The Price of Fish: Making sense of the way the world really works - Professor Michael Mainelli and Ian Harris

A lecture on issues related to 'real' (as opposed to 'transactional') commerce: the complex ways in which people, organisations and societies communicate and deal with each other. The ultimate aim is to make sense of the way the world really works beyond economics.

A Lark Arising: The Rural Past and Urban Histories, 1881 - 2011 - Professor Alun Howkins

The history of the rural/urban divide in English consciousness, where it came from and why it persists.

Christian Modern Art: Distinctive Individual Visions - The Rt Revd Lord Harries

A lecture on the uncategorisable Christian vision in artists such as Marc Chagall, Stanley Spencer and Cecil Collins.

The British Attempt to Construct a Socialist Commonwealth, 1945-1951 - Professor Vernon Bogdanor

It brought about the NHS, the welfare state and widespread nationalisation, but was the post-war Labour government a success?

Maths and Sport: How Fast Can Usain Bolt Run? - Professor John D Barrow

How can Usain Bolt improve his world 100 metres sprint record significantly without improving his speed? We examine the mechanics of sprinting and the effects of wind assistance, timing accuracy, and altitude on sprint times.

Get Shorty: Short-Term Thinking and Financial Stability - Andy Haldane

Patience is a virtue. But does it have value? Andrew Haldane will discuss the importance of patience to growth and stability, its recent evolution and its implications for financial markets and systems. There is evidence that capital market myopia – short-termism – may be mounting. If so, what if anything should be done about it?

The History and Music of the Spanish and Portuguese Jewish Congregation in the City of London

Maurice Bitton and Chazan Eliot Alderman present the 350-year-old story of Britain’s oldest synagogue, with musical illustrations by the synagogue choir.

Sheep Across London Bridge - The Freedom of the City of London - Murray D Craig

The 774-year-old history of what it is to be granted the Freedom of the City of London.

The Joy of Six - Professor Christopher Hogwood CBE

A lecture and performance of string sextets by Brahms and Strauss, investigating what makes them masterpieces. Professor Christopher Hogwood with players from the Royal Academy.

Does Bursting One Bubble Lead to Another? - John Redwood MP

John Redwood delivers the keynote speech for the Long Finance 2011 Autumn conference, which focussed on market bubbles and their effects on efforts to ensure sustainability.

The memoirs and legacy of Évariste Galois - Dr Peter Neumann

The story of Évariste Galois, killed in a duel at the age of twenty, but who left behind papers that would change the face of mathematics.

English Architecture, 1650 to 1760: The Rise of Consensus - Professor Simon Thurley

Opened up to the world once more in 1650, England drank in influences and ideas from abroad which were to infuse English building with widely held ideas and values.

A voyage round Saturn, its rings and moons - Professor Carolin Crawford

Saturn is the most beautiful planet in our Solar System. Famous for its bright yet ethereal rings, the gas giant has over sixty natural satellites in orbit around it – and one artificial satellite: NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, which provides many of the results and images that will be showcased in this talk. We shall explore the weather observed in the atmosphere of Saturn, the curious structures that develop within the rings, and its wide variety of moons – from smog-shrouded Titan, two-sided Iapetus, to busy Prometheus, and the icy plumes erupting from frozen Enceladus.

The Pursuit of Happiness - Professor Glenn D Wilson

What makes us happy? Is it a genetic trait that we are stuck with, or a product of events unfolding in our living? Does it help to be rich? What can be done to overcome set-backs and and improve our sense of well being?

What Makes A Good Regulator? - Dame Suzi Leather

Regulation is central to discussions of the banking crisis at the moment, but what is a regulator and what should we expect of them?

The Cold Rules for National Security: History and the Defence of the Realm - Professor The Lord Hennessy

Notions of national security past and present. How Whitehall has dealt with it. How we might do it better in the future.

Modern Day Slavery - Nancy Kelley

Thousands of people are estimated to be working as slaves within the UK, in highly exploitative conditions, with no rights, and under threat of violence. This lecture will discuss some of the issues.

