Gresham College Lecture Series
Our hit lecturer on Youtube this year is Professor Alec Ryrie, whose history of religion lectures have been racking up, between them, hundreds of thousands of views. You can watch his playlist here.
It is easy to register for any of our lectures coming up using an email address via the webpages below: you will get an email 10 minutes ahead of the lecture.
We hear too often about sudden death in adults following prolonged and often unnecessary police restraint. What do people know about the dangers of restraint and how widespread is our understanding of such deaths? This talk by Gresham Law Professor Leslie Thomas QC explores the legal implications facing the state and what steps can be taken and implemented to save more lives and have safer policing. Do these deaths disproportionately affect African Caribbean men given recent BAME stop and search statistics?
Thursday 4 March 2021, 6pm-7pm, online, free (or watch later)
Even the most humdrum of electrical devices nowadays contains at least one computer; yet surprisingly few people are aware of their history, their form or function. In this talk by Professor Richard Harvey we will see that not only is the history of computers rich and diverse, their architecture likewise. Astonishingly, all the computers ever made can be modelled by one universal machine – the Turing machine.
Tuesday 9 March 2021, 6pm-7pm, online, free (or watch later)
We often think that leaders are particularly strong in decision making – that’s why they’ve made it to the top. But evidence shows that even senior executives are prone to psychological biases, such as overconfidence, groupthink, and applying one-size-fits-all rules.The talk by Gresham Business Professor Alex Edmans will also discuss how boards, investors, policymakers, and executives themselves can address these biases to make better decisions – that affect not only companies but also wider society.
Tuesday 16 March 2021, 6pm-7pm, online, free (or watch later)
What Can We Do About Rising Obesity?
It is widely accepted that the rising prevalence of obesity is a major threat to current and future health of individuals, the public, and the NHS. In this lecture by Professor Chris Whitty, he’ll explain that obesity comes from a complex interaction of personal choices, genetics, economics, the food industry, and the environment, among other things. We can reverse the trend towards obesity, but only if we understand and respect the reasons individuals make the choices they do.
Wednesday 24 March 2021, 6pm-7pm, online, free (or watch later)
In the wake of the decision in the parliamentary prorogation case Miller (No.2), the question of the politics of the judiciary has been thrust into the public eye. Was it “a constitutional coup” as some have claimed? The Government has promised to “update the Human Rights Act” and review the “relationship between the government, parliament and the courts”. Will this limit the power of the judiciary to do justice? Do British judges have too much “power” and are they over-politicised? Visiting Professor Thomas Grant QC will explore the issues.
Monday 29 March 2021, 6pm-7pm, online, free (or watch later)
Click here to see a full list of March lectures
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