Escape the city and immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the Peak District! On Saturday, 14th June 2025, we’re taking you on an exclusive one-day adventure filled with scenic views, delicious food, and unforgettable memories. Whether you’re a fan of serene landscapes or vibrant villages, this trip has something for everyone.

Why You Shouldn’t Miss This Trip               

✨ Discover Bakewell: Stroll through this charming town, famous for its Bakewell tart and quaint riverside views.
✨ Capture Monsal Head: Snap Insta-worthy photos of the stunning Monsal Dale and its iconic viaduct.
✨ Explore Burbage Brook: Wander through peaceful woodlands, complete with waterfalls and mossy rocks.
✨ Experience Castleton: Dive into this picturesque village's shops, streets, and optional castle hike.
✨ Marvel at Surprise View: A panoramic lookout offering unforgettable views of Hope Valley.
✨ Conquer Higger Tor: A short hike with epic vistas and dramatic rock formations.

Trip Details

When: Saturday, 14th June 2025
Where: Departure from Oxford at 7:00 AM (Taylorian Library, St. Giles St). Return around 9:00 PM.
Lunch: Enjoy a group meal at the historic Old Hall Hotel.
What to Bring:

✔ Comfortable clothes and walking shoes
✔ Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses
✔ Backpack with water, snacks, and any personal medicines
✔ Bring your camera, pack your energy, and let’s make memories together! 🌿

🌟 Pro Tip: Have first aid skills? We’d love for you to join and help keep our group safe!

Spots are limited to 50 participants, so secure your place today and get ready for an adventure like no other. Don’t miss this chance to connect with fellow scholars and explore one of England’s most stunning regions!

Come hang out and get creative with us! We’re hosting a relaxed tote bag painting session where you can design your own bag using fabric markers, paints, or even try a bit of tie-dye if you're feeling adventurous.

No experience needed — just bring yourself and maybe a bit of inspiration. All the materials will be provided, but do wear something you don’t mind getting a little messy. It’s a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon, meet other Clarendon scholars, walk away with something you actually designed yourself!

📅 Date and time: Saturday 7th June 13:30–15:00
📍 Location: Pontigny Room, St Edmund Hall

A professional photographer will take head shots of scholars.

John Cairns photography :
Each student can receive several high-resolution images, with one image receiving detailed editing

📅 Date and time: Wednesday 4th June, 11:00-15:00 [30min timeslot]
📍 Location: Magdalen College (Outdoor space in front of New Building)

Ever wondered what happens when cutting-edge quantum physics meets artistic expression? Join us for a unique 35-minute performance that explores the fascinating world of superposition, scrambled information, and the profound concept of loss through both scientific and artistic lenses.

Artist Pamela Davis Kivelson brings together insights from conversations with physicists at Oxford, Harvard, Caltech, and Stanford to create an immersive workshop-format experience. This isn't your typical lecture or traditional performance - it's an interactive exploration where science meets creativity, inviting you to engage with quantum concepts in entirely new ways.

Whether you're a physicist, philosopher, artist, or simply curious about the mysteries of our universe, this interdisciplinary approach promises to challenge your perspective and spark fascinating discussions. The performance examines how quantum systems exist in multiple states simultaneously until observed - a concept that resonates far beyond the laboratory.

📅 Date and time: Tuesday June 3rd 2025   (16:00 - 16:45 - 17:30) [45min slot]
📍 Location: Beecroft Building, Parks Rd, Oxford

You are warmly invited to the Clarendon Scholars Formal Dinner at Kellogg College on 29 May 2025. Come enjoy a memorable evening!

📅 Date and time: 29 May
Arrival Time: 7:15 PM
Dinner Served: 7:30 PM sharp
📍 Location: Kellogg College Dining Hall
👗Dress Code: Formal / Academic Gown (optional)

Tickets:
• Clarendon Scholars: from £21.5
• Guests: from £27.25 (maximum of 1 guest per scholar)

Tickets are limited and will be released in two batches: 1. Tuesday, 6th of May, evening 9pm and 2. Thursday, 8th of May, morning 11am. They are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ever played croquet on an Oxford College quad? How about a round of bowls on the lawn? Make your way to the High Street to the best kept secret in Oxford - the Queen’s College - for a one of a kind games and social evening that has a little something for everyone! From board games and card games to console games, table tennis, foosball and lawn games. Light refreshments and snacks will be included!