Slavery, Ships and Sickness - Professor Stuart Anderson

The history of the ships and shipping that are a central but often-overlooked part of the British involvement in the slave trade.

The Great Mathematicians - Professor Robin Wilson and Dr Raymond Flood

A lecture on some of the greatest mathematicians in history, their work and their influence on the world around us - including Pythagoras, Newton, Einstein, Hilbert and many more.

The Explosion of Modernism - The Rt Revd Lord Harries

An exploration of Christian themes in modernist art at the start of the 20th century, looking in particular at Nolde, Jacob Epstein and Roualt.

Formal and Informal Empire in the 19th Century - Professor Richard J Evans

A lecture on the global shift from informal economic and trading empires to the formal imperial empires that still casts its shadow over the world today.

Keep it Short: J.S. Bach's Magnificat - Professor Christopher Hogwood

A lecture on what makes J. S. Bach’s Magnificat a masterpiece.

The Historical Function of Town Halls - Dr Tristram Hunt MP

The deep history behind the great Victorian Town Halls of Northern England, created on the back of new Industrial wealth and great civic aspirations.

Why Conserve the Cutty Sark? - Richard Doughty

From mutiny and murder to trade and glory, the world’s last tea clipper has seen it all, including a fire in 2007. The Chief Executive of The Cutty Sark Trust looks back on the restoration of the ship that is due to be finished in Spring 2012.

Literature and Politics in 17th Century London - Dr Anna Beer

The stories of Sir Walter Ralegh and John Milton, through the turbulent times of the Civil War and Restoration.

The History of the Lord Mayor's Show - Dominic Reid OBE

The Lord Mayor’s Show is one of the longest established and best known annual events in the City of London, dating back to 1215. This lecture will reveal the fascinating history of the show.

Arthur Sullivan Masterclass - Professor David Owen Norris

A masterclass on Sullivan's Songs with young artists: Mark Austin, Harry Bennett, Laura Crowther, David Jones, Frederick Long, Ashley Riches, Belinda Williams and Darcey Wynter.

Arthur Sullivan's Song-writing Technique - Professor David Owen Norris

A lecture (from the piano) on Arthur Sullivan's approach to writing his songs, by Professor David Owen Norris.

The End of the Old World Order, 1530 to 1650 - Dr Simon Thurley

The Reformation and the Civil War, two events a century apart, created an astonishing originality and independence in English Building.

Britain in the 20th Century: The Character of the Post-war Period - Professor Vernon Bogdanor

The post war period saw the decline in British national self-confidence. – Why?

Britain's global trade in the Great Days of Sail - Dr John McAleer

Retracing the history of British merchant shipping – one of the richest and most important strands of British history.

The Life and Work of Mervyn Peake - Sebastian Peake

A celebration of the Mervyn Peake centenary, looking at the biographical context of the man's art and writing

Soothing the Savage Breast - Professor Glenn D Wilson

Is there a link between music and psychological wellbeing?

The Greenlanders: Arctic whaleships and whalers - Dr Bernard Stonehouse

Dr Stonehouse charts the historical expeditions made to the Arctic by British whaling ships.

From Jenner to Wakefield: The long shadow of the anti-vaccination movement - Professor Gareth Williams

Professor Gareth Williams examines the legacy of Dr Edward Jenner and the rise of the anti-vaccination movement.

Vision and Values in a Time of Volatility: Lecture One - Professor Kenneth Costa

A lecture on ethical approaches in business, delivered by Professor Michael Mainelli.

Ancient and Modern: Ongoing Translations of the Bible - Professor David Ford

Professor David Ford presents his research into the hermeneutics of Bible translation.

Dumbing down or sharpening up? The Church's abandonment of the King James Version - Revd Colin Sedgwick

A critical reconsideration of the place of the King James Bible within modern Christianity.

The Language of the King James Bible: Introduction - Professor Tim Connell

An overview of historical translations of the Bible and the impact of the King James Version.

The Life and Legacy of Dr Edward Jenner, Pioneer of Vaccination - Dr Tim Wallington

The story of the “father of immunology”, the discoverer of vaccination, Dr Edward Jenner.

