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TALKS AND LECTURES
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TALKS & LECTURES
POLITICS AND SOCIETY: THE THORNY ISSUES
Fitzwilliam hosted its first “Fresh Thinking at Fitz” event in October 2019, featuring Dame Louise Casey and Charles Clarke in discussion with the Master.
Dame Louise spoke passionately about issues ranging from ASBOs to the impact of education, as well as her time as the deputy director of Shelter and head of the Rough Sleepers’ Unit.
Former Home Secretary Charles Clarke primarily discussed the big issues that politicians find difficult to solve. He explained some of the barriers to those in government, no matter the political persuasion, including dealing with groups who might have vested interests and navigating legal constraints when implementing solutions to problems.
BART VAN ES
In November 2019 Bart van Es (English 1991) gave a talk about his 2018 Costa Book of the Year, The Cut Out Girl: A Story of War and Family, Lost and Found to the Literary Society. The Cut Out Girl is a work of creative non-fiction that depicts the life of a Jewish girl in hiding during World War II in The Netherlands.
Professor van Es is currently Professor of English Literature; Fellow and Senior Tutor at St Catherine’s College, Oxford.
ARROL ADAM LECTURE
Fellow and multi award-winning plant scientist Professor Giles Oldroyd gave the annual Arrol Adam lecture in July 2020.
This was our first lecture delivered over Zoom, and Giles spoke on the topic, “How beneficial associations in plants can drive sustainable food production.”
On 6 November 2020, the Fitzwilliam College Debating Society held a Zoom debate on the motion ‘This House believes that cancel culture has gone too far’. Hosted by George Richmond, the debate was wide-ranging and thought-provoking. The motion was passed by 12 for with 8 against.
You can watch some of the Society’s debates here: https://www.youtube. com/channel/UCxF_lJlRuhoHoWHXmMfyGw
DEVOLUTION: LESSONS FROM COVID
In November 2020, Andy Burnham (English 1988), the Mayor of Greater Manchester, joined the Master via Zoom for an informal talk about devolution, COVID, and how it feels to be the ‘King of the North’.
You can watch the talk back here: https://youtu.be/93YemOrCwwY
RUNNING ACROSS AMERICA AND ADDICTION
Talking about his struggles with addiction is an important part of Greg Nance’s latest challenge: to run 3,000 miles across the United States, from New York to Seattle, creating a documentary film to raise awareness of America’s addiction epidemic, and boost mental health support.
In November 2020, Greg (MPhil Management 2011) shared his story as part of our Fresh Thinking at Fitz series.
You can watch the talk back here: https://youtu.be/i55yQxOdtJU 53
