Speaker(s): Julia Hardy, Andrew Keen, Martha Lane Fox, Professor Sugata Mitra, Sue Palmer | In this new series of debates entitled Glass Half Full, being recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 4, Fi Glover pits optimists against pessimists in a new topical debating format. A lead speaker on each side presents their argument, and both question expert witnesses to support their point of view. At the end of the debate, the audience votes and declares in favour of an optimistic or pessimistic view of t...
Mar 28, 2017•1 hr 35 min
Speaker(s): Dr Joseph Cohen, Professor Simona Forti, Dr Brian Klug | Nazism pervaded every level of German society, and philosophers were not immune. While much scholarship has understandably focused on recriminations of key figures, tonight's panel reflect on some broader questions raised: Can philosophy help us understand the nature of evil? And does thinking philosophically really help us live better lives? Joseph Cohen is a Lecturer in Continental Philosophy, University College Dublin. Simon...
Mar 23, 2017•1 hr 26 min
Speaker(s): Professor Marianne Bertrand | Marianne Bertrand is an applied micro-economist whose research covers the fields of labor economics, corporate finance, and development economics. Her research in these areas has been published widely, including numerous research articles in the Quarterly Journal of Economics, the Journal of Political Economy, the American Economic Review, and the Journal of Finance. This event is the Economica-Coase Lecture 2017. Oriana Bandiera (@orianabandiera) is a P...
Mar 23, 2017•1 hr 34 min
Speaker(s): Professor Olivier Blanchard | Professor Blanchard will discuss the main forces interacting to shape the world economy, and the uncertainties associated with them, namely the legacies of the financial crisis; the decrease in productivity growth; and populism and populist policies. Olivier Blanchard (@ojblanchard1) served as Chief Economist of the IMF from 2008 to 2015. He is now the Fred Bergsten Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute in Washington and Robert M Solow Professor of Eco...
Mar 22, 2017
Speaker(s): Professor Olivier Blanchard | Professor Blanchard will discuss the main forces interacting to shape the world economy, and the uncertainties associated with them, namely the legacies of the financial crisis; the decrease in productivity growth; and populism and populist policies. Olivier Blanchard (@ojblanchard1) served as Chief Economist of the IMF from 2008 to 2015. He is now the Fred Bergsten Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute in Washington and Robert M Solow Professor of Eco...
Mar 22, 2017•1 hr 19 min
Speaker(s): Dr Alex Gillespie, Dr Tom Reader | Public services such as healthcare receive large volumes of complaints. Traditionally these have been seen as something to manage or even hide. However, from a social psychological standpoint, listening to complaints can potentially provide independent, practical, and unique insights. This lecture reports evidence using the Healthcare Complaints Analysis Tool, which is the first reliable tool for systematically analyzing and benchmarking the severit...
Mar 22, 2017•1 hr 32 min
Speaker(s): Professor Christian Hilber | Editor's note: The question and answer is not included in the podcast. In his inaugural lecture Christian Hilber explains how Britain’s planning system and tax policy cause the country’s housing crisis and contribute to rising inequality. He will explore how we can do better. Christian Hilber (@ChrisALHilber) is Professor of Economic Geography. He is an Associate of the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) and the Spatial Economics Research Centre (SERC)...
Mar 21, 2017
Speaker(s): Professor Charles Spence | Why do we consume 35% more food when eating with one more person, and 75% more when with three? Why are 27% of drinks bought on aeroplanes tomato juice? How are chefs and companies planning to transform our dining experiences, and what can we learn from their cutting-edge insights to make memorable meals at home? These are just some of the ingredients of Gastrophysics, in which the pioneering Oxford professor Charles Spence shows how our senses link up in t...
Mar 21, 2017•1 hr 32 min
Speaker(s): Professor Christian Hilber | Editor's note: The question and answer is not included in the podcast. In his inaugural lecture Christian Hilber explains how Britain’s planning system and tax policy cause the country’s housing crisis and contribute to rising inequality. He will explore how we can do better. Christian Hilber (@ChrisALHilber) is Professor of Economic Geography. He is an Associate of the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) and the Spatial Economics Research Centre (SERC)...
Mar 21, 2017•1 hr 3 min
Speaker(s): Andrew G Haldane | Productivity growth has weakened across a number of economies over recent years, particularly in the UK. Does this reflect a slowing of innovation? What role can public policy play in supporting productivity growth? Andrew G Haldane is the Chief Economist at the Bank of England. He is also Executive Director for Monetary Analysis, Research and Statistics, and a member of the MPC. Andrew has responsibility for research and statistics across the Bank. Andrew has an H...
