Animal empathy, why plants love maths, and the end of the Universe... just three topics to feature in free talks at Gresham College this autumn.
Gresham College is one of London's oldest institutions. It's put on public lectures since 1597, and is still going strong four-and-a-quarter centuries later.
The autumn programme kicks off on 9 September with a lecture on 'automation anxiety' — the fear that a new technology will take over your job — from Professor Daniel Susskind. It's followed two days later by Professor Helen Czerski who'll explore our planet's various 'life support systems'.
Most events run at Barnard's Inn Hall, right next to Chancery Lane station. The hall dates from the Tudor period, including 16th century panelling, so you'll also get a dose of history with each lecture.
Other topics coming up through the autumn include (and this is just a selection):
- Lessons from Guantanamo Bay (18 Sep)
- The end of the Universe (24 Sep)
- Empathy in animal portraiture (2 Oct)
- From tyranny to Athenian democracy (15 Oct)
- China's economic prospects (3 Nov)
- Why plants love maths (11 Nov)
- Why do we laugh (12 Nov)
- 50 years of exploring the red planet (3 Dec)
The full programme, including lectures into 2026, can be found on Gresham's website.
If you can't make it to Holborn, then you can also watch for free at home. All lectures are streamed live, and archived on the college's website.