Empire in the Pre-Industrial World - Professor Richard J Evans

The early history of the empires established the great European powers: their origins, their growth, and the reasons why some flourished and some faltered.

Spitalfields: Opportunity Through Regeneration - Michael Bear, Lord Mayor of London

The Lord Mayor of London discusses the long and eventful regeneration of Spitalfields Market in London.

Voices Of The Land: Maori Music and Instruments - Dr Richard Nunns

An introduction to the traditional Maori music and instruments of New Zealand, putting them in their cultural and spiritual context.

Percy Grainger: Australia's greatest composer? - Professor Malcolm Gillies

What is it to be a great composer? Does Percy Grainger (1882-1961) have it, and if so, why do so few people know of him?

Emerging Markets and Climate Change - Dr Cameron Hepburn

Climate change means that the future will become "low-carbon" sooner or later. What will this mean for global markets? Who is in the best position for this economic shift? Why and how is China leaving the West behind?

Birdsong and Music - David Matthews

A reflection on the relations between music and the natural world and how a composer can be brought closer to one through the other and vice versa. From both a European and Australian perspective.

The Changing Body: Health, Nutrition and Development in the Western World since 1700 - Professor Bernard Harris

The causes and consequences of changes in human height, weight and longevity within human recent history for health.

How tall can the Eurpopean Convention on Human Rights grow? - The Rt Hon Baroness Hale

Is the European Convention on Human Rights an uncontrollable beast, or does it have its own natural limits? Need we prune it, or be wary of it?

Culture and Resistance: Indigenous Responses to a Globalised World - Michael Walling

Globalisation is a threat not only to other economies, but also to other cultures. This lecture takes a look at how indigenous cultures are under threat, what they stand to lose, and how they are putting up a fight - not least in the arts.

The Politics of Health Reform from a Medieval Perspective - Professor William Ayliffe

Is the NHS medieval? Would this be an insulting claim, to modern hospitals or those of the Middle Ages? Professor William Ayliffe considers modern health reform from the perspective of Tudor medical practice. He provides an overview of some of London's most important mediveval hospitals, including St Bartholomew's, St Thomas' and St Mary's Bethlem.

The Form and Function of Medieval Hospitals - Professor Carole Rawcliffe

An overview of the hospital as it existed in the Middle Ages, with an outlining the place of women and religion in the medical practice of the time and a dispelling the myth that the Tudors lived in unhygienic squalor.

Medical and Surgical Therapeutics: Scientific Advances in the Tudor Era - Professor Allan Chapman

A detailed overview of the developments and innovations in Tudor medicine and surgery, and the legacy that they have established.

Tudor Health Reform: An Introduction - Professor Tim Connell

A short introduction to a conference on Tudor Health, discussing childbirth, medicine in print, disease and accidents in the Tudor era.

Language Documentation and Revitalisation: Where are we now? - Professor Peter Austin

Professor Peter Austin outlines a number of projects aimed at documenting the world's endangered languages.

Why should we protect endangered languages? - Dr Nicholas Ostler

An argument for the preservation of the world's endangered languages, with consideration of historical examples of threatened languages that have been wiped out (like Gaulish) and those that have been rescued from extinction (such as Basque).

Collect, Protect, Connect: Documenting the Voices of Vanishing Worlds - Dr Mark Turin

An impassioned call for the preservation of endangered languages and their cultures, through Dr Mark Turin's own experience of preserving and revitalising the Thangmi language in Nepal.

An Introduction to Rare and Endangered Languages - Professor Tim Connell

An introduction to the field of endangered languages, with special focus on language policy, language ecology and language revival.

A is for Autism - Dame Stephanie Shirley

A personal talk on autism and its medical and social consequences, on the sufferers and the carers.

From Trocadero to Troxy: A tradition returns - John Abson and Richard Hills

Wurlitzer organs and the history of London music halls: the story of the Britain's largest cinema organ from 1930 through to the present day.

The Cost of Neglecting International History - Professor Sir Adam Roberts

Sir Adam Roberts presents a compelling case for the reintroduction of history to the centre of international relations, drawing on examples from contemporary world conflicts.

