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Gresham College’s free public lectures (running since 1597) are delivered by world-leading professors in the arts and science sectors. For teachers and students, they are a resource for developing subject knowledge and skills, careers advice, EPQ projects and UCAS statements. With a searchable back catalogue of around 2,500 lectures – there is something for everyone.
Upcoming, bookable lectures are as follows:
ASTRONOMY
A series on the History of the Universe called Cosmic Revolutions by Astronomy Professor Katherine Blundell, and The Frontiers of Knowledge by Visiting Professor Roberto Trotta; and Mars Missions 2021: Early Discoveries by Andrew Coates.
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BUSINESS / ECONOMICS
In The Principles of Finance, Business Professor Alex Edmans will give a primer on everything from how to save to risk management. A series by Visiting Professor Martin Daunton will look at Three Crises in Capitalism. See also Natural Capital series under Geography.
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ENGLISH & MEDIA
The Powers of the Novel by Visiting Professor John Mullan will look at Plot, Coincidences and Villains; Farah Karim-Cooper will speak on Shakespeare, Race and Performance. The series on How Not To be Human: Exploring Humanity Through Science Fiction will be delivered by Visiting Professor Jim Endersby. In the Media, Trust and Society series, Philip Howard will talk about fighting disinformation on COVID-19.
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GEOGRAPHY
Professor Jacqueline McGlade’s series Natural Capital and the Wellbeing Economy will look at how our economy needs to change to guarantee a sustainable future for the planet. There is also a varied series on Natural World: Exploration, Extinction and Adaptation.
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HISTORY
Among the highlights are: The Hidden History of How Protestantism Went Global, by Professor Alec Ryrie, a series on Stuart Britain, a one-off lecture on Holocaust History Under Siege, and a Black History Month series.
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IT
Professor Richard Harvey’s Six Tech Inventions That Changed the World will talk about IT breakthroughs everyone should know about, like GPS, Compression and Error Control Coding.
LAW / POLITICS / CITIZENSHIP
Race, Colonialism and Power in the Legal System by Professor Leslie Thomas QC, will look at the Immigration Act 1971, the Brixton Riots, Judicial racism and more; The Misrule of Law by Visiting Professor Thomas Grant QC looks at the misuse of law, for example under segregation in the US. Visiting Professor Imogen Gold will discuss Medical Law, including lectures on freezing eggs and fertility treatment. There are also two lectures on Europe: Anand Menon on Brexit, and Patricia Clavin on Europe’s Search for Sustainable Security. Finally, the Media, Trust and Society series and the lecture, Does Philanthropy Do the Public Good? may be of interest to Citizenship teachers; along with a series on Religion and Society in the 21st Century (see Religion section).
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MATHEMATICS
Gresham Professor Sarah Hart’s series Geometry: The Mathematics of Art will discuss beauty, perspective and more; while Hugh Hunt will give a one-off talk on The Maths of Gyroscopes and Boomerangs; and they have an event on Numbers in Different Languages and Cultures.
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MEDICINE
Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Chris Whitty will look at Infections and their Routes of Transmission. They also have a new series of lectures on Neuroscience: The Brain and the Mind.
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MUSIC
Professor Marina Frolova-Walker will give a series of lecture-recitals on Music Under Stalin. Visiting Professor Jeremy Summerly will give a series of lectures on Music and Emotion.
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RELIGION
Three lecturers will explore some current issues in major world religions in Religion and Society in the 21st Century; while the Divinity Professor will look at the work of Protestant missionaries in The Hidden History of How Protestantism Went Global.