Talks, Debates & Lectures taking place at Conway Hall
A series of Wednesday evening talks starting on 5th September running until 10th October. Featuring Dr Stacy Banwell, Dr Kevin Brown, Dr Jane Jordan, Dr Julia Laite, Dr Siobhán Hearne and Prof Roger Matthews.
Presented by Conway Hall Ethical Society and curated by Deborah Lavin.
This meeting brings together long-time anti-racist campaigners, including those who fought to establish institutional racism in law to those challenging the silencing imposed by Prevent and the IHRA.
We seem to be living in a time of polarised sets of ideas and related dramatic events – Trump, Clinton, brexit, alt-right, far-left. What can make sense of these chaotic life conditions and show a healthy pathway through to a new stage of human evolution? This talk by Jonathan Dover will walk through the development of human consciousness over time, using leading edge research from Ken Wilber’s integral theory and spiral dynamics.
What would life on earth look like in 50 million years; long after the extinction of humanity? Join Dougal Dixon, palaeontologist, geologist and author, in conversation with vertebrate palaeontologist and science writer Darren Naish to mark the return of Dixon’s astonishing speculative-evolution book ‘After Man: A Zoology of the Future’.
From the moment syphilis appeared in Europe at the end of the 15th century and its direct connection to sex was worked out, prostitutes were blamed while male clients were viewed as hapless victims. Kevin Brown will discuss how gendered attitudes informed the health debate around syphilis from 1495-1945.
As the world starts to wake up to the negative impact our 24/7 connected culture is having on us, join Laura Willis from Shine Offline, who will share her own journey from digital overload to breakdown and on to recovery. Laura will explore the latest research and help us to understand more clearly the role that our devices are playing in our lives.
Audrey Simmons, active in Faith to Faithless, will be speaking about its work to support those who have left a conservative or controlling religion or cult. Following Audrey’s talk there will be a short break followed by a discussion.
What will the consequences of Brexit be for the capital? In this London Society debate, organised in association with the OnLondon website, we aim to generate light rather than heat on the most significant issue facing London for a generation. Speakers will include Labour peer and former government minister Lord Adonis, London Assembly member and former Lib Dem candidate for the Mayoralty Caroline Pidgeon MBE and senior London Conservative Daniel Moylan.
In this talk celebrating the 150th anniversary of Chapman Cohen’s birth, Bob Forder will outline Cohen’s fascinating career and provide an insight into his work.
There has been a long and vibrant relationship between LGBTQ people, homosexuality and consumer capitalism since the late nineteenth. Using sources ranging through early men’s magazines and erotic publications, government documents, business archives and oral histories, Justin Bengry asks who benefited from commercial interest in homosexuality?
Blaming prostitutes for venereal disease in the military, the Liberal government decided on a gendered policy of incarcerating infected prostitutes, while letting their infected male clients remain free. This talk, by Dr Jane Jordan, demonstrates how the feminist Josephine Butler and her Ladies demanded a rethink.
Join us for a special event on the future of world happiness with the influential economist and happiness expert Professor Richard Layard. At this unique event, he will share the key messages and findings from his forthcoming book Can we be happier.
