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| | 20090322 | | Synopsis |
| | 20090329 | | Carl Djerassi, Mary Beard and Harold Varmus challenge each other on their ideas. SynopsisCARL DJERASSI austrian-born emeritus professor of chemistry at stanford university in the us, carl djerassi, was partly responsible for one of the biggest cultural shifts of the 20 century: the idea that sex didn't have to result in pregnancy, with the introduction of the contraceptive pill in the 1960s. his work was instrumental in bringing about a sexual revolution, but now he’s convinced more sophisticated in vitro fertilization procedures will bring about a new revolution in which the ties between sex and reproduction will be all but broken. mary beard each week one guest presents an idea to enhance the world. this week classicist mary beard believes that we should let all non-violent criminals out of jail. it currently costs the taxpayer more than the rate of a 5-star hotel to pay for one inmate per night in prison. mary asks why our only response to crime is to impose longer and longer sentences and suggests errant bankers, fraudsters or shoplifters are better employed working their socks off to pay back what they robbed us of harold varmus, a nobel prize winning scientist and one of the advisors to president obama, is leading a revolution to democratise science and change the way in which ideas are shared. he wants to free the flow of scientific discoveries to make the latest findings accessible to everyone via the internet, bypassing academic journals, so that scientists and non scientists the world over can access the information regardless of their ability to pay. 60 second idea to change the world one of britain’s best known classicists mary beard has written extensively on ancient greece and rome and is currently examining what laughter meant in ancient times. she tells some ancient roman jokes as she explores how laughter travels across time and culture, revealing the secret ingredients that had the romans rolling in the aisles, and how far people nowadays share their sense of humour. |
| | 20090405 | | |
| | 20090412 | | |
| | 20090419 | | |
| | 20090426 | | |
| | 20090503 | | Biologist Robert May, doctor & novelist Abraham Verghese, financial analyst Gillian Tett. Scientist LORD ROBERT MAY unlocks chaos theory to trace the broader patterns of risk and change. Novelist and doctor ABRAHAM VERGHESE casts new light on the human body as text and a source of stories. Financial analyst GILLIAN TETT asks why money makes so many people throw caution to the wind. |
| | 20090510 | | Novelist AS Byatt, conductor Semyon Bychkov, political scientist Dominique Moisi. THE FORUM, the ideas programme presented by BRIDGET KENDALL. British novelist AS BYATT reveals why she believes children’s writing to be a dangerous business. Russian conductor SEMYON BYCHKOV describes the unique social properties of musical harmony. French political scientist DOMINIQUE MOISI explains the geopolitics of emotion. |
| | 20090517 | 20090518 | Entrepreneur Iqbal Quadir, epidemics expert Stefan Kaufmann, classicist James O'Donnell Bangladeshi entrepreneur IQBAL QUADIR on the magical impact of tiny loans. German immunologist STEFAN KAUFMANN on why it's hard to keep pandemics at bay. American classicist JAMES O'DONNELL on the twilight years of the Roman Empire Entrepreneur Iqbal Quadir, epidemics expert Stefan Kaufmann, classicist James O’Donnell German immunologist STEFAN KAUFMANN on why it’s hard to keep pandemics at bay. American classicist JAMES O’DONNELL on the twilight years of the Roman Empire |
| | 20090524 | 20090525 | Political economist Deepak Lal, writer and comic AL Kennedy, Tatar poet Ravil Bukharaev. THE FORUM, the ideas programme presented by Bridget Kendall. Indian political economist DEEPAK LAL on the origins of capitalism. Scottish writer and stand-up comedian AL KENNEDY on the paramount importance of words. Historian and Tatar poet RAVIL BUKHARAEV on the unsung power of minority nations. Political economist Deepak Lal, writer & comic AL Kennedy, Tatar poet Ravil Bukharaev. Political economist Deepak Lal, writer & comic AL Kennedy, Tatar poet Ravil Bukharaev. THE FORUM, the ideas programme presented by BRIDGET KENDALL. |
| | 20090531 | 20090601 | |
| | 20090607 | | Environmentalist Sunita Narain, science historian Arthur I Miller, writer Paolo Giordano. THE FORUM, the ideas programme with Bridget Kendall. Indian environmentalist SUNITA NARAIN on our wasteful attitude to water. American-British physicist and historian of science ARTHUR I MILLER on the link between scientific genius and the visual arts. Italian physicist and writer PAOLO GIORDANO on using prime numbers to understand human nature. Environmentalist Sunita Narain, science historian Arthur I Miller, writer Paolo Giordano. THE FORUM, the ideas programme with BRIDGET KENDALL. |
| | 20090614 | 20090615 | |
| | 20090621 | | Writer and critic Clive James, mathematician Marcus Du Sautoy, philosopher Slavoj Zizek. THE FORUM, the ideas programme with Bridget Kendall. Recorded this week in front of an invited audience as part of a BBC festival held in West London British mathematician and trumpet player Marcus Du Sautoy on music and mathematics Australian writer and critic Clive James on what it means to be a screen icon Slovenian philosopher SLAVOJ ZIZEK on ‘interpassivity', the 21st century equivalent of interactivity. Writer and critic Clive James, mathematician Marcus du Sautoy, philosopher Slavoj Zizek. THE FORUM, the ideas programme with BRIDGET KENDALL. British mathematician and trumpet player MARCUS DU SAUTOY on music and mathematics Australian writer and critic CLIVE JAMES on what it means to be a screen icon Slovenian philosopher SLAVOJ ZIZEK on ‘interpassivity’, the 21st century equivalent of interactivity. |
| | 20090628 | | Environmentalist Wangari Maathai, geneticist Jane Peterson and novelist Dubravka Ugresic THE FORUM, the ideas programme with Bridget Kendall. Kenyan environmentalist WANGARI MAATHAI on the link between culture and environmental degradation. American geneticist JANE PETERSON on the bacteria living within us. Former Yugoslav novelist DUBRAVKA UGRESIC on the power of old ladies. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Environmentalist Wangari Maathai, geneticist Jane Peterson and novelist Dubravka Ugresic THE FORUM, the ideas programme with BRIDGET KENDALL. |
| | 20090705 | | Physicist Frank Wilczek, writer and activist Arundhati Roy and philosopher Susan Neiman. Listen to Part 2 THE FORUM, the ideas programme with Bridget Kendall. Physicist FRANK WILCZEK on why space isn't really empty. Writer and activist ARUNDHATI ROY on why India's democracy doesn't help the masses. Philosopher SUSAN NEIMAN on a new Enlightenment. Listen here for Part 1 Physicist Frank Wilczek, writer & activist Arundhati Roy and philosopher Susan Neiman. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Physicist Frank Wilczek, writer & activist Arundhati Roy and philosopher Susan Neiman. THE FORUM, the ideas programme with BRIDGET KENDALL. Physicist FRANK WILCZEK on why space isn’t really empty. Writer and activist ARUNDHATI ROY on why India’s democracy doesn’t help the masses. |
| | 20090712 | | Religious commentator Karen Armstrong, biologist Stephen Hopper and author Brian Chikwava. Listen here for Part 2 THE FORUM, the ideas programme presented this week by philosopher and classicist ANGIE HOBBS. Religious commentator Karen Armstrong on what religion really means. Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in London, STEPHEN HOPPER, on the importance of the world's ancient infertile landscapes. Zimbabwean author BRIAN CHIKWAVA on the psychology of performance in sport and writing. Listen to Part 1 Religious commentator Karen Armstrong, biologist Stephen Hopper and author Brian Chikwava. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Religious commentator KAREN ARMSTRONG on what religion really means. Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in London, STEPHEN HOPPER, on the importance of the world’s ancient infertile landscapes. |
| | 20090802 | 20090803 | Economist Amartya Sen, writer Henning Mankell and psychotherapist Camila Batmanghelidjh. Listen above to Part 2 THE FORUM, the ideas programme with Bridget Kendall. Indian Nobel laureate and economist AMARTYA SEN on fighting injustice. Swedish crime writer HENNING MANKELL on imagination as a tool for survival. British Iranian psychotherapist CAMILA BATMANGHELIDJH on creating a soothing repertoire for children. Listen above to Part 1 Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Economist Amartya Sen, writer Henning Mankell and psychotherapist Camila Batmanghelidjh.
THE FORUM, the ideas programme with BRIDGET KENDALL. |
| | 20090830 | | |
| | 20090927 | | Philosopher Sari Nusseibeh, radio-ecologist Brenda Howard, historian Giusto Traina THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by Bridget Kendall. This week: a fresh approach to the Middle-East crisis, the long term effects of radiation on plants and animals and a panoramic look at one year in the life of the Roman Empire...428 AD. Palestinian philosopher and peace-broker SARI NUSSEIBEH tell us why he thinks faith and imagination could be the vital ingredients for solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. British radio-ecologist BRENDA HOWARD explains why there's an urgent need for new standards to measure the ecological impact of radio active contaminants...not on humans, but on animals and plants. And Italian historian GIUSTO TRAINA explains why sometimes the most interesting historical events happen at the margins of empires rather than at the centre. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Philosopher Sari Nusseibeh, radio-ecologist Brenda Howard, historian Giusto Traina THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by Bridget Kendall. British radio-ecologist BRENDA HOWARD explains why there’s an urgent need for new standards to measure the ecological impact of radio active contaminants...not on humans, but on animals and plants. |
| | 20091004 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented this week by art historian Tim Marlow. In this week's programme: the interconnectedness of life on our earth, from the ancient past to the complexity of the global present. British paleontologist Simon Conway Morris suggests that the future of evolution may be more predictable than we think. He also believes that if extra-terrestrials exist, not only will they be as bright us but they may think like us too. Polish philosopher and writer Eva Hoffman reflects on time and the way we experience it in our modern world. She warns we could be misusing what time we have with potentially damaging psychological consequences. And founder of The Climate Parliament NICHOLAS DUNLOP outlines a radical new scheme of global political co-operation to save the planet – by creating regional ‘supergrids' of renewable energy. Simon Conway Morris, Eva Hoffman and Nicholas Dunlop Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented this week by art historian TIM MARLOW. In this week’s programme: the interconnectedness of life on our earth, from the ancient past to the complexity of the global present. British paleontologist SIMON CONWAY MORRIS suggests that the future of evolution may be more predictable than we think. He also believes that if extra-terrestrials exist, not only will they be as bright us but they may think like us too. Polish philosopher and writer EVA HOFFMAN reflects on time and the way we experience it in our modern world. She warns we could be misusing what time we have with potentially damaging psychological consequences. And founder of The Climate Parliament NICHOLAS DUNLOP outlines a radical new scheme of global political co-operation to save the planet – by creating regional ‘supergrids’ of renewable energy. Simon Conway Morris, Eva Hoffman and Nicholas Dunlop |
| | 20091011 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by BRIDGET KENDALL. This week The Forum has an Australian accent. Recorded in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, before a lively audience in the Utzon Room of the Sydney Opera House, the programme challenges Australian stereotypes. Aboriginal lawyer and novelist LARISSA BEHRENDT claims it's time Australia woke up to the fact its legal rights system doesn't work for everyone. Singer, writer, director and public arts advocate ROBYN ARCHER challenges the way Australia sees itself and the world. Cultural thinker, Indonesian born IEN ANG, asks if Australia is becoming part of Asia, and does Asia want it to be? And the audience in the Utzon Room doesn't hold back in expressing its views either. A special programme recorded from the Sydney Opera House in Australia Aboriginal lawyer and novelist LARISSA BEHRENDT claims it’s time Australia woke up to the fact its legal rights system doesn’t work for everyone. And the audience in the Utzon Room doesn’t hold back in expressing its views either. A special programme recorded from the Sydney Opera House in Australia Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20091012 | | |
| | 20091018 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by BRIDGET KENDALL. This week The Forum goes Kiwi...in partnership with Radio New Zealand. In front of an attentive audience at the Soundings Theatre, part of New Zealand's national treasure, the Te Papa Museum, the programme's host BRIDGET KENDALL and her guests explores some aspects of what makes us human. Writer and teacher BERNARD BECKETT, whose science-fiction novel Genesis probes the interface between people and machines, asks if there really is something so unique to mankind as a species that it is impossible to replicate us artificially. Director of the Bioengineering Research Institute at the University of Auckland PETER HUNTER reveals how the Physiome Project is about to transform our understanding of the human body and why applying the things that engineering has learned over the last century and a half to medicine could lead to much more personalised healthcare. And former New Zealand MP and Professor at the Institute of Public Policy MARILYN WARING challenges our notion of what we deem valuable. She argues that while trade in arms, people and drugs is often captured in national economic statistics, unpaid work, particularly that done by women, is conspicuously absent. Marilyn says that this isn't just an accounting exercise: while logging companies often get state subsidies for clear cutting forests, women in the same areas who produce food for everyone can't even afford pitchforks and wheelbarrows. The Forum goes to New Zealand for a discussion with three eminent Kiwis In front of an attentive audience at the Soundings Theatre, part of New Zealand’s national treasure, the Te Papa Museum, the programme’s host BRIDGET KENDALL and her guests explores some aspects of what makes us human. And former New Zealand MP and Professor at the Institute of Public Policy MARILYN WARING challenges our notion of what we deem valuable. She argues that while trade in arms, people and drugs is often captured in national economic statistics, unpaid work, particularly that done by women, is conspicuously absent. Marilyn says that this isn’t just an accounting exercise: while logging companies often get state subsidies for clear cutting forests, women in the same areas who produce food for everyone can’t even afford pitchforks and wheelbarrows. The Forum goes to New Zealand for a discussion with three eminent Kiwis Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20091019 | | |
| | 20091025 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by BRIDGET KENDALL. British queen of crime fiction and global bestseller, PD JAMES, gives her own views on the abiding popularity of the detective mystery and suggests that the ordered and moral world it evokes is a great comfort to a world vexed by seemingly insoluble problems. We look at the problem of famine with Irish economic historian CORMAC O'GRADA, who offers guarded optimism about our ability to eradicate major famine in the near future as long as we remain vigilant to its causes. And taking us back two thousand years, Danish literary scholar KARIN SANDERS brings us face to face with the mummified corpses of ancient sacrifice and explores the stories they tell us and the ones we tell about them. PD James, Cormac O' Grada, Karin Sanders We look at the problem of famine with Irish economic historian CORMAC O’GRADA, who offers guarded optimism about our ability to eradicate major famine in the near future as long as we remain vigilant to its causes. PD James, Cormac O’ Grada, Karin Sanders Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20091026 | | |
