College Record 2022/23

Other events included a discussion of two prominent new publications which addressed
populism and constitutional democracy. The discussion was led by Professor Chris Thornhill
from Manchester University and Professor Nick Barber from the Oxford Law Faculty. In
June the Cluster hosted an early career workshop co-sponsored by Cambridge University
Press and the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, providing an opportunity for scholars in the
early stages of their career to receive detailed feedback from experienced colleagues. It also
provided an opportunity to learn more about the publishing process. Places for this event
were allocated in a competitive international competition.
The programme for 2023–24 will begin with a public lecture by Professor Colin Crouch
which will address the idea of post-democratic societies.
Linda Mucalhy (Director)
Marina Kurkchiyan (Director)
MIND, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOUR
The Cluster was relaunched in November 2022 at a special President’s Seminar on
the ‘Mind and Brain’. Dr Tim Viney (RF) discussed the origins of spatial memory and
memory loss in humans, Dr Rachel Parkinson (RF) talked about bee vision and taste in
the agricultural landscape, and Buki Fatona (GS) provided a fascinating account of the
imagination as a vehicle for mental travel. This was followed by a drinks reception and guest
night.
The aim of the Cluster is to bring together diverse members of the College community
interested in exploring questions concerning the nature of the mind and the brain, and
the factors that guide or influence behaviour. Drawing upon the rich variety of research
backgrounds, meetings are intended to take ideas and concepts that are very familiar to
some experts, and share them with other experts from very different backgrounds, leading
to a greater understanding and novel insights.
RESEARCH CLUSTERS
The Cluster held two events in Hilary term, which were well attended. Building upon
the wide range of questions raised by the attendees at the President’s Seminar, the
first meeting was held as a ‘mutual tutorial’ featuring Dr Rachel Parkinson and Dr Tim
Viney, who contrasted navigation strategies in bees and mammals. We found a surprising
overlap in terms of scientific terms and concepts, and the discussion even extended to
‘social navigation’ in ants. We were delighted that such a variety of experts from different
backgrounds could contribute. This was followed by lunch in Hall. The second meeting
featured an external speaker, Dr Abhishek Banerjee from Newcastle University, who
provided an interesting account of flexible decision-making, in which the prefrontal cortex
takes a leading role. This was followed by a Cluster dinner in Hall.
Two further meetings were held in Trinity term. Given that many Cluster members live far
from College, this term’s events were organised as hybrid meetings (in-person and online).
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