Clare Hall was delighted to host the special 60th Anniversary edition of the annual Tanner and Ashby Lectures on Thursday 16 April 2026, welcoming two distinguished speakers, Professor David Nirenberg (Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton) and Professor Y.M. Dennis Lo (The Chinese University of Hong Kong), whose work spans the humanities and medical sciences.

Professor Nirenberg delivered the Tanner Lecture, titled “What does history have to do with prophecy? Past and Future in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.” His talk explored the enduring influence of prophetic thinking on our understanding of history, examining how ideas about progress and historical direction continue to shape political language and ideology. Beginning with the upheavals of the twentieth century, including the World Wars, he traced connections back to ancient and medieval debates among Christians, Muslims, and Jews over the meaning and trajectory of history.

A full recording of the Tanner lecture is available on our YouTube channel.

Professor Lo presented the Ashby Lecture, “Creating Paradigm Shifts in Medical Diagnostics.” Drawing on his pioneering research, he discussed the development of non-invasive diagnostic technologies, particularly “liquid biopsy.” He reflected on his groundbreaking discovery of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal blood in 1997, which enabled safer prenatal testing now used by millions worldwide. His lecture also highlighted the expanding applications of liquid biopsy in cancer detection, monitoring, and prognosis, offering new, less invasive ways to understand human health.

Each lecture was followed by a lively and engaging Q&A session, with Fellows, students, and guests contributing thoughtful questions and discussion. The evening concluded with a celebratory dinner in College, providing an opportunity for further conversation and reflection in honour of Clare Hall’s 60th Anniversary year.

A truly inspiring evening, the lectures showcased the vibrant intellectual community at Clare Hall and the power of ideas to connect disciplines and generations. Our heartfelt thanks go to Professor Nirenberg and Professor Lo for their brilliant contributions to this special 60th Anniversary celebration!