.

Upcoming Events

Monday 15 September – Wednesday 15 October 2025
CHBC Fall Erg Challenge

The Clare Hall Boat Club is participating in the Concept2 Fall Challenge to see how many metres we can erg as a club between 15 September – 15 October! Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join, whether you have rowed with us before or not. Students, fellows, staff, alumni – everyone can participate! 

If you are new to the sport, send one of our friendly captains an email at clarehall@cucbc.org and we will help get you set up on the erg machines. Make sure to sign up and join the team by 30 September!

Happy erging! And as always, if you wish to put your erg skills to practice and get in a boat, CHBC is always accepting new members. Reach out at clarehall@cucbc.org! 

Wednesday 1 October – Wednesday 10 December 2025
Clare Hall Through Your Lens: Community Photo Project

As Michaelmas begins, we invite all members of the Clare Hall community — students, fellows, staff, and families — to share photos of our beautiful grounds and gardens. Whether it is autumn colours, hidden corners, or favourite gathering spaces, we would love to see Clare Hall through your eyes.

Photos don not need to be professional — good-quality smartphone shots are very welcome. Please note that photos featuring identifiable people cannot be accepted. Selected images will be featured on a rotating display in the College Main Site, as well as on our website and social media, with full credit to the photographer. They will also be permanently preserved in the College Archives as part of our record in this milestone 60th anniversary year.

Find out more and submit your photos on the main event page.

Friday 10 October – Friday 28 November 2025, 2.15pm
The Betty Behrens Seminar on Classics of Historiography

The Betty Behrens Seminar on Classics of Historiography offers a unique opportunity for students and scholars to reflect on some great historical works and engage in discussion with renowned experts.

This term, the seminar will be composed of three meetings, taking place in the Richard Eden Suite, Clare Hall, West Court. To attend, please register via Eventbrite. 

Learn more about the seminar here.

Saturday 11 October 2025, 7.30pm
Continuum | 500th Anniversary of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

This year’s special concert season, marking the Clare Hall’s 60th Anniversary, opens with a choral performance celebrating the 500th Anniversary of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Continuum will sing his Missa Papae Marcelli, interspersed with settings of the Song of Songs by William Walton, Edward Bairstow, Maurice Duruflé, Becky McGlade, Ola Gjeilo, and Eleanor Daley. The concert will also feature the premiere of a new work by Lucy Walker, Composer-in-Residence of Clare Hall.

*Please note that this concert is taking place in Robinson College Chapel.

Tickets are now sold out.

Tuesday 14 October – Tuesday 2 December 2025, 7.15-9.15pm
Clare Hall Colloquia

Clare Hall’s Colloquia provide members of the College – especially (but not exclusively) Visiting Fellows and Life Members – with an opportunity to present their research, whether in its early stages or already published, in a friendly setting. They are a great way to discuss your ideas, meet fellow members and to contribute to our vibrant community. Sessions take place on Tuesday evenings during term time, 7:15–9:15pm, in the Clare Hall Meeting Room. Refreshments are provided.

The first session of the term is on 14 October 2025, with speaker Professor Andrew Blake (Vice-President and Tutor of Clare Hall).

Title: Self-driving Taxis Coming to the Roads Near You?

Self-driving has been one of the great challenges of Artificial Intelligence, ever since a team from Stanford University aced the “DARPA challenge” in 2005. There have been many predictions of its imminent arrival but it turns out to be hard. Billions of dollars have been invested and several substantial companies have given up, leaving Google trialling in California and Arizona, and Baidu in China. So the question is, can it really be done? And if so, do we want it?

Please see the full Michaelmas programme here.

Wednesday 15 October 2025, 6-7pm
Biomedical and Life Sciences SIG

All Clare Hall members are welcome to attend the meetings for the Biomedical and Life Sciences SIG this Michaelmas term. Meetings are held on Wednesdays 6-7pm in the Clare Hall Meeting Room.

The next talk will take place on 15 October, led by Dr Pablo Soler (Clare Hall, Visiting Fellow) – “The Imageable Genome”; and Dr Zak Kinsella (Clare Hall, Affiliated Postdoctoral Member) – “Predicting Chemotherapy Overtreatment in Early-Stage Breast Cancer using Spatial-Immune Multiomics”.

See the full SIG schedule on this page.

