Oxford University Society Cambridgeshire

Oxford University Society Cambridgeshire alumni

Welcome to the Oxford University Society in Cambridgeshire (OUSC).

We are a group of Oxford alumni and former lecturers who now live in Cambridgeshire.  We organise talks on a wide range of topics, visits to interesting places in the area, and opportunities to socialise.  We also contribute to activities in local schools who are encouraging young people to apply to Oxford and organise an annual get together for new Oxford students just before they embark on their first term.

There is a  programme of talks in central Cambridge as well as social meetings each year. If you would like to know more or join our email list please contact us on <ouscambridgeshire@gmail.com>

Send us your name and email address, as well as the college you attended, subject and year of matriculation.

We are looking for new members for our organizing committee. Please let us know if you are interested on the same email address as above.

Events Calendar

For the first part of 2026 we plan:

27th March 2026: a talk by Dr Emma Davenport on the work of the Sanger Institute, 6.30 pm the Wilkinson Room, St John’s Church, Hills Road Cambridge CB2 8RN – see blow for more details about the speaker, the talk and the venue

t.b.a., a visit to RAF Wyton,

t.b.a., an open discussion on entrepreneurship with a  panel of business leaders.

t.b.a., a tour of the Churchill College art collection.

27th March 2026

Using genomics to improve the treatment of patients with severe infection

Emma Davenport is a group leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, a world-leading centre of genomic research to improve human health and understand life on earth. Emma leads a computational research group who focus on why there can be such variation between individuals in terms of severity of illness and response to treatment. The team integrate functional genomics and clinical data to get a better understanding of this variation in response to infection. Her team have sequenced large cohorts of patients with different types of infections and are also interested in perturbations that affect the immune system such as pregnancy and autoimmune conditions. Prior to the Sanger Institute, Emma completed her postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School and her DPhil in Clinical Medicine and undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of Oxford (Hertford College)

St John’s Church Hills Road lies opposite Homerton College. It has its own small car park with two designated disabled spaces reached at the side of the church from Blinco Grove. There is no on-street parking permitted for non-residents before 7pm on Blinco Grove, but there no restrictions on other neighbouring roads such as Cavendish Avenue and Hills Avenue which are a short walk from the church.

There is a charge of £7.50 to attend this talk which can be paid in advance into the society’s bank account or at the door in cash. Refreshments will be provided. If you are intending to come we would be grateful for some indication sent to the email above so that we can estimate the number  of guests.

The location is fully wheelchair accessible and you are welcome to arrive from 6.00pm.

Past Talks

Hereward the Wake

Etheldreda, Fen Princess
Japan, Russia, Vietnam
Making illuminated manuscripts
The Houthis in Yemen
The Museum of Cambridge
The future of electric batteries
‘A writing life’
Misericords
Writing family history

Past Visits

The Parker Library at Corpus Christi College
The Cambridge University Botanic Gardens
The women’s art collection at Murray Edwards College
Denny Abbey

2026 Committee

Fenella Boyle (Oriel, PPE) Chair

Roger Lilley (Christ Church, Theology) Treasurer, email and website

Judith Findlay (St Anne’s, English)

Mike Lynch (St Edmund Hall, English)

Mo Middleton (St Peter’s, Theology)

Elizabeth Stazicker (LMH, History)