Mahler: My Time Will Come - Chamber Domaine

A concert proceeded by a talk investigating the influence of Mahler on contemporary composers such as Henryk Gorecki.

Mahler's London - Keith James Clarke

The story of Gustav Mahler’s one and only visit to London in 1892.

Financing Retirement: History and Policy Changes - Malcolm Small

Trying to balance the books on retirement: was it ever going to be possible?

Mahler's Heavenly Retreats - Keith James Clarke

Exactly 100 years from the day of his death, this lecture looks at the summer houses where Mahler composed his greatest works.

Undecidable and Decidable Problems in Mathematics - Professor Angus MacIntyre

A survey of the important mathematical work done by Alan Turing, now nearly 100 years since his birth.

The Hidden Face of British Gardening - Professor Sir Roderick Floud

From the 17th Century to the present day, a fresh and unique look at Britain’s favourite pastime.

Uncovering the Truth about Vedic Mathematics - Alex Bellos

A mystical knowledge revealed only through initiates or a simple mathematical trick? - Alex Bellos went to India to try and get to the bottom of Vedic mathematics.

Decoding the Heavens: Solving the Mystery of the World's First Computer - Jo Marchant

The amazing story of the discovery of the Antikythera mechanism, perhaps the most staggering and yet puzzling achievement of the ancient Greeks.

Exploring Ancient Greek and Roman Numeracy - Dr Serafina Cuomo

How does our idea and understanding of numbers and numeracy differ to that held by the ancient Greeks?

The MacPlatonic Solids: Mathematics in Neolithic Scotland - Tony Mann

The story of the unexplained neolithic objects common to Northern Scotland that echo the Platonic solids, a cornerstone of Greek mathematical thinking.

Introduction to Early Mathematics - Professor Robin Wilson

From Egypt to China and back via India to Greece: a quick tour of ancient mathematics and some of the problems they were interested in.

Science's First Mistake: Delusions in Pursuit of Theory - Professor Ian Angell

How much truth should we expect from science? Do scientists understand their search for truth correctly?

Lovesickness - Professor Glenn Wilson

When love goes wrong: the story of heartbreak, obsession, jealousy and erotomania.

From Printed Page to Performance - Professor Christopher Hogwood, Dame Emma Kirkby and Jakob Lindberg

A discussion with musical examples, on the importance of musical ‘tradition’ and the idea of ‘authentic’ performance, between Christopher Hogwood, Dame Emma Kirkby and lutenist Jakob Linberg.

The Coalition and the Constitution - Professor Vernon Bogdanor

An objective analysis of the significance of the current coalition government for Britain and of the momentous constitutional reforms which the coalition is proposing.

English Architecture: Coming of Age, 1408-1530 - Professor Simon Thurley

An investigation of the period which saw the perfection of a distinctive English architecture, before it was destroyed by Henry VIII and the Reformation.

To Infinity and Beyond - Professor Ian Morison

An overview of the development of cosmology over the last 100 years, from the Big Bang models to the discovery of Dark Energy.

The Victorians: Empire and Race - Professor Richard Evans

What was the Victorian attitude towards other cultures? Where did it spring from and what did it result in?

Mahler, The Prodigy And Hollywood - Chamber Domaine

A concert proceeded by a talk investigating the influence of Mahler on Korngold and others.

Celebrating the Past: Treasures from the RCM Collection - Dr Ingrid Pearson

A talk on one of the world’s most important historical musical collections, housed at the Royal College of Music, London.

Moral Leadership in a Wikiworld - Professor Kenneth J Costa

Is leadership still needed in this modern age of digital online communities? What would it look like?

Colour - Professor William Ayliffe

What is colour and how do we see it? – Professor Ayliffe explains the history and the science.

What is this thing called "love"? - Professor Glenn D Wilson

What is the evolutionary explanation of ‘love’ and how does it work in the brain?

London at Night: Spirituality and the Dark Side - Revd Nicholas Holtam

The Vicar of St. Martin-in-the-Fields explains the work of, and the challenges for, a central London church at night.

