Lecture Series: Talking without Borders
The British Council Talking without Borders series addresses some of the most pressing global issues of our time. As the challenges of poverty, climate change and terrorism increasingly threaten our future, Talking without Borders brings together leading minds from around the world to stimulate global conversations in the search for global solutions. The lectures and debates show the vital role that cultural relations plays in building trust and understanding worldwide.
Sign up to receive updates of coming events and the opportunity to enter a public ballot for a place at the next lecture. Watch highlights of the lectures on our Youtube channel.
E. O. Wilson
E. O. Wilson: Darwin, 'The Origin' and the Future of Biology
On 24 November, Pullitzer Prize-winning scientist E. O. Wilson will lead a debate examining how evolutionary theory spread across the world since the publication of 'On the Origin of Species' 150 years ago.
Wangari Maathai
Wangari Maathai: The Thin Green Line
On her way to the Copenhagen Climate Change Convention, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai will discuss the limitations of politics and the need for activity from the ground up.
Shami Chakrabarti (c) Gurjit Nahal
Shami Chakrabarti: Public Diplomacy - whose role is it?
The Liberty director will be discussing how grass-roots groups are taking over from elites in the field of international relations.
Ben Barber
Benjamin Barber: Patriotism, Autonomy or Subversion?
In a lively and thought-provoking talk at the Barbican on 04 November 2009, the US author assessed various predicaments of the arts in modern, capitalist democracies - compared to their position in dictatorships and theocracies.
Gijs de Vries
Gijs de Vries: Winning Friends and Influence
On 22 October 2009, former EU-counter terrorism co-ordinator Gijs de Vries called for cultural diplomacy to form a central element of the European Union’s international relations work. Read the summary and transcript here.
Reconstruction of Dmanisi hominids
Professor David Lordkipanidze
On 8 September 2009 Professor David Lordkipanidze spoke about his research into the first humans out of Africa, who migrated nearly 1.8million years ago. Read more...
Muhammad Yunus
Framework for a better future: the promise of social business
Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus gave a lecture' A Framework for a Better Future' on 29 May in London
Dambisa Moyo
Has aid improved the life of Africans – is it time to stop?
In a Talking without Borders debate in Lusaka, Zambia on 21 May, economist and best selling author of 'Dead Aid' Dambisa Moyo argued that Africa must no longer depend on Western aid.
President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa
Tackling climate change together
In his lecture at the Royal Society, Mexico’s President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa emphasised the importance of nations working together to tackle one of the most important challenges of our time – climate change.
Professor Amartya Sen
Education will cure everything
On 5 March Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen gave his recipe for human progress: education will cure everything.