Mar 20, 2017•1 hr 27 min
Speaker(s): Professor Andrew Walder | As the Mao era, and in particular the Cultural Revolution fade in memory, its history has fallen out of focus and has been infused with myth. Drawing on his recent book, China Under Mao: A Revolution Derailed, Andrew Walder will take up two related questions. First, what were Mao's intentions and what were the actual outcomes of his radical initiatives? Second, why did these outcomes occur? Mao emerges from the historical record as a revolutionary whose radi...
Mar 16, 2017•1 hr 24 min
Speaker(s): Alessandro Allegra, Berris Charnley, Dr Stephen John, Jenny Molloy | From medicine and GMOs to cyber-security and climate change, scientific research is vital to modern life. On the other hand, many of us struggle to get to grips with its increasing complexity. How does this fit with our ideals of democracy? And in an era of mistrust of experts, does science have a legitimacy problem? Our panel considers a radical proposal to rethink the distinction between scientist and citizen. Ale...
Mar 16, 2017•1 hr 25 min
Speaker(s): Professor Sarah Conly, Joel Kibazo, Robin Maynard, Johan Norberg, Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter | In this new series of debates entitled Glass Half Full, being recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 4, Fi Glover pits optimists against pessimists in a new topical debating format. A lead speaker on each side presents their argument, and both question expert witnesses to support their point of view. At the end of the debate, the audience votes and declares in favour of an optimistic or...
Mar 15, 2017•1 hr 39 min
Speaker(s): Professor Leonard Smith, Dr Trevor Maynard, Professor Robert Rosner | Science gives us predictions and probabilities that are sometimes remarkably accurate. And sometimes not. Our ability to use scientific information in decision-making is explored in a variety of real world contexts, from monitoring the risks jellyfish pose to nuclear power stations, to framing policy on carbon emissions to avoid dangerous climate change. Interestingly, it turns out that scientific evidence can be b...
Mar 15, 2017•1 hr 30 min
Speaker(s): Professor Clemencia Rodríguez | The presence of armed groups and the proximity of armed violence and war have a tremendous impact on a community’s daily life, social fabric, local political and economic processes, and inter-communal relationships and interactions. This talk will examine the different ways war impacts communities and how citizens’ media can counter these impacts. Through a series of examples from Professor Rodriguez's fieldwork in Colombia, the talk will illustrate th...
Mar 14, 2017•1 hr 28 min
Speaker(s): Ruth Hunt | Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive of Stonewall, will reflect on Stonewall’s history, the progress made and the work still to be done regarding equality for LGBT people with an emphasis on women. Ruth Hunt (@ruth_hunt) was appointed Chief Executive of Stonewall in August 2014. She has successfully developed Stonewall’s groundbreaking policy, campaigns and research outputs and has spearheaded its commitment to campaign for trans equality. Julia Black is currently interim Director ...
Mar 14, 2017•1 hr 9 min
Speaker(s): Professor Kevin Fenton, Vivienne Parry, Dr Richard Smith, Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Professor Tony Young | In this new series of debates entitled Glass Half Full, being recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 4, Fi Glover pits optimists against pessimists in a new topical debating format. A lead speaker on each side presents their argument, and both question expert witnesses to support their point of view. At the end of the debate, the audience votes and declares in favour of an op...
Mar 09, 2017•1 hr 27 min
Speaker(s): Professor June Barrow-Green | British mathematicians responded to the First World War in several different ways. There were those who volunteered their mathematical skills for work at the Royal Aircraft Factory where they could experience the practice of flying as well as develop its theory, the National Physical Laboratory where they used wind tunnels, or the Anti-Aircraft Experimental Section of the Ministry of Munitions where they worked on ballistics; those who followed a militar...
Mar 09, 2017•1 hr 26 min
Speaker(s): Professor Michele Lamont | Michèle Lamont’s book contributes to the study of everyday racism and stigma management, the quest for recognition, and the comparative study of inequality and processes of cultural change. Michèle Lamont (@mlamont6) is Professor of Sociology and of African and African American Studies and Robert I. Goldman Professor of European Studies at Harvard University. She has been named winner of the 2017 Erasmus Prize, which recognises individual or group contribut...
Mar 08, 2017•1 hr 27 min
Speaker(s): Eva-Maria Bonin, Professor Martin Knapp, David McDaid | Mental health issues will affect one in four of us. This seminar focuses on the economic case for the promotion of better mental wellbeing and prevention of mental illness. Eva-Maria Bonin (@evabonin) is Assistant Professorial Research Fellow within the Personal Social Services Research Unit at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Martin Knapp (@martinknapp) is Professor of Social Policy and Director of the Pers...
