RSA Events

In a world on fire, where every system we rely on is buckling under the weight of its own contradictions, it’s time to admit that control is a dangerous illusion. But while politicians and corporations cling to algorithms for predictability, artists, writers, and musicians have always known the truth: chaos isn’t a threat – it’s a gift.At this RSA event, Margaret Heffernan explores how our obsession with stability and ‘solutions’ – now amplified by artificial intelligence – is not only futile but potentially destructive. She invites us to rethink the role of AI in creativity, questioning whether art and innovation can survive when algorithms are programmed to reduce risk and spontaneity.In conversation with prominent figures in arts and culture, Margaret will challenge deeply ingrained beliefs about how we live, work, and create in a world increasingly shaped by AI. Through the lens of those who thrive in uncertainty, she will explore whether creativity can coexist with systems designed for control – and how we can harness both chaos and technology to provoke meaningful action in turbulent times. Speakers:Margaret Heffernan, author, broadcaster, speakerJosette Bushell-Mingo OBE, Principal, The Royal Central School of Speech and DramaAndrew Grant, RDI, landscape architectChair:Andy Haldane, RSA Chief ExecutiveDonate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3ZyPOEaBecome an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueembFollow RSA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thersaorg/Like RSA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theRSAorg/Listen to RSA Events podcasts: https://bit.ly/35EyQYUJoin our Fellowship: https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/join

Join us to celebrate the opening of the UK Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai and discover the most exciting ideas and innovations shaping our future.At a time when the world risks becoming fragmented and divided, the World Expo represents a unique opportunity to show what humanity can achieve when we come together.The UK Pavilion at Expo 2025 will act as a vibrant hub of creativity and innovation, showcasing our nation’s unique energy, heritage, and make-up. A place where fresh ideas and diverse perspectives are welcomed. A place where exploration and curiosity pave the way for progress. A great place to connect, collaborate, and build the future.At the RSA, the birthplace of the very first World Expo – the Great Exhibition of 1851 – we will gather innovators developing new creative projects and partnerships in both the UK and Japan to inspire us with pathways to a brighter future for people, places, and the planet we all share.Speakers:Sir Peter Bazalgette – Co-chair, Creative Industries CouncilYolanDa Brown OBE DL – Chair, BPISir Loyd Grossman – Chair, the RSAIndy Johar – Architect and Co-founder, 00 and Dark Matter LabsLiana O’Cleirigh, designer, Bentley SystemsDai Fujikura, composerKyoichiro Kawakami, Minister (Economic), Embassy of JapanChair:Nina Nannar, journalist and arts editor for ITV News Donate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3ZyPOEaBecome an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueembFollow RSA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thersaorg/Like RSA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theRSAorg/Listen to RSA Events podcasts: https://bit.ly/35EyQYUJoin our Fellowship: https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/join  

Tony Juniper and Mya-Rose Craig bring together two powerful perspectives on the interconnectedness of equity and the environment. Tony, an esteemed environmentalist and author, draws on decades of experience advocating for a balance between human needs and ecological preservation. His work demonstrates how fairness – whether in resource distribution, climate justice, or community empowerment – is essential for achieving lasting ecological progress.Mya-Rose Craig, also known as ‘Birdgirl’, amplifies the voices of young people and underrepresented communities in the fight against environmental degradation. As a prominent advocate for diversity in nature conservation, she underscores the necessity of inclusive action – ensuring that all communities, especially those most impacted by environmental challenges, are part of the solution.Together, Tony and Mya-Rose offer a compelling vision for how equity can drive environmental change, providing both practical insights and inspirational calls to action for a fairer, greener planet. Let’s reimagine a future where fairness drives global sustainability.Speakers:Tony Juniper, Environmentalist, authorMya-Rose Craig, Environmental activist, speaker (RSA Fellow)Become an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueembFollow RSA Events on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thersaorg/Follow the RSA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theRSAorgDonate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3XPiI1kLike RSA Events on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theRSAorg/Listen to RSA Events podcasts: https://bit.ly/35EyQYUJoin our Fellowship: https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/join

In this engaging discussion, Robert D. Putnam, a leading figure in social capital research, emphasizes the urgent need to rebuild community ties to tackle social isolation and inequality. Sarah Hemminger shares insights on her impactful work connecting young people with mentors to foster lifelong relationships. Marnie Freeman explores how social capital links economic mobility and well-being. Nick Clegg discusses the role of technology in enhancing social connections, highlighting the balance needed to navigate a polarized society.

What bold actions are needed to realise true gender equity?This International Women’s Day, the RSA invites you to a powerful event focused on advancing women’s leadership and action for systemic change. Featuring an incredible panel of women including I. Stephanie Boyce, the trailblazing first Black and first person of colour President of the Law Society of England and Wales, journalist Sophia Smith Galer, and Women in Sport policy and public affairs manager Rachel Williams, we’ll explore the transformative power of women’s leadership in addressing society’s most urgent challenges.Grounded in the RSA’s mission to unite people and ideas to create social change, this event will delve into how we can drive progress across education, work, and institutions to create more inclusive and equitable systems.Together, we’ll discuss actionable solutions for accelerating progress—from empowering women in underrepresented fields to redefining leadership and building networks that amplify impact. Celebrating women’s resilience and achievements, the event offers a bold vision for the future and a renewed commitment to gender equity.ChairJennifer Johnston, mezzo-soprano and creative consultantSpeakersSophia Smith Galer, author and journalistI. Stephanie Boyce, former president of the Law Society of England and WalesRachel Williams, policy and public affairs manager at Women in SportBecome an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueembFollow RSA Events on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thersaorg/Follow the RSA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theRSAorgDonate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3XPiI1kLike RSA Events on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theRSAorg/Listen to RSA Events podcasts: https://bit.ly/35EyQYUJoin our Fellowship: https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/join

