The 222nd lecture series
Season 2023/24
Our Members’ Newsletter can be viewed here.
The Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow was founded in 1802, when the term ‘philosophy’ meant knowledge in the broadest sense. The Society provides stimulating lectures and discussion for members on a great diversity of topics.
You can see information and records of our previous speakers using the ‘Lectures’ tab and clicking on Past Lectures, and see the member event planned for September in the latest Members’ Newsletter, accessible from the ‘News’ tab
Our programme of lectures for 2023/24 will begin on 4th of October 2023 and members will shortly be receiving the programme brochure. You can see some of the forthcoming talks below. Following the great success of our visits to sister societies in York and Newcastle, a new members trip to Belfast is arranged for May 2024 in which we will visit the Belfast Natural History & Philosophical Society and key heritage sites. Members will already have received notification of this trip. While the trip is currently full, members can still add their names to the waiting list by contacting the Society administrator George Rawlinson.
The annual Society Soiree event took place at The Fairfields Heritage centre in Govan on the 28th September 2023. Photographs of this can be found in the news section.
If you are someone who enjoys learning about what is happening in the world around you, being introduced to new discoveries and exposed to new ideas, and are not already a member, then join us and expand your horizons!
upcoming lectures
- 13 Dec, 23Upcoming
Professor Miles Padgett
Does God play dice? – Kelvin LectureWednesday, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm10 Jan, 24UpcomingDr David Rosario
Back to the beginning of time; penetrating the mysteries of star and galaxy formation with the James Webb telescopeWednesday, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm07 Feb, 24UpcomingProfessor Hester Parr
Why we should think about the relationship between climate change and mental health in ScotlandWednesday, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm06 Mar, 24UpcomingProfessor Sarah Cunningham-Burley
Towards a public bioethicsWednesday, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm20 Mar, 24UpcomingProfessor Sian Harding
The exquisite machine: the new science of the heartWednesday, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pmPrevious eclectic, diverse lectures from leading figures
The Mind of a bee!
See Professor Lars Chittka's talk for the society "The Mind of the Bee" from January 2021. Bees have a diverse instinctual repertoire that allows the functioning of the beehive like a smoothly oiled factory, with different workers specialising in comb construction, climate control system, defence and foraging for nectar and pollen. However, the richness of bees’ instincts has traditionally been contrasted with the notion that bees’ small brains allow little behavioural flexibility and learning behaviour.
Watch nowThe Origins of Genocide
When he receives an invitation to deliver a lecture in the Ukrainian city of Lviv, international lawyer Philippe Sands begins a journey on the trail of his family’s secret history. In doing so, he uncovers a series of unlikely coincidences that lead him halfway across the world, to the origins of modern international law, in the 1945 ‘moment’ and at the Nuremberg trial. ‘East West Street’: on the origins of genocide and crimes against humanity, on the individual and the group. See Prof Philippe Sands lecture for the Royal Phil.
Watch nowActive since 1802 to present day
SOCIETY INAUGURATION
0n the 5th November 1802, three Glaswegian gentlemen, John Roberton, William Douglas, and Peter Nicholson, acting on behalf of a number of others in the city who were ‘interested in the prosperity of the Trades and Manufactures of their country’, and anxious for ‘the improvement of the Arts and Sciences’ ...
Find out moreOur New Home
We started our new session in our new home in the Sir Charles Wilson Building at Glasgow University.
Learn moreMember activities
Members' trip to York
In March 2022, there was a very successful three day trip to York which was packed with interesting and informative visits and talks. The trip also provided an opportunity to meet with a similar organisation to ours, this being the Yorkshire Philosophical Society (YPS).
See more about the tripJoin the Society
Membership brings free access to all talks as well as other benefits. After each talk you can meet the lecturer and other society members over a glass of wine.
Membership brings free access to all talks as well as other benefits.
Learn
Listen to and participate in a wide variety of outstanding talks from our guest speakers.Support
Membership supports an institution which keeps the engaging, inspiring and lively activities of the society going for the next two centuries!Meet others
Meet like-minded people with a similar passion for learning and ideas.Recent Lectures
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Sir John Kay
From the pin factory to the iPhone – the complete history of capitalism – The Adam Smith LectureSir John Kay is an economist whose career has spanned the academic world, business and finance, and public affairs. He has held chairs at the London Business School, the University…
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Dr Gavin Francis
Free For All: Why the NHS is Worth savingGavin Francis qualified in medicine in 1999, and has written nine books of non-fiction. He works as a GP in Edinburgh and in the Scottish Highlands. He is a…
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Professor Neil Adger
Changing Places: Migration and Climate ChangeProfessor Neil Adger Neil Adger is Professor of Human Geography at the University of Exeter. He has published across the social and natural sciences on risk and adaptation to long-term…
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Professor Tim Birkhead
The Great Auk: greed, death and regretTim Birkhead FRS is emeritus professor of behaviour and evolution at the University of Sheffield. His research on promiscuity and sperm competition in birds re-shaped our understanding of bird mating…
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Professor Steve Brusatte
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs…. and The Rise of the MammalsSteve Brusatte is Professor of Palaeontology and Evolution at the University of Edinburgh. He studies the evolution of dinosaurs and mammals, and has written over 170 research papers and several…
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Professor Lord Paul Bew
Why have the British never understood Ireland/Northern Ireland The British Academy LectureRegistration requiredLord Professor Paul Bew, Queens University Belfast Paul Bew is emeritus professor of politics at Queen’s University Belfast and a cross-bench peer in the House of Lords. He was chair…
12Talks per year900Active Members220Years of history