RSA Events

We are anxious to succeed but terrified of failing. Matthew Taylor interviews RSA fellow Moses Sangobiyi about his single minded attempts to break into professional American Football, what he learnt from falling short and why he’s on a mission to let people know that it’s ok to fail. Subscribe to “RSA Radio” to get future podcasts like this from The RSA. Music: Lobo Loco - Mountain Creek

Exciting new thinker Rutger Bregman visits the RSA to argue that the real crisis of our times is not that we don’t have it good, or even that we might be worse off in the near future - it’s that we don’t have the imagination to come up with anything better. Having already sparked a movement across the Netherlands, where 20 municipalities are now putting basic income into action, Rutger’s work inspires a firm belief that the most vital ingredient for political change is the conviction that there truly is a better way.

The prison reform agenda in the UK has reached a critical stage of development with new legislation expected in the coming months and the expansion of the 'Reform Prisons' model which gives governors greater freedoms. Nils Öberg will join Rachel O'Brien, who has led the RSA's work on prisons, to share his experience in prisons and probation - the results, challenges and what the reform agenda in the UK can learn from this.

The Inclusive Growth Commission was set up in April 2016 to identify practical ways to make inclusive growth a reality. Chaired by Stephanie Flanders, former economics editor of the BBC and Chief Strategist (UK and Europe) for J P Morgan, the Commission is calling on all leaders – in business, civil society, public service and government – to make inclusive growth our working definition of economic success. The UK government has set out an ambitious goal to create an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few. At this event the Commission will launch its final report which will outline a practical roadmap for a more inclusive economy, where everyone can benefit from greater prosperity. Panel to include Stephanie Flanders, Commission Chair and Chief Market Strategist for the UK and Europe, J P Morgan Asset Management; Tim Besley, School Professor of Economics and Political Science, LSE and Irene Lucas CBE, Chief Executive, Sunderland City Council.

Money makes the world go round: but what is it really? And how is it produced? Above all, who controls its production, and in whose interests? Money is never a neutral medium of exchange. Nor are bankers simply go-betweens for savers and borrowers. How can democracies reclaim control over money production? Leading political economist Ann Pettifor visits the RSA to explain the money system – history’s most misunderstood invention. She lays out a blueprint for how we can subordinate the out-of-control finance sector to the interests of society and the ecosystem – how we can link the money in our pockets (or on our smartphones) to the change we want to see in the world around us. She also examines and assesses popular alternative debates on, and innovations in, money: positive money, helicopter money and the rise of goldbugs.

Spiritual and religious spaces are fundamental features of a place, signifying the value and importance of faith and connection at the heart of a community. In a changing global context, the design, status and use of places of worship evolves to reflect the diverse needs of a wider public. Faith spaces are reimagined to foster a culture of mutuality and engagement, facilitating the growth of social capital. John McAslan CBE and Aidan Potter of John McAslan + Partners are joined by Sophia de Sousa and The Revd The Lord Griffiths to discuss the way in which communities are shaped socially and culturally through shared spaces, values and connections.

The pace of modern life is accelerating, and the self-help shelves are groaning with advice on how to keep up – and stay positive in the process. But the demands of life in the fast lane come at a price: anxiety, fatigue and depression are at an all-time high, and our social interactions have become increasingly self-serving and opportunistic. Leading Danish philosopher and psychologist Svend Brinkmann argues that we must not be afraid to reject the self-help mantra. The secret to a happier life lies not in finding your inner self, but in coming to terms with yourself in order to coexist peacefully with others.

I, Daniel Blake won the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2016, was nominated for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress & Best Director and won Outstanding British Film at the 2017 BAFTA Awards. Following the screening, director Ken Loach discusses the pressing social issues highlighted in his film and how we can move towards a more equal platform from which people can manage their lives.

Politics fractures when policy fails - as events of the last year have shown. Nine years on from the global financial crisis, policymakers are still struggling to find convincing answers to the economic problems it exposed. At the same time, the world faces many significant and complex challenges, from climate change to the problems of managing chronic health conditions, to the challenges of ageing populations, to meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. If innovation is part of the answer, how can public policy be used to steer it towards tackling these kinds of global problems? This special event marks the launch of a new collaboration between the RSA and UCL’s new Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose to develop mission-oriented innovation policy in practice. Chaired by the RSA’s director of innovation Rowan Conway, the event will consist of provocations and conversation between IIPP's founder and director Mariana Mazzucato, Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value, UCL (from 1 March, 2017); Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute and Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development, Columbia University; and Carlota Perez, Professor of Technology and Development, London School of Economics. Reflecting on lessons from previous attempts at mission-oriented policies, our panel will consider: why leaving innovation to the market is not enough; the role of public policy in setting directions for growth; opportunities to use mission-oriented innovation to tackle 'green' growth; and how mission-oriented policies can be the practical means for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.

International bestseller and so-called ‘Darwin of technology’ Steven Johnson argues that the pursuit of novelty and wonder has always been a powerful driver of world-shaping technological change. He finds that throughout history, the cutting edge of innovation lies wherever people are working the hardest to keep themselves and others amused. In describing a vivid history of innovation, Johnson explains how popular entertainment - games, cinema, music, food and fashion – have played a crucial role in shaping our world. These amusements did more than just entertain, they directly contributed to economic and social revolutions that transformed the modern world.