Archived Events

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From Votes for Women to #meToo, the Story of Women’s Rights, Past, Present and Future

Voice, Visibility and Velocity: Muslim women, past and present

Heroine Addicts: So You Think You Can Chant – Activism, Protest and Making Change

A Woman’s Revolution in Northern Syria

The Bloomsbury Festival 2018: Activists and Architects of Change

This year's festival theme is 'Activists and Architects of Change', to mark the centenary of The Representation of the People Act 1918, which permitted women to vote for the first time. Join our Sunday Bloomsbury Festival Hub for rousing talks, vital debates and thought-provoking exhibitions from some of the boldest and bravest voices around.

The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe Live

Join the presenters of 'The Skeptics Guide to the Universe' podcast for their one-off London show. Steven Novella, along with 'Skeptical Rogues' Bob Novella, Jay Novella and Evan Bernstein explain the tenets of skeptical thinking and debunk some of the biggest scientific myths, fallacies and conspiracy theories (anti-vaccines, homeopathy, UFO sightings, and many more).

A talk on ‘Rights of Passage’, with Clare Summerskill

Join LGBT Humanists who’ll be welcoming singer, actress, stand-up, and playwright Clare Summerskill at our October event to talk about her play 'Rights of Passage'. Clare will read some extracts from the play, as well as presenting a selection of character monologues. The talk will be followed by Q&A.

Contemporary Prostitution, Politics and Policy

This talk by Professor Roger Matthews is sixth in the series Prostitution, Pimping and Trafficking, curated by Deborah Lavin.

Solving the Happiness Equation – with Mo Gawdat

Join us for a unique and inspiring evening with international best-selling author, innovator and happiness thinker Mo Gawdat. As Chief Business Officer at Google X (the innovation arm of Google), Mo has spent years developing “moonshot” ideas to help make the world a better place.

From “Yellow Ticket” to “Bourgeois Evil”, Prostitution in Russia 1900-1930

Dr Siobhán Hearne traces the transition from Tsarist regulation of prostitution to Bolshevik ambitions to completely eradicate the "Bourgeois Evil", which they saw as totally incompatible with women's equality.

Women’s Work

White Slaves to “Hard Girls”, Increasing Criminalisation and its Consequences 1885-1960

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused and are issuing full refunds. This has not affected the last two talks in Prostitution, Pimping and Trafficking series, which you can still purchase tickets for.

The Future of Happiness – with Professor Richard Layard

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.

Josephine Butler and the “Ladies Campaign” against the Contagious Diseases Acts

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.

Chapman Cohen: The People’s Philosopher

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.

The London Brexit Debate

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.

They Always Blame the Woman! Syphilis and Fallen Women 1495-1945

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.

How to Have a Healthy and Happy Relationship with your Smartphone

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’ Journey from Faith to Faithless

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.

After Man: A Zoology of the Future

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’.

A Pathway From Polarisation to Integration

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.

Confronting Racism in the UK: A Return to Collective Principles

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.

Prostitution, Pimping and Trafficking

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.

David ‘ Bumble’ Lloyd in conversation with Rory Bremner on Cricket

An unmissable evening with the hugely popular cricket commentator David ‘Bumble’ in conversation with impressionist and comedian Rory Bremner on Cricket. This promises to be an evening which will be sure to appeal to anyone who shares Bumble’s unquenchable love for cricket – and life!

Marcus Sedgwick and Dr Sam George – The Battle of the Books: Frankenstein v. Dracula

To celebrate publication of The Monsters We Deserve, a reappraisal of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, prizewinning author Marcus Sedgwick and gothic expert Dr Sam George go head to head in the battle of the books, Frankenstein v. Dracula.