📅 Date and time: Thursday, May 22nd: 19:00-21:30
📍 Location: Queen’s College

The Clarendon Gates conference will promote interdisciplinary discussions that highlight the value of diverse academic perspectives, creating a platform where scholars from different backgrounds can share their research and experience. Oxbridge has been a hub of knowledge creation for centuries, and we aim to strengthen connections between Oxford Clarendon and Gates Cambridge scholars by celebrating the diverse backgrounds and interests of our scholars with the goal of fostering communication and collaborations.

Our theme is Celebrating Academic Diversity! The conference will feature cross-disciplinary talks from our scholars, as well as insights into the career and academic paths of our alumni and key-stakeholder within Oxford and Cambridge Academia. Further, we will host a plenary discussion and interactive workshops. We will get to celebrate and learn together. In the evening, all conference attendees are invited to join our Formal Conference Dinner.

The event will be held in the Martin Wood Complex of the Oxford University Physics department on Saturday, 17th May 2025, 9 AM - 5 PM. The formal will be hosted at St. Anne’s College, starting at 7 PM.

Join us for an evening of fun and friendly competition at University College’s vibrant Games Night! This is your chance to relax, connect, and enjoy a variety of activities with fellow Clarendon Scholars and Univ students.

🎯 What’s on offer?

• Traditional board games like Catan, Chess, and Scrabble.

• Card games to test your strategy and luck :)

Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just looking for a lighthearted way to spend the evening, Games Night has something for everyone. Come and immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere, make new friends—including Univ college members—and create lasting memories! Feel free to bring along some snacks and drinks to share during the game. The college bar will also be open, so you can grab a drink there too!

📅 Date and time: Tuesday, May 13th. 19:00-21:00
📍 Location: University College MCR

Join us for a Potluck to celebrate diversity among Clarendon Scholars through a vibrant food celebration from various cultures. Let's have a wonderful array of culinary delights from the scholars!

What is a potluck?

A potluck is a communal gathering where each guest is invited to contribute a dish—often something special (not really) from their home culture or a personal favourite. It’s a beautiful way to explore new flavours, learn about each other’s backgrounds, and connect through the universal language of food. Whether you bring a homemade dish or simply come to enjoy the spread, your presence is what truly matters.

We can't wait to see (and taste!) what you’ll bring to the table. Let’s celebrate culture, community, and cuisine together!

📅 Date and time: Saturday, May 10th. 17:00-19:30
📍 Location: Fitzhugh auditorium, Cohen Quad

🎟️ Ticket information
Food contributions are warmly encouraged—and as a thank you, contributors will receive a free ticket to the event.
If you're not sure what to bring or prefer not to cook, no worries! You’re still very welcome to join us—entry will be just £2.
The ticket prices are the same for Clarendon scholars and their guests.

Please register here and fill in the form afterwards.

Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to move! 💃🕺 Join us for a one-hour Cuban salsa taster session, where a professional instructor will guide us through the steps—no experience or partner needed! Just come along, feel the rhythm, and have fun. It's all about letting loose, meeting fellow scholars, and enjoying the music. 🎶

📅 Date and time: Tuesday, May 6th. 18:45-19:45
📍 Location: Amersi Lecture Room - Brasenose College

Clarendon scholars and guests are at the same price.

Step into the world of Narnia and the life of one of Oxford’s most beloved writers! This special visit to The Kilns, C.S. Lewis’s restored home on the edge of Oxford, offers more than a literary tour — it’s a glimpse into the imagination and faith that shaped his work ✨. It’s a guided tour that lasts around an hour. We’ll walk through the rooms where Lewis wrote The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, explore the inspiring gardens, and experience the legacy of a writer who continues to enchant generations.

📅 Date and time: May 3rd- 11:30AM Meet at 11:20AM outside the venue.