| | 20091101 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by Bridget Kendall. This week we look at three social ‘outlaws' – the guerrilla, the revolutionary and the human cannibal – and challenge our beliefs about them. Australian academic and counter terrorism advisor to the US government David Kilcullen asserts that the ‘accidental guerrilla' is the key to understanding the anti-Western insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan. Historian Robert Service devotes a new biography to Russian revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky, but claims it's time to strip him of his heroic status. And Romanian political scientist CATALIN AVRAMESCU believes we should reinstate the idea of the human cannibal, though in theory rather than in practice. David Kilcullen, Robert Service, Catalin Avramescu THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by BRIDGET KENDALL. This week we look at three social ‘outlaws’ – the guerrilla, the revolutionary and the human cannibal – and challenge our beliefs about them. Australian academic and counter terrorism advisor to the US government DAVID KILCULLEN asserts that the ‘accidental guerrilla’ is the key to understanding the anti-Western insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan. Historian ROBERT SERVICE devotes a new biography to Russian revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky, but claims it’s time to strip him of his heroic status. David Kilcullen, Robert Service, Catalin Avramescu Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20091102 | | |
| | 20091108 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by Bridget Kendall. All we knew was we were against something, none of us ever thought about the future and what we were for"...1989 The Berlin Wall falls and many have a night to remember. By the end of the year the Soviet communist empire in Eastern Europe disappears. But as no-one foresees 1989's swift and largely bloodless revolutions, so no-one has a plan for what to do next. Meanwhile, even as the Cold War draws to a close the world is changing in ways few recognise. The outcome for all our futures and freedoms is far from inevitable and we may not be heading in the right direction. 1989 and the fall of the Berlin Wall, both an ending and a beginning THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by BRIDGET KENDALL. "All we knew was we were against something, none of us ever thought about the future and what we were for"...1989 The Berlin Wall falls and many have a night to remember. By the end of the year the Soviet communist empire in Eastern Europe disappears. But as no-one foresees 1989’s swift and largely bloodless revolutions, so no-one has a plan for what to do next. Meanwhile, even as the Cold War draws to a close the world is changing in ways few recognise. The outcome for all our futures and freedoms is far from inevitable and we may not be heading in the right direction. 1989 and the fall of the Berlin Wall, both an ending and a beginning Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. All we knew was we were against something, none of us ever thought about the future and what we were for""...1989 The Berlin Wall falls and many have a night to remember. 1989 and the fall of the Berlin Wall, both an ending and a beginning" |
| | 20091109 | | |
| | 20091115 | | This week: the human brain. Antony Gormley asks BBC listeners to take part in a meditative experiment...and go barefoot. Plus the illusion of perception and the value of forgetting. Antony Gormley, Viktor Mayer-Schönberger and Beau Lotto on the body, forgetting and illusion Antony Gormley, Viktor Mayer-Schönberger and Beau Lotto on the body, forgetting & illusion This week: the human brain. Antony Gormley asks BBC listeners to take part in a meditative experiment...and go barefoot. Plus the illusion of perception and the value of forgetting. Antony Gormley, Viktor Mayer-Schönberger and Beau Lotto on the body, forgetting & illusion Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20091116 | | |
| | 20091122 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by this week by mathematician Marcus Du Sautoy Frank Furedi, Sabrina Maniscalco and Tahmima Anam on education, entanglement and epiphany Frank Furedi, Sabrina Maniscalco & Tahmima Anam on education, entanglement and epiphany THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by this week by mathematician MARCUS DU SAUTOY Frank Furedi, Sabrina Maniscalco & Tahmima Anam on education, entanglement and epiphany Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20091123 | | |
| | 20091129 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by this week by historian Rana Mitter How to find the world in a grain of sand or a human being THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by this week by historian RANA MITTER How to find the world in a grain of sand or a human being Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20091130 | | |
| | 20091206 | | |
| | 20091207 | | |
| | 20091213 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by Bridget Kendall Fire, food and fun in the evolution of life THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by BRIDGET KENDALL Fire, food and fun in the evolution of life Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20091214 | | |
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| | 20091221 | | |
| | 20091227 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by BRIDGET KENDALL Below: Translating and interpreting the cosmos across a wall, by Emily Kasriel This week's theme is translation: in poetry, science and in architecture This week's theme is translation: in poetry, science and in architecture Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20091228 | | |
| | 20100103 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented this week from the Melbourne International Arts Festival, Australia by BRIDGET KENDALL Produced in partnership with ABC Radio National We challenge assumptions about Australian heroes, history and humanity Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. 

We challenge assumptions about Australian heroes, history and humanity |
| | 20100104 | | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. 
Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20100110 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented this week by Chinese historian RANA MITTER Below: Curating unknown mirco-organisms as they cling to a plank for survival, by Emily Kasriel Why a vast array of unknown species is still out there waiting to be discovered Below: Curating unknown micro-organisms as they cling to a plank for survival, by Emily Kasriel Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. 

Why a vast array of unknown species is still out there waiting to be discovered |
| | 20100111 | |  Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20100117 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented this week by philosopher Angie Hobbs Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. 

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| | 20100118 | |  Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20100124 | | This week's Forum comes from the British Museum where a panel of guests will try to unlock the messages hidden within a number of objects, ranging from a Roman statue to a vial of DNA. Bridget Kendall talks with Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor; Genetics professor Steve Jones and novelist Aleksandar Hemon. What gives an object meaning and value? The Forum this week comes from the British Museum. This week’s Forum comes from the British Museum where a panel of guests will try to unlock the messages hidden within a number of objects, ranging from a Roman statue to a vial of DNA. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. 

This week’s Forum comes from the the British Museum where a panel of guests will try to unlock the messages hidden within a number of objects, ranging from a Roman statues to a vial of DNA. Bridget kendall talks with Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor; Genetics professor Steve Jones and novelist Aleksandar Hemon. This week’s Forum comes from the British Museum where a panel of guests will try to unlock the messages hidden within a number of objects, ranging from a Roman statue to a vial of DNA. |
| | 20100125 | |  Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20100131 | 20100201 (WS) | What triggers earthquakes and why do we know so little? Plus the Arctic and African cities THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by Bridget Kendall The power of earthquakes from African cities to the arctic. 
The power of earthquakes from African cities to the arctic. |
| | 20100207 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by Bridget Kendall. Ribosome acting out of love or self interest. The true source of power: is it love, self interest or the cutting edge of biochemistry? THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by Bridget Kendall. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20100208 | | |
| | 20100214 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by Bridget Kendall. This week's Forum image: Snow White carries the mono-currency eagle as the robot of longevity smells a rose by any other name. Listen to the programme and all will be revealed. Radically changing the world's monetary systems…and why our nose knows best. THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by Bridget Kendall. Radically changing the world’s monetary systems…and why our nose knows best. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20100215 | | |
| | 20100221 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by Bridget Kendall Opposite: Playing 'Forum World' by Tim Jokl Why pointing's unique to humans, the financial meltdown that wasn't and serious video games Why pointing's unique to humans, the financial meltdown that wasn't & serious video games THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by Bridget Kendall Why pointing's unique to humans, the financial meltdown that wasn’t & serious video games Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20100228 | | How do our ideas of home define us, and are there other planets we could inhabit? Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20100301 | | |
| | 20100307 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - a special programme presented by Bridget Kendall from the Names Not Numbers Symposium Opposite: Business leaders take a catastrophic risk in sharing responsibility with healing women. By Emily Kasriel In The Forum from Wales we ask how we can improve trust in an age of catastrophic risk? THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - a special programme presented by Bridget Kendall from the Names Not Numbers Symposium Opposite: Business leaders take a catastrophic risk in sharing responsibility with healing women. By Emily Kasriel class="blq-clearfix"> Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20100308 | | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. class="blq-clearfix"> |
| | 20100314 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - an edition which joins in the BBC's SuperPower internet season, presented by Bridget Kendall Illustration opposite: The internet creates shared meaning and a primordial soup of our origins but we must protect it and ensure our privacy. By Emily Kasriel The past and future of the internet: where is it heading? And what if it stopped working? THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - an edition which joins in the BBC’s SuperPower internet season, presented by Bridget Kendall Illustration opposite: The internet creates shared meaning and a primordial soup of our origins but we must protect it and ensure our privacy. By Emily Kasriel Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20100315 | | |
| | 20100321 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by Bridget Kendall Opposite: Our national spirit transformed as we move to invade new urban spaces and megacities. By Emily Kasriel. What makes an outsider become an insider? THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by Bridget Kendall Opposite: Our national spirit transformed as we move to invade new urban spaces and megacities. By Emily Kasriel. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20100322 | | |
| | 20100328 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by Bridget Kendall. This week with Swedish neuroscientist Anders Sandberg, British economist John Kay and Russian artist Irina Nakhova Illustration opposite: Erasing bad memories of tattooed skin hides as we take the scenic indirect route Is it a good idea to erase our painful memories? THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented by Bridget Kendall. This week with Swedish neuroscientist Anders Sandberg, British economist John Kay and Russian artist Irina Nakhova Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20100404 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented this week by historian of China, Rana Mitter. With American novelist Lionel Shriver, the former Mayor of Bogota Enrique Penalosa and British historian Yasmin Khan. Illustration opposite by Rosie Pike. How much money is one life worth? Should we be putting a price tag on the terminally ill? Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented this week by historian of China, Rana Mitter. With American novelist Lionel Shriver, the former Mayor of Bogota Enrique Penalosa and British historian Yasmin Khan. |
| | 20100405 | | |
| | 20100411 | | THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented this week by mathematician Marcus Du Sautoy. With novelist Philip Pullman, Japanese anthropologist Hiroko Kawanami and molecular biologist Stephan Schuster. Illustration opposite by Graeme Davis. Storytelling: through DNA, ancient texts and in Eastern wisdom Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. THE FORUM - A World Of Ideas - presented this week by mathematician Marcus du Sautoy. With novelist Philip Pullman, Japanese anthropologist Hiroko Kawanami and molecular biologist Stephan Schuster. |
| | 20100412 | | |
| | 20100418 | | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. New Zealand Philosopher Denis Dutton on art and creativity as a universal human trait; American psychologist Daniel Goleman on creating an eco-intelligence for an industrialised age and author Wendy Law-Yone discusses the fiction of memory and how we create a myth of home. An artistic ape drawing on eco-intelligence to forget his idea of home by Emily Kasriel Is art and creativity universal and what evolutionary advantage has it given us? |
