RSA Events

As a teacher in an inner-city school, Lucy Crehan was exasperated with ever-changing government policy claiming to be based on lessons from ‘top-performing’ education systems. She became curious about what was really going on in classrooms of the countries whose teenagers ranked top in the world in reading, maths and science. Lucy visits the RSA to document some of her journey, weaving together her experiences with research on policy, history, psychology and culture to offer extensive new insights and provide answers to three fundamental questions: How do these countries achieve their high scores? What can others learn from them? And what is the price of this success?

Peter Tatchell is awarded the 2016 RSA Albert Medal for tireless campaigning on human rights and social equality. In his Albert Medal Lecture, Peter Tatchell will speak about the ecology of campaigning for social transformation. In less than 50 years, LGBT rights has gone from the margin to the mainstream. How was this transformation achieved? Peter Tatchell began his LGBT advocacy and activism half a century ago, combining both parliamentary and extra-parliamentary action to secure changes in public attitudes, the law and the way institutions treat LGBT people. In his speech, Peter will talk about the ideals and methods, the setbacks and triumphs that led to one of the fastest, most successful social reform campaigns in British history.

The nature of work and employment is changing rapidly. In the face of an uncertain economic future, what steps do we need to take, and what new models do we need to build in order to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to engage in work that has meaning and value? Does an increase in the number of companies and organisations that are employee-owned offer a route to a more stable, sustainable and inclusive form of productivity and prosperity? Our speakers explore the relationship between employee share ownership, business ethics and effectiveness with three leading figures: Stephen Bampfylde, founding chair, Saxton Bampfylde; Sir Charlie Mayfield, Chairman, John Lewis Partnership; and Sacha Romanovitch, CEO, Grant Thornton.

Economic issues are often moral issues. If you know where a person stands on the left-right spectrum, you can easily predict their preference for economic approaches like austerity or stimulus. One’s moral compass tends to dictate their response to even ‘factual’ matters like whether or not raising the minimum wage increases unemployment. What we believe influences what we perceive far more than we would like to admit to. Renowned social psychologist Jonathan Haidt argues that most of us stick unswervingly to one of two persuasive stories about capitalism - with predictable consequences. He believes we must push ourselves beyond these entrenched narratives and develop a ‘third story’ – one that incorporates some of the objective truths of both, and abandons the gut-level assumptions on either side.

It may be a post-pollster, post-pundit, post-truth landscape – but can we predict where the world goes from here? An extraordinary US presidential election campaign has resulted in an outcome that few could have predicted at its outset: Donald J Trump will become the 45th US President of the United States. The implications of this historic decision are, for now, highly unpredictable, and for many, deeply concerning, with many questions unresolved around the course of future US policy on the economy, security, environmental protection, and human rights. Our panel of experts consider what a Trump presidency says about, and means for America and the world in the days, months and years to come. Panel: Melanie McDonagh, Leader writer, Evening Standard and contributor, The Spectator; John Prideaux, US editor, The Economist; Professor Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director-General of RUSI; Stephen Bush, Special correspondent, New Statesman; James O'Brien, Presenter, LBC & BBC Newsnight

At a time of low growth and increasing income inequality, innovation-led growth is more necessary than ever. But, just as it needs it most, has capitalism lost its ability to adapt, experiment and invent? Director of the European Centre for International Political Economy Fredrik Erixon and innovation strategist Bjorn Weigel argue that companies and policy makers are actually hindering innovation, and through research and case studies, including Uber and Apple, will reveal both the obstacles to our future prosperity and a possible roadmap to reversing this trend.

We bring together representatives from civil society, thinktanks, and the media in a panel discussion to explore how we can improve the quality of public discussion about the economy – and, in doing so, change economics itself for the better.

The RSA's Vikki Heywood CBE joined the Bristol Distinguished Lecture Series. Listen back as she discusses her Chairmanship of the Warwick Commission 2015 “Enriching Britain: Culture Creativity and Growth” and examines the strengths of our creative nation in the new world order post Brexit. Watch the pre-address interview as Vikki Heywood answers selected questions: ow.ly/2wA630590R9 For more information about the Bristol Distinguished Address Series and how to attend, visit: www.uwe.ac.uk/bdas

Best-selling author and TED talk sensation Simon Sinek is fascinated by the people that make the greatest impact in their organisations, and in the world. He has discovered some remarkable patterns in how they think, act and communicate, and the environments in which people operate at their natural best. In his new book Together is Better Simon Sinek has distilled many of these insights into a series of inspiring reflections on relationships, trust, teamwork, and what it means to each play our part in creating and building a shared vision and project. Join Simon Sinek at the RSA to find out how more of us can go home from work feeling fulfilled by what we do, and inspired by what we can achieve with others.

Using research from neuroscience, psychology, social science, as well as captivating examples of real people doing extraordinary things, renowned ‘Undercover Economist’ Tim Harford explains that the human qualities we value: creativity, responsiveness, and resilience, are integral to the disorder, confusion, and disarray that produce them. Harford visits the RSA to help us understand why unexpected changes of plans, unfamiliar people, and unforeseen events can help generate new ideas and opportunities as they make us anxious and angry; and come to appreciate that the human inclination for tidiness in our personal and professional lives masks deep and debilitating fragility that keep us from innovation.