Please note that the time on the picture is wrong.
📍 Location: The Kilns (C S Lewis House) OX3 8JD

Welcome back to Trinity term! Join your Clarendon scholars for wine, cheese, and community to catch up after the break and kick off a new term 🍷🧀  We’re back at the beautiful Magdalen college’s spacious MCR to accommodate 30-40 scholars joining 🥂 Look forward to seeing you there! Please note that non-alcoholic drinks will also be provided.

Join us for a morning of connection and celebration at the historic Oriel College, which has long been a place of lively debate and enduring tradition. The brunch at the senior library of Oriel College offers a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow scholars, share insights, and enjoy delicious food in the inspiring setting of Oriel’s Front Quadrangle—once part of King Charles I’s Civil War court.

We look forward to seeing you for great food, fascinating conversation, and the warmth of the Clarendon family.

Date and time: Apr 27, 11:00 to 13:00
Location: Oriel College - Senior Library

End-of-Term Celebration at Gusto Italian! 🎉

As we wrap up the Hilary term, join us for an evening of fantastic food and great company at Gusto Italian, Oxford! Let’s celebrate our achievements and unwind before the break with a delightful three-course dinner in an elegant private dining setting.

Savor the Moment: Indulge in Italian Elegance

Tickets starting from £18.75

📍 Venue: Gusto Italian, 1st Floor, High St, Oxford OX1 4AG

📅 Date: Saturday, 15th March 2025

🕕 Time: 6:30 PM – 9:45 PM (Arrival from 6:15 PM, dinner service starts promptly at 6:30 PM)

Please note: The private dining room is located upstairs, and there is no lift available.

Starters:

Chicken Liver Pâté

with balsamic onions and toasted sourdough

Spicy Mozzarella Arancini (V) (N)

made with vegetarian 'nduja, romesco mayo, and chive oil

Bruschetta (VG) (GFA)

toasted Puglian bread with heritage tomatoes, basil, and garlic,

finished with extra virgin olive oil

Mains:

Honey, Lemon & Thyme Chicken (N)

pan-roasted marinated chicken breast with charred vegetables, 

gnocchi, and romesco sauce

Scallop & Prawn Ravioli 

in a rich lobster bisque, with samphire and cherry tomatoes

Bucatini Al Aglio (VG) (GFA)

with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, chilli, and parsley

Veal Escalope (GF)

with warm roast potato salad, wilted spinach, 

and a white wine pan jus

Desserts:

Italian Gelato (V) (GF)

choice of three scoops: Madagascan vanilla, chocolate (VG), 

salted caramel, or strawberries & cream

Biscoff™ Cheesecake (VG) 

light and creamy with a golden biscuit base

Pistachio Crème Brûlée (N) (V) (GFA)

served with candied pistachios and handmade shortbread

(V): Vegetarian; (VG): Vegan; (N): Contains nuts; (GF): Recipe without international gluten ingredients; (GFA): Recipe without international gluten ingredients available on request

If you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, please let us know when confirming your attendance so we can accommodate your needs.

Drinks: A selection of wine will be available during the event. If you prefer not to be served wine, simply turn your glass upside down as a discreet indication. For any other beverages, you are welcome to purchase them directly from the restaurant’s bar and settle the payment with them.

Dress Code: Smart casual—wear something you feel comfortable and confident in!

We look forward to celebrating together and making this a memorable evening. See you there! 🎊

Ticket Information

Tickets will be released for Scholars on Tuesday, Feb 18th at 9am and on Thursday, Feb 20th at 7pm. There are very few guest tickets available, so be sure to secure a ticket for your friend and celebrate together. Later in the next week, a Google Form will be sent out where ticket holders can specify their seating preferences with scholar[s] and/or guest[s]. We will try our best where possible to arrange the seating accordingly. Closer to the event, we will share a link from the restaurant where ticket holders can pre-order their meal.

Tickets for this event can be resold at the original price (Scholars tickets to other Clarendon Scholars only) until 8 PM, February 28th. After this, any changes or ticket swaps are at the venue's discretion and may be denied. All ticket changes/reselling must be communicated to the Council at clarendon.scholars@gmail.com.

Clarendon Scholars Ramadan Iftar 🌙

By demand from our Scholars community, we will have a Clarendon Scholars Ramadan Iftar Dinner at NEF Istanbul Restaurant, Oxford! Let’s come together for a Dinner with delicious Turkish food in a familiar and casual atmosphere. Everyone is invited!

