Newsletter: Events at Clare Hall, Spring 2026
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.
➢ Members’ events
College Bar, Lent 2026 |
Wednesdays and Fridays, 7-11pm
The College bar is open two nights a week – Wednesday and Friday evenings, 7-11pm.
Clare Hall Through Your Lens: Seasonal Photography Competition |
Monday 16 February – Monday 2 November 2026
Following the wonderful response to our community photo project, Clare Hall Through Your Lens continues throughout this special anniversary year as our official 60th Anniversary Photography Competition.
We invite students, fellows, staff, and families to capture Clare Hall’s grounds, gardens, and moments of college life across all four seasons. At the end of each season, a judging panel will select the top three photographs, which will go forward to be included in a commemorative Clare Hall 60th Anniversary Calendar.
This is a chance to celebrate Clare Hall at 60, highlight our natural environment, and contribute to a lasting visual record of the College during this milestone year.
Find out how to take part on the main event page.
Clare Hall May Event 2026 |
Friday 19 June 2026, from 6.30pm
On Friday 19 June 2026, Clare Hall turns back the clock to 1966 with a Swinging Sixties-themed May Week celebration. From 18:30 until 02:00, join us for a celebration of the past, present and future of Clare Hall. An exciting evening of live music, dancing, great food and drinks awaits, promising a night worthy of six decades of Clare Hall.
Tickets will be released in stages: Clare Hall student tickets on 2 March at 12 pm, Fellow and Life Member tickets on 9 March at 12 pm, and guest tickets on 11 March at 12 pm. With limited capacity and strong demand expected, we encourage early booking to avoid disappointment.
Buy your tickets here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/clarehallgsb/2079556
➢ Lectures and talks
Clare Hall Colloquia |
Tuesday 20 January – Tuesday 10 March 2026, 7.15pm
The Clare Hall 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 next session is on 17 March, with speaker Dr Rosa Runhardt (Visiting Fellow, Radboud University, the Neitherlands)
Title: A philosophy for measuring humans: moving targets, cynical manipulators, and epistemic authorities
Social scientists organise the world around them into categories. Some of their categorisation choices seem flexible: think of category boundaries, the number of categories, or how to determine membership. I show categorisation choices are social conventions and defend an information theoretic arbitrariness measure for them. I give two philosophical interpretations of arbitrariness: it can tell us the amount of consensus among scientists, or measures how the world pushes back harder on some categorisations than others.
Please see the full Lent programme here.
The Betty Behrens Seminar on Classics of Historiography |
Thursday 26 February – Thursday 19 March 2026, 2.15pm
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 Lent term, the seminar will take place between the 26 February and the 19 March and will be composed of three meetings. The charming and fresh atmosphere of the Richard Eden Suite in Clare Hall, West Court, will be the location for the discussions.
The next meeting is on Thursday 12 March from 2.15-4.00 pm with speaker Andrew Wallace-Hadrill (Emeritus Director of Research and Honorary Professor, University of Cambridge).
Find more information here. Register for the seminars via Eventbrite.
Biomedical & Life Sciences SIG |
Wednesday 11 March 2026, 6pm
All Clare Hall members are welcome to attend the meetings for the Biomedical and Life Sciences SIG this Lent term. Meetings are held on Wednesdays 6.00-7.00pm in the Clare Hall Meeting Room.
The next meeting is on 11 March – FLASH talks (5 minute talks for postgraduates/postdocs to introduce their research, whatever stage it is at)
For further information, please contact convenors Dr Chris Cooper at sulfolobus1976@icloud.com, or Dr Rachel Sippy at rjs271@medschl.cam.ac.uk, or Dr Mike Trower at mt981@cam.ac.uk.
Intellectual Property: A Strategic and Valuable Asset |
Wednesday 25 March 2026, 6-7pm
Join patent attorneys Dr Veronika Brázdová (deeptech) and Dr Rose Hughes (biotech) for a practical and interactive session designed for academics and start-up founders.
What the session will cover:
- An introduction to the different types of intellectual property (IP) and how they apply to research and innovation
- Understanding freedom to operate and why it matters when commercialising technology
- How to position and leverage IP strategically when seeking investment
- Key differences in IP strategy between the high-tech and biotech sectors
- Practical insights tailored to early-stage ventures and university spin-outs
Date: Wednesday 25 March 2026
Time: 6.00 – 7.00 pm
Location: Clare Hall Meeting Room
- See event details here.
- Please sign up for the event here.
- Learn more about the Industry & Enterprise Programme here.
The Rule of Law in the Free World |
Saturday 18 April 2026, 4pm
Celebrate Clare Hall’s 60th Anniversary with a special lecture by Life Member Dr Sohan Dasgupta.