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| | 20100425 | | South African novelist Andre Brink on power-games with languages. Unwelcome guests inside our bodies, with American biologist Eugene Kaplan. And American-Iranian scholar Vali Nasr on the rise of the 'critical middle' in the Muslim world. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. Power-games, unwelcome parasites, and the rise of middle classes in the Muslim world. South African novelist Andre Brink on power-games with languages. Unwelcome guests inside our bodies, with American biologist Eugene Kaplan. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20100502 | | Innovation One of America's most prominent Nano scientists, Harvard Professor George Whitesides, explains how he believes nanotechnology could be about to revolutionize the world as we know it, eminent Marxist geographer David Harvey argues that capitalism is the primary driving force behind innovation. Award winning Indian author Radhika Jha weighs the options for one poor Indian village- trapped between tradition and the desire to leapfrog out of poverty. Capital driving innovation in the world of the nano cow by Emily Kasriel. Innovation: the mysterious realm of nanotechnology. One of America’s most prominent Nano scientists, Harvard Professor George Whitesides, explains how he believes nanotechnology could be about to revolutionize the world as we know it, eminent Marxist geographer David Harvey argues that capitalism is the primary driving force behind innovation. Award winning Indian author Radhika Jha weighs the options for one poor Indian village- trapped between tradition and the desire to leapfrog out of poverty. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20100509 | | Forging Links American political scientist Professor Charles Kupchan explains why no conflict need be eternal and lays out his recipe for peace making. Jordanian artist Samah Hijawi shares her experience of reaching out to the people of Amman, through sounds, pictures and speeches. And award winning author Joan Brady charts her artistic journey from ballet dancer to writer and what role the spectator and reader plays in all of this. Changing the tune to turn literary or balletic enemies into friends in a public place by Emily Kasriel Engaging your enemies: is democracy a precondition for peace? American political scientist Professor Charles Kupchan explains why no conflict need be eternal and lays out his recipe for peace making. Jordanian artist Samah Hijawi shares her experience of reaching out to the people of Amman, through sounds, pictures and speeches. And award winning author Joan Brady charts her artistic journey from ballet dancer to writer and what role the spectator and reader plays in all of this. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20100516 | | Connections and Rupture Harvard physician and social scientist, Professor Nicholas Christakis explains how our behaviour, health and even basic beliefs can be shaped by people we've never met. Israeli film director Amos Gitai gives his poignant memories of frontline military services, and how this affected his vision as a film maker. Pakistani novelist Daniyal Mueenuddin draws us into his fictional world of age- old connections built on a feudal society. He argues that the poorer and more desperate you are, the less likely you are to take risks and change your life. Below the surface, networks and connections between soldiers, servants and traders by Emily Kasriel Tracing the silvery threads of a spider's web… the power of connections. Harvard physician and social scientist, Professor Nicholas Christakis explains how our behaviour, health and even basic beliefs can be shaped by people we’ve never met. Israeli film director Amos Gitai gives his poignant memories of frontline military services, and how this affected his vision as a film maker. Pakistani novelist Daniyal Mueenuddin draws us into his fictional world of age- old connections built on a feudal society. He argues that the poorer and more desperate you are, the less likely you are to take risks and change your life. Tracing the silvery threads of a spider’s web… the power of connections. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20100523 | | Joseph Nye, who coined the term soft power, updates his ideas for the 21st Century. The world is neither unipolar, multipolar, nor chaotic – it is all three at the same time. Thus a smart grand strategy must be able to handle very different distributions of power in different domains and understand the trade-offs between them. Image opposite: What values are holding together military power, economic power and the power of the pen, on a 3D chess board by Emily Kasriel. Soft power or Smart power: will Joseph Nye's ideas work in the 21st Century? "The world is neither unipolar, multipolar, nor chaotic – it is all three at the same time. Thus a smart grand strategy must be able to handle very different distributions of power in different domains and understand the trade-offs between them." Thus a smart grand strategy must be able to handle very different distributions of power in different domains and understand the trade-offs between them." Soft power or Smart power: will Joseph Nye's ideas work in the 21st Century?" Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20100530 | | Distinguished psychologist Dorothy Rowe wants us to think about why we lie. She argues that we lie in order to protect our sense of self. Neuroscientist and novelist, David Eagleman approaches the mind from another direction, probing neural processes in the brain. New research, he says, could affect how criminals are prosecuted. Iraqi academic Kanan Makiya calls for an end to self delusion on a wider scale – saying its time for Arab intellectuals to stop being silent, speak out and go beyond the Arab sense of victimhood. A tumour affects our brain, encouraging it to lie about a culture of violence, to protect our sense of self by Emily Kasriel. This week on The Forum we're going to discuss why we lie to protect our sense of self. Distinguished psychologist Dorothy Rowe wants us to think about why we lie. She argues that we lie in order to protect our sense of self. Neuroscientist and novelist, David Eagleman approaches the mind from another direction, probing neural processes in the brain. New research, he says, could affect how criminals are prosecuted. Iraqi academic Kanan Makiya calls for an end to self delusion on a wider scale – saying its time for Arab intellectuals to stop being silent, speak out and go beyond the Arab sense of victimhood. This week on The Forum we’re going to discuss why we lie to protect our sense of self. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20100606 | | Canadian writer Yann Martel is known all over the world for his novel Life of Pi. Now he brings us a new work which explores the masks we use to protect ourselves from our deepest horrors. British neuroscientist Dan Glaser probes the limits of visual perception: how much does what we see determine our physical movements? And avant-garde Austrian graphic designer, Stefan Sagmeister on new ways to draw upon individuality for design that will reach out and grab you. Poster of the emotions of a donkey and howler monkey conveyed through their facial expressions. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. This week on The Forum: Masks, Movement and Emotion. Canadian writer Yann Martel is known all over the world for his novel Life of Pi. Now he brings us a new work which explores the masks we use to protect ourselves from our deepest horrors. British neuroscientist Dan Glaser probes the limits of visual perception: how much does what we see determine our physical movements? And avant-garde Austrian graphic designer, Stefan Sagmeister on new ways to draw upon individuality for design that will reach out and grab you. Poster of the emotions of a donkey and howler monkey conveyed through their facial expressions. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20100613 | | One of last year’s winners of the Nobel Prize for medicine, Australian biologist Elizabeth Blackburn, discusses whether we are on the brink of learning how to reverse the ageing process. Is the 21st century really going to be dominated by the Asian giants of China and India? Dispelling a few myths about their economic success is the distinguished Indian economist, Pranab Bardhan. And a vision for an African renaissance, driven by a fresh generation of young African leaders: pioneering educator, Dr. Patrick Awuah joins us from Ghana, to explain why he believes a new style of college education can help open up Africa’s options. Educating Chinese and Indian telomeres. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. New Beginnings: cell renewal and telomeres, the rise of China and new African education. One of last year’s winners of the Nobel Prize for medicine, Australian biologist Elizabeth Blackburn, discusses whether we are on the brink of learning how to reverse the ageing process. Is the 21st century really going to be dominated by the Asian giants of China and India? Dispelling a few myths about their economic success is the distinguished Indian economist, Pranab Bardhan. And a vision for an African renaissance, driven by a fresh generation of young African leaders: pioneering educator, Dr. Patrick Awuah joins us from Ghana, to explain why he believes a new style of college education can help open up Africa’s options. Educating Chinese and Indian telomeres. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. |
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| | 20100620 | | Nobel Prize winning physicist Steven Weinberg explains why he is looking for a final theory of everything and outlines what it might look like. Britain’s former top co-ordinator of intelligence Sir David Omand, discusses what limits should be set on the way governments use intelligence and surveillance to protect our liberty and privacy? And is reality subjective, or is it objective fact? The theme of a new detective novel from one of Germany’s most exciting new writers, Juli Zeh. A detective tracking down the theory of everything to protect the state. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. Is the world hurtling towards a final theory of everything ? And what might it look like? Nobel Prize winning physicist Steven Weinberg explains why he is looking for a final theory of everything and outlines what it might look like. Britain’s former top co-ordinator of intelligence Sir David Omand, discusses what limits should be set on the way governments use intelligence and surveillance to protect our liberty and privacy? And is reality subjective, or is it objective fact? The theme of a new detective novel from one of Germany’s most exciting new writers, Juli Zeh. A detective tracking down the theory of everything to protect the state. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. |
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| | 20100627 | | Presented by Marcus Du Sautoy. Provost of Columbia University Claude Steele reveals how our brains can be hindered by the power of stereotype threats and shows us what we can do to avoid them. Linguist Guy Deutscher explores how different quirks of our mother tongues can cause very different habits of mind. Hungarian poet Agnes Lehoczky explores the effect of poetry on the mind and suggests that it’s time to rehabilitate the notion of eavesdropping. Overcoming stereotype threats by speaking new geographies of the mind. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. How our mind can behave very differently depending on who we are with. |
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| | 20100704 | | Danish neuroscientist Morten Kringlebach delves deep into the brain to understand what triggers pleasure - and pain - on a quest for new insights into human nature. Scottish writer and comedienne A L Kennedy probes the moments when we aren't sure who we are: the tortured uncertainties of adolescence. And what happens to us when we fall in love. And Australian bioethicist Julian Savulescu asks us to expand the frontiers of what it means to be human by embracing the brave new world of genetic enhancement. Who are we? Are we our brain? How can love and genetic enhancement affect us? Illustration by Emily Kasriel. Forum at Science Museum: Who am I? A combination of pleasure, pain and love? Scottish writer and comedienne A L Kennedy probes the moments when we aren't sure who we are: the tortured uncertainties of adolescence. And what happens to us when we fall in love. |
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| | 20100711 | | British Historian, Professor Niall Ferguson revives the era of gentlemanly capitalism, with a new biography of the high financier, Siegmund Warburg. A man, he says, current day bankers would do well to study. Serbian born physicist, Professor Vlatko Vedral argues that the idea of information holds the key to understanding our universe. German novelist Julia Franck explores how the effects of war are passed on from one generation to another, with lasting emotional impact. A moral banker abandoning a child, all reduced to ones and zeros. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. British Historian, Professor Niall Ferguson, revives the era of gentlemanly capitalism. British Historian, Professor Niall Ferguson revives the era of gentlemanly capitalism, with a new biography of the high financier, Siegmund Warburg. A man, he says, current day bankers would do well to study. Serbian born physicist, Professor Vlatko Vedral argues that the idea of information holds the key to understanding our universe. A moral banker abandoning a child, all reduced to ones and zeros. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. |
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| | 20100718 | | A special edition of the Forum this week:we move to the city of Oxford and mingle with some of the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers as we become part of a conference organised by TED, the international ideas organisation. In the company of three exceptional guests, we ask the thrilling question of how to bring about real change in the world - now - in attitudes, in politics and in the environment. One of the world's leading cyber activists, Ethan Zuckerman looks at how to harness the tremendous power of social media to create meaningful change, the renowned Swedish environmentalist and champion of resilience thinking, Johan Rockstrom delves into the surprisingly unpredictable nature of change and shows how understanding this can help save the world's ecosystems, and the Iranian-American comedy star Maz Jobrani shares with us his insights on how humour can change the world. Using social media and humour to create big changes and tackle global warming. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. We ask the vital question of how to bring about real change to the world. A special edition of the Forum this week:we move to the city of Oxford and mingle with some of the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers as we become part of a conference organised by TED, the international ideas organisation. In the company of three exceptional guests, we ask the thrilling question of how to bring about real change in the world - now - in attitudes, in politics and in the environment. One of the world's leading cyber activists, Ethan Zuckerman looks at how to harness the tremendous power of social media to create meaningful change, the renowned Swedish environmentalist and champion of resilience thinking, Johan Rockstrom delves into the surprisingly unpredictable nature of change and shows how understanding this can help save the world's ecosystems, and the Iranian-American comedy star Maz Jobrani shares with us his insights on how humour can change the world. Using social media and humour to create big changes and tackle global warming. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20100725 | | Today, there’s a curative feel to the programme as we explore how to heal old political scars, nurture the planet and imagine a positive future. One of the key negotiators of the Northern Ireland peace process, Lord John Alderdice, explains how to use psychotherapy to bring peace. Forget the rise of Asia: Columbian law lecturer and writer, Oscar Guardiola Rivera is here to tell us why he thinks it’s time for Latin America to assert itself. And the untapped chemical potential of trees with Irish “renegade scientist” and writer Diana Beresford-Kroeger. Using psychoanalysis, Latin power and trees to bring opposing sides to the table to establish peace. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. Lord John Alderdice explains how to use psychotherapy to bring peace. Using psychoanalysis, Latin power and trees to bring opposing sides to the table to establish peace. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20100801 | | It’s nearly two years since the abyss opened up and the world financial system looked as though it might fall in. One economist who famously predicted the crisis was Nouriel Roubini, who explains why he was so sure, and what he thinks will happen next to the world economy. Evolutionary psychologist Deirdre Barratt, who’s convinced this commercialised, technological age is playing havoc with our basic human instincts. The Sri Lankan-born writer Roma Tearne argues that novels are not just a window on our human souls, but a doorway into our subconscious. Learning from the boom and bust past and our memories and avoid high carb and cute temptations. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. Why human instincts are floundering in a modern world of fast food and cartoons. It’s nearly two years since the abyss opened up and the world financial system looked as though it might fall in. One economist who famously predicted the crisis was Nouriel Roubini, who explains why he was so sure, and what he thinks will happen next to the world economy. Learning from the boom and bust past and our memories and avoid high carb and cute temptations. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20100808 | | Eminent sociologist Amitai Etzioni, says if our modern consumer society is the problem, then the answer is a ‘communitarian’ approach. But can this really work? Getting beyond the individual is also what Nigerian novelist Teju Cole explores. In his case it’s not people around him, it’s communing with the past inhabitants of cities. And from individual to common ownership in music: should songs belong to everyone? German musicologist Dr Daniel Müllensiefen dissects musical plagiarism. Illustration by Graeme Davis. The community versus the individual. How do we get past greed and what’s the alternative? Eminent sociologist Amitai Etzioni, says if our modern consumer society is the problem, then the answer is a ‘communitarian’ approach. But can this really work? Getting beyond the individual is also what Nigerian novelist Teju Cole explores. In his case it’s not people around him, it’s communing with the past inhabitants of cities. The community versus the individual. How do we get past greed and what’s the alternative? Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20100919 | | On this week's Forum, are we heading towards a brave new world? Are we on the verge of discovering ways to delay the ageing process and expand our life spans? Award winning British geneticist Dame Linda Partridge reveals some surprising new scientific discoveries. Who would have thought the number of ethnic conflicts around the world is steadily decreasing? German Professor of International Security, Stefan Wolff explores the reasons. And what's about to change, now that billions of people can pool information with the rest of the globe at a click of a button? The newest thoughts of American new media visionary Clay Shirky. Very old people celebrating the wane of ethnic conflict in a digitally legible world (1s and 0s). Illustration by Emily Kasriel. New Science of living longer plus Clay Shirky Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20100926 | | Human beings have got impressively large brains - so why are we still irrational? Professor of Psychology, Laurie Santos, tells us why her work with monkeys can offer us some important pointers about ourselves. Pulitzer Prize winning writer Marilynne Robinson argues that human nature is fundamentally generous spirited. We’re not pre-programmed to be selfish, as some schools of science might have us think. Philosopher Roman Frigg wants scientists to allow him and his philosophical colleagues into their laboratories in order to get them to think differently. But what could scientists gain from this philosophical perspective? Is it irrational to introduce altruistic philosophers and Kapuchin monkeys into the laboratory? Illustration by Emily Kasriel. How monkeys can teach us more about human irrationality plus writer Marilynne Robinson. Pulitzer Prize winning writer Marilynne Robinson argues that human nature is fundamentally generous spirited. We’re not pre-programmed to be selfish, as some schools of science might have us think. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20101003 | | Former England cricket captain and now psychoanalyst, Mike Brearley offers an insight into the dynamic of teams and explains what makes the difference between a good and a great team. Drawing upon his own experience, he argues that the strongest leader can admit vulnerability. We hear the case for transforming the military from a threat to a resource for nation building: Africa specialist Lieutenant-Colonel Shannon Beebe explains how. And why Africa's roadside kiosks aren't makeshift structures blocking progress but the future of sustainable urban design. We hear from Ghanaian architect DK Osseo-Asare. A narcissistic leader inside a kiosk instructs soldiers to develop human security. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. Former England Cricket captain Mike Brearley explains what makes a good team, great. Former England cricket captain and now psychoanalyst, Mike Brearley offers an insight into the dynamic of teams and explains what makes the difference between a good and a great team. Drawing upon his own experience, he argues that the strongest leader can admit vulnerability. And why Africa's roadside kiosks aren't makeshift structures blocking progress but the future of sustainable urban design. We hear from Ghanaian architect DK Osseo-Asare. A narcissistic leader inside a kiosk instructs soldiers to develop human security. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20101031 | | We often contemplate the human condition on the Forum, but this week we go way beyond the process that took us from slime to civilization to look at death on a truly astronomical bigger scale: the end of the universe and all that’s in it. How long will it take? And what’ll be the last thing to unravel? Our voyage to the stars is with American astronomer Chris Impey. Also joining us, one of the world’s most successful modern art curators, Lars Nittve, with his vision for the next generation of art museums. And Iraqi born activist Zainab Salbi charts a course for the future that will see the empowerment of poor women, but warns that it will only work if men are involved too. Coming to grips with the end of the universe through art. Illustration by Bridget Kendall. This week, The Forum trains its sights a long way beyond the horizon. We often contemplate the human condition on the Forum, but this week we go way beyond the process that took us from slime to civilization to look at death on a truly astronomical bigger scale: the end of the universe and all that’s in it. How long will it take? And what’ll be the last thing to unravel? Our voyage to the stars is with American astronomer Chris Impey. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20101101 | | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20101107 | | Is it in some way easier to live in a more polarised society? Do the people of Northern Ireland still harbour a soft spot for the hard men? At a time of increased tensions in the area, a panel of celebrated citizens of Northern Ireland debate this in front of an audience at the Northern Ireland National Assembly in Stormont. The discussion kicks off with a performance by the award-winning poet Paul Muldoon from his latest collection. Joining Paul on the panel is Baroness May Blood of Blackwatertown, MBE, a campaigner for integrated education and Dr Raman Kapur a consultant clinical psychologist in Belfast. Award winning poet, Paul Muldoon, has been described as the most significant English-language poet born since the second World War. Paul is currently a professor at Princeton University. Baroness May Blood of Blackwatertown, MBE, was born and raised in Belfast and worked in a linen mill from her teenage years. She has fought for equality for women at work and was the first woman in Northern Ireland to be given a life peerage. Dr Raman Kapur is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Chief Executive of Threshold, a mental health charity in Northern Ireland who written and researched on 'The Troubled Mind of Northern Ireland'. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. A Hummingbird and a Quail are educated together whilst still harbouring prejudice in their minds. Special recording from Belfast: Creating a post conflict society. The discussion kicks off with a performance by the award-winning poet Paul Muldoon from his latest collection. Joining Paul on the panel is Baroness May Blood of Blackwatertown, MBE, a campaigner for integrated education and Dr Raman Kapur a consultant clinical psychologist in Belfast. Award winning poet, Paul Muldoon, has been described as the most significant English-language poet born since the second World War. Paul is currently a professor at Princeton University. Baroness May Blood of Blackwatertown, MBE, was born and raised in Belfast and worked in a linen mill from her teenage years. She has fought for equality for women at work and was the first woman in Northern Ireland to be given a life peerage. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. A Hummingbird and a Quail are educated together whilst still harbouring prejudice in their minds. |
| | 20101108 | | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20101114 | | When you’re ‘honour bound’ to do something – what actually is it that drives you? The desire to do the right thing, or the sneaking need for approval and respect from others? Philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah asks where morality ends and honour codes begin. How do you get past the temptation to typecast different nationalities? Writer and comedienne Anna Chen contemplates stereotypes of Asian women. And leaving human prejudices aside - what happens if we suddenly find out we aren’t alone in the universe? Harvard astronomer Dimitar Sasselov updates us on the discoveries of the Kepler mission, the observatory sent up into space to look for habitable exoplanets circling around other stars. (Above) A unique woman with breast enhancements and bound feet having a duel for her honour with a gravity challenged being on a super earth many light years away. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. Is there a place for honour in the modern world? When you’re ‘honour bound’ to do something – what actually is it that drives you? The desire to do the right thing, or the sneaking need for approval and respect from others? Philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah asks where morality ends and honour codes begin. (Above) A unique woman with breast enhancements and bound feet having a duel for her honour with a gravity challenged being on a super earth many light years away. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. |
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| | 20101121 | | A voyage to the stars – or rather to a nearby planet or asteroid – accomplished in a matter of days, rather than months. It may sound like science fiction but astronaut and engineer Franklin Chang Diaz will try to persuade us all that his plasma rocket engine, now in prototype stage, will soon turn it into reality. We also delve into another world hovering between fiction and reality: Hong Kong writer Po Wah Lam leads us to a time and place when all that mattered were small insects, grasshoppers and locusts. And distinguished historian Bruce Cumings urges us to remove our blinkers when we look at the Pacific coast of United States and the countries it faces across the vast expanse of the ocean. The Pacific launches a more successful plasma-fuelled rocket than the Atlantic, better able to catch those crickets. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. The new plasma engine that will make your trip to Mars as easy as crossing the Atlantic. A voyage to the stars – or rather to a nearby planet or asteroid – accomplished in a matter of days, rather than months. It may sound like science fiction but astronaut and engineer Franklin Chang Diaz will try to persuade us all that his plasma rocket engine, now in prototype stage, will soon turn it into reality. The Pacific launches a more successful plasma-fuelled rocket than the Atlantic, better able to catch those crickets. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. |
| | 20101122 | | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20101128 | | The theme of this week’s programme is exploring the boundary between manipulation and collaboration. How would our lives change if we could regrow bits of our bodies? We enter the pioneering world of nano technology, where scientists are learning how to send signals to our failing organs to regenerate themselves, with bio engineer, Sam Stupp. And when you peer deep into the human ear and the way our brains interpret music, what is exactly happening? According to physicist and musician Philip Ball, it’s all about detecting and expecting patterns. And a different sort of probing from America’s most quoted humorist: P.J.O’Rourke explains why politicians are a medicine we should only take in very small doses. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. Sending nano filaments to regenerate broken organs as we listen to patterns in music prompting us to demand a cut down in the number of politicians. Manipulation or collaboration: P.J.O'Rourke, nano technology and our music instinct. And when you peer deep into the human ear and the way our brains interpret music, what is exactly happening? According to physicist and musician Philip Ball, it’s all about detecting and expecting patterns. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. Sending nano filaments to regenerate broken organs as we listen to patterns in music prompting us to demand a cut down in the number of politicians. |
| | 20101129 | | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20101204 | | Is it time to retell the story of India’s past? Should we challenge the historical idea of India as a single national entity? An alternative view from economist and British politician, Lord Meghnad Desai. Can we use nature as a window on our sex lives? German anthropologist Volker Sommer leads us through the natural world to find out what we can learn from the sexual behaviour of monkeys and apes. And in this nomadic modern world of multiple identities, Scottish-Ghanaian novelist Lesley Lokko shines a light on the strains of being more than one person at once. llustration by Emily Kasriel: Gay apes with a hybrid identity re imagine the notion of Indian unity Probing identities with British politican Lord Desai, through history,language and sex. |
| | 20101211 | | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| | 20101218 | | Pioneering biologist, Victoria Braithwaite, explains how she found clear-cut evidence in fish that they have the neural wiring which transmits a painful stimulus from their skin to the brain and proof that their behaviour is affected by pain. So if fish feel pain, what implications does this have for the way we farm and catch them? Sociologist Sami Zubaida wants us to discard the blanket term “Islamic” to reveal a more accurate vision of Middle Eastern societies, where capitalism and the mostly secular institutions have been instrumental in the development of modernity. And from philosopher Donald Favareau we find out how biology, linguistics and philosophy can interact to help overcome biology’s ‘blind spot’ and better define the essential processes of the living world, particularly as regards biological signs, signalling, messaging and codes. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: The meaning and significance of pain felt by a hibernating Islamic fish. How can you tell if fish feel pain and will the answer change the way we treat them? Pioneering biologist, Victoria Braithwaite, explains how she found clear-cut evidence in fish that they have the neural wiring which transmits a painful stimulus from their skin to the brain and proof that their behaviour is affected by pain. So if fish feel pain, what implications does this have for the way we farm and catch them? |
| | 20101225 | | How did the Ancient Romans celebrate the end of the year? Classicist Mary Beard comes bearing tales of the weird and the strikingly familiar as she describes some of the gifts that the Romans bequeathed to us. But it’s not just the Romans, but also the Egyptians who have left their mark on our society today. American historian Robert Tignor reveals how the lands of the pharaohs and pyramids have helped to shape religious ideas and communities that dominated Europe for at least a thousand years. And Ottoman thinker Philip Mansel explains how ports in the eastern Mediterranean created such free and flexible societies. llustration: A different understanding of time across Mediterranean ports in different epochs by Emily Kasriel Exchanging ideas on five thousand years of Mediterranean calendars, festivals and ports But it’s not just the Romans, but also the Egyptians who have left their mark on our society today. American historian Robert Tignor reveals how the lands of the pharaohs and pyramids have helped to shape religious ideas and communities that dominated Europe for at least a thousand years. |
| | 20110101 | | 3 very different approaches to the impact colour has on our lives. The Belgian Neuroscientist Guy Orban, reveals his latest findings on how the brain decodes colour and why colours are a construct of our brains. Paul Butler explains why race and colour matter when it comes to incarcerating law breakers and creating a fairer legal system. And a warning from Philospher Angie Hobbs on the importance of being precise when we translate colours into words and the wonder of the thousands of different shades of colour in the plainest objects. llustration by Emily Kasriel: Our brain, the law and the ancient world depicting and decoding colour. Exploring colour with 3 perspectives on how colour changes the way we see the world |