Tickets for Clarendon Scholars: £16
Tickets for Clarendon Guests: £19

📍 Venue: NEF Istanbul Restaurant Oxford: Raja House, 212 Cowley Rd, Oxford OX4 1UQ
📅 Date: Sunday, 9th March 2025
🕕 Time: Arrival and seating: 5:45 PM, Iftar starts promptly at 6:00 PM

IFTAR MENU:

Dates
Soup
Bread and Meze
Main Options (see below)
Baklava
Çay

GRILL SPECIALITIES (Mains)
Chicken Shish
Specially Marinated Diced Chicken Skewers Grilled Over Real Charcoal, Served With Rice or Bulgur and Chef's Salad

Lamb Shish
Specially Marinated Diced Lamb Skewers Grilled Over Real Charcoal Served With Rice or Bulgur and Chef's Salad

Adana (Lamb Kofte)
Specially Marinated Leaned Tender Minced Lamb Skewers Grilled Over Real Charcoal, Served With Rice or Bulgur and Chef's Salad

Chicken Wings
Specially Marinated Chicken Wings Grilled Over Real Charcoal, Served With Rice or Bulgur and Chef's Salad

COMBINATIONS
Lamb Shish and Chicken Shish
Specially Marinated lamb and chicken skewers Grilled Over Real Charcoal, Served With Rice or Bulgur and Chef's Salad 

Lamb Shish and Adana Kofte
Specially Marinated lamb shish and Adana Skewers Over Real Charcoal, Served With Rice or Bulgur and Chef's Salad

Chicken Shish and Adana Kofte
Specially Marinated chicken and Adana skewers Over Real Charcoal, Served With Rice or Bulgur and Chef's Salad

VEGETARIAN SPECIALS (Mains)
Turlu (V)
Specially prepared mixed vegetables (aubergine, onions, potatoes, garlic, peppers, tomatoes) cooked in our chef's own herbal special sauce, served with Rice and Salad.

Falafel, Halloumi, Borek, Humus (V)
Combination of the 4 above Served With Rice and Chef's Salad

Allergen info / Other dietary requirements: All their products may contain traces of nuts, wheat and soya. The starters, soup and baklava are all vegetarian. If you should be vegan or gluten free or has another dietary requirements, please let us know prior to your ticket purchase. We will check with the restaurant and try to accommodate it but cannot guarantee.

Drinks: Water and Çay will be served. A can of your preferred soft drink (excluding Salgam) is included. No alcohol will be served at this event.

Dress Code: Casual - wear something you feel comfortable in!

We look forward to the Iftar Dinner! See you there! 

Ticket Information: Tickets will be released for Scholars on Monday, Feb 24th at 12pm. There are very few guest tickets available, so be sure to secure a ticket for your friend and come together. Later in this week, a Google Form will be sent out where ticket holders can choose the main meal. 

Tickets for this event can be resold at the original price (Scholars tickets to other Clarendon Scholars only) until 8 PM, February 28th. All ticket changes/reselling must be communicated to the Council at clarendon.scholars@gmail.com.

Join us for a special Curator's Tour of contemporary Hong Kong art at the Ashmolean Museum! See the museum's new collection of works by Cheung Yee in the first major display of his art outside Hong Kong.

📅Date: Saturday, 8th March
📅Time: 3pm- 4pm
🏠Venue: Ashmolean Museum

Our curators will guide you through this important exhibition, explaining the meaning and importance of these special works. This is a rare chance to learn about the museum's newest additions from experts who know them best.

This special tour, brought to you with support from the Oxford Sino-British Academic Exchange Society, is only for Clarendon Scholars and offers insights not usually available to regular visitors.

The tour is one hour long and will take place as planned. Please wear comfortable clothes suitable for an indoor museum. If you need any accessibility help, please contact the Cultural Secretary before the event so we can make proper arrangements.

We look forward to seeing all Clarendon Scholars at this special tour of the Ashmolean Museum!

