Legacies of the 20th Century and Challenges for the 21st, Sir John Beddington

This year's Our Changing World Enlightenment Lecture, on 19 November 2014, will be delivered by Professor Sir John Beddington, entitled ‘Legacies of the Twentieth Century and Challenges for the Twenty-First’.

Former Government Chief Scientific Adviser, and Edinburgh alumnus, Sir John is a world-leading expert on global challenges and their impact on society. He is Convenor of the Global Academies Advisory Board and is renowned for coining the infamous phrase “the perfect storm”.

The University’s Enlightenment Lectures highlight aspects of the Enlightenment's legacy in the context of today's society, encompassing talks from global leaders in politics, philosophy, science and economics.

Previous speakers include Joseph Stiglitz, Irene Khan, Mary Robinson, Aubrey Manning, Amartya Sen, Jon Snow and Robert Winston.