Wednesday 15 October 2025
PdOC Research Showcase 2025 – Call for Submissions

The Postdocs of Cambridge Society(PdOC) is delighted to announce that the PdOC Research Showcase 2025 will form part of the Research Pathways Symposium: Innovate, Connect, Advance, taking place on 10th November 2025 at the WestHub. This interdisciplinary symposium is designed to celebrate cutting-edge research across all fields while highlighting how AI and innovative approaches can transform research practices. As this event is aimed at a wide audience from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, we encourage abstracts that are accessible, engaging, and demonstrate the broader significance of your work beyond your immediate field. There will also be generous prizes awarded for the best talks and posters.

Clare Hall Postdoctoral members are warmly invited to submit an abstract for the PdOC Research Showcase 2025, which will take place on 10th November 2025. Abstracts of up to 250 words can be submitted via the form by 15th October 2025: Submit your abstract here

Please indicate your preference for a talk or poster (or both). If you would like to include images, please email them to marie.spreckley@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk with a reference to your abstract.

Tickets for the Research Pathways Symposium are now available here.

Friday 17 October 2025, 5.30pm
The King Lecture – Professor Bonnie Bassler

We are delighted to welcome Professor Bonnie Bassler as our speaker for the 2025/26 King Lecture, on Friday, 17 October 2025, from 17:30 in the Robinson Auditorium.

Find more information about the lecture and ticket booking here.

Wednesday 22 October 2025, from 7pm
Clare Hall Diwali Formal

Bookings are now open for Clare Hall’s Diwali Formal, taking place on Wednesday 22 October, from 7 pm.

Join us as we celebrate the Festival of Lights, transforming the Dining Hall into a glowing sea of candles and colour. All members of the Clare Hall community are warmly invited to experience the cultural richness and traditions of Diwali.

In keeping with tradition, the evening’s menu will be vegetarian (and vegan) only.

We look forward to welcoming as many of you as the Dining Hall allows for what promises to be a vibrant and joyful celebration.

Thursday 23 October 2025, 6.15pm
Clare College Choral Evensong

All Clare Hall members are warmly invited to a special service of Choral Evensong in Clare Chapel, sung by Clare College Choir, on Thursday 23 October at 6.15pm. The 40-minute service will feature music by Charles Wood, J. S. Bach, Einar Trærup-Sark, and selections from Handel’s Messiah.

A drinks reception for Clare Hall members will follow in the Antechapel.

Please register here.

Saturday 25 October 2025, 7.30pm
An Evening of Piano Quartets with the Rossetti Ensemble

We are delighted to present the second concert in Clare Hall’s Herschel Concert Series 2025/26, featuring the acclaimed Rossetti Ensemble in an evening of piano quartets.

Programme:

• Schubert Adagio and Rondo Concertante
• Brahms Piano Quartet 1 in G minor
• D’Indy Piano Quartet

Tickets: £20 General Admission, £15 Clare Hall members, £5 students (available via Eventbrite).

Saturday 25 October – Sunday 26 October 2025
Academic Writing and Digital/AI Research Skills Workshops

If you are interested in developing your writing skills in academia and honing your essays, dissertation, job applications, proposals, and/or enhancing your research skills with Generative AI, then this is for you! 

Academic Writing and Digital/AI Research Skills Workshops by Dr Anthony Harris and Dr Wai Yi Feng will be taking place in the Clare Hall Meeting Room on 25 – 26 October 2025, 9.15am-1.15pm. Optional individual supervisions with the tutors: 2.00-5.00pm.

More information on the workshop and registration is available on the main event page.

Thursday 30 October 2025, 5pm
Philosophical Care in AI Research – talk by Professor Lydia Liu

Professor Lydia Liu, Needham Research Fellow at Clare Hall, is giving a talk on Philosophical Care in AI Research on Thursday 30 October, 5-6pm, in Lecture Block Room 1, Sidgwick Site.

Abstract by Professor Liu: One of the common questions from the early days of AI research is this: What is the philosophical ground that AI requires for the kind of formalisation it must implement on the computer? AI practitioners tend to approach the issue in terms of ‘epistemology’ or ‘theories of knowledge.’ Are they confusing ‘epistemology’ with ‘intensional logic’? What exactly are the philosophical stakes in AI research? In my talk, I will tackle these questions by analysing a number of philosophical conversations among early AI pioneers, focusing in particular on the fascinating discussions that took place in the early 1970s at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL). I hope to clarify why philosophy matters to AI beyond the limits of debate imposed by philosophers such as Hubert Dreyfus or John Searle.

This event is free and open to all. Find more information and register here.