Resource Scarcity, Resource Productivity and Economic Growth: The Role of Innovation - Professor Paul Ekins

What is the role of innovation in a world where business and finance is becoming increasingly influenced by the demands of climate change, sustainability and the problems of resource scarcity?

How the Middle Ages were Built: Exuberance to Crisis, 1300-1408 - Professor Simon Thurley

A look at the flourishing of distinctive English architecture in the 14th Century, against the backdrop of perhaps the most catastrophic period of history.

Britain in the 20th Century: The Road to War - Professor Vernon Bogdanor

In underestimating Hitler, was Chamberlain personally culpable for war? Did Britain consider suing for peace in 1940?

From Composer to Printed Page - Professor Christopher Hogwood

When even the language of musical notation is both inexact and changeable, what are the challenges that face musical understanding across time?

At the End of the Line: Students helping students - Dr Ann Conlon

Nightline: The story behind the student-ran volunteer helpline that runs through the night and helps thousands of Londoners every year.

Future Brain - Professor Keith Kendrick

From improving our own brains to creating artificial ones – Professor Kendrick describes what the future of the brain might look like.

Understanding Faith Through the Eyes of Stanley Spencer - The Rt Revd Lord Harries

A look at the unique vision and Christian love of Stanley Spencer.

The Victorians: Religion and Science - Professor Richard J Evans

Christianity pervaded all of society and private life in the Victorian era, and yet the discoveries of Darwin were to change this forever. Professor Evans explains all.

Your night is my day: London's Underground never sleeps - Oliver Green

What goes in the underground when it closes down for the night?

The Importance of Proving Things - Professor Mark Ronan

Why proofs are important not just for avoiding errors, but for progress in mathematics itself.

The Making of Modern Celebrity, Part 2 - Professor Christopher Cook

Exploring the nature of contemporary celebrity and how it is tied into the success of the press and media.

Leadership at a Time of Transition and Change - Peter Sutherland

Peter Sutherland, Chairman of Goldman Sachs International, reflects on the marks of great leadership that he has met throughout his career.

London After Dark: Saving Londoners' Lives - Peter Bradley

A lecture on the work of the London Ambulance Service through the night.

The Tragedy of Easy Problems - Dr Prajwal Ciryam

How can we have proven solutions to the problems of development or global health and yet not sufficiently act on them?

The Book Of Universes - Professor John Barrow

A lecture about universes: theories, realities and possibilities, from Newton to Einstein and beyond.

Doing Business In Interstellar Space - Professor John Barrow

What do the discoveries of Einstein tell us about what life would be like if travel at the speed of light were possible?

Hubble's Heritage - Professor Ian Morison

A lecture on the legacy of both Edwin Hubble and the Space Telescope that bears his name.

Sex Wars - Professor Glenn Wilson

How the "selfish genes" of men and women sometimes create conflict.

Why We See What We Do - Professor William Ayliffe

How has animal life developed the nature of vision? What are the pros and what are the cons?

The Resurrection In Art - Rt Revd Lord Harries

The story of the most difficult of all Christian themes to convey in visible form.

Britain in the 20th Century: "Appeasement" - Professor Vernon Bogdanor

How should history judge Neville Chamberlain’s 1930’s government that was completely unmatched to the storm that would become World War II?

The Authenticity of Genius - Professor Christopher Hogwood

A lecture and performance demonstrating the unique genius of Felix Mendelssohn.

The Victorians: Gender and Sex - by Professor Richard J Evans

Were the Victorians as sexually repressed and strangled by convention as we assume?

The Making of Modern Celebrity, Part 1 - Professor Christopher Cook

A lecture to explore the nature of contemporary celebrity, how it is 'manufactured' by the media and where it originated.

Long Commerce: Transactions across time - by Professor Michael Mainelli

How might we save for future generations when there are so many potential disruptions to the long-term store of wealth?

Mahler and Strauss - by Chamber Domaine

A performance proceeded by a talk, on the music and freindship of Mahler and Strauss.

When a Parent has a Mental Illness - Dr Alan Cooklin

Young, vulnerable, but often the wisest carer of all: what are the experience of the children of adults with mental illness and how should we support them?