| | 20110108 | | Have you ever wondered what happens to your neural pathways when a beautiful sunset makes you catch your breath? Or when you marvel at a portrait by a grand master? Insights from one of the world’s leading pioneers in the new field of NeuroAesthetics. Professor Semir Zeki explains why he is convinced that art and aesthetic appreciation is a key function of the brain. How do Semir’s ideas apply to other creative fields? Former US poet Laureate Charles Simic, takes us through the tortuous and creative process of trying to translate poetry. And sound consultant, Julian Treasure, will be opening our ears to the noises that envelop us but which we’ve unlearnt how to hear. llustration by Emily Kasriel. Grasping the unobtainable as we create, translate and listen to noise. How artists can reveal the way our brain works. Insights from one of the world’s leading pioneers in the new field of NeuroAesthetics. Professor Semir Zeki explains why he is convinced that art and aesthetic appreciation is a key function of the brain. llustration by Emily Kasriel. Grasping the unobtainable as we create, translate and listen to noise. |
| | 20110115 | | Jon Kabat-Zinn is known throughout the world for his pioneering work in applying meditation or mindfulness to mainstream medical treatment. Hans Rosling, once a medical field officer in Mozambique, now designs new ways to visualise global statistics in order to get us all to shake up our outdated views of the world. And Vincent Lam has transformed his night shifts on emergency hospital wards into a gritty and sometimes gruesome best selling novel. llustration by Emily Kasriel: Mindfully inverting the mind body relationship as doctors use statistics to create and challenge the stories that they tell themselves and their patients to heal. Three distinguished medicine men who have all made their mark in different areas. |
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| | 20110312 | | The Forum special recording at a symposium in Portmeirion. The theme: How to tackle the unknowns in our world, from the ocean ecosystem, the unrest in the Arab World, to the mind of the other. Polymath, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of ‘The Black Swan’ and the man credited with helping us understand about how random events rule our world. Oceanographer Sylvia Earle, with first hand experience of a world unknown to most of us. And painter and poet Frieda Hughes, who uncovers insights into the unknown, from a perfect child she never had, to the mind of a suicide bomber. llustration by Emily Kasriel: Negotiating the values of an unknown world on the ocean floor. Meeting the challenges of the unknown The Forum special recording at a symposium in Portmeirion. The theme: How to tackle the unknowns in our world, from the ocean ecosystem, the unrest in the Arab World, to the mind of the other. |
| | 20110319 | | Why we’re able to kid ourselves into thinking two opposite things at once? Psychologist Robert Kurzban argues that it gives us an evolutionary advantage and has to do with the way our brains are constructed, their ‘modular design’. What if our whole universe is like a single slab in a set of infinite parallel universes? Possibly all very different, possibly near identical copies? It sounds fantastical, but theoretical physicist Professor Brian Greene says cutting edge research means it’s an option we need to be open to. Finnish-born artist Oron Catts wants us to contemplate a new world where jackets are grown from engineered leather, not made from an animal, but a semi-living biotechnology hide. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: Multiple selves competing inside our minds as we grow rabbits in parallel universes. Hypocrisy, multiverses and artificial leather: mind-stretching thoughts about life. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20110423 | 20110424 | Why we thrive on conflict Do we thrive on conflict? We bore deep into the human skull today to explore the extraordinary way the different units that make up our neural circuitry compete with each other like a team of rivals. Mysteries of another invisible world too: the conflicting theories regarding the very tiniest particles that inhabit the realm of quantum physics. We find out how their strange behaviour may be the key to a Theory of Everything. And the age old clash between the author and the state in modern day Russia. Bridget Kendall is joined by American neuroscientist David Eagleman, Dutch theoretical physicist and Nobel prize winner Gerard ‘ T Hooft and Russian novelist Mikhail Shishkin. Mysteries of another invisible world too: the conflicting theories regarding the very tiniest particles that inhabit the realm of quantum physics. We find out how their strange behaviour may be the key to a Theory of Everything. |
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| | 20110604 | | The impact of migration: in the realms of society, seeds and sound. It’s an issue high on the political agenda in many countries, but do we really understand how migration affects the countries the migrants leave behind? Is it brain drain or brain gain? And if globalisation is changing the world’s people, what about its plants and its music? This week’s focus is on movement across our shrinking world with economist Ian Goldin, world musician Susheela Raman, nature writer Richard Mabey and guest presenter Matthew Taylor. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: migrating sound, society and seeds. |
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| | 20110820 | | Design in art, fashion and nature. Is innovation or imitation the key to success? Design is all around us – not only in artificially created realm of art, architecture and fashion, but also in the world of nature. What lessons can we learn from leaves, lizards and penguins and is it possible to build a city on the principles of sustainability? In fashion, why is it that we cannot help ourselves from following the herd and how do you go about creating a design classic? This week’s Forum guests are celebrated designer and architect Ron Arad; historian of modern fashion and culture, Pamela Church Gibson and biologist and consultant in the new field of biomimicry, Janine Benyus. Illustration by Charlotte Kingston: the Galapagos shark counts his royalties (sitting on his Ron Arad chair). Design is all around us – not only in artificially created realm of art, architecture and fashion, but also in the world of nature. What lessons can we learn from leaves, lizards and penguins and is it possible to build a city on the principles of sustainability? In fashion, why is it that we cannot help ourselves from following the herd and how do you go about creating a design classic? Design in art, fashion and nature. Is innovation or imitation the key to success? |
| | 20110827 | | Human rights: How do you prove you have them? And how do you make sure you can enjoy them? Rights: Is it right to use an embryo for life-saving research? Can the free market really ensure rights for all? If you need to, should you bribe someone to get your driver’s licence? We feel entitled to many rights, and exercise them daily, but what cornerstone are they built on? As people in the Arab world fight for their rights, we debate on what grounds we are owed anything by anyone. This week’s Forum guests are India’s chief economic advisor, Kaushik Basu; British philosopher Mary Warnock; and cutting-edge stem cell biologist Tilo Kunath. Illustration by Charlotte Kingston: the world puzzles over which rights to write. |
| | 20110903 | | Oceans are the largest habitat on Earth but how much do we know about their history? The latest technology is allowing us to view ocean depths not just in real time but over long periods and gives us a detailed picture of the dramas unfolding down there. Paul Snelgrove from the Ocean Sciences Centre at Memorial University in Newfoundland is at the forefront of research which has been revolutionised by these new developments. For composer and sound artist Annea Lockwood the unique rhythm of water running in great rivers like the Danube and the Hudson has the power not only to enchant us but to connect us more deeply to nature. Back on the sea surface historian Andrew Lambert tells us about the forgotten war of 1812 and explains how this naval war shaped the national cultures of the US, Canada and Britain. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: listening to the flow and drama of the deep oceans. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| | 20111015 | | Centre and Periphery: growing apart? Have we got it wrong with the concept of the Clash of Civilisations? Distinguished Pakistani scholar and diplomat Akbar Ahmed says the real fault lines in today’s world are not between countries or religions but within them and that we should pay more attention to the often violent struggles between the centre and the periphery. British geographer Doreen Massey sees a growing geographical divide in British society and says that the way forward is to tackle the financial power of the City of London. And what might the future place of European culture be as emerging countries begin to offer new centres of gravity? Art curator Augustus Casely-Hayford says his recent tour across Africa made him think its high time we woke up to the new world of multi-polar culture. |
| | 20111022 | | Contemplating our own Death This week, the ominous shadowy wall that looms on the horizon for all of us… death. It's unavoidable and unknowable, and there's no way back. So what is the best way to prepare for it? And how can doctors help us best prepare for it, and mourn us when we die? Our guests: 93 year old Diana Athill has become famous for her frank and eloquent memoirs of her life and thoughts on impending death. Pauline Chen is a liver transplant and cancer surgeon who wants doctors to stop seeing death as an enemy they must fight, even when a patient is terminally ill. And award winning poet Paul Muldoon brings us his latest poem, inspired by the Old Testament Book of Lamentations: to remind us our lives are not only defined by the very big happenings. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: Should doctors help us contemplate our own death? This week, the ominous shadowy wall that looms on the horizon for all of us… death. It's unavoidable and unknowable, and there's no way back. |
| | 20111029 | | FEEDING THE EARTH’S RISING POPULATION As the world’s population is set to reach seven billion soon, we ask how we’re going to be able to feed everyone. We take an in depth look at food, from how it is produced, to how it is prepared and ingested. Our guests: leading environmentalist Dr Jason Clay unveils his radical and controversial plan to make food production all over the world more sustainable. Claudia Roden is an award winning cookery writer who believes that traditional home cooking is vital when it comes to feeding ourselves. And Harvard anthropologist Prof. Richard Wrangham on how we need to learn more about the physics of food so that we can make better nutritional decisions. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: with the population set to reach seven billion - how can we feed our growing world? As the world’s population is set to reach seven billion soon, we ask how we’re going to be able to feed everyone. We take an in depth look at food, from how it is produced, to how it is prepared and ingested. Our guests: leading environmentalist Dr Jason Clay unveils his radical and controversial plan to make food production all over the world more sustainable. Claudia Roden is an award winning cookery writer who believes that traditional home cooking is vital when it comes to feeding ourselves. And Harvard anthropologist Prof. Richard Wrangham on how we need to learn more about the physics of food so that we can make better nutritional decisions. |
| | 20111105 | | This week's Forum comes from the UK Parliament. Three distinguished guests and an audience probe the virtues and flaws of democracy in the Arab World and in Western parliamentary democracies. Baroness Helena Kennedy, a leading criminal and human rights lawyer, argues that the Rule of Law is fundamental to a healthy democracy. One of India’s best known modern historians, Ramachandra Guha, of the London School of Economics celebrates the role of pluralism in Indian Democracy. And Professor Madawi Al-Rasheed from King’s College London says that calls from democracy often come from unexpected places. Illustration by Emily Kasriel The virtues and flaws of democracy. This week's Forum comes from the UK Parliament. Three distinguished guests and an audience probe the virtues and flaws of democracy in the Arab World and in Western parliamentary democracies. |
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| | 20151019 | 20151020 (WS) | We live in an age when we are witnessing the end of globalisation and renewed calls to wall-off so many things, from national borders to the internet. In this programme we look at some of the new barriers springing up in the real and digital worlds. Photo: A country fence (BBC) Boundaries: real and imagined 

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| | 20210218 | 20210219 (WS) 20210221 (WS) 20210222 (WS) | Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
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| (in) Dependence | 20120805 | | Where's the line between independence and dependency? This month the Caribbean island of Jamaica celebrates 50 years of independence from the United Kingdom, an anniversary that's got added spice to it, because of the debate in Jamaica about whether it's time to take the next step and also break ties with the British monarchy. So what does independence mean? How easy is it to sever ties? And what is its relationship with dependency, both for a nation, and for an individual? Some of the questions we'll be debating on The Forum this week with the award winning Jamaican poet Olive Senior; Scottish writer Dennis O'Donnell, who spent years working in a closed psychiatric ward as an orderly; and Dr Adam Winstock, a clinical psychiatrist who specialises in drug addiction. This month the Caribbean island of Jamaica celebrates 50 years of independence from the United Kingdom, an anniversary that's got added spice to it, because of the debate in Jamaica about whether it's time to take the next step and also break ties with the British monarchy. So what does independence mean? How easy is it to sever ties? And what is its relationship with dependency, both for a nation, and for an individual? |
| @aspen Ideas: Can Artists Make The World A Better Place? | 20130714 | 20130715 (WS) | with Damian Woetzel, Dennis Scholl and Fred Dust. When you think about people trying to change the world for the better, should artists be near the top of the list? That’s what Bridget Kendall explores in this BBC Forum from the Aspen Festival of Ideas in Colorado, in front of a lively festival audience at the Jerome Hotel. Joining her on stage are Damian Woetzel, former Principal Dancer at the New York City Ballet, ground-breaking designer Fred Dust, and art collector and philanthropist Dennis Scholl. Photo credit © All rights reserved by aspeninstitute-internal Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| 01/01/2011 | 20110102 | | Exploring colour with 3 perspectives on how colour changes the way we see the world |
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| 02/08/2009 | 20090803 | | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Economist Amartya Sen, writer Henning Mankell and psychotherapist Camila Batmanghelidjh. |
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| 03/05/2009 | 20090504 | | Biologist Robert May, doctor & novelist Abraham Verghese, financial analyst Gillian Tett. |
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| 03/09/2011 | 20110904 | | Oceans are the largest habitat on Earth but how much do we know about their history? Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| 04/06/2011 | 20110605 | | It’s an issue high on the political agenda in many countries, but do we really understand how migration affects the countries the migrants leave behind? Is it brain drain or brain gain? And if globalisation is changing the world’s people, what about its plants and its music? This week’s focus is on movement across our shrinking world with economist Ian Goldin, world musician Susheela Raman, nature writer Richard Mabey and guest presenter Matthew Taylor. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: migrating sound, society and seeds. The impact of migration: in the realms of society, seeds and sound. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| 04/12/2010 | 20101205 | | Probing identities with British politican Lord Desai, through history,language and sex. |
