Students & Ithacans
Come curious.
No expertise required, just an interest in learning and hearing how other people see the world. Bring a friend, or come make one.
Get on the listA student-led lecture series · Ithaca, NY
Ideas are better in good company.
A Cornell professor, a room full of curious people, and one wonderfully niche topic, served at a bar in Ithaca. Come for the talk. Stay for the conversation.
The idea
A talk is just the beginning.
We’re starting Cornell on Tap because we want more chances to learn something unexpected, and to meet people we might never otherwise get to know.
The idea is simple. Bring Cornell professors and students together in a relaxed social setting, hear a fascinating talk, and make room for the conversations that follow.
Our goal is to bring people from different majors and backgrounds into the same conversation. You don’t need expertise in the topic, just an interest in learning and hearing how other people see the world.
COT 1000
No exams
Ideas in Good Company
- Credits
- 0
- Prerequisites
- Curiosity
- Instructor
- A different Cornell professor each time
- Meets
- Evenings, at a bar in Ithaca
- Open to
- Every major, plus faculty, staff, and curious Ithacans
- Grading
- None. We checked.
How an evening goes
Four rounds. No syllabus.
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Pull up a stool
Grab a drink (a soda counts), find a seat, and say hello to whoever’s next to you.
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The talk
A Cornell professor goes deep on a subject they love, pitched for a room of curious non-experts.
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Questions
Ask the obvious question. Ask the strange one. Both tend to lead somewhere good.
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The conversation
The talk ends; the conversation doesn’t. Stay, mingle, and meet people from across campus, professor included.
Pull the tap
Pour yourself a rabbit hole.
One pull, one wonderfully niche topic. These are examples of the talks we love, not a schedule, so keep pouring until one makes you say, “Wait, really?”
Why is the night sky dark?
Pull up a chair
There’s a seat for everyone.
Professors
Give a talk.
Is there a subject you could talk about for hours? We’d love to hear it, and so would a room full of curious people. We’ll take care of the room and the crowd.
Pitch a talkBars & venues
Host a night.
Have a space that would suit a talk and a curious crowd? We’d love to bring Cornell on Tap to you.
Get in touchThe next round
Our first gathering is coming soon.
The newsletter is where we’ll share speaker announcements, event details, and registration links as they’re ready. Subscribers hear first.
Read the first issueGathering No. 001
Speaker & topic to be announced
- When
- Coming soon
- Where
- A bar in Ithaca, NY
- Who
- You, and whoever’s sitting next to you
Questions
Good questions.
Anything else? Write to hello@cornellontap.com.
Do I need to know anything about the topic?
Not a thing. Talks are pitched for a room of curious non-experts. Bring questions, not credentials.
Who can come?
Anyone who’s curious: students from every major, grad students, faculty, staff, and Ithacans. Because we meet at bars, each event lists its age policy, which depends on the venue.
Do I have to drink?
Not at all. Order whatever you like; a soda is just as welcome as a stout. If you do drink, please drink responsibly.
How do I hear about events?
Join the newsletter. Speaker announcements, event details, and registration links go out there first. We also post on Instagram at @cornellontap.
I’m a professor. Can I give a talk?
Yes, please. Email hello@cornellontap.com with a subject you care about and a sentence or two on why it would make a great evening.
Who runs Cornell on Tap?
Cornell on Tap is student-led, started by Julian and Luciano because we wanted more chances to learn something unexpected and meet people we might never otherwise get to know. Come say hi at a gathering.
Last call
Get on the list.
Be the first to hear about speakers, dates, and places, plus the occasional recap to keep the conversation going between gatherings.