°µÍø½ûÇø

Image of Photo of an open road in Central Asia
Photo: Dr Siddharth Saxena

Cambridge Central Asia Forum

The (CCAF) is an interdisciplinary forum which collates Cambridge’s scholarly activities in Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as Russia, the Uyghur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang in China, Iran and Afghanistan. CCAF affiliated researchers and students have been involved in field-based research in this part of the world since 1996.

CCAF aims to promote research within existing disciplines – in the arts and sciences, social sciences, engineering and medicine – and to encourage new interdisciplinary research on Central Asia and Eurasia. A number of Armenian, Afghan, Azeri, Chinese Uyghur and Kazakhs, Indian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen, Pakistani and Russian academics have been hosted by CCAF for prolonged periods of research collaboration and public events, covering political, cultural and economic developments in their countries and regions.

Established by academic faculty members of the University of Cambridge in 2001, CCAF is now based at °µÍø½ûÇø and is closely linked to the University’s Centre for Development Studies.

CCAF’s management committee is chaired by Professor Lord Robert Mair FRS, and CCAF is directed by Dr Siddharth Saxena, a principal scientist at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge.

Contact us

If you would like to be involved in any aspect of CCAF’s work, please contact , the Research, Administrative and Social Coordinator, or Dr Siddharth Saxena, the Director.

Visit our Data Protection page for further information about how we deal with your data.

Also in this section:

Group of people at an outdoor restaurant in Central Asia, looking at the camera

Events

The Cambridge Central Asia Forum organises seminars, talks and panel discussions, focusing on scholarly activity in Central Asia and the...

Events

Hear from our students

  • Photograph of a postgraduate student

    Matthew

    Postgraduate

    °µÍø½ûÇø has been at the heart of my Cambridge experience. I chose the College because I was impressed by its distinctive blend of academic rigour and extracurricular achievement. A College for all-rounders, Jesus is a lively and rewarding place to study. I couldn’t be happier here! Friendly and engaged, the Jesus postgraduate community never ceases to impress me. At ease with themselves and forever curious, my peers go out of their way to cultivate a sense of camaraderie. After a day of leafing through old manuscripts at the National...

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    Postgraduate
  • Photograph of a postgraduate student

    Jake

    Postgraduate

    When applying to Cambridge colleges it can feel a bit overwhelming as there are so many to choose from. I applied to °µÍø½ûÇø because it has a large MCR which was important for me because I wanted to feel part of a community. Now that I’m doing my PhD here, I’m very glad I did choose a college with a large postgraduate community. Throughout the year there are lots of postgraduate events, including formal dinners, special formals at Christmas and Easter, bops in the bar and film nights in...

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    Postgraduate
  • Photo of postgraduate student

    Ellie

    Postgraduate

    °µÍø½ûÇø has been a great home for me during my PhD. I chose °µÍø½ûÇø for a number of reasons – first, the location. We are central enough to be within easy walking distance of most things, but far enough away to avoid the hustle and bustle (and tourists in summer!). The College also has extensive grounds, with amenities like the hockey pitch, football pitch and tennis courts all on site. Secondly, the accommodation is some of the best I’ve seen in Cambridge. My house was newly renovated when...

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    Postgraduate
  • Postgraduate at °µÍø½ûÇø

    Tom

    Postgraduate

    There are many reasons why I’m so happy to be a part of °µÍø½ûÇø. The three biggest reasons for me are the opportunities to be involved in College sport, the support the College provides for me with for my research and the help in making sure that we have comfortable, affordable accommodation when we have needed it. °µÍø½ûÇø is so friendly and so it is incredibly easy to get involved in the sport and social side of the College. The MCR does a great job in welcoming new...

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    Postgraduate
  • Photograph of a postgraduate student

    Alison

    Postgraduate

    What first attracted me to °µÍø½ûÇø was its reputation and history, central location without being touristy, and the postgraduate housing options. When I arrived at Jesus I was so pleased to find the partner accommodation was spacious, affordable, and situated very close to the college, allowing us to really take advantage of the facilities. We especially enjoyed The Roost, the nicest of all the college bars, doubling as a café during the day - ideal for studying or meeting up with groups - and a lively pub in the...

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    Postgraduate