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| 05/02/2011 | 20110207 | | A second Forum programme recorded in the extraordinary atmosphere of the Jaipur Literature Festival with a lively audience and three prominent female creative thinkers talking about what rules Indian lives: the stars in the sky, the landscapes that fill their vision or the families that surround them? Illustration by Emily Kasriel:Guided by the stars we send postcards illuminated artificially. At the Jaipur Festival: Indian astrology, neon-lit nights and overbearing families Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| 05/03/2011 | 20110307 | | When protestors in Eastern Libya liberated their towns from Colonel Gaddafi's forces recently, it seems there was not mayhem on the streets. Instead locals organised themselves into street committees to prevent looting. Just one example, perhaps, of the way local communities can collaborate for long term gain, rather than each person grabbing what they can for themselves. Nobel Laureate Professor Elinor Ostrom explains why we're not always out for ourselves, if left to our own devices. Former Vice Chancellor of Cape Town University, Njabulo Ndebele – on the challenge of freeing South Africa from lingering guilt and resentment. And best selling novelist Manju Kapur juggles the conflicting demands of individual rights and family obligations in modern Indian marriages. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: A man and wife and South Africa sharing water from the common pond. This week on The Forum, managing the commons and establishing democracy after apartheid When protestors in Eastern Libya liberated their towns from Colonel Gaddafi's forces recently, it seems there was not mayhem on the streets. Instead locals organised themselves into street committees to prevent looting. Just one example, perhaps, of the way local communities can collaborate for long term gain, rather than each person grabbing what they can for themselves. Nobel Laureate Professor Elinor Ostrom explains why we're not always out for ourselves, if left to our own devices. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| 05/07/2009 | 20090706 | | Physicist Frank Wilczek, writer and activist Arundhati Roy and philosopher Susan Neiman. Physicist Frank Wilczek, writer & activist Arundhati Roy and philosopher Susan Neiman. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Physicist Frank Wilczek, writer & activist Arundhati Roy and philosopher Susan Neiman. |
| 05/11/2011 | 20111106 | | The virtues and flaws of democracy. |
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| 06/09/2009: Part 1 | 20090906 | | China expert Martin Jacques, writer Hanif Kureishi, philosophy professor Arvind Sharma THE FORUM, the ideas programme presented by Bridget Kendall. Political thinker MARTIN JACQUES explores how China's growing dominance could shake the foundations of Western assumptions. He says we have underestimated the power China will have on the way we view culture, race and democracy in the future. Award winning writer Hanif Kureishi throws the spotlight on our unconscious world – our dreams, fantasies and inhibitions. He shows how exploring and expressing our unconscious side can be the key to unlocking new insights about ourselves. Comparative religions professor ARVIND SHARMA offers a new sort of philosophical challenge – a Hindu world view that sees time not as linear but a never ending cycle. He shows how this cyclical concept of time affects perceptions of the present both spiritually and politically. China expert Martin Jacques, writer Hanif Kureishi, philosophy professor Arvind Sharma THE FORUM, the ideas programme presented by BRIDGET KENDALL. Political thinker MARTIN JACQUES explores how China’s growing dominance could shake the foundations of Western assumptions. He says we have underestimated the power China will have on the way we view culture, race and democracy in the future. Award winning writer HANIF KUREISHI throws the spotlight on our unconscious world – our dreams, fantasies and inhibitions. He shows how exploring and expressing our unconscious side can be the key to unlocking new insights about ourselves. Comparative religions professor ARVIND SHARMA offers a new sort of philosophical challenge – a Hindu world view that sees time not as linear but a never ending cycle. He shows how this cyclical concept of time affects perceptions of the present both spiritually and politically. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| 06/09/2009: Part 1 | 20090907 | | China expert Martin Jacques, writer Hanif Kureishi, philosophy professor Arvind Sharma China expert Martin Jacques, writer Hanif Kureishi, philosophy professor Arvind Sharma |
| 06/09/2009: Part 2 | 20090906 | | China expert Martin Jacques, writer Hanif Kureishi, philosophy professor Arvind Sharma Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| 07/06/2009 | 20090608 | | Environmentalist Sunita Narain, science historian Arthur I Miller, writer Paolo Giordano. Environmentalist Sunita Narain, science historian Arthur I Miller, writer Paolo Giordano. |
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| 08/01/2011 | 20110109 | | How artists can reveal the way our brain works. |
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| 09/08/2009: Part 1 | 20090823 | | Biologist Martin Chalfie, novelist Kachi A Ozumba, music historian Marina Frolova-Walker THE FORUM, the ideas programme with Bridget Kendall. American geneticist MARTIN CHALFIE explains how a green fluorescent jellyfish protein has been groomed to become the super-sleuth of 21st century science, spying on the work of the proteins that allow us to sense the world around us. Music historian MARINA FROLOVA-WALKER unravels the myths surrounding the culture and politics of Russian music, argued about for over a century and a half. Trawling through archives from the Stalinist era we eavesdrop on the bizarre discussions of an elite tasked with overseeing the production of soviet art, national in form, socialist in content. Nigerian writer KACHI A OZUMBA takes us on a tour of life on the ‘inside'…of a prison cell. Despite the inhumanities of life in prison and the stereotypes we have built around it, Kachi shows how the laws and rules prisoners make for themselves provide an uncanny mirror of life lived on the outside. Biologist Martin Chalfie, novelist Kachi A Ozumba, music historian Marina Frolova-Walker THE FORUM, the ideas programme with BRIDGET KENDALL. Music historian MARINA FROLOVA-WALKER unravels the myths surrounding the culture and politics of Russian music, argued about for over a century and a half. Trawling through archives from the Stalinist era we eavesdrop on the bizarre discussions of an elite tasked with overseeing the production of soviet art, national in form, socialist in content. Nigerian writer KACHI A OZUMBA takes us on a tour of life on the ‘inside’…of a prison cell. Despite the inhumanities of life in prison and the stereotypes we have built around it, Kachi shows how the laws and rules prisoners make for themselves provide an uncanny mirror of life lived on the outside. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| 09/08/2009: Part 1 | 20090824 | | Biologist Martin Chalfie, novelist Kachi A Ozumba, music historian Marina Frolova-Walker Biologist Martin Chalfie, novelist Kachi A Ozumba, music historian Marina Frolova-Walker |
| 09/08/2009: Part 2 | 20090809 | | |
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| 09/08/2009: Part 2 | 20090823 | | Biologist Martin Chalfie, novelist Kachi A Ozumba, music historian Marina Frolova-Walker THE FORUM, the ideas programme with BRIDGET KENDALL. American geneticist MARTIN CHALFIE explains how a green fluorescent jellyfish protein has been groomed to become the super-sleuth of 21st century science, spying on the work of the proteins that allow us to sense the world around us. Music historian MARINA FROLOVA-WALKER unravels the myths surrounding the culture and politics of Russian music, argued about for over a century and a half. Trawling through archives from the Stalinist era we eavesdrop on the bizarre discussions of an elite tasked with overseeing the production of soviet art, national in form, socialist in content. Nigerian writer KACHI A OZUMBA takes us on a tour of life on the ‘inside’…of a prison cell. Despite the inhumanities of life in prison and the stereotypes we have built around it, Kachi shows how the laws and rules prisoners make for themselves provide an uncanny mirror of life lived on the outside. |
| 09/08/2009: Part 2 | 20090824 | | |
| 10/03/2012 | 20120311 | | |
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| 10/05/2009 | 20090511 | | Novelist AS Byatt, conductor Semyon Bychkov, political scientist Dominique Moisi. |
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| 12/03/2011 | 20110313 | | Meeting the challenges of the unknown |
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| 12/07/2009 | 20090713 | | Religious commentator Karen Armstrong, biologist Stephen Hopper and author Brian Chikwava. Religious commentator Karen Armstrong, biologist Stephen Hopper and author Brian Chikwava. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| 13/09/2009: Part 1 | 20090913 | 20090914 | Novelist Margaret Atwood; Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones; sociology Prof. Diego Gambetta THE FORUM, the ideas programme presented by Ritula Shah. This week we take a trip into real and imagined dystopian worlds… We travel to the future to meet the environmentally friendly humanoids from Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood's latest book, “The year of the Flood”. She asks whether an environmental religion can prevent the extinction of the human race as we know it, or whether it would accelerate our evolution into a new, unrecognisable species. The British opposition security minister Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones argues that the right balance needs to be struck between privacy and the efficiency of the state. And sociology Professor Diego Gambetta peers down into the underworld to crack the codes and signals of criminal communication. We discuss how we modify our bodies and our communication in order to protect our planet and evade the state, both today and in a possible dystopian future. Novelist Margaret Atwood; Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones; sociology Prof. Diego Gambetta THE FORUM, the ideas programme presented by RITULA SHAH. We travel to the future to meet the environmentally friendly humanoids from Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood’s latest book, “The year of the Flood”. She asks whether an environmental religion can prevent the extinction of the human race as we know it, or whether it would accelerate our evolution into a new, unrecognisable species. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| 13/09/2009: Part 1 | 20090914 | | Novelist Margaret Atwood; Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones; sociology Prof. Diego Gambetta Novelist Margaret Atwood; Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones; sociology Prof. Diego Gambetta |
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| 15/01/2011 | 20110117 | | Three distinguished medicine men who have all made their mark in different areas. |
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| 15/04/2017 Gmt | 20170415 | | |
| 15/10/2011 | 20111016 | | Centre and Periphery: growing apart? |
| 16/04/2011 | 20110417 | | Where does the idea of royalty fit into our fast changing century? There is a festive air in London, as the city prepares for the spectacle of a Royal Wedding at the end of this month - we are devoting this week's Forum to a look at where Kings and Queens fit in to our modern era. Is there still such a thing as a bond between sovereign and subject? Do modern monarchies need to update themselves? Or is the link with history the key to staying popular? Bridget Kendall is joined by Bangladeshi writer Tahmima Anam, British historian Justin Champion and Australian psychologist Dorothy Rowe. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: The Prince ceremoniously marries a commoner, touching his subject and backed by generations of monarchs before him. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| 17/03/2018 | | 20180320 () | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| 17/05/2009 | 20090518 | | Entrepreneur Iqbal Quadir, epidemics expert Stefan Kaufmann, classicist James O’Donnell |
| 17/09/2011 | 20110918 | | Activism: how to make things happen Some say you can only do it by being unreasonable –that easygoing people do nothing for progress. Only those who refuse to put up with life as it’s lived push humanity forward. Our guests this week are all unreasonable. Poet and academic John Kinsella, uses his poetry to fight for his vegan, anarchist, pacifist beliefs. Architectural activist Marie Aquilino reminds us that it’s not earthquakes which kill, but buildings. She is passionate about giving victims of natural disasters long-life homes and infrastructure. And Cambridge University economist Ha-Joon Chang calls on all of us to be activist citizen-economists, and so confront the myths he says we’ve been peddled about the way the world economy works. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. |
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| 18/12/2010 | 20101219 | | How can you tell if fish feel pain and will the answer change the way we treat them? |
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| 19/02/2011 | 20110220 | | How our bodies stop protecting us from ageing once we’ve past the point of reproduction, images of cancerous tumours, and the growing global inequality. Cell biologist and octogenarian Lewis Wolpert asks what more we should be doing to embrace a world which will increasingly be populated by the old, the very old, and then the very, very old. His research into ageing shows that our bodies are not pre-programmed to age, but they do almost nothing to slow the process. The vital and perhaps shocking work of artist Wangechi Mutu. Her portraits of fantastical women, include anatomical drawings of cancerous tumours that transform the terrible into the beautiful. And World Bank Economist Branko Milanovic, says there’s been a huge shift in global inequality over the last 50 years, and the gaps are getting bigger every day. He argues that today, your life chances depend far more on where you are born in the world, than on how rich your family are. llustration by Emily Kasriel: Things we would rather ignore, global inequality, our ageing and cancer. Things we would rather avoid. Cell biologist and octogenarian Lewis Wolpert asks what more we should be doing to embrace a world which will increasingly be populated by the old, the very old, and then the very, very old. His research into ageing shows that our bodies are not pre-programmed to age, but they do almost nothing to slow the process. The vital and perhaps shocking work of artist Wangechi Mutu. Her portraits of fantastical women, include anatomical drawings of cancerous tumours that transform the terrible into the beautiful. And World Bank Economist Branko Milanovic, says there’s been a huge shift in global inequality over the last 50 years, and the gaps are getting bigger every day. He argues that today, your life chances depend far more on where you are born in the world, than on how rich your family are. |
| 19/02/2011 | 20110221 | | Things we would rather avoid. |
| 19/03/2011 | 20110320 | | Hypocrisy, multiverses and artificial leather: mind-stretching thoughts about life. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| 19/03/2011 | 20110321 | | Hypocrisy, multiverses and artificial leather: mind-stretching thoughts about life. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
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| 19/07/2009: Part 1 | 20090719 | | THE FORUM, the ideas programme with Bridget Kendall. Sociologist LORD ANTHONY GIDDENS on how to fight climate change. Nigerian novelist and poet Ben Okri on breaking free. American anthropologist SARAH HRDY on sharing parenting. Sociologist Lord Anthony Giddens, novelist Ben Okri and anthropologist Sarah Hrdy. Sociologist Lord Anthony Giddens, novelist Ben Okri and anthropologist Sarah Hrdy. THE FORUM, the ideas programme with BRIDGET KENDALL. Nigerian novelist and poet BEN OKRI on breaking free. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| 19/07/2009: Part 1 | 20090720 | | Sociologist Lord Anthony Giddens, novelist Ben Okri and anthropologist Sarah Hrdy. Sociologist Lord Anthony Giddens, novelist Ben Okri and anthropologist Sarah Hrdy. |
| 19/07/2009: Part 2 | 20090719 | | Sociologist Lord Anthony Giddens, novelist Ben Okri and anthropologist Sarah Hrdy. THE FORUM, the ideas programme with BRIDGET KENDALL. Sociologist LORD ANTHONY GIDDENS on how to fight climate change. Nigerian novelist and poet BEN OKRI on breaking free. American anthropologist SARAH HRDY on sharing parenting. |
| 19/07/2009: Part 2 | 20090720 | | |
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| 19/11/2016 Gmt | 20161119 | 20161121 (WS) | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. 

