Cumberland Lodge Weekend 2025

This year's Cumberland Lodge Weekend for the LSE Philosophy Department takes place from 14-16 November.

This year's topic: ‘Respecting Nature, Living Sustainably’, offering a variety of interesting talks, lots of opportunities to get to know your peers and faculty, to socialise and to enjoy the scenic views of Cumberland Lodge and surroundings.

Tickets

Tickets go on sale on Monday 22 September 2025. The weekend costs £110 per person. You can buy the tickets directly in the LSE e-shop via the link. We advise you purchase as soon as possible.

Bursaries

There are six bursary places available to students. The bursary covers all expenses for the weekend; room & board, & transport to and from Cumberland Lodge.

To be considered, students must fill out this form by 6pm on Friday 17 October 2025.

If you are successful, you will be notified via email by Monday 27 October 2024. If you do not receive an email by this date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.

Programme

This year our theme will be “Respecting Nature, Living Sustainably”.

The elements in bold are core parts of the programme that you should make sure you attend. Please let Prof. Birch know if you need to miss a core part of the programme.

All seminars and talks will take place in the Flitcroft Room (The Mews Conference Centre, on the right of the Main Lodge Building).

Friday

5-5.45pm Arrival / Tea

5.45pm Welcome and briefing from Cumberland Lodge Staff and Prof. Jonathan Birch (Director of The Jeremy Coller Centre for Animal Sentience, LSE)

6.15pm Opening keynote speaker: Prof. Karen Kovaka (UC San Diego): “Intervention in Ecology”

7.15pm Dinner

8.30-9.30pm Speed networking

10.00pm Bar opens.

Saturday

8.15 – 9am Breakfast

9.15 – 10.15am Saturday morning keynote speaker Dr Natasha Boyland (The Jeremy Coller Centre for Animal Sentience, LSE): “Respecting Nature in Practice: From Policy to Poo Bags”

10.15-10.45am: Tea and coffee break for discussing the talk

10.45am-12.45pm: Respecting Nature, Living Sustainably: A Workshop with The Jeremy Coller Centre for Animal Sentience.

12.45pm: Group photo

1 – 2pm Lunch

2pm Free Time / Group Nature Walk – (Sunset is at 4.12pm. There will be a group nature walk that returns before sunset. From 4pm, tea, coffee and cake are available at the bar. A warning that if you walk to Windsor you will need to take a taxi back due to the encroaching darkness.)

7.15pm Dinner

9.00pm Free evening (group socialising must be kept to the Basement to control noise)

Sunday (Please vacate rooms by 9am)

9.00-9.45am Breakfast

Sunday morning: Free time with options including a service at the Royal Chapel and a second group walk at 10am. Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be available at the bar.

12-1pm Closing keynote speaker Prof. Jonathan Birch (Director of The Jeremy Coller Centre for Animal Sentience, LSE): “Respecting Nature, Respecting Sentience”

1 – 2pm Lunch

3pm Latest time to depart from Cumberland Lodge

LSE holds a wide range of events, covering many of the most controversial issues of the day, and speakers at our events may express views that cause offence. The views expressed by speakers at LSE events do not reflect the position or views of the London School of Economics and Political Science.