Gresham College Lectures

In this enlightening discussion, astronomer Chris Lintott, a professor at the University of Oxford, shares insights on the Hubble Space Telescope's transformative journey. He explores the cosmic relationships of supernovae and their role in star formation, emphasizing the significance of stellar life cycles, particularly focusing on the impending supernova of Betelgeuse. Lintott also unravels the intricate beauty of planetary nebulae and reflects on Hubble's evolution from flawed beginnings to its revolutionary cosmic imagery, shaping our understanding of the universe.

Bernardine Evaristo OBE, an acclaimed writer known for her significant contributions to literature and the arts, dives into the power of storytelling in shaping identities and challenging societal norms. She discusses how narratives can be manipulated in politics and the importance of female imagination in resisting patriarchy. Evaristo advocates for recognition of African diaspora voices and a bold memorial for the transatlantic slave trade, emphasizing the need for inclusive cultural awareness. She also critiques stereotypes in cinema, calling for empathetic narratives.

In this discussion, Charles Falconer, a prominent legal expert and member of the House of Lords, dives into the intricacies of the UK constitution. He questions whether it allows for political misconduct, citing the controversies surrounding Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Falconer emphasizes the need for a strong judiciary as a check against political power. He explores recent rulings on immigration, particularly concerning Rwanda, and advocates for reforms to safeguard constitutional integrity amid rising executive authority.

In this thought-provoking discussion, Melissa Lane, a scholar specializing in the interplay of philosophy and climate change, draws parallels between Plato's allegory of the Cave and our current climate crisis. She challenges the societal constructs that trap us in fossil fuel dependency and critiques traditional economic growth models. The conversation tackles the importance of genuine understanding over superficial consumption and emphasizes the need for trust in climate communication, advocating for honesty over 'noble lies' in addressing climate issues.

This lecture will explore the world of the second Bloomsbury generation, delving into the intricacies of being young and queer in the 1920s, and how their open way of living and loving is still relevant to our present day. Lesser known than their predecessors, they continued the celebration of freedom of expression and creativity.The lecture will introduce artists and intellectuals such as Eddy Sackville-West, Stephen Tomlin and Julia Strachey, who led an unapologetic life by pushing gender boundaries and social conventions, as well as exploring gender fluidity and pansexuality.This lecture was recorded by Nino Strachey on 11th June 2024 at Barnard's Inn Hall, LondonThe transcript of the lecture is available from the Gresham College website:https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/queer-bloomsburyGresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: https://gresham.ac.uk/support/Website:  https://gresham.ac.ukTwitter:  https://twitter.com/greshamcollegeFacebook: https://facebook.com/greshamcollegeInstagram: https://instagram.com/greshamcollegeSupport the show

Raghavendra Rau, an expert in finance known for his insights on market efficiency and behavioral biases, dives into the complexities of financial markets. He explores why investors are drawn to bizarre assets like NFTs and meme stocks despite the theory of market efficiency. Rau discusses behavioral biases that can predict returns and challenges traditional views on consistent investment success, emphasizing randomness over certainty. With an engaging mix of humor and historical anecdotes, he unpacks the intricate dynamics influencing market patterns and investor behavior.

Ronald Hutton, an expert in European and World History, discusses the global phenomenon of witch-hunting, focusing on the impact of beliefs on society, global efforts to end persecution, and the historical context of European practices. The lecture examines the religious conflicts leading to intense witch hunts, demographics of victims, and the eventual decline influenced by changing societal beliefs.

The idea of proof is fundamental to mathematics. We could argue that science consists of testable theories, and therefore that it is about what can be disproved, not what can be proved. In law, the test is “beyond reasonable doubt”.Famous conjectures in mathematics have been tested by computers for trillions of numbers – but we still call them conjectures.In this lecture we’ll talk about what mathematicians mean by proof, and I’ll show you some of my favourites.This lecture was recorded by Sarah Hart on 4th June 2024 at Barnard's Inn Hall, LondonThe transcript of the lecture is available from the Gresham College website:https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/mathematician-proofGresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: https://gresham.ac.uk/support/Website:  https://gresham.ac.ukTwitter:  https://twitter.com/greshamcollegeFacebook: https://facebook.com/greshamcollegeInstagram: https://instagram.com/greshamcollegeSupport the show

Socrates sought to test the expertise of everyone around him: the bombastic know-it-alls, the bashful youths, the confident generals, those (including the enslaved) with unsuspected mathematical competence, the workaday artisans. Aristotle later explored the ways in which expert claims can be made credible to popular judgement.This lecture considers the role of experts in contributing to public debate in a democracy, bringing Aristotle's work on rhetoric to bear on norms for expert communication and public debate.This lecture was recorded by Melissa Lane on 30th May 2024 at Barnard's Inn Hall, LondonThe transcript of the lecture is available from the Gresham College website:https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/experts-politicsGresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: https://gresham.ac.uk/support/Website:  https://gresham.ac.ukTwitter:  https://twitter.com/greshamcollegeFacebook: https://facebook.com/greshamcollegeInstagram: https://instagram.com/greshamcollegeSupport the show

The final lecture in the series returns to the theme of how insight is derived from observations, considering the cosmic microwave background.This oldest light in the Universe, emitted just 400,000 years after the Big Bang, contains the seeds of the structures we see around us, and tells us about conditions at the Universe's beginning.It will also consider how measurements of the Universe's expansion, made using the CMB, are leading to unexpected results, creating tension in modern cosmology.This lecture was recorded by Chris Lintott on 29th May 2024 at Conway Hall, LondonThe transcript of the lecture is available from the Gresham College website:https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/first-lightGresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: https://gresham.ac.uk/support/Website:  https://gresham.ac.ukTwitter:  https://twitter.com/greshamcollegeFacebook: https://facebook.com/greshamcollegeInstagram: https://instagram.com/greshamcollegeSupport the show