The Huxley Summit, a unique thought leadership event that provides a platform to debate key scientific and social challenges facing the UK in the 21st century, brought together over 350 business leaders, scientists, policy-makers and opinion-formers on Wednesday 27 November at the Royal Institution to discuss ‘Collaboration in an uncertain world: The role of science and innovation in addressing complex challenges‘.
Moderated by Lord David Willetts, Chair of the Huxley Summit Advisory Board, and BBC Journalist Samira Ahmed; speaker included Yasmin Abdel Magied, Kamal Ahmed, Dame Inga Beale, Baroness Rosie Boycott, Darren Dyball, Tamsin Edwards, footballer Mathieu Flamini; Sayeh Ghanbari, Priya Guha, Frederike Kaltheuner, Veera Johnson, Richard Kirkman, Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones, Professor Faith Osier, Pierre Paslier and Baroness Bryony Worthington.
Rapidly evolving social, environmental and economic conditions
Rapidly evolving social, environmental and economic conditions – underpinned by technological and scientific innovation – are disrupting and reshaping every aspect of society. As the world becomes ever increasingly interconnected, the Summit looked at how we understand the complex impacts of science and technology.
Climate Emergencies
2019 saw ‘climate emergencies’ declared in countries across the world, as the risks of inaction became impossible to ignore. Societies have questioned the neutrality of technology, as calls for tighter regulation have reverberated around the globe. Against this backdrop, the Summit looked at how you can build trusted and sustainable ways of working across sectors and nations, and asked how citizens, organisations and nations can challenge ‘business as usual’ to help shape the future.
About the Huxley Summit
The Huxley Summit is a unique thought leadership event that provides a platform to debate key scientific and social challenges facing the UK in the 21st century. It brings together 300 of the most influential people in the UK.
The Summit is named after ‘Darwin’s bulldog’, self-taught scientist Thomas Huxley who argued for Darwin’s theory of evolution against the Bishop of Oxford, Samuel Wilberforce, at the British Science Association’s (BSA) annual meeting in 1860. This was a pivotal moment in the public’s understanding of and opinion on evolution, and the Summit aims to provide a platform to debate cross cutting themes including climate change, technology regulation and future innovations.
For further information visit https://www.huxleysummit.org/
About the British Science Association
The British Science Association is a charity, founded in 1831. Its vision is of a world where science is at the heart of society and culture. The BAS mission is to support, grow and diversify the community of people interested and involved in science; and to strengthen their influence over science’s direction and place in society.
It organises major initiatives across the UK, including British Science Week; the annual British Science Festival; regional and local events through our network of Branches; the CREST Awards, and other programmes for young people in schools and colleges. It runs specific activities and training for professional science communicators; undertakes research and policy work; and seeks to influence and collaborate with stakeholders including policy makers and opinion formers, leaders from across different sectors of business, industry and public life.
For further information visit https://www.britishscienceassociation.org/