Leadership at a Time of Transition and Change - General Sir Richard Dannatt and Professor Ken Costa

A conversation with General Sir Richard Dannatt, Former Chief of the General Staff, on leadership in our time of financial and geo-political dislocation.

Benford's Very Strange Law - Professor John D Barrow

How random can any three randomly chosen numbers can be? - Codes, credit cards and more.

Repairing and treating damaged or dysfunctional brains - Professor Keith Kendrick

What progress are we making towards repairing damaged brains and treating mental disorders?

Fakes, Completions and the Art of Borrowing - Professor Christopher Hogwood

The surprising stories of the ‘borrowing’ behind the music of Handel, and the 'completions' behind Mozart.

The Violent Universe - Professor Ian Morison

A look at the most violent events that occur in our Universe, from supernovae to the Big Bang.

Britain in the 20th Century: The Economic Crisis and its Consequences - Professor Vernon Bogdanor

The economic crisis of 1931 marked the downfall of the labour party's government as it lost the support of the unions, the cabinet and eventually the British people.

Charles Chaplin: Bridging Three Centuries - David Robinson

The journey of Charlie Chaplin: from poverty and East End music halls to Hollywood and global fame.

Blindness in Children: The Global Perspective - Professor Clare Gilbert

Why do children become blind and what worldwide treatment programs are there to prevent it?

The Passion in Art - Professor the Lord Richard Harries

Why did it take early Christians decades before they depicted Jesus on the Cross? How has it been adapted and used since?

Leadership at a Time of Transition and Change - Professor Ken Costa

A lecture on how we are to understand leadership in our current turbulent times.

The Uses of Irrationality: Paper Sizes and the Golden Ratio - Professor John D. Barrow

Random or design? The unexpectedly fascinating maths behind paper sizes.

Unsolved Mysteries of the Universe - Professor Ian Morison

A look at some of the great unknowns of the universe and how we are looking to answer them.

Press Coverage of Mental Health and Suicide - Mary O'Hara

An analysis of the press coverage of mental health issues in Britain and the USA.

The Victorians: Life and Death - Professor Richard J Evans

The Victorian obcession with death: where it came from and why it dissolved.

Diabetes, Hypertension and Vascular Diseases of the Eye - Professor William Ayliffe

What and how our eyes can tell us a lot about our general state of health.

The Nativity in Art - Professor Lord Harries

Lord Harries surveys the rich artistic history of depicting the nativity.

The Great War and its Consequences - Professor Vernon Bogdanor

The changes in British Politics that came about as a result of WWI.

The Bounce of the Superball - Professor John D Barrow

What can we learn from a hard rough rubber ball? – Professor of mathematics, John Barrow explains all.

Self and Consciousness in Hindu Thought - Professor Chakravarthi Ram-Prasad

Who am I? - Some possible philosophical answers to be found in Hindu thought.

English Architecture, 1130-1300 - Professor Simon Thurley

The story of some of Europe’s most remarkable buildings, built during the new gothic period of 13th century England.

A New Economic Model for Europe: Building sustainable growth - Dr Chris Gibson-Smith

The Chairman of the London Stock Exchange assesses the future of financial centres.

The Setting up of The Royal Society - Professor Michael Hunter

An overview of early science, through the setting up of The Royal Society.

Voyages to the Outer Solar System - Professor Ian Morison

A tour with three spacecraft, looking at planets previously unseen in such detail.

Leadership at a Time of Transition and Turbulence #2 - Professor Ken Costa

An examination of the challenges of leadership at a time of financial and geo-political dislocation.

Understanding the brain: a work in progress - Professor Keith Kendrick

Just how much do we know about the neurology behind our memories, emotions and conscious awareness?

St. Cecilia and Music: True or False? - Professor Christopher Hogwood

A lecture, on St. Cecilia’s Day, looking at the basis and influence of the patron saint of music.

Correction of Optical Defects: From Spectacles to Lasers - Professor William Ayliffe

The history of vision-correction, from Roger Bacon’s glasses of 1266 through to today’s cutting-edge laser technology.