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| 20/08/2011 | 20110821 | | Design in art, fashion and nature. Is innovation or imitation the key to success? Design in art, fashion and nature. Is innovation or imitation the key to success? |
| 20/09/2009 | 20090921 | | Defence Expert Dr. P W Singer; Economist George Ayittey; Renaissance scholar Lisa Jardine Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Defence Expert Dr. P W Singer; Economist George Ayittey; Renaissance scholar Lisa Jardine. |
| 20/09/2009: Part 2 | 20090920 | | Defence Expert Dr. P W Singer; Economist George Ayittey; Renaissance scholar Lisa Jardine On this week's programme we look to the robotic future of warfare, empowering business in Africa – and the ethical questions these debates raise. Defence expert and Obama adviser, Dr Peter W Singer offers his insights into how the use of robots in war is radically changing the meaning and implications of going to war. Ghanain-American economist George Ayittey discusses how best to develop community business in Africa. In response to the economic downturn he urges a move from micro-financing of individuals to what he calls ‘meso financing' - investing in community groups to maximise production and income. And the ethical problems raised on the cutting edge of science, with renaissance scholar and human embryo regulator Lisa Jardine Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Defence Expert Dr. P W Singer; Economist George Ayittey; Renaissance scholar Lisa Jardine. On this week’s programme we look to the robotic future of warfare, empowering business in Africa – and the ethical questions these debates raise. Ghanain-American economist George Ayittey discusses how best to develop community business in Africa. In response to the economic downturn he urges a move from micro-financing of individuals to what he calls ‘meso financing’ - investing in community groups to maximise production and income. And the ethical problems raised on the cutting edge of science, with renaissance scholar and human embryo regulator Lisa Jardine. |
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| 21/06/2009 | 20090622 | | Writer and critic Clive James, mathematician Marcus Du Sautoy, philosopher Slavoj Zizek. Writer and critic Clive James, mathematician Marcus du Sautoy, philosopher Slavoj Zizek. |
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| 22/10/2011 | 20111023 | | Contemplating our own Death |
| 22/10/2016 Gmt | 20161024 | 20161026 (WS) | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. 
Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| 23/04/2011 | 20110424 | | Why we thrive on conflict |
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| 24/05/2009 | 20090525 | | Political economist Deepak Lal, writer & comic AL Kennedy, Tatar poet Ravil Bukharaev. Political economist Deepak Lal, writer & comic AL Kennedy, Tatar poet Ravil Bukharaev. |
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| 25/06/2011 | 20110626 | | David Baddiel presents this week's edition of The Forum on the power of images Writer and comedian David Baddiel presents this week’s edition of The Forum. In a world that has become dominated by visual imagery – with pictures and movies on phones, screens and advertising hoardings all around us, have we become blas退 or desensitised? What's happening to the way that we digest pictures? James Gow, Professor of International Peace and Security at Kings College London, argues that images have become more crucial than battles in the outcome of conflicts. How are images being used in the Arab Spring? Margaret Livingstone, a Professor of Neurobiology at Harvard University, has discovered that the way we process images depends in part on whether we can see in stereo or mono. And the Dutch poet laureate, Ramsey Nasr, believes that, with poetry, even the words on the page need to be rearranged to cope with the modern demand for the eye to be constantly stimulated. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: how our minds translate what we see. James Gow, Professor of International Peace and Security at Kings College London, argues that images have become more crucial than battles in the outcome of conflicts. How are images being used in the Arab Spring? Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| 25/12/2010 | 20101226 | | Exchanging ideas on five thousand years of Mediterranean calendars, festivals and ports |
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| 26/02/2011 | 20110227 | | Sharya Scharenguivel is a prominent Professor of Law at Colombo University and leading figure in the drive to reform family law in Sri Lanka. She argues that it’s the British colonial legacy, that in legal terms, helps keep Sri Lankan women under their husband’s thumb. The novels of Karen Roberts draw on the taboos of forbidden love to expose tensions within Sri Lankan society. Her latest book, The Lament of the Dhobi Woman has at its core, a forbidden love affair between a servant woman and an upper class man. And Ranjini Obeyesekere, a scholar of Buddhist literature, traces a legendary relationship that has inspired both poets and monks for centuries. She has spent many years studying and translating writings about Yasodhara, the Buddha’s wife. llustration by Emily Kasriel. Special show from Sri Lanka literary festival about love Sharya Scharenguivel is a prominent Professor of Law at Colombo University and leading figure in the drive to reform family law in Sri Lanka. She argues that it’s the British colonial legacy, that in legal terms, helps keep Sri Lankan women under their husband’s thumb. The novels of Karen Roberts draw on the taboos of forbidden love to expose tensions within Sri Lankan society. Her latest book, The Lament of the Dhobi Woman has at its core, a forbidden love affair between a servant woman and an upper class man. And Ranjini Obeyesekere, a scholar of Buddhist literature, traces a legendary relationship that has inspired both poets and monks for centuries. She has spent many years studying and translating writings about Yasodhara, the Buddha’s wife. |
| 26/02/2011 | 20110228 | | Special show from Sri Lanka literary festival about love Sharya Scharenguivel is a prominent Professor of Law at Colombo University and leading figure in the drive to reform family law in Sri Lanka. She argues that it’s the British colonial legacy, that in legal terms, helps keep Sri Lankan women under their husband’s thumb. The novels of Karen Roberts draw on the taboos of forbidden love to expose tensions within Sri Lankan society. Her latest book, The Lament of the Dhobi Woman has at its core, a forbidden love affair between a servant woman and an upper class man. And Ranjini Obeyesekere, a scholar of Buddhist literature, traces a legendary relationship that has inspired both poets and monks for centuries. She has spent many years studying and translating writings about Yasodhara, the Buddha’s wife. llustration by Emily Kasriel. Sharya Scharenguivel is a prominent Professor of Law at Colombo University and leading figure in the drive to reform family law in Sri Lanka. She argues that it’s the British colonial legacy, that in legal terms, helps keep Sri Lankan women under their husband’s thumb. The novels of Karen Roberts draw on the taboos of forbidden love to expose tensions within Sri Lankan society. Her latest book, The Lament of the Dhobi Woman has at its core, a forbidden love affair between a servant woman and an upper class man. And Ranjini Obeyesekere, a scholar of Buddhist literature, traces a legendary relationship that has inspired both poets and monks for centuries. She has spent many years studying and translating writings about Yasodhara, the Buddha’s wife. |
| 26/04/2009 | 20090427 | | |
| 26/07/2009: Part 1 | 20090726 | | Astronomer Andrea Ghez, economist Ian Goldin and cyberspace authority Evgeny Morozov Listen above to Part 2 THE FORUM, the ideas programme with Bridget Kendall, recorded this week at Keble College, Oxford, UK in front of a live audience as part of a conference organised by the international ideas organization, TED. American astronomer ANDREA GHEZ on super massive black holes. African economist IAN GOLDIN on safe-guarding earth's future. Cyberspace authority EVGENY MOROZOV on the internet's darker side. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Astronomer Andrea Ghez, economist Ian Goldin and cyberspace authority Evgeny Morozov THE FORUM, the ideas programme with BRIDGET KENDALL, recorded this week at Keble College, Oxford, UK in front of a live audience as part of a conference organised by the international ideas organization, TED. African economist IAN GOLDIN on safe-guarding earth’s future. Cyberspace authority EVGENY MOROZOV on the internet’s darker side. |
| 26/07/2009: Part 1 | 20090727 | | Astronomer Andrea Ghez, economist Ian Goldin and cyberspace authority Evgeny Morozov Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Astronomer Andrea Ghez, economist Ian Goldin and cyberspace authority Evgeny Morozov |
| 26/07/2009: Part 2 | 20090726 | | Astronomer Andrea Ghez, economist Ian Goldin and cyberspace authority Evgeny Morozov. Listen above to Part 2 THE FORUM, the ideas programme with Bridget Kendall, recorded this week at Keble College, Oxford, UK in front of a live audience as part of a conference organised by the international ideas organization, TED. American astronomer ANDREA GHEZ on super massive black holes. African economist IAN GOLDIN on safe-guarding earth's future. Cyberspace authority EVGENY MOROZOV on the internet's darker side. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Astronomer Andrea Ghez, economist Ian Goldin and cyberspace authority Evgeny Morozov. THE FORUM, the ideas programme with BRIDGET KENDALL, recorded this week at Keble College, Oxford, UK in front of a live audience as part of a conference organised by the international ideas organization, TED. African economist IAN GOLDIN on safe-guarding earth’s future. Cyberspace authority EVGENY MOROZOV on the internet’s darker side. |
| 26/07/2009: Part 2 | 20090727 | | Astronomer Andrea Ghez, economist Ian Goldin and cyberspace authority Evgeny Morozov. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Astronomer Andrea Ghez, economist Ian Goldin and cyberspace authority Evgeny Morozov. |
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| 27/08/2011 | 20110828 | | Human rights: How do you prove you have them? And how do you make sure you can enjoy them? |
| 27/09/2009 | 20090928 | | Philosopher Sari Nusseibeh, radio-ecologist Brenda Howard, historian Giusto Traina Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Philosopher Sari Nusseibeh, radio-ecologist Brenda Howard, historian Giusto Traina |
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| 28/05/2011 | 20110529 | | What are our obligations to others, on an international and individual level? It's a term that's been mentioned a lot recently but what exactly do we mean by ‘Responsibility to Protect’? Are we all legally or morally obligated to help citizens in other countries who are at risk? Or is this just a vague sense of our shared humanity? Canadian professor Jennifer Welsh explores the moral and legal conundrums. American scholar soldier Lt Col Shannon Beebe tells us that if we really are serious about protecting the vulnerable, we need to change the way we think about security: he says the way forward is what he calls sustainable security. And Somalia's Minister for Women's Development Maryan Qasim tells us why she feels responsible for the lives of Somali women and children and how she tries to change them. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: responsibility to protect - but how is that generosity received? Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| 28/06/2009 | 20090629 | | Environmentalist Wangari Maathai, geneticist Jane Peterson and novelist Dubravka Ugresic Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Environmentalist Wangari Maathai, geneticist Jane Peterson and novelist Dubravka Ugresic |
| 28/06/2014 | 20140629 | 20140630 (WS) | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. 
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| 29/01/2011 | 20110131 | | This week's Forum comes from the northern state of Rajasthan in India where we are guests of the Jaipur Literature Festival. We are on an open-air stage in front of over a thousand people, all listening intently and eager to chip in as we juggle the moral dilemmas of living in today's India. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: The Mahabharata connecting us so that we learn how to be good and heal the sick in Nepal. Forum at Jaipur Literature Festival: dharma, greed, envy, quacks and Nepali Buddhists |
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| 29/10/2011 | 20111030 | | FEEDING THE EARTH’S RISING POPULATION |
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| 31/01/2010 | 20100201 | | What triggers earthquakes and why do we know so little? Plus the Arctic and African cities |
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| A History Of Honey | 20200116 | 20200117 (WS) 20200119 (WS) 20200120 (WS) | It takes twelve honey bees their entire lifetimes to make one spoonful of honey. From sweetening and preserving food, to treating wounds and sore throats, this sweet, viscous substance has played an important role in nearly every society around the world. In the ancient world, it held religious significance while in the 21st century, scientists are researching how honey could combat lethal diseases and finding ways to identify so-called fake honey. Joining Rajan Datar to discuss the history of honey are Dr Lucy Long - author of Honey: A Global History and director of the nonprofit Center for Food and Culture in Ohio, USA; Sarah Wyndham-Lewis - writer, Honey Sommelier and co-founder of Bermondsey Street Bees in London, UK; and the Australian microbiologist Dr Shona Blair from Imperial College London who has conducted detailed research into the antimicrobial activity and wound healing properties of honey. Photo: A Yemeni beekeeper checks a honeycomb from a beehive at his apiary in the country's northern Hajjah province in 2019. Credit: ESSA AHMED / AFP Uncovering the rich cultural and medical history of the world's oldest sweet Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| A History Of The Restaurant | 20191226 | 20191227 (WS) 20191229 (WS) 20191230 (WS) | The practice of having your food prepared by strangers in a public place goes back millennia but what makes a restaurant different from the many other dining options is that you can choose from a list of dishes, you can eat at a time of your rather than the cook’s choosing and are usually served by a professional waiter in pleasant surroundings. There were fully-fledged restaurants in 12th-century China catering to a wide range of tastes and budgets. Six centuries later, the first European restaurants in Paris advertised themselves as places that offered good health, rather than just good food. The fashion for French-style dining quickly spread to other countries but it took over a century for the waiters, waitresses and kitchen staff – the very people who are crucial to the success of any restaurant - to be given half-decent working conditions and a modicum of recognition. Bridget Kendall discusses the development of the restaurant with historians Rebecca L. Spang, Patricia Van den Eeckhout, Luke Barr, Nawal Nasrallah and Christian de Pee. Photo: A waiter with a serving platter and dome. Credit: RTimages/Getty Images From dining in Song-dynasty China to the modern open kitchen Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| A Leap Of Faith: Finding Common Ground Between Science And Religion | 20151207 | 20151208 (WS) | Promoting a dialogue between science and religion has long been a challenging task- the two communities of thought often seem far apart. The Forum explores the challenge in a discussion recorded at CERN in Switzerland and asks not only why this dialogue is important but how it is working and where it might lead. CERN is the European Organization for Nuclear Research where physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss common ground between science and religion are: Professor Rolf-Dieter Heuer, a German particle physicist and the Director General of CERN; Marcelo Gleiser, professor of physics and astronomy at Dartmouth College; Dr. Kusum Jain, a renowned Indian scholar of Jain Philosophy and director of the Centre of Advanced Study in Philosophy at the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur; Monsignor Tomasz Trafny, Head of Science and Faith, Vatican City State. And there is poetry, especially written for the programme, by British poet Murray Lachlan Young. (Photo: illustration of first proton-lead ion collisions. © 2012 CERN, for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration) Can there be a common ground between science and religion? 