Dr Sohan Dasgupta is former Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security & former Political Head of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, U.S. Government.
In this lecture, Dr Dasgupta examines the contemporary condition of the rule of law across constitutional democracies. Drawing upon Cambridge’s intellectual tradition — ranging from Dicey and Hart to Lord Bingham — he situates present developments within a longer jurisprudential and historical arc. Integrating comparative empirical evidence with philosophical foundations, the lecture considers evolving tensions among executive power, legislative oversight, judicial independence, civic trust, and technological change. This address offers a thoughtful and sober assessment of institutional resilience and the enduring normative significance of the rule of law in free societies.
The event is free to attend. Please reserve your spot via Eventbrite.
➢ Music
Richard Strauss – Enoch Arden |
Saturday 21 March 2026, 7.30pm
Robert Anderson and Patrick Hemmerlé perform Richard Strauss’ Enoch Arden, a rarely heard melodrama for narrator and piano in a form that once enjoyed widespread popularity across Europe.
Written early in Strauss’s career, the work earned him significant recognition and was widely admired in its day. In more recent years it has been taken up by celebrated musicians including Glenn Gould and Stephen Hough, with narrators such as Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Jon Vickers. Based on Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s narrative poem, Enoch Arden recounts the story of a fisherman cast away for eleven years, who returns home to find his wife remarried to his childhood friend. Strauss’s score intensifies this moving tale of endurance, sacrifice and love.
The programme will also include Strauss’ Violin Sonata, performed by a student duet.
Join us at Clare Hall for an evening of powerful storytelling and music!
Tickets are available via Eventbrite: General Admission – £20, Clare Hall members – £15, students – £5.
Continuum in Concert: 60th Anniversary of Clare Hall |
Saturday 18 April 2026, 7pm
Join Continuum for a special concert in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Clare Hall, as they return to perform in Robinson College Chapel, Cambridge.
The choir will present a rich programme of British music for the spring season, including the premiere of a major new work by Lucy Walker. Beginning in the Renaissance, the first half features works by Byrd, Tallis, Morley and even King Henry VIII. A twentieth-century arrangement of Thomas Morley’s setting of Shakespeare’s O Mistress Mine leads into further Shakespeare settings by Vaughan Williams and Owain Park, Director of The Gesualdo Six.
The second half of the concert is devoted to the music of Gerald Finzi and Benjamin Britten. Marking fifty years since Britten’s death in 1976, the choir will perform his Five Flower Songs, followed by Finzi’s Seven Part Songs set to words by Robert Bridges. These exquisite miniatures truly encapsulate the English countryside in spring.
Tickets are available via Eventbrite: General Admission – £20, Clare Hall members – £15, students – £5.
Clare Hall 60th Anniversary Choral Evensong |
Sunday 19 April 2026, 6pm
Join us for a special 60th Anniversary Choral Evensong, as the Clare Hall Choir is joined by alumni and Life Members for this celebratory service.
The programme reflects both tradition and new beginnings. Stephen Paulus’ The Road Home opens the service with its luminous harmonies and message of reflection and belonging. Ben de Souza’s Preces and Responses frame the liturgy with clarity and poise, followed by Psalms 149 and 150, songs of praise and rejoicing.
At the heart of the service is Charles Villiers Stanford’s Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in B flat, a radiant and enduring setting of the evening canticles. The programme also features the world premiere of O Wisdom by Lucy Walker (Clare Hall Composer-in-Residence), written specially for this occasion, marking an exciting new chapter in the College’s musical life.
*Please note that this Evensong will take place in Queens’ College Chapel, CB3 9ET.
The event is free to attend. Please reserve your spot via Eventbrite.
➢ Art
‘Infinite Variations’ – A 60th Anniversary Exhibition of Art in the Life of Clare Hall |
Friday 20 March – Friday 19 June 2026, 10am-4pm
Clare Hall is delighted to present its 60th Anniversary exhibition of artworks collected over the years. It is open to public from 20th March to 19th June 2026, Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.
Find more information on the main event page.
The Bell Collection of British Studio Pottery, 1920-1980 |
Ongoing
A rotating display of some 400 pieces of studio ceramics. Learn more at https://www.clarehall.cam.ac.uk/bellcollection/
➢ External events
British Academy ECR Network – Call for Representatives |
Apply by Thursday 12 March 2026
British Academy ECR Network, East of England Cluster would like to invite Early Career Researcher representatives from the region to join the Steering Group. ECR representatives will lead the design and strategic development of the network programme, ensuring that the cluster follows the BA’s ECRN motto “for ECRs, by ECRs”.
What will ECR representatives do?
- Bring an ECR perspective to shape the work of the Network in the region.
