The Wadham Symposium 2026 - A cross-college, cross-disciplinary day of debate

On Saturday, 7 February 2026, Wadham will hold its annual symposium on the theme of FORCE. Force implies power, strength, and intensity. Forces apply pressure, generate momentum and create change. To force may be to coerce or to resist. Yet forces of habit keep us static. Force can be institutionally sanctioned – the armed forces, the police force, the force of law. Forces of nature expose the limits and legitimacy of this authority. How can we understand the forces at work around, upon and within us?

Presentations from students, fellows, staff, and professors will spark diverse and stimulating conversations, both in formal sessions and informal exchanges over coffee, lunch, and dinner. The event will foster a vibrant intellectual community, offering a chance to engage deeply with ideas and colleagues. It promises to be a highlight of the academic year, full of lively dialogue and intellectual exploration. Please visit https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/HmdPdaMvtn or contact one of the conveners (Norman Aselmeyer, Marko Ilić, Catriona Parry, Yevhen Yashchuk) to register.