Finale of Cambridge's 800th anniversary soon

Updated on: Monday, December 14, 2009

London: Plans are underway for the final event of Cambridge's 800th Anniversary Year, which will take place in January 2010.

Exactly twelve months from the start of the 800th anniversary celebrations, when more than 10,000 people crowded into central Cambridge to witness a spectacular light show, light will once again tell the ancient University's story.

It was in 1209 that groups of scholars gathered together at the ancient Roman trading post of Cambridge for the purpose of study, which is the earliest record of the University.

The 800th Anniversary has been celebrated in several events during the last year, including in India, from where students came to Cambridge for generations.

For three evenings beginning January 16, a light show designed by world-renowned light artist Ross Ashton will be projected onto Senate House and Old Schools.

This year's event will build upon that of last year. Spectators will follow a circular route from Senate House Yard, down Senate House Passage and into the grounds of King's
College, where another piece of light art will be projected onto the Gibbs Building, as well as onto Cambridge's most famous landmark, King's College Chapel.

Last January's light show focused on Cambridge's history, and the forthcoming show will focus on the transformative research-taking place at the University. Stunning images from across the varsity will showcase the wide variety of work happening today.

Blurring the boundaries is a video installation, which will be projected onto Senate House and Old Schools. The show will examine the interactions between art and science.

Nano, which will be projected onto King's College Chapel, will feature an array of images from the Cambridge Nanoscience Centre projected onto Cambridge's most famous building.

Proteins to Planets, which will be projected onto the Gibbs Building in the grounds of King's College, will illustrate the range of research in the physical sciences taking place at Cambridge, from galaxies and nebulae to fruit flies and plant cells.

Finale of Cambridge's 800th anniversary soon

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