From big tech scandals to soaring executive pay gaps, public trust in major corporations is at an all-time low. Despite life-changing innovations like vaccines and digital tools, we increasingly “love the product but hate the producer”.Renowned economist John Kay visits the RSA to deliver a bold critique of modern business. He’ll unpack how the relentless pursuit of shareholder value has gutted some of the 20th century’s most iconic companies and left the 21st-century corporation facing a reckoning.What must change to restore trust in and purpose to the businesses we rely on?Chair:Andy Haldane, RSA CEOSpeaker:John Kay, economist and authorBecome an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueembFollow RSA Events on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thersaorg/Follow the RSA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theRSAorgDonate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3XPiI1kLike RSA Events on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theRSAorg/Listen to RSA Events podcasts: https://bit.ly/35EyQYUJoin our Fellowship: https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/join

An evening with the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, and BBC journalist Clive Myrie.On the eve of the third anniversary of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs (2020–2024) and Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School, reflects on the war’s far-reaching consequences with renowned BBC journalist Clive Myrie.The youngest foreign affairs minister in Ukraine’s history, Dmytro Kuleba led his country’s foreign service through its most challenging times. He was instrumental in forging international alliances, securing military aid for Ukraine, ensuring the imposition of sanctions on Russia, advancing his country’s EU and NATO prospects, and strengthening ties with countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Drawing on his experiences as a diplomat and international statesman, Dmytro Kuleba will offer unique insights into current challenges to the democratic order globally, the stakes for the international community, and the indispensable role of international solidarity in shaping a resilient future.Join us to hear one of today’s foremost voices in international affairs talk to a journalist who was there on the frontline when Russia escalated their invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Chair:Clive Myrie, BBC journalistSpeaker:Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrainian politician and diplomatIn partnership with the Ukrainian Institute London Become an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueemb Follow RSA Events on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thersaorg/ Follow the RSA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theRSAorg Donate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3XPiI1k Like RSA Events on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theRSAorg/ Listen to RSA Events podcasts: https://bit.ly/35EyQYU Join our Fellowship: https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/join 

The provision of care for dependents young and old is one of the great challenges of the modern age.The last 60 years have seen significant shifts in family and working lives with greater choice and autonomy bringing great gains for human freedom.Yet many private and public challenges and dilemmas remain. The social care system faces ever-rising demands and pressures. The vital skilled work of care – for the young, the elderly, the sick – remains undervalued and under-invested in. And women remain over-represented in the domain of care, in both the domestic realm and in the public economy.Amidst challenging demographics, declining birth-rates, and the evolving dynamics of modern family life, can we achieve a policy settlement that respects gender equality, meets the rising social need for care and attention, and properly rewards and recognises those who provide it? How do we provide greater support to the networks of relationships that care relies upon?Join David Goodhart and Vicky Pryce at the RSA to debate care, equality, and social progress in the next decade of the 21st century.SpeakersDavid Goodhart, Head of Demography, Immigration & Integration at Policy ExchangeVicky Pryce, economistBecome an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueemb Follow RSA Events on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thersaorg/ Follow the RSA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theRSAorg Donate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3XPiI1k Like RSA Events on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theRSAorg/ Listen to RSA Events podcasts: https://bit.ly/35EyQYU Join our Fellowship: https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/join

In his annual RSA Chief Executive's Lecture, Andy Haldane examines the profound socio-economic consequences of eroding social capital, a theme famously explored by Harvard political scientist Bob Putnam in Bowling Alone. While macroeconomic advancements helped address past crises like the Great Depression, today’s challenge lies in confronting the "Great Division”, the deepening fractures within and between societies. Despite unparalleled global connectivity, communities are fragmenting, leading to slowed economic growth, reduced social mobility, rising loneliness, and declining trust in institutions. Highlighting the critical role of social capital in fostering growth, health, and governance, Andy calls for a transformative shift in policy aiming to address the root causes of contemporary social and economic divides.SpeakerAndy Haldane, RSA CEOChairJulia George, JournalistBecome an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueemb Follow RSA Events on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thersaorg/ Follow the RSA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theRSAorg Donate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3XPiI1k Like RSA Events on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theRSAorg/ Listen to RSA Events podcasts: https://bit.ly/35EyQYU Join our Fellowship: https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/join

Optimism is central to the human psyche: it seems to give us an advantage in both everyday life and in addressing great collective challenges.Sumit Paul-Choudhury, former editor-in-chief of New Scientist, visits the RSA to make a vital and transformative new argument: that optimism is not only the natural state of humanity, but an essential one.Sumit argues that without optimism we would never have survived the unpredictable - and often hostile - world we evolved into. Yet optimism is not just reserved for times of extremity. Its benefits manifest throughout our everyday lives: our relationships, careers, bodies, and minds. And it will play a critical role in overcoming the toughest challenges of the twenty-first century.Kick-start your New Year with a powerfully motivating manifesto for hope and a much-needed new perspective on our individual and societal prospects. By embracing action, imagination, and possibility, we can find a path to the bright side, even - perhaps especially - when the future seems dark.Speaker:Sumit Paul-Choudhury, writer on science, technology, and the future; author of The Bright Side (Canongate, 2025)Chair:Anna Markland, Head of Innovation & Change, RSA Become an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueemb Follow RSA Events on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thersaorg/ Follow the RSA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theRSAorg Donate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3XPiI1k Like RSA Events on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theRSAorg/ Listen to RSA Events podcasts: https://bit.ly/35EyQYU Join our Fellowship: https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/join