Thursday 30 October 2025, 7pm
Genealogy SIG

All Clare Hall members are welcome to attend the meetings for the new Genealogy SIG this Michaelmas term. The next meeting will take place on Thursday 30 October at 7pm in the Clare Hall Meeting Room.

Please contact Kevin Edwards (email: kevin.edwards@abdn.ac.uk) for further details.

Monday 3 November 2025, 7pm
Masters to PhD Progression Event

We will be holding our annual “Masters to PhD Progression Event” in the Richard Eden Suite, on Monday 3rd November from 7.00-8.30pm. The event is for current Masters students at Clare Hall to learn more about the pathway to a PhD through the experience and expertise of current PhD students, the Senior Tutor Holly Hedgeland, and the former Vice-President Helen Pennant, who is also Director of the Cambridge Trust.

Current Exhibitions

Friday 10 October – Thursday 20 November 2025, 10am-5pm
Everyday Wonder to Revelation

Clare Hall is honoured to host an exhibition of paintings by Alan Caine (1936–2022), running from 10th October to 20th November 2025. Visitors are welcome daily between 10am and 5pm.

Learn more about the exhibition here.

Ongoing
The Bell Collection of British Studio Pottery, 1920-1980

A rotating display of some 400 pieces of studio ceramics. Learn more at https://www.clarehall.cam.ac.uk/bellcollection/

Activities and Societies

Thursdays and Sundays, 21 September – 11 December 2025
Yoga Sessions

We are delighted to host regular Thursday lunchtime and Sunday afternoon yoga sessions in the Michaelmas term. Yoga is a holistic mind–body practice that combines physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation to promote strength, flexibility, and inner balance.

A full list of dates and the sign up sheet can be found here.

Tuesdays, ongoing through the Michaelmas Term
Mindful Meditation Sessions

Through mindfulness we cultivate attention to the here and now. We aim to witness our thoughts and feelings with detachment. We develop concentration, peace of mind and enjoyment of life with all its challenges.

As a group, we explore different means of developing mindfulness, including relaxation, guided meditation and attention to the breath or to a mantra. The sessions are led by Elizabeth Garnsey, and meet in the King Room on Main Site on Tuesdays 1-2pm. The door is open 1-2 but you are welcome to slip in and out whenever convenient for you. All members of the college and friends are welcome, including students, staff, fellows, researchers and visitors. Please contact ewg11@cam.ac.uk with any questions.

Wednesday 1 October – Wednesday 10 December 2025
Taiji (Tai Chi) and QiGong Sessions

We are pleased to introduce new Taiji (Tai Chi) and QiGong sessions at Clare Hall for the Michaelmas term. The sessions will be taking place in the Richard Eden Suite on Wednesdays during lunchtime, starting on 1 October 2025.

A full list of dates and the sign up sheet can be found here.

Mondays, 6 October – 8 December 2025
Pilates Sessions

We are delighted to host pilates classes at Clare Hall throughout Michaelmas. The classes will be held on Mondays during lunchtime. Pilates is a form of low-impact exercise that aims to strengthen muscles while improving postural alignment and flexibility.

A full list of dates and the sign up sheet can be found here.

Monday 3 November 2025, 8pm
Clare Hall Book Club

Join the College’s Book Club as they discuss The House by the Dvina: A Russian Childhood by Eugenie Fraser. All College members are welcome to attend in-person, meeting in Clare Hall’s Meeting Room, or via Zoom. If you are not on the mailing list and would like to be, please send an email to gloria.carnevali@icloud.com, confirming your Clare Hall connection and putting the following as the email title: I would like to join the Book Club mailing list.

Learn more about the Book Club on this page.

Various Dates
Choir Practice

A reminder that Clare Hall Choir practice takes place in Robinson College Chapel every Monday (in term-time, but not always restricted to the official Cambridge term dates) from 7.30-9pm. New members are always welcome, and no previous singing or musical experience is necessary. The only requirement is that you want to sing and have fun doing it! If you are interested in joining, please email Ben de Souza, the Choir’s Director, who is a Clare Hall Associate, freelance choral conductor and accordionist: bd402@cam.ac.uk.

Recent recordings of the choir can also be found on our YouTube channel.

Various Dates
Clare Hall Families

Clare Hall Families is an informal group that holds events throughout the year, centred around our popular Family Suppers, which take place each term.

Join the Clare Hall Families mailing list and WhatsApp group by filling out the form.

For any enquiries, please contact Chandy Nath at chandy.nath@gmail.com.

Find a full range of events at https://www.clarehall.cam.ac.uk/events