10 January 2013
Saturday Evening Lecture Series 2013
Note: Interviews with all Saturday Evening Lecture Series speakers can be arranged in advance of each event.
The University of Dundee's celebrated Saturday Evening Lecture Series returns later this month with a programme of fascinating talks that tackle challenging issues ranging from national identity to child abuse tragedies.
Events will take place between January and May, as the Series marks its 89th Anniversary. The Saturday Evening Lecture Series is Scotland's oldest continuous free public lecture series. It attracts thousands of people each year eager to hear from prestigious, world-class speakers.
This tradition will be continued in 2013, with talks from an exciting line-up of leading figures from the worlds of art, academia, and science. The first lecture in this year's series takes place on Saturday, 19th January, when author, journalist and broadcaster Michael Goldfarb discusses his experiences of covering conflicts that have a frustrated sense of nationhood at their core.
He will examine these in relation to the Scottish situation as Scots prepare to take to the polls next year to vote on the nation's future. The event is organised in conjunction with the University's '5 Million Questions' initiative which seeks to apply academic rigour in addressing the pressing issues facing Scottish people ahead of the independence referendum.
"Michael Goldfarb's talk perfectly encapsulates the value of the Saturday Evening Lecture Series," said Professor Pete Downes, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University. "It is an event where the academic community and wider public will be able to engage with a renowned journalist whose experiences have seen him become an expert in debates surrounding national identity and nationhood.
"This is obviously something of relevance to every person in this country as we look to vote on our future and shows the hugely important role that universities play through their public engagement work. The line-up of speakers for the Saturday Evening Lecture Series is, as always, varied and exciting. I am looking forward to attending these thought-provoking and convention-challenging talks."
The full programme for 2013 is:
- 19th January - Michael Godfarb: 'What is a Nation? National Identity and the Nation State in the 21st Century'.
- 9th February - David Mach: Mach Mania: An Artist's Portfolio.
- 9th March - Alyson Leslie: 'From Agatha Christie to Esther Rantzen: The British Response to Child Abuse Tragedies'.
- 23rd March - Fiona McLaren: 'Da Vinci's Last Commission'.
- 20th April - Professor Simon Baron-Cohen: 'Zero Degrees of Empathy'
- 11th May - Andy Wightman: 'Who Owns Scotland (And How They Got It)'.
Overflow theatres may be in use if lectures are heavily subscribed, so be sure to arrive early if you would prefer to be seated in the main lecture theatre, as seating in the main theatre will be filled on a first come-first served basis on the night.
All lectures will be held in the Dalhousie Building at 6pm. Drinks receptions will follow each lecture, and where appropriate, book-signings will be held.
Tickets will be available from the University's Online Store, by emailing events@dundee.ac.uk, or from the events office on 01382 385564.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
