The Phoenix Society is a forum to broaden knowledge and discussion and to unite the three common rooms of Churchill College. It revives the Socratic Society, which thrived in Churchill from the 1960s to the early 1980s bringing, eminent scientists, academics, writers and politicians to the college.

Since it’s rebirth in 2003, the society’s speakers have included Joseph Nye, Howard Jacobson, Kishan Rana, Sir John Boyd, Marvin Kalb, Jerry and Sis Levin, Prof. Sir David Wallace and Prof. George Steiner. Subjects have ranged from terrorism, Creativity in the Arts and Sciences, the peace process in Northern Ireland, the U.S. elections, peacekeeping in the Middle East, the Social and Legal Implications of Biometric Technologies, Women in Science, and Professor Steiner’s inaugural talk “Why Read?”

Membership in the society is open to all members of Churchill College — fellows, staff, students and alumni.

The society committee is always on the look out for interesting speakers so if you know of any or would like to give a talk yourself then please get in touch by mailing the committee.