- Communicate the needs of the ECR communities from their home institutions.
- Organise Network events within the East of England Cluster (optional).
- Attend ECR Forums at British Academy twice a year.
- Attend the East of England Partners online meetings once a term.
Benefits:
- Network with colleagues and build community regionally and across the UK.
- Engage with senior academics across the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
- Develop skills in advocacy and an understanding of organisational planning.
- Become involved in the organisation of specific events for the network (optional).
- Access to the Development Fund (£3000) to organise an event, as well as funding for personal and professional development (£200).
Eligibility:
- To be a member of British Academy Early Career Researcher Network, East of England Cluster.
Please check more details on the role and fill out the application form by following this link. Deadline: Thursday 12 March 2026.
For questions, contact ba-ecrnadmin@crassh.cam.ac.uk.
Panel discussion: AI and the Future of Public Health |
Wednesday 25 March 2026, from 5.30pm
AI is rapidly reshaping healthcare, but will these benefits reach everyone?
Join ai@cam for their Cambridge Festival panel discussion on how AI can be used responsibly to improve our lives and strengthen communities. From predicting disease outbreaks to streamlining care, AI holds great promise for public health, but could it exacerbate existing inequalities? How can local services and researchers work together to harness AI’s potential?
The distinguished panel include:
- Dr Henrietta Hughes, Patient Safety Commissioner for England
- Prof Alastair Denniston, Chair of the UK’s National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare
- Prof Neil Lawrence, Chair of ai@cam and DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge
- Melanie Ivarsson OBE, CEO of the Health Data Research Service
- Dr Rozelle Kane, Clinical Lead for Digital Innovation, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Together, they’ll explore the practical challenges and opportunities of using AI to create healthier communities for all.
Please register via Eventbrite.
Key Details
Time: 18.00 (Doors open at 17.30)
Date: Wednesday 25 March
Venue: Old Divinity School, St John’s College, Cambridge
SDG & AI+ Academic Conferences 2026 |
Submit papers by Sunday 31 May 2026
Two non-profit, peer-reviewed academic conferences focusing on SDG and AI+ will be held in Cambridge in summer 2026. Both events are organised by UniHive and hosted by Clare Hall and Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge.
Professor David Cope (Foundation Fellow at Clare Hall) and Professor Pietro Liò (Professorial Fellow at Clare Hall) will act as the Academic Chair of each conference.
- Call for papers opens: Friday 30 January 2026
- Paper and poster submission deadline: Sunday 31 May 2026
Research Participant Recruitment – Class & Romantic Relationships |
Join by Sunday 31 May 2026
Elle Shea, Clare Hall alumna and PhD researcher at the University of Manchester, is studying how people navigate differences in social class backgrounds, experiences, and identities within romantic relationships. She is looking to interview individuals or couples who are currently, or have previously been, in a romantic relationship with someone from a different social class background. Participants must be aged 18 or over and currently live in, or have previously lived in, England.
If you are interested in taking part or would like to find out more about the research, please contact Elle at elle.shea@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk. You can also find out more about the researcher here.
➢ Activities and Societies
Pilates Sessions |
Mondays, 9 January – 20 March 2026
We are delighted to host pilates classes at Clare Hall throughout the Lent Term. The classes will be held on Mondays during lunchtime and fortnightly on Friday evenings. 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.
Taiji (Tai Chi) and QiGong Sessions |
Wednesdays, 14 January – 18 March 2026
We are pleased to host Taiji (Tai Chi) and QiGong sessions at Clare Hall in the Lent 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.
Yoga Sessions |
Thursdays and Sundays, 15 January – 22 March 2025
We are delighted to host regular Thursday lunchtime and Sunday afternoon yoga sessions in the Lent 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.
STRONG by Zumba sessions |
Tuesdays, 10 March – 16 June 2026
Clare Hall is delighted to host a new fitness class called STRONG by Zumba. The classes will be held on Tuesdays, 5-5.45pm, in the Richard Eden Suite.
STRONG by Zumba combines body weight, muscle conditioning, cardio and plyometric training moves synced to original music that has been specifically designed to match every single move. Every squat, every lunge, every burpee is driven by the music, helping you make it to that last rep, and maybe even five more.
Please bring your own mat and a water bottle, and plan to arrive 5–10 minutes early to assist with setting up the room.
A full list of dates and the sign up sheet can be found here.
Clare Hall Book Club |
Monday 6 April 2026, 8pm
Join the College’s Book Club as they discuss Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global by Laura Spinney. All College members are welcome to attend in-person, meeting in Clare Hall’s King 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.
Choir Practice |
Various Dates
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.
Clare Hall Families |
Various Dates
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