Among the Women of Isis
In early 2014, the Islamic State clinched its control of Raqqa in Syria. Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, urged Muslims around the world to come join the caliphate. Witnessing the brutal oppression of the Assad regime in Syria, and moved to fight for justice, thousands of men and women heeded his call. At the heart […]
Rankings That Rankle
Psychologists tell us that we are obsessed with status. Annual awards and league tables of universities, liveable cities and national happiness reflect this obsession and can be influential when people make decisions, particularly if they are maximisers. But how valid are these rankings? Paul Goodwin will explore the mental short cuts that individuals employ to […]
The World of AI-Powered Creativity
Today’s computers are composing music that sounds “more Bach than Bach,” turning photographs into paintings in the style of Van Gogh’s Starry Night, and even writing screenplays. But are computers truly creative—or are they merely tools to be used by musicians, artists, and writers? In this talk, Arthur I. Miller takes us on a tour […]
Thinking On Sunday: Unspeakable – The Things We Cannot Say
As a teenager, Harriet Shawcross stopped speaking at school for almost a year, retreating into herself and communicating only when absolutely necessary. As an adult, she became fascinated by the limits of language and in this talk and her book Unspeakable she asks what makes us silent. From the inexpressible trauma of trench warfare and […]
Thinking On Sunday: Witch Hunts Today
Harmful practices due to belief in witchcraft have seen a huge increase in the past six years both globally and in the UK and Kirsty Brimelow QC and author and campaigner Syd Moore have joined forces to expose this phenomenon. They will contextualise the current climate, Syd will present dark chapters of the grim past […]
What We Need To Do Now: Towards Net Zero Carbon Emissions
Chris Goodall shows the route to a society that emits no carbon dioxide but is also fairer, healthier and more content than at present. In this talk he will briefly go through subjects as diverse as housing, food and clothing. The transition to a sustainable UK involves making substantial lifestyle changes, as well as major […]
Ethical Matters: People Like Us – Social Mobility, Inequality and Making It in Modern Britain
What does it take to make it in modern Britain? Ask a politician, and they’ll tell you it’s hard work. Ask a millionaire, and they’ll tell you it’s talent. Ask a CEO and they’ll tell you it’s dedication. But what if none of those things is enough? A barrister who was raised on benefits and […]
Ethical Matters: Solving The Plastic Problem
Plastics are wonder-materials that have enabled the creation of the modern, industrialised world. However, their robustness means they degrade only slowly and poorly in the environment, and now pollute the oceans, the air, drinking water and food. As alarming as this may sound, plastic pollution is really just one element in the overall problem of […]
*Postponed* Pre-concert talk | In Search of Bach
** This event has been postponed due to the venue’s temporary closure in light of the Government’s instructions about Covid-19 ** Ticketholders will be notified via email and informed in due course about a new date once the performance is rescheduled. Conway Hall is an independent charity and receives no funding from the government. Everything we […]