Video Release: Thinking Deeply in an Age of Distraction with Prof Carolin Duttlinger
Date Published: 22.06.2026
Professor Carolin Duttlinger, Wadham Fellow and Academic Lead of the Wadham Experience’s Thinking Clearly programme, joined Robin Clyfan for a conversation at The Ned, exploring the dynamic relationship between attention and distraction.
The Wadham Experience held the second event in its new Thinking Deeply series, in partnership with (and hosted at) The Ned London, in April. The series was established to continue the ethos of the Wadham Experience and create space for sustained inquiry into the questions that matter. No quick takes. No soundbites. Just thoughtful exploration between leading and curious minds.
The talk drew on Carolin’s research, as well as her contributions to the Wadham Experience, addressing questions such as: How does our attention shape reality? Can we achieve real depth of thought, or have we surrendered to the noise? How do we maintain focus? And should we? Carolin is Professor of German Literature and Culture at Wadham College, University of Oxford. Her work sits at the intersection of history, philosophy, and contemporary life, making her uniquely positioned to help us understand why focus has become so contested and what we might learn from the past.
It is a treat to return to the core ideas of Thinking Clearly nearly a year later, with the 2026 programme on the horizon.
Is this conversation about distraction of interest to you or someone you know?
Please feel free to share this video widely. If you, or others you know, enjoy this kind of intellectual journey and debate, it is not too late to apply for the forthcoming Wadham Experience programmes taking place at Wadham in September 2026: Thinking Clearly (6–11 September) and Thinking Critically (13–18 September).
These scholarly retreats—rigorous, expansive, and quietly transformative—are designed for leaders and innovators who crave deeper thinking and richer perspectives. We are hugely excited about the 2026 iterations of the programmes.
If you're a Wadham College alumnus/alumna, you receive a 10% alumni fee discount and may also pass this on to anyone you refer to the programme.
If you would like further details about the 2026 programmes, you can download a brochure from the Wadham Experience website or contact the team at we@wadham.ox.ac.uk.