Caffeinated Walk☕🚶

Start your day with a warm cup of your favorite coffee or tea. If the weather is nice, enjoy a stroll through Christ Church Meadow, where you can unwind in nature and connect with fellow scholars. We plan to meet at Love Coffee Co on High Street, pick up our favorite drinks, and enjoy a refreshing walk towards Christ Church Meadow, embracing nature and good company along the way.

📍 Venue: Meet at Love Coffee Co. High Street, OX1 3DX
📅 Date: Sunday, 2nd March 2025
🕕 Time: 10 am

Share your recent scientific contribution - a poster or a printed selection of slides from a talk - with your fellow Clarendon Scholars!

📅Date and Time: Wednesday, 26th February,
16:00-18:00
🏠Venue: Physics Department - Beecroft Foye

A twist on conventional poster sessions:

• Choose your old poster or print some slides from your latest talk

• Get creative and add what makes people (from other fields) engage with your research: a photo, an anecdote, you choose!

• Bring your contribution along, share it, vote on your favourite and - get votes…

• ... Don’t miss your chance to win prizes - your contribution may well be the crowd's favourite

The event will take place in the Beecroft Foyer Physics Department & not only prizes, also food and drinks will be provided!

List of posters:

Influenza A Virus: Hijacking the Cell's Cleanup Crew

Mirudula Elanchezhian - Biology

Imagine the cell as a bustling city, where autophagy is the clean-up crew, clearing out trash and debris. My research uncovers how the influenza A virus sneaks into this process, hijacking the clean-up crew to its advantage. I’ll be sharing how viral proteins like NS2 and M2 disrupt the cleanup, leaving the city vulnerable.

Aligning Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Assessment in Practical Science for future-oriented science education

Lin Li - Education

Preparing students for an uncertain, complex future requires thoughtful alignment of curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment. This study aims to inform future-oriented science education policies by addressing the crucial question: How can we balance these three elements to foster student motivation, creative thinking and critical thinking?

Although inquiry has long been a cornerstone of science education, its effective enactment remains a persistent challenge. For instance, in Singapore, a recent shift in the A-Level Science curriculum encourages the use of more open-ended investigative tasks. While many educators welcome the inquiry approach to traditional confirmatory tasks, others have raised concerns regarding its feasibility, alluding to the challenging nature of conducting inquiry in the laboratories. This presentation highlights a theoretical framework that supports teaching and learning for fruitful development of lifelong skills in our next generation.

Modelling extremely sparse graphs

Valentin Kilian - Statistics

We present a novel class of CRM models that include rapidly varying CRMs. The CRM is constructed as a mixture of generalised gamma CRMs, has a simple expression, interpretable parameters, and includes the generalised gamma and stable processes as special limiting cases. We also present a simple size-biased construction for the CRM. To facilitate posterior inference on extremely sparse graphs, we adapt the Caron-Fox Hamiltonian Monte Carlo algorithm, which we use to analyse network properties of real data sets.

Join Us for the Clarendon Science-Slam!

Date and Time: Wednesday, Feb 19th
Venue: Magdalen College Auditorium

We are thrilled to announce the Clarendon Science-Slam, taking place on Wednesday, February 19th, at the Magdalen College Auditorium!

Here is what to expect:

• Short, engaging talks: 8 of our scholars will showcase their research in about 8 minutes, combining humour and accessibility.

• Audience-voted prize: A special prize will be awarded to the best presentation!

• Pizza and networking: After the talks, join us at the Magdalen MCR for pizza and great conversations.

List of speakers and abstracts:

Asymmetry in Hominid Hand Bones

Speaker: Rachel Hurwitz

What can the bones of chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, and orangutans teach us about the evolution of tool use and handedness in our own species? I’ll answer those questions in this talk! I’ll explain how bones tell the stories of how their owners lived, how weird it is that most humans are righthanded, and how studying tool-use in other species is crucial to understanding out own tooldependant behaviour. The great apes are our closest living relatives and studying their anatomy and behaviours, then comparing them to our own, can help answer questions about our evolutionary history.

Why are care policies still exclusive even today?

Speaker: Seonwoo Yoon

Why are certain older and disabled people still excluded from policy benefits even though care policies have been developed for several decades and the number of people who need them has been increasing? Is it because of welfare state retrenchment or budget problems? This talk suggests that the politics of care across countries is one significant reason for explaining the exclusion process by elaborating on extant examples, such as the gendered nature of caregiving, poverty and care receiving, and the way welfare states recognise differential care needs.

