RSA Events: Audio

Join distinguished academic, author and critic Professor Stefan Collini as he dissects the real purpose of higher education. With a response from Professor Paul O'Prey.

Mark Pagel, one of the world’s leading experts on human evolution and development, visits the RSA to investigate our species’ capacity for culture, cooperation and community.

Economist Loretta Napoleoni examines Chinese economic growth and argues that we are witnessing the beginning of the collapse of capitalism and the victory of communism with a profit motive.

Professor Avner de-Shalit shows why cultivating the distinctive “spirit of cities” is the best antidote to global homogenisation.

Cultural historian Roman Krznaric reveals how the art of empathy can not only enrich one's own life but also help to create social change.

Acclaimed BBC journalist and author of 'Meltdown' Paul Mason visits the RSA to explain the causes and consequences of the recent uprisings, protests, and revolutions.

Richard Sennett and Matthew Taylor discuss the rituals, pleasure and politics of co-operation.

In the wake of recent changes to the schools rating system, Sir Michael Wilshaw, Ofsted chief inspector joins Professor Becky Francis, RSA director of education to discuss how more schools can be helped to improve.

Moving on from the stale and unproductive atheists vs. believers debate, renowned philosopher Alain de Botton argues for a more helpful and progressive alternative.

In the last 30-40 years, there have been major shifts in the nature of work, covering both the sorts of jobs we do (decline of manufacturing, rise of the service sector; decline of industrial jobs, rise of ‘high touch’ jobs in the care sector) and in employment patterns (more women in the workplace, expansion of higher education) but what will be the major shifts of employment patterns in the next generation?

The panel consider how to incentivise job creation, particularly in the private sector. Over the next 15-20 years, what are the business and the technologies that will generate new jobs and what needs to happen in the policy context to maximise incentives and support for employers in these sectors.? What does Britain plc need to do to ensure it retains its share of the global market?

The panel explore the state of the current labour market and the key trends in that market. What could be done in a 0-3 year timeframe to help solve the worst problems, of which youth and long term unemployment are bound to figure highly?

One of the world’s most esteemed psychologists, Roy F Baumeister visits the RSA to explain why willpower and self-control is one of the most important aspects of individual and societal wellbeing.

Acclaimed neuroscientist Tali Sharot visits the RSA to explain the biological bias of optimism, and its effect on our lives and societies.

Writer and philosopher Roger Scruton argues that conservatism is far better suited to tackle environmental problems than either liberalism or socialism.