Mar 08, 2017•1 hr 28 min
Speaker(s): Fadumo Dayib, Nemata Majeks-Walker, Joice Mujuru | From Germany to Liberia, UK to Argentina, there has been a marked increase in the number of women leaders around the globe in recent years. This event will explore how women leaders are changing the world and the implications for women leaders in Africa. Our panellists will discuss the state of female political representation in their countries; the barriers they have tackled and broken down; as well the lessons to be drawn and imple...
Mar 07, 2017•1 hr 59 min
Speaker(s): Professor Daniel Paravisini | Europe for policy research into financial markets. It is the focal point of the LSE's research communication with the business, policy making and international finance communities. The FMG works alongside the Department of Finance to understand problems in financial markets and in the decision-making processes of corporations, banks and regulators.
Mar 07, 2017•1 hr 10 min
Speaker(s): Professor Charles Kupchan | Editor's note: We apologise for the poor quality audio in the Q and A. From 2014-2017 Professor Kupchan served as Special Assistant to the President for National Security in the Obama White House. Here he explores how America’s international priorities and policies will be affected by the new administration. Charles Kupchan is Professor of International Affairs in the School of Foreign Service and Government Department at Georgetown University. He is also ...
Mar 07, 2017•1 hr 33 min
Speaker(s): Professor Chen Jian | Few historical figures and events are more influential yet controversial than Mao and the Chinese revolution. This lecture will examine their political and moral legacies. Chen Jian is Distinguished Global-Network Professor of History at New York University/NYUShanghai, and Hu Shih Professor Emeritus at Cornell University. Robin Archer is Director of the Ralph Miliband Programme at LSE. The Ralph Miliband Programme (@RMilibandLSE) is one of LSE's most prestigiou...
Mar 02, 2017•1 hr 30 min
Speaker(s): Professor Michael Sandel | Professor Sandel’s work discusses the big moral and political questions of our age. He will be in conversation with Professor Tim Besley. Michael Sandel is a best-selling author and teaches political philosophy at Harvard University. He has been described as “the most relevant living philosopher,” a “rock-star moralist”(Newsweek) and “currently the most popular professor in the world.”(Die Zeit). Sandel’s books, including What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Lim...
Mar 02, 2017•1 hr 26 min
Speaker(s): Fabiana Barticioti, Canon Mandy Ford, Sally Hitchener | This event explores and celebrates the journey to women’s ordination – examining the wider implications for women’s current and future roles within the Anglican Church and beyond. Fabiana Barticioti is Assistant Archivist at LSE. Mandy Ford is Canon of Southwark Cathedral. Sally Hitchener is an English Anglican priest, coordinator of the Anglican Chaplain and Interfaith Adviser at Brunel University. Mary Evans is LSE Centennial ...
Mar 01, 2017•1 hr 23 min
Speaker(s): Professor Laura Bear, Professor Deborah James, Dr Ryan Davey | In this talk, academics and activists will come together around the issues of debt and austerity. From the LSE’s Department of Anthropology, Laura Bear, Deborah James and Ryan Davey will present findings from their research on debt and its relation to austerity in different contexts and at different scales. Drawing on her fieldwork in India, Laura Bear will discuss the value placed on sovereign debt repayments in places g...
Mar 01, 2017•1 hr 24 min
Speaker(s): Patrick Flanery, Professor Steve Reicher | Editor's note: The film screening has been omitted from the podcast. How do ordinary people engage with political change? The problem of how far ordinary people conform was first posed by Hannah Arendt and then pursued conceptually and experimentally by social psychologists exposed to the moral, cultural and psychological devastation that followed World War 2 in Europe. We do as we are told. Or do we? Exploring the psychological roots of obe...
Feb 25, 2017•36 min
Speaker(s): Dean Atta, Neil Bartlett, Maureen Duffy | How has literature and performance engaged with changing attitudes since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967? This panel talk about themes of gay identity, both in their own work and the work of other writers, over the last 50 years.
Feb 25, 2017•1 hr 18 min
Speaker(s): Rachel Coldicutt, Emma Gannon, Deana Puccio | Editor's note: There was a problem with the audio at the beginning of the event, so the Chair's introduction was not recorded. What are the benefits and risks for young people growing up in the digital space? Is now the time to learn lessons from the generation who came of age with the internet? And how can the internet work for everyone? Rachel Coldicutt (@rachelcoldicutt) is Chief Executive Officer of Doteveryone, a UK charity working t...
Feb 25, 2017•1 hr 28 min
