Why is our Supporters’ Lunch many people’s favourite event in the Somerville year? Perhaps these pictures from this year’s Supporters’ Lunch will explain it.

There’s so much joy in the conversations that occur between the generations, across disciplines and in pursuit of curiosity. It captures what our College means to so many: a shared belief in the power of education to transform people’s lives without fear of favour, for those who deserve it most. 

This year, we were extra-lucky to welcome five of our Junior Research Fellows, whose research showcases our guests described as both inspiring and humbling. We were also fortunate to hear from two brilliant students, our Sanctuary Scholar Asif, and Autumn, a care-experienced student who graduated last year. After their stories ensured that hardly a dry eye was left in the house, we welcomed the Co-Chair of our Development Board, Ayla Busch, for a speech that recalled how her time at Somerville made her see how, though not the oldest or the grandest, Somerville has always been home to a special strain of intellectual greatness.

Thank you to our kitchen staff, our Development team, our amazing Choir – and to everyone who reminded us why we’re proud to be Somervillian.

Further reading?

Professor Aditi Lahiri awarded ERC Proof of Concept Grant to develop flexible speech-recognition technology

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08 July 2026
Professor Aditi Lahiri awarded ERC Proof of Concept Grant to develop flexible speech-recognition technology

Somerville Fellow Elected to EMBO Membership

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03 July 2026
Somerville Fellow Elected to EMBO Membership

Fragmented: Somerville Students Publish New Translations of Ingeborg Bachmann

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Fragmented: Somerville Students Publish New Translations of Ingeborg Bachmann