RSA Events

We need a solid base camp from which to map new routes forward for humanity. One that’s built on a shared understanding of how core human needs and motivations interact with social forces to shape and drive the dynamics of change.Imagine a theory that united perspectives from human psychology to anthropology, from the sociology of groups and organisations to political science and policy design.Imagine if this theory was simple enough for anyone to understand, yet nuanced and practical enough to both diagnose the critical challenges currently facing us - in our communities, workplaces, and public institutions - and to develop new ways to tackle and solve them.Might such a theory not only enrich public debate but also enable us to overcome seemingly intractable divisions in the worldviews emerging from different social science disciplines and ideological starting points?In his final RSA Chief Executive’s event, Matthew Taylor is joined in conversation by author, entrepreneur and CEO Margaret Heffernan to explore the core elements and implications of ‘coordination theory’ – a set of ideas he has been developing and refining for over a decade.He argues that the current inability of either the academy or the political mainstream to offer a broadly accepted account of the dynamics of change means that the science of human progress will continue to fall further behind the science of technological change, with potentially catastrophic results.Read more about Coordination Theory in Matthew Taylor’s latest blog.This Podcast contains audio from the latest RSA Minimate: A framework for change - Matthew Taylor. #RSAchangeThis conversation was broadcast online as part of a webinar on the 19th May 2021 . Join us at: www.thersa.org

Government policies in response to the Covid-19 pandemic have reignited the universal basic income (UBI) debate, showing us the vital lifeline that income support can provide. In the US, Congress has distributed nearly $850 billion through three rounds of stimulus checks. In the UK, the furlough scheme and self-employed income support schemes have helped millions to keep their heads above water. But these measures are temporary and specific, so what can they really tell us about the viability of UBI?The Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED), a 2-year guaranteed income pilot which began pre-pandemic and concluded in March this year has published results showing that the recipients of an unrestricted, reliable $500 monthly income are happier, healthier and better able to find full time work. Could this be the way out of the crisis that we need? Is there scope for UBI to pick up where the crisis-response income-support schemes end? And critically, can UBI really address persistent imbalances in poverty, income, and wealth?Former Stockton Mayor, Founder & Chair of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and driving force behind SEED, Michael Tubbs, and co-chair of the Economic Security Project Natalie Foster join us to explore SEED's findings and what a year of state-funded income support means for the UBI debate.#RSAUBIThis conversation was broadcast online on the 20th May 2021 . Join us at: www.thersa.org

If the way we give to those in need reflects on our values and virtue as a society, what do we see today?Charitable giving has grown in response to the huge areas of need that the Covid crisis has exposed and intensified, in the form of mutual aid groups, donations, and volunteering. How has this changed our communities, our public values, and the ways we help one another?Writer and development expert Paul Vallely is joined by philanthropic activist Sir Bob Geldof and charity director Fran Perrin to explore the big questions for philanthropy today: what does charity mean in an age of increasing inequality? How should charities and the state interact? How can philanthropic giving connect us to one another, and redistribute not just money, but power?The expert panel reflects on the changing state of philanthropy through the ages, from Aristotle to Live Aid to Bill Gates, and asks the role that charity can play in a society built on justice and altruism.#RSAphilanthropyThis conversation was broadcast online on the 13th May 2021 . Join us at: www.thersa.org

The speed with which Covid-19 vaccines have been developed represents a significant achievement for humanity and is providing hope for a way out of the pandemic, but the rollout so far has been unequal: high and middle-income countries are able to secure more vaccines than they need and vaccinate populations at speed, whilst low-income countries reliant on external supplies and funding are being left behind. Vaccine deployment is exposing deep health, political, racial and economic inequalities around the world.Inequitable distribution is not just a moral issue. It's also economically and epidemiologically self-defeating. As long as the virus continues to circulate, new variants will continue to emerge, economies will continue to be disrupted and people will continue to die.In order to achieve safe, effective and equitable access, vaccines need to be produced at scale, priced affordably, allocated globally, and widely deployed in local communities. We need a coordinated, cooperative international response. So what are the challenges, and how can we rise to them? And how can we use this opportunity to create more resilient healthcare systems and strengthen our approaches to pandemic response?This event is produced in collaboration with On Think Tanks and Southern Voice.#RSAVaccineThis conversation was broadcast online on the 6th May 2021 . Join us at: www.thersa.org

Employees in low-skill, low-paid and insecure occupations constitute 45% of Britain’s labour market, and it is these workers that are turning their backs on the left in droves.In the 2019 election, Labour lost many seats in former strongholds in the post-industrial north and Midlands, and by contrast stacked up votes in London and other major cities. The collapse of the red wall signals a serious fracture in the left’s relationship with the working class. Can a transformation of work itself help the left to re-establish a connection with the communities that founded it?Starting from the assumption that all work should be fulfilling, respected and well-rewarded, Jon Cruddas and Molly Kinder will explore ways to repair our civic life by paying closer attention to the interests and concerns of the working class. Practical interventions such as national colleges for skilled work and worker councils could help restore value to work and rebalance employer-employee relationships. By giving workers more respect and control, we can renew the dignity, solidarity, and community of work.#RSAWorkThis conversation was broadcast online on the 29th April 2021 . Join us at: www.thersa.org

