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Friday 5
Learning through lectures
13 September, 2024
Founded in 1597 as London’s first institute of higher learning, Gresham College, located in Holborn, broke new ground by offering lectures in English, making education accessible to those who didn’t know Latin—the language used by Oxford and Cambridge at the time. It also introduced subjects like astronomy and geometry, focusing on practical applications for navigation and trade – areas often neglected by traditional universities.
Fast forward to today, and Gresham College continues its mission of fostering intellectual curiosity and promoting academic excellence. With over 2,500 lectures and videos available online, the College offers free access to world-class knowledge on a wide range of topics including architecture, mathematics, music, art, human rights and climate change. In 2023 alone, Gresham’s lectures attracted more than 6.5 million views from 150 countries, demonstrating its global reach and impact.
If you’re interested in sustainability topics, don’t miss the ‘How Net Zero’ series. The next lecture, “How to Stop Climate Becoming a Wedge Political Issue,” will take place on Tuesday, October 1st. Professor Myles Allen, Director of the Oxford Net Zero initiative, will present his ideas on ‘third way’ climate solutions, designed to appeal to a broad coalition. So, gather your friends and join in person or watch online – the choice is yours! For more details and to sign up, please click here.
By Charlotte Pounder