15/04/2026 - 15/04/2026
An informal monthly evening of ideas, drinks, and conversation with Cambridge PhD researchers at University Arms.
What happens when academic research leaves the lecture hall and enters the bar?
Ideas in Bloom is a free, informal evening series hosted in the Library at University Arms, Cambridge. Once a month, a PhD researcher or recent graduate shares the thinking behind their thesis, not through slides and jargon, but through story, insight, and conversation.
Each event includes:
• A 20–30 minute accessible talk • An open Q&A and audience discussion • Informal mingling over drinks afterwards
Whether you are a Cambridge local, a visitor, a hotel guest, or simply curious, this is a space designed for listening, asking questions, and discovering something new.
No prior expertise required, only curiosity.
This month's talk: Down the Red Pill Rabbit Hole: Inside the Manosphere’s Web of Connected Ideas
Annabel Hoare, a PhD researcher at Anglia Ruskin University, delves into how “the red pill” logic is blurring the boundaries of extremism, allowing conspiracy narratives, racism and male supremacism to proliferate in today’s society. She reveals how this framework legitimises hostility, distrust, and nihilism, illuminating what it truly means to “take the red pill.”
Content Note & Event Guidelines
This month’s lecture will touch on sensitive topics including mention of gender-based violence, violent extremism, racism, and mental health struggles. The themes discussed in this talk can provoke strong emotions and may reflect personal experiences in ways which can be triggering for some attendees. We encourage guests to put their own wellbeing first, stepping out at any time if needed.
We are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful space for speakers and audience members to discuss diverse and sometimes provocative topics like the Manosphere. Open discussion is encouraged, but we ask all attendees to engage with kindness, curiosity, and respect for others’ perspectives and experiences. Discriminatory language, harassment, or any other behaviour that makes others feel unsafe will not be tolerated.
To support a safe and open environment, we ask that you do not record or take photos of the speaker, the slides, or other attendees at the event. If you have any concerns or queries during the event, a member of the organising team will be available to support you.