How should we understand the ‘value’ of nature?The natural world provides all the building blocks of our lives and societies; we are embedded within it, and nothing without it. But our economies currently operate as though separate from nature, with consumption outstripping its supply of resources, and environmental degradation and instability worsening faster than ever.What we need, argues Sir Partha Dasgupta, is to redefine the relationship between ecology and economy. His recently published Review on The Economics of Biodiversity proposes applying an economic lens to the value of the natural world to understand and measure the rich array of resources our planet provides, and how to use them responsibly. How can this approach help us to transform our extractive and exploitative relationship with nature into a sustainable and respectful one? Can quantifying the value of nature in economic terms be consistent with valuing our planet for its own sake?An expert panel gathers to reflect on the findings and recommendations in the Dasgupta Review, and discuss how to rebuild our economic system with sustainable prosperity at its heart.#RSAEarthDayThis conversation was broadcast online on the 22nd April 2021 . Join us at: www.thersa.org

How can we all play a part in changing our ‘fast fashion’ culture? The fashion industry accounts for around 10% of global carbon emissions and a huge amount of pollution and waste. Sustainable fashion means change across the system: from how makers source and produce materials through to how we all consume and value clothing. Designers and collectives across the UK are finding local solutions to a global problem and putting communities at the centre of the effort towards sustainable fashion. To mark Fashion Revolution Week and as part of their Fashion Open Studios programme, fashion designer Patrick Grant and local movement builder Zero Waste Leeds join the RSA to discuss how we can care for our planet by caring for our clothes. How can we produce and use clothes better, for the benefit of makers, wearers, and the environment? They explore the potential for UK production to boost local economies, provide good quality work, and create great clothing that people can love, look after, and keep in use for longer.#RSAfashionThis conversation was broadcast online on the 20th April 2021 . Join us at: www.thersa.org

Over the course of the last year, the pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement have exposed deep fault lines that show us how much work there is still to be done to make our societies equitable. At the same time, we are witnessing increased momentum for change, with individuals, communities and organisations embracing opportunities to tackle disparity through design, innovation, experimentation and renewal.  In the final event in our RSA Living Change season, we talk to four pioneering changemakers who are working to address imbalances in our social and economic systems, innovating, testing and iterating to create meaningful change for the better. From supporting organizations to shift practices to end white supremacy, to empowering women and girls in developing countries through STEM education and employment opportunities, these are stories of community collaboration, frontline innovation, and system re-design building more diverse and inclusive societies.The RSA has been at the forefront of societal change for over 250 years. Our proven Living Change Approach, and global network of 30,000 problem-solvers enable us to unite people and ideas to understand the challenges of our time and realise lasting change.Make change happen. Visit thersa.org/approach to find out more.#RSAchangeThis conversation was broadcast online on the 15th April 2021.

The 2021 Albert Medal EventSarah Gilbert is the scientist who designed the Oxford Vaccine – one of the most significant breakthrough developments in the global fight against coronavirus. As she receives the 2021 RSA Albert Medal for ‘collaborative innovation for the global common good’, Professor Gilbert joins RSA Chief Executive Matthew Taylor to reflect on an extraordinary year for scientific innovation, and to tell the inside story of what it took to design, trial, and manufacture a safe and effective vaccine at record speed and scale.  The RSA has been at the forefront of societal change for over 250 years. Our proven Living Change Approach, and global network of 30,000 problem-solvers enable us to unite people and ideas to understand the challenges of our time and realise lasting change.Make change happen. Find out more about our approach.#RSAchangeThis conversation was broadcast online on the 14th April 2021 

Catching the creative wave: digital learning after lockdownThe pandemic, and worldwide lockdown that accompanied it, required schools across the globe to redesign their delivery models overnight. Teachers, some for the first time, had to rethink their practice to engage with learners and parents in a virtual classroom. At the same time, schools have had to confront the issue of unequal access to technology and data. One year on, as schools and colleges have adapted to remote and blended learning models, what valuable learning has emerged from the crisis? As the workforce has improved its digital fluency, what new opportunities have arisen for post-Covid recovery and beyond? Are there opportunities for consensus about how to utilise new technologies to improve access and maximise learning for all, especially the most disadvantaged?  Join us for the first in a new series of Rethinking Education events, bringing together respected practitioners, policymakers and thinkers, to discuss whether the challenges that emerged during the Covid-19 crisis might, in fact, be opportunities to build consensus across political divides and different traditions in teaching and learning. Each event in the series will include an opening reflection from Sir Kevan Collins, Education Recovery Commissioner, and each will focus on one of the key moments of crisis for education during the pandemic, through the lens of either Creativity, Capability or Community - the three pillars of the RSA’s new education programme examining how we can build a more equitable and inclusive education system. The RSA has been at the forefront of societal change for over 250 years. Our proven Living Change Approach, and global network of 30,000 problem-solvers enable us to unite people and ideas to understand the challenges of our time and realise lasting change.Make change happen. Visit thersa.org/approach to find out more.This conversation was recorded during an online webinar on the 31st March 2021.