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| A Single World, Many Identities? | 20160409 | 20160411 (WS) 20160412 (WS) | Turkish novelist Elif Shafak, Nick Bostrom and Ann Phoenix from UCL discuss identity Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| A Single World, Many Identities? | 20160411 | 20160412 (WS) 20160413 (WS) | Turkish novelist Elif Shafak, Nick Bostrom and Ann Phoenix from UCL discuss identity Bestselling Turkish novelist Elif Shafak, Nick Bostrom from Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute and Ann Phoenix from UCL's Institute of Education trace the evolution of 21st century identity with the BBC’s Jo Fidgen. Are technology and geopolitics conspiring to create a new type of human, unrecognisable to our forebears? Is ‘serial migration’ the new norm for transnational families and what effect is this having on the identity of the young? Or perhaps we should drop the concept of Identity altogether? (Photo: Left to right, Ann Phoenix, Elif Shafak and Nick Bostrom) 

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| A Very Long View | 20160109 | 20160111 (WS) 20160112 (WS) | Tracking changes in our lives and bodies over decades, generations and even millennia Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| A Very Long View | 20160111 | 20160112 (WS) | Tracking changes in our lives and bodies over decades, generations and even millennia How good are we at making connections over time? Remembering our own pasts, or the way history has unfolded, or seeing the big patterns of development, invisible to the naked eye? This week on the Forum Bridget Kendall and guests focus on the long view: tracking the small changes which shape a person over a year, or a society over decades, or which alter the genetic make-up of humans over tens of thousands of years. With artist Tom Mosser, sociologist Alison Park and geneticist Eske Willerslew. Photo: Artist Tom Mosser and his portrait collection (credit: Tom Mosser) 

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| Abraham Maslow's Psychology Of Human Needs | 20210225 | 20210226 (WS) 20210228 (WS) 20210301 (WS) | Many students of psychology, business, nursing and other disciplines are taught about "Maslow's pyramid of human needs", a diagram that shows a progression from our basic needs, such as food and shelter, to higher, social needs and, eventually, to striving for often intangible life goals and fulfilment. The pyramid is an iconic image, yet Abraham Maslow, a leading humanistic psychologist of the 20th century, didn't actually create it. Moreover, his writings are much more sophisticated and perceptive than the diagram suggests. So where did this confusion come from and why didn't Maslow disown the pyramid? How should we understand Maslow's hierarchy of human needs? Why has it proved so useful in so many different disciplines? And in what way is it relevant to how we live today? These are some of the questions that Bridget Kendall explores with Jessica Grogan from University of Texas at Austin, author of Encountering America, a history of humanistic psychology; David Baker, emeritus professor of psychology and former director of the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology at the University of Akron; and Scott Barry Kaufman, former director of the Imagination Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Transcend which updates Maslow for the 21st century. [Photo: Abraham Maslow, undated photograph. Credit: Bettmann/Getty Images] An influential 20th-century thinker who identified what motivates us Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Activism: How To Make Things Happen | 20110917 | | Some say you can only do it by being unreasonable –that easygoing people do nothing for progress. Only those who refuse to put up with life as it’s lived push humanity forward. Our guests this week are all unreasonable. Poet and academic John Kinsella, uses his poetry to fight for his vegan, anarchist, pacifist beliefs. Architectural activist Marie Aquilino reminds us that it’s not earthquakes which kill, but buildings. She is passionate about giving victims of natural disasters long-life homes and infrastructure. And Cambridge University economist Ha-Joon Chang calls on all of us to be activist citizen-economists, and so confront the myths he says we’ve been peddled about the way the world economy works. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. Activism: how to make things happen Only those who refuse to put up with life as it’s lived push humanity forward. Our guests this week are all unreasonable. Architectural activist Marie Aquilino reminds us that it’s not earthquakes which kill, but buildings. She is passionate about giving victims of natural disasters long-life homes and infrastructure. |
| Adam Smith: Father Of Capitalism | 20171118 | 20171121 (WS) | Adam Smith, a moral philosopher and economist, was born in Scotland, the son of a customs officer. In 1776 he published a book called 'An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations’. Smith basically argued against the over regulation of commerce and said if people were set free to better themselves, it would produce economic prosperity for all. To discuss his work and legacy are Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and Intellectual History Vivienne Brown, the UK Labour Party peer and economist Lord Meghnad Jagdishchandra Desai, Professor of History Fania Oz-Salzberger and Emeritus Professor of Political Theory Christopher Berry. Photo: An illustration of Adam Smith, circa 1765. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Exploring the work of the 18th century moral philosopher and economist Adam Smith Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Advances In Bioengineering | 20160312 | 20160314 (WS) 20160315 (WS) | Bridging the divide between living and inorganic matter Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Advances In Bioengineering | 20160314 | 20160315 (WS) | Bridging the divide between living and inorganic matter Bridget Kendall talks to three pioneers who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible at the interface between engineering, biology and medicine: John Rogers makes electronics which dissolve when they have done their job, Magnus Berggren grows circuits inside plants and Hadyn Parry is using a harmless protein to wipe out dangerous disease carriers. Picture: A rose attached to an electronic apparatus. (Credit: Eliot Gomez) 

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| Advantage | 20131109 | 20131111 (WS) | What gives you an advantage in life? We explore what can confer advantage. Bridget Kendall talks to best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell about whether the power of the underdog has been under-estimated; psychologist Kathryn Asbury on why some kids start school with a biological advantage over their peers, and globalisation professor Ian Goldin on ensuring future generations’ advantage now. Photo by Fred Dufour/AFP/GettyImages We explore what can confer advantage. Bridget Kendall talks to best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell about whether the power of the underdog has been under-estimated; psychologist Kathryn Asbury on why some kids start school with a biological advantage over their peers, and globalisation professor Ian Goldin on ensuring future generations’ advantage now. Photo by Fred Dufour/AFP/GettyImages |
| Aesop And The Fables | 20200528 | 20200531 (WS) 20200601 (WS) | A black slave wrote 700 animal tales in Ancient Greece. Why are they still best sellers? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Aesop, with his tales of tortoises and hares, foxes and grapes, and wolves in sheep's clothing has been a part of world literature for over two thousand years. Since the time of the Ancient Greeks successive generations have drawn moral lessons from his fables, and over history his animals' exploits have been used to support differing ideals. Malcolm X was a fan, as was Imperial Britain, the Nazis had their version and the Trade Union movement published the fables too. There are over 700 fables, and they are supposedly written by a black slave far clever than his philosopher master. Bridget Kendall traces the origin and meaning of Aesop's fables and explores what they can teach us about understanding our own extraordinary times with three world experts: Edith Hall, Professor of Classics at Kings College London; Vayos Liapis, Professor of Theatre at the Open University of Cyprus; Dan-el Padilla Peralta, Associate Professor of Classics at Princeton University. (Image: The fox telling Aesop about animals, decoration from a Greek vase, 5th century BC, Vatican Museums. Credit: De Agostini Picture Library/Getty Images) |
| After Dark: How We Respond To Darkness | 20160521 | 20160523 (WS) 20160524 (WS) | Exploring how we operate at night and our attitude to the dark Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| After Dark: How We Respond To Darkness | 20160523 | 20160524 (WS) 20160525 (WS) | Exploring how we operate at night and our attitude to the dark Dr Janina Ramirez explores our relationship with, and attitudes to, darkness and the night. From the beginning of humanity when night was a time to sleep and hide from predators, over millennia the night and darkness has gathered a multitude of myths and cultural references all around the world and is something we can exploit, or something we might fear. Dr Janina Ramirez examines the human perspective of the dark, from night vision technology to Norwegian forest myths. Dr Ravindra Athale, of the Office of Naval Research in Arlington USA, an expert on night vision technology, who examines how nocturnal animals help high tech, and how our ability to see at night has affected the way we use the dark to conceal and surprise. Professor John Bowen from the University of York in the UK, an expert on Gothic literature and its roots. Erland Loe, the celebrated Norwegian author, who explores his own and fellow Norwegian’s response to long dark winter nights. Noam Elcott, Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art and Media at Columbia University in the USA who discusses the literal and metaphorical use of dark and night in film art and the dark room. (Photo: An artist's Illustration of a haunted forest. Credit: Shan Pillay) 

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| After Shock: The Lingering Legacy Of Civil War | 20110213 | | The Forum has travelled from London to the Galle Literary Festival at the Galle Fort on the South Western tip of Sri Lanka. The Forum takes a closer look at Sri Lanka as it emerges from the devastating civil war that lasted a quarter of a century and ended less than two years ago. Joining Bridget Kendall are three guests who all deal in different ways with the challenges that emerge once the guns have been silenced. Sunila Abeysekera, a leading human rights campaigner in Sri Lanka, who has grass roots experiences of what happens to communities during and after the war. Anjali Watson, a wildlife conservation researcher whose work focuses on the way humans interacts with their environment and in particular on the Sri Lankan leopard. And providing insights about the long term traces of war on people’s internal landscapes is award winning Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: The after effects of conflict - displaced people with psychological wounds in conflict or cooperating with the leopards of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka after the war – special discussion from the Galle Literary Festival The Forum takes a closer look at Sri Lanka as it emerges from the devastating civil war that lasted a quarter of a century and ended less than two years ago. Joining Bridget Kendall are three guests who all deal in different ways with the challenges that emerge once the guns have been silenced. |
| After Shock: The Lingering Legacy Of Civil War | 20110214 | | Sri Lanka after the war – special discussion from the Galle Literary Festival |
| Aftermath Of War And Marriage | 20120428 | 20120429 | Aftermath: when everything falls apart, how do you cope? How do you put a country and a people back together again after a traumatic conflict? And how do individuals come to terms with the end of a marriage? We hear from Somali Archaeologist Sada Mire who argues food and shelter are not the only basic need for war victims: so is cultural heritage. Former Canadian diplomat Scott Gilmore warns that tackling social breakdown in the aftermath of war is failing because international aid programmes are too ambitious. And writer and novelist Rachel Cusk compares war zones to the aftermath of her own broken marriage. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: what is the best way to respond to the broken pieces of the world, a country and a marriage. The Aftermath of war and of marriage. |
| Aftermath Of War And Marriage | 20120429 | | The Aftermath of war and of marriage. |
| Albert Camus: Embracing Life's Absurdity | 20190919 | 20190922 (WS) 20190923 (WS) | ‘There is no sun without shadows, and it is essential to know the night,’ the words of Albert Camus, a writer whose exploration of the absurd nature of the human condition made him a literary and intellectual icon. Camus was born in Algeria but is celebrated in France as one of its great twentieth-century novelists and philosophers. His first publishing success, The Stranger, focused on the absurdity of existence but in his later works, including The Plague and The Rebel, he developed his thoughts on the human instinct to revolt. But who was Albert Camus? How far were his ideas shaped by his Algerian upbringing and by the turbulent political times he lived through in the 1940s and '50s? Bridget Kendall explores these questions with three Camus experts: Nabil Boudraa, Algerian professor of French and Francophone Studies at Oregon State University, Eve Morisi, professor of French at Oxford University and Samantha Novello, research fellow in Political Philosophy at Verona University. (Photo: Albert Camus Credit: Kurt Hutton/Getty Images) The Stranger and other key works of Algeria's great humanist Albert Camus Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: Revealing The Gulag | 20181213 | 20181214 (WS) 20181216 (WS) 20181217 (WS) | The Russian author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was a towering literary figure whose novels, chronicles and essays have lifted the lid on the horrors of the Soviet gulag network, which over several decades incarcerated millions of often innocent prisoners. Born a hundred years ago, Solzhenitsyn survived the brutal conditions of a gulag in Kazakhstan and it was this harrowing experience that provided the impetus for his best-known works, starting with his novella, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich and culminating in The Gulag Archipelago, a multi-volume history of the Soviet forced labour camps from 1918 to 1956. Bridget Kendall is joined by two Solzhenitsyn scholars: Professor Daniel Mahoney from Assumption College in the United States