How Should We Share Randomised Trial Results?

Spekar: Sanjana Choudhury

Insights from Patients and Researchers Abstract: When randomised trials finish, it’s important to share the results with patients and the public in a clear and meaningful way. However, this doesn’t always happen effectively. In this study, we interviewed researchers and members of the public to understand their views on how trial results should be shared. We found that patients want information that is easy to understand, accessible, and relevant to their health. Researchers recognise these needs but face challenges in making results clear and widely available. Our findings highlight the need for better communication strategies to ensure trial results are shared in a patient-friendly way.

Decoding Huntington’s Disease: One Cell at a Time

Speaker: Sanskar Ranglani

Huntington’s disease is often described as having the cruel combination of symptoms of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, causing devastating neurological decline with no available treatments. The challenge? We don’t fully understand what happens to neurons before they die—and once they’re gone, they can’t be replaced. My research tackles this mystery using a novel mouse model and single-cell technology to uncover what goes wrong in the brain’s complex cell populations before neuronal dysfunction. By decoding these early changes, I aim to identify new strategies to protect neurons and, ultimately, prevent the progression of this devastating disease.

Ovarian cancer: cracking the LARP1 “phosphocode”

Translational programme: Using LARP1 as an early warning signal of ovarian cancer

Speaker: Alexander Colton

High-grade serous carcinoma of the ovary (HGSC) is a gynaecological malignancy with poor prognosis, in large part due to its late presentation and frequent development of drug resistance. La-related protein 1 (LARP1) is an RNA-binding oncoprotein whose ovexpression in multiple cancers, including HGSC, drives their development and progression. My research aims to determine whether, and how, phosphorylation by upstream kinases contributes to LARP1’s oncogenic activity within HGSC. Ultimately, this is part of a wider translational programme within my DPhil laboratory which aims to market LARP1 as a biomarker (early-warning signal) of this cancer to enable its earlier diagnosis.

Proteolipid code: what?

Speaker: Troy Kervin

We should give up on explaining how biological membranes work. They are too complex. Yet suddenly, a new theory appears: "proteolipid code". But surely, we have not overlooked a cellular code on the same magnitude of importance as the genetic code. Troy Kervin is insane.

Can We Protect Children Amidst War?

Speaker: Sydney Tucker

Today, 2 billion people are living in countries affected by war, fragility, or violence. More people are displaced than ever before in history, and the highest number of countries are at war since World War II. In this era of polycrisis: Is it even possible to protect children, amidst increasing war, crisis, and displacement? In this talk, Sydney will unpack data-driven mechanisms of extreme risks for children, while also presenting evidence-based solutions to demonstrate that we CAN interrupt the causal pathways placing children at disproportionate risk of detrimental outcomes — to ultimately increase protection and flourishing for children, even amidst horrific crises.

Ice Skating Session in colloaboration with Kellogg College MCR

Date and Time: Sunday, 16th Feb, 2025, 11am - 12:15pm 

Venue: Oxford Ice Rink, OX1 1RX

Get ready to hit the ice at Oxford Ice Rink! ❄️ Whether you're here to show off your skating skills or just have a laugh with friends, this is the perfect chance to embrace the winter vibes and enjoy a fun, active break in your day. Skating hire is included in the ticket price, so just wrap up warm, bring your best balance, and let’s make some great memories together! ⛸️⛸️⛸️

Note: Guest tickets might be released if there are any spaces left. However, we encourage guests to book directly through the ice skating company’s website, as priority will be given to Clarendon Scholars. For more information, reach us in WhatsApp.

Valentine’s Air-Dry Clay Session

Date and Time: Saturday, 8th Feb, 2025, 1:30 - 3:30PM

Venue: Platnauer Room at Brasenose College

Join us on February 8th for a Valentine-themed clay session! All materials and tools are provided, so you can craft a heartfelt gift for someone special or simply make something fun for yourself. This is the perfect chance to get creative in a relaxed atmosphere—no experience needed. Bring your ideas, have fun, and take home your own handmade piece to share the love! 🎨💖