Summer often encourages us to look outward - to explore, travel and discover new things. Essays ask us to do something similar: to become curious about people, places, ideas and experiences outside of our own.
The Nine Dots Prize
@ninedotsprize.org
We’re a book prize for a book that hasn’t been written yet. Every two years we ask a thought-provoking question, the best response wins $100,000 + a book deal.
“Attention is the rarest and purest form of Generosity.” This group exhibition brings together artists whose work across forms invites you to consider the qualities of focus and care that underpin the creative process. www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/events/51754/
Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity - CRASSH
Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
crassh.cam.ac.uk
Big idea: This time last year, scientists detected the biggest merger of two massive black holes, which caused scientists to re-evaluate current theories of how black holes form www.theguardian.com/science/2025... Some discoveries don’t just answer questions, they force us to ask entirely new ones
CRASSH has shared its summer 2026 reading list where you can find a selection of books, papers and articles written, edited and co-authored by current and recent members of the @crasshlive.bsky.social research community. What’s on your summer reading list? www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/blog/crassh-...
CRASSH summer reading 2026 - CRASSH
An interdisciplinary summer reading list courtesy of CRASSH's research community. Enjoy!
crassh.cam.ac.uk
🌍Big Question If you could spend a year understanding one subject deeply, what would it be? #BigQuestions #DeepThinking #PersonalGrowth #Knowledge #Education
Our podcast explores the essay as a form, writing tips, and features a range of guests sharing their insights. If you're looking for thoughtful listening this summer, or something to help you on your writing journey, now is a great time to start! www.youtube.com/@ninedotspri...
Nine Dots Prize
The Nine Dots Prize rewards original thinking in response to contemporary societal issues. Each Prize cycle lasts two years, with a new question being announced every other October.
youtube.com
Question: Can creativity be shared between humans and machines? Big Idea: Mathematicians are increasingly using AI systems not just to check work, but to identify patterns and suggest new avenues. Some researchers believe this could fundamentally change how mathematics is done. shorturl.at/iO2b6
‘It is incredible’: How AI is transforming mathematics
Thanks to some surprising advances, mathematicians are starting to realize that artificial intelligence could radically alter their profession.
nature.com
What aspects of an essay keep you reading? - Insight - Perspective - Story - Argument
Today marks the start of the Weirding Sustainability Festival, a two-day event, exploring what global weirding means for researchers, creative practitioners, and citizens, and how reimagining our practices spark more radical and meaningful change? www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/events/50956/
Writing exercise: Take an essay you are writing and argue against its central idea. Research may lead you to another conclusion and accounting for any contradictions will only strengthen your work.
A question for all our followers: what is a book, essay or topic you’ve been wanting to read but haven’t found writings on? It may begin with you.
Writing Tip: Leave a draft for a few days and return to it at a later date, as a reader rather than a writer. Oftentimes, taking a step back to look at work with a fresh pair of eyes will illuminate what matters most in a piece.
Big Idea: Scientists have discovered more than 100 new species in the Coral Sea marine park, reminding us how much of the planet remains unknown. How does the idea of an unknown world change the way we think about certainty and understanding? www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Deepwater discoveries: scientists find more than 110 new fish and invertebrate species in the Coral Sea
Brittlestars, sea anemones and a catshark among new-to-science species collected during expedition off the Queensland coast
theguardian.com
Later this month, join @crasshlive.bsky.social for its Annual Lecture with Tina Campt (Princeton University), presenting from her forthcoming book, Art in a Time of Sorrow. In this talk, she explores how Black contemporary art gives expression to absence, grief and mourning. tinyurl.com/mwj8km63
Annual Lecture with Tina Campt | Afterimages: Grieving in fractured time - CRASSH
Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
crassh.cam.ac.uk
This week is the start of the Driftlines film festival in Cambridge dedicated to stories of resilience, activism, and self-determination across ocean worlds. @crasshlive.bsky.social will be hosting a dynamic programme of screenings, workshops, and events: www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/events/50654...
Driftlines Film Festival | Te Puna Ora: The Source of Life (2024) - CRASSH
Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
crassh.cam.ac.uk
A good Nine Dots‑style question often emerges from intellectual discomfort. Embrace that discomfort and see where your writing takes you!
