29 October 2026, 17:30 – 19:00
The Thouless Natural Sciences Lecture | Gambling harms in the UK: speaking science to power
- LocationTrinity Hall Lecture Theatre and online via livestream
- CostFree of charge
- Booking closing dateThursday, 29 October 2026 12:00pm
- Event typeLecture
This is the second Thouless Natural Sciences Lecture, established in honour of alumnus and Nobel prize-winner Professor David Thouless (1952)
We are grateful to Beth Sufian and alumnus James Passamano (1998), whose generosity has made this event and future Thouless Natural Sciences Lectures possible.
Join Trinity Hall Fellow, Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones, National Advisor on Gambling Harms, as she uses images and anecdotes to bring science to a subject long overshadowed by other addictions.
The arrival of smartphones in 2007 and the proliferation of online betting coincided with a change in the way the country was exposed to gambling, through both sports and advertising, following a loosening of regulatory measures in the same year. Henrietta is Founder and Director of the first NHS clinic to treat gambling disorder, and has witnessed first-hand the harms caused by the ‘casino in your pocket’ of smartphones as people moved away from traditional forms of gambling to online betting.
Since her first clinic, another fourteen have been set up across the country as the prevalence of gambling disorder has now reached a staggering 2.5% of the population, according to the Gambling Commission’s recent statistics. Gambling disorder is finally starting to be addressed with evidence-based treatment, prevention and research but a lot more needs to be done to achieve parity of esteem with other mental health conditions. A public health approach will allow for a safer world protecting the population from gambling harms.
The event will also be available to watch online via livestream.
All are welcome at the drinks reception beforehand.
Programme
17:30-17:45 Drinks reception in the Terrace Room
17:45-19:00 Lecture in the Lecture Theatre
Speaker
Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones
Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones OBE, DL is a Consultant Psychiatrist specialised in Addiction Psychiatry.
As well as pursuing a clinical career in Medicine and Psychiatry she has led a parallel academic career obtaining her Medical Doctorate (MD Res) in the field of Neuroscience from Imperial College researching the role of Executive Function as a predictor of outcome in the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse.
She was appointed NHS England’s first ever National Clinical Advisor on Gambling Harms in September 2022 and is a regular advisor to the UK government on matters relating to gambling disorder, gaming disorder and mental health. Henrietta has been employed by the same NHS Trust (CNWL NHS Trust) for the past thirty years and is the Founder and Director of two national clinics which she leads clinically in parallel with her research and advisory roles.
In 2008 she was the Founder of the first ever NHS clinic to treat gambling disorder. There are now fifteen clinics nationally developed from her original gambling one.
She is the Immediate Past Vice President of the Royal Society of Medicine having been both Trustee and President of Psychiatry at the RSM before her role of VP and she is a Past President of the Medical Women’s Federation.
Henrietta leads on Behavioural Addictions in her role as Visiting Senior Research Fellow at Cambridge University in the Department of Psychiatry. She has an extensive publication list of both peer reviewed papers and of textbooks.
Henrietta is a Fellow of Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge and is Honorary Professor at UCL in the Faculty of Brain Science.
In 2019 Henrietta was appointed OBE for services to Addiction Treatment and to Research.
In 2020 she received the Psychiatrist of the Year 2020 Award from the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
In 2023 she became Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists; this is the highest honour the College can award to individuals in society who have made an impact to mental health nationally.
In November 2023 she was appointed Deputy Lieutentant of Greater London and assigned to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. In this role she supports the Lord Lieutenant in upholding the work and values of the Royal Family.
Booking and cost
Booking has now closed.
There is no charge to attend, however, booking is required.
Spaces to attend in person are available on a first come, first served basis.
This is a hybrid event. You can book to attend in-person or online using the booking links.
Please note that the booking deadline is 12:00 on Thursday 29 October.
If you are joining us online, you will receive an email by 16:00 on Thursday 29 October with a link and joining instructions.
The livestream will begin at 17:45.
Photography
We like to take photographs at our alumni events to use in our digital and print communications. If you do not wish to have your photo taken, please let us know in advance or on the day.
Location
The Lecture Theatre, Trinity Hall, Trinity Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1TJ.
Please visit the Porters’ Lodge on arrival where they will direct you to the venue.
Cancellations
Please let us know as soon as possible if you find you are no longer able to attend in person, as we have limited capacity for this event. Please email the office or call +44 (0)1223 332567 at the earliest opportunity.
Contact
If you have any queries, please contact Liz Pentlow on alumnievents@trinhall.cam.ac.uk or call +44 (0)1223 332567. If you have any questions about events in general, please see our event FAQs.
THwomen50
This event is part of THwomen50. From October 2026 to June 2028, we are marking the 50th anniversary of the admission of women to the College with a series of events, lectures and stories celebrating our community and the people who have shaped it. Find out more about the anniversary on the website.