Gresham College
Gresham College has provided free public lectures since 1597. There are over 1,800 past lectures available on our website (www.gresham.ac.uk)
Gresham College was founded in 1597 and has been providing free lectures within the City of London for over 400 years.
Does have lessons for tackling climate change?
Watch more: https://gres.hm/platos-cave
Gresham Professor Melissa Lane* asks if by clinging to our current way of life and its fossil-fuel infrastructure, we are trapping ourselves in a modern version of Plato’s Cave? If so, how might we escape?
* also of Princeton University
University Center for Human Values, Princeton University
Princeton Politics Department
Princeton University Press
12/08/2024
In-person tickets open: Magical Mystery Tour: The Invention of The Beatles
Book via: https://gres.hm/magical-mystery-tour
Professor Milton Mermikides analyses the ‘psychedelic era’ of the Beatles, from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band to Let it Be, a period of staggering musical invention and experimentalism.
Explore the mechanics behind the magic, untangling the layers of harmony, melody, lyrics, structure and technology, and how these all combine in ways both accessible and ground-breaking.
University of Surrey Department of Music and Media
Royal College of Music
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
11/08/2024
In-person tickets open: A Mirror in the Sky
Professor Chris Lintott kicks off his new lecture series with a look at the Hubble Space Telescope - the most famous astronomical instrument of all time. Hubble has provided us with iconic views of everything from a comet crashing into Jupiter to the surprisingly active very distant Universe. This lecture tells its story, and explains what Hubble has revealed about the life of stars, and our own cosmic origins.
Book via: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/mirror-sky
University of Oxford Physics
BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Series preview!
Prof Milton Mermikides' Worlds of Music series set to explore a selection of wonders of the musical world: artists, pieces and genres of particular invention, revolution and cultural collision...
Learn more: https://gres.hm/worlds-music
Series Preview: The Prehistory of IT
This year, Gresham Prof Victoria Baines explores the backstory of - following threads woven through our industrial and social revolutions, exposing connections between ancient and modern technologies. By looking back, we can better understand how humanity got here, and where it might go next.
Find out more: https://gres.hm/prehistory-it
The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
Intellectual Forum, Jesus College
Bournemouth University
"Mathematics rightly viewed possesses not only truth but supreme beauty." B Russell
Professor Sarah Hart explains what mathematicians mean when they talk about 'proof', and shows us some of her favourites...
Watch more: https://gres.hm/mathematician-proof
Birkbeck, University of London
The British Society For the History of Mathematics
Series preview! Seeing the Universe
Chris Lintott, Gresham Professor of Astronomy and BBC Sky at Night presenter, introduces the tools we use to explore the cosmos. Each lecture highlights an observatory or spacecraft which has enabled us to view the Universe in new ways. The stories of these remarkable contraptions serve as an entry point to new ideas and results in the field of .
Sign up to watch online now, or book an in-person ticket from one month before each lecture: https://gres.hm/seeing-universe
University of Oxford Physics
BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Does increasing homogeneity in rhythm, lyrics and key suggest that we are running out of music?
Prof Milton Mermikides explores the very limits of music: from historical efforts to catalogue musical materials... to contemporary attempts to ‘pre-copyright’ every possible melody yet to be written.
Watch more via: https://gres.hm/music-infinite
Catch up: Witch-Hunting in European and World History
Watch more: https://gres.hm/witches-europe
Gresham Professor of Divinity Ronald Hutton confronts the worldwide phenomenon of the persecution of suspected witches, including why the notorious early-modern witch hunts in Europe commenced and ended.
University of Bristol History Society
Bristol University Historians
The Pagan Federation
Pagan Federation International
The Pagan Federation: London
Should every country be expected to reach net zero at the same time?
Eventually, net zero needs to include everyone, but is it fair for emissions to continue in half the world while the other half mops them up?
Watch more: https://gres.hm/inclusive-net-zero
Oxford School of Geography and the Environment
University of Oxford Physics
Happy Birthday Emily Brontë!
[Watch more from Prof John Mullan's lecture: Fiction and the Supernatural: Gothic novels and the Brontës to Hilary Mantel and Sarah Waters, at gres.hm/supernatural-fiction]
28/07/2024
Caught Prof Chris Lintott's last lecture, First Light: Revealing the Early Universe?
The follow-up podcast is now available via Spotfy, Apple, Google and under the 'Audio' tab on the lecture web page: https://gres.hm/first-light
University of Oxford Physics
BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Think financial decisions are made by cool-headed robots? Think again!
In his new series on the psychology of and , Professor Raghavendra Rau reveals the surprising truth: emotions and biases can wreak havoc on our wallets!
Sign up to watch online now, or book an in-person ticket from one month before each lecture: https://gres.hm/human-finance
Cambridge Judge Business School
Financial Management Association International
This autumn, new Professor of Law, Clive Stafford Smith kicks off his inaugural series: The UK’s Unwritten Constitution: Is It Worth the Paper It’s (Not) Written On?
Sign up to watch online now, or book an in-person ticket from one month before each lecture: https://gres.hm/uk-constitution-series
Reprieve
University of Bristol Law School
Goldsmiths, University of London
What are your top tips for keeping cool during hot weather?
.. and what can we learn from traditionally hotter countries?
Professor Chris Whitty considers how extreme temperatures and weather events cause harm to health, and possible countermeasures. Watch more: https://gres.hm/storms-floods
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
UCLH - University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Our 2024-25 academic programme is now out!
Over 100 free lectures across the arts & sciences; live online and in-person. Check them out: https://gres.hm/whats-on
Includes exciting series' on , modern , , , , , , the history of and beginnings of .
Plus inaugural series' by our new Professors: renowned human rights lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith, who will be exploring The UK's Unwritten Constitution, and eminent mathematician Alain Goriely, who will lecture on and the Brain
Sign up to watch online now, or register for an in-person ticket one-month before each event.
20/07/2024
Spotted Gresham Prof Baines on BBC News yesterday?
Catch up with all Victoria's lectures, including on our increasing reliance on digital infrastructure and the risks that opens up, via: gres.hm/victoria-baines
What does a 'lumpy' universe tell us?
Professor Chris Lintott considers how measurements of the Universe's expansion, made using the cosmic microwave background, are leading to unexpected results. Watch more: https://gres.hm/first-light
University of Oxford Physics
BBC Sky at Night Magazine
This year at Gresham, Professor Robin May asks: What is Immunity Anyway?
Join our newsletter to be among the first to hear when tickets open: https://gres.hm/newsletter
University of Birmingham
Food Standards Agency
Catch up: Race, Disability & Education: Law's Uphill Battle
Watch more: https://gres.hm/education-law
In his final lecture as Gresham Professor of Law, Leslie Thomas KC traced the history of race and disability law in the English education system; examining the impact of discriminatory policies on Black children, children of colour, and disabled children
Garden Court Chambers
Goldsmiths, University of London
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
Simon & Schuster
Do you have a favourite Julie Andrews' performance?
In April, Professor Dominic Broomfield-McHugh* explored how Julie Andrews became one of the most revered female stars of the late twentieth century - watch more: https://gres.hm/andrews
* also of The University of Sheffield
Series preview! Lawgivers in Political Imaginations
From Sept '24, Gresham Professor Melissa Lane* will explore cross-cultural political imaginations of the figure of the lawgiver—a figure whose rhetorical invocation is central to politics from the ancient Near East and Mediterranean to the French Revolution and the philosophy of Nietzsche.
Join our newsletter to be among the first to hear when tickets open: https://gres.hm/newsletter
* also of Princeton University
University Center for Human Values, Princeton University
Princeton Politics Department
Princeton University Press
Climate change - What needs to be done and how quickly do we need to do it?
This delve into Prof Myles Allen's Gresham lectures which thoroughly examine the science and importance of net zero, and the obstacles in our way to achieving it...
https://gres.hm/myles-allen
Oxford School of Geography and the Environment
University of Oxford Physics
Coming soon at Gresham...
Professor Ronald Hutton's new 2024/25 series will explore the origins and nature of Modern Paganism and Witchcraft
Join our newsletter to be among the first to hear when tickets open: https://gres.hm/newsletter
University of Bristol
University of Bristol History Society
Bristol University Historians
Pagan Federation International
Children of Artemis
Order of Bards Ovates and Druids (OBOD)
Society of Antiquaries of London
Secret London
Free Things to Do in London
09/07/2024
Gresham Professor of Geometry Alain Goriely speaks about the of the brain 🧠on the latest episode of the BBC’s Instant Genius podcast!
Preview his new series which kicks off on 17 Sep... Available wherever you listen to your podcasts!
Oxford Mathematics
BBC Science Focus Magazine
Where does the scale, a fundamental building block of melody and harmony, come from?
Prof Milton Mermikides looks at the history, theory and artistry of scale construction in a wide range of styles, and how each scale can, through ‘rotation’, form a colourfully expressive palette of modal colours.
Watch more: https://gres.hm/scales-modes
University of Surrey Department of Music and Media
Royal College of Music
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Did Latin America's attempts to replace imports with home-grown products succeed?
Prof Martin Daunton* asks: did this policy result in inefficient industries and state regulation without delivering improved welfare?
Catch up: Import Substitution: A Failed Strategy For Growth?
https://gres.hm/import-substitution
* also of Faculty Of History, University Of Cambridge
What's in a cm?
Prof Sarah Hart on how mistakes in mathematics - from making an incorrect assumption to cosfusing your units - can lead you down the garden path; you can even 'prove' that 1=0!
Watch more: https://gres.hm/maths-illusions
Birkbeck, University of London
The British Society For the History of Mathematics
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Our story
The College was established out of the Will of Sir Thomas Gresham, one of the most influential and important men across the Tudor and Elizabethan periods. Sir Thomas made himself indispensible as the financial agent for four successive monarchs from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I. As well as founding the Royal Exchange, Sir Thomas left proceeds in his Will for the foundation of the College in his name.
Gresham College was established in 1597 in Sir Thomas' former mansion on Bishopsgate. It was there that the seven original Gresham Professors lived and lectured, including the likes of Sir Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke. After over 150 years at Bishopsgate – a period that saw the establishment of the Royal Society within the College – we moved to new premises on the corner of Gresham Street and Basinghall Street. In 1991 the College moved to Barnard's Inn Hall, a 14 th Century hall located close to Chancery Lane.
Today the College continues our four-century-old tradition of providing free public lectures within London. We uphold our founding principle in maintaining the highest possible academic standards for all of our appointed Gresham Professors, Visiting Professors and visiting speakers. All of the College's 130 and more lectures and events each year are free and open to all. Booking is not generally required, but for a few lectures which do require it are all clearly marked.
The College has been recording its lectures since the 1980s and there are now over 1,900 lectures freely available online in text, audio or video formats. The provision of this free online archive of lectures aligns with our founding principles of accessible free education for all.
Videos (show all)
Website
Address
Barnard's Inn Hall
London
EC1N2HH
The Irene Taylor Trust 'Music in Prisons'
35-47 Bethnal Green Road
London, E16LA
The Irene Taylor Trust 'Music in Prisons is a registered charity delivering creative music projects throughout the UK to inspire and engage prisoners, ex-prisoners and people at ri...
Tate Members
20 John Islip Street
London, SW1P4RG
We are currently pausing activity on this page to focus our efforts on providing the best possible experience for our Members. You can stay connected by following our main Tate pag...
War Child UK
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London, NW19PX
A safe future for every child affected by war.
Masterclass
Theatre Royal Haymarket
London, SW1Y4HT
Aged 16 - 30 and interested in theatre? Want FREE opportunities to regularly engage with the best in the industry? Join up today!
Terrence Higgins Trust
Cally Yard, 439 Caledonian Road
London, N79BG
Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity.
Dogs Trust
17 Wakley Street
London, EC1V7RQ
We're the UK's largest dog welfare charity with 22 rehoming centres around the UK 💛🐾
Crisis
London
Together we will end homelessness The national charity for people experiencing homelessness
Muscular Dystrophy UK
32 Ufford Street
London, SE18QD
We’re here for everyone living with and affected by muscle wasting and weakening conditions.
Sistova Productions
London
Sistova is a social enterprise specialising in live music and poetry events. We support a variety of
Together We Learn - Ethiopia
225-229 Seven Sisters Road
London, N42DA
Together We Learn is the merged charity, formerly Link Ethiopia and The Kindu Trust. We support chi
Mind
2 Redman Place
London, E201JQ
We're Mind, the mental health charity. We’re fighting for mental health – for support, for respect
Cancer Research UK Relay For Life
2 Redman Place
London, E201JQ
Relay For Life is the inspirational community-led event that celebrates life and honours those touched by cancer: http://bit.ly/Hrpdsk