How does a cow learn to use a broom as a tool? Join @crasshlive.bsky.social for a special event bringing together experts in philosophy, comparative cognition, vision science, and computational psychology to explore how humans and other animals navigate the physical world. tinyurl.com/4rj5w5uv
Thinking Through Things: How human and animal minds understand the physical world - CRASSH
Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
crassh.cam.ac.uk
AI and the Novel Next week, join an expert panel as they discuss the novel as a form and what they hope and fear from the AI revolution. Book your tickets: www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/events/50508/
AI and the Novel - CRASSH
Cambridge Literary Festival
crassh.cam.ac.uk
As we near the end of the 2024/25 prize cycle, the Board has begun to think about the next Nine Dots Prize question. This question will shape the next two years of thinking, research and writing for the Prize, and opening up new ways of thinking.
Big idea: What if ADHD isn’t a lack of attention, but hypercuriosity, an intensified urge to explore and understand? A recent Positive News piece explores how reframing ADHD could change how we teach—and what we value. www.positive.news/lifestyle/he...
Rethinking ADHD as ‘hypercuriosity’
What if ADHD isn’t a deficit of attention, but an intensified curiosity? A new study explores how reframing ADHD could transform education
positive.news
Five questions. Five books. From attention economics to belonging and law, explore past Nine Dots Prize winners and the books their essays became! www.cambridge.org/core/publica...
Books | Publications | Cambridge Core
Cambridge University Press publishes research monographs, academic reference, textbooks, books for professionals, and books for graduate students.
cambridge.org
This Saturday, join artist and writer Alice Mazzilli and Cambridge research professor Pippa Steele for a Jamigraphy workshop, exploring the rhythm of writing in response to live soundscapes. www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/events/48957/
Jamigraphy: Writing as rhythm, movement and embodiment - CRASSH
Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
crassh.cam.ac.uk
@cambridgefestival.bsky.social is here! Our partner @crasshlive.bsky.social has a programme filled with talks, workshops, art & exhibitions running 16 Mar–2 Apr. A month of public thinking across multiple disciplines. Come see what’s on: www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/blog/cambrid... #CambridgeFestival
CRASSH at the Cambridge Festival 2026 - CRASSH
Introducing this year’s contributions by CRASSH researchers and fellows to the Cambridge Festival.
crassh.cam.ac.uk
As part of @cambridgefestival.bsky.social, next week @crasshlive.bsky.social is hosting an immersive, hands-on workshop: ‘The Word for World is Forest’. This event invites participants to reimagine trees through art and climate fiction. Thursday 19th March: www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/events/49875/
The Word for World is Forest: Imagining trees through art and climate fiction - CRASSH
Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
crassh.cam.ac.uk
Next week marks the start of @cambridgefestival.bsky.social, where @crasshlive.bsky.social will be presenting an exciting series of events, from film screenings to workshops and interactive exhibitions, taking place from 16 March – 2 April. Further details: www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/blog/cambrid...
CRASSH at the Cambridge Festival 2026 - CRASSH
Introducing this year’s contributions by CRASSH researchers and fellows to the Cambridge Festival.
crassh.cam.ac.uk
Next Wednesday, join friend of The Nine Dots Prize, David Runciman, for an important discussion reflecting on the state of democracy in the West - and around the world. In collaboration with @lrb.co.uk David will be joined by Lyse Doucet, Thant Myint-U and Christopher Clark shorturl.at/UoMWl
Book tickets – The Slow Death of Democracy – The Light Auditorium at Friends House
The Slow Death of Democracy – The Light Auditorium at Friends House, Wed 11 Mar 2026 - Update: with a regional war having broken out in the Middle East, with significant democratic and anti-democratic...
shorturl.at
Where do you discover new essays? -Books / Collections -Journals & Magazines -Online -Recommendations
The Ambivalent Archives Research Network is hosting a visit to the @britishlibrary.bsky.social's Eccles Institute for the Americas, inviting you to consider the range of print material, practice hands-on engagement, and ask questions of the role of the British Library in archiving in the UK today.
Ambivalent Archives visits….the British Library - CRASSH
Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
crassh.cam.ac.uk
Struggling to make time for your writing? ✍️ Join @crasshlive.bsky.social’s Writing Weeks this March & July, giving you the perfect opportunity to commit to your writing and join a community. (Cambridge University only) Register to attend below: www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/research/pat...
Writing Weeks - CRASSH
Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
crassh.cam.ac.uk
