The British Academy announces new events for 2019

The British Academy’s latest programme of events and talks will explore topics as diverse as climate justice, motherhood, integrating refugees into our communities, the duties of big companies, Brexit, myths about multilingualism and the legacies of history heavyweights Thomas Cromwell and Leonardo Da Vinci to modern society.

As part of the British Academy’s mission to provide a forum for debate and engagement demonstrating how humanities, social sciences and the study of societies past, present and future can help us address the key questions we face today, highlights of its April – August events season will include:

• Former President of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson discussing our collective responsibility to campaign for climate justice.


• An exploration of Leonardo da Vinci’s extraordinary contribution to the humanities as an inventor, artist, draughtsman, sculptor, engineer, and visionary ahead of his time – from prototype flying machines to the Mona Lisa.


• Arguing the case for fundamental reform of big business away from a focus on corporate profits and shareholders’ interests, returning it to performing a public purpose and serving society, with management expert Colin Mayer.


• Historian and broadcaster Diarmaid MacCulloch in conversation with Mary Beard about 16th century fixer Thomas Cromwell, the subject of his acclaimed recent biography. How did Cromwell’s control of Parliament, and of turning points in England’s religious affairs such as the break with Rome and the dissolution of the monasteries shape the making of modern England and Ireland?

Meanwhile, as politics and social trends appear to undergo unprecedented rates of change, fuelling widespread hopes and fears, the latest events in the British Academy’s ongoing Utopia or Dystopia – Imagining Futures season across 2019 covers topics as diverse as definitions of beauty, gender stereotypes and Brexit.

For the full list of British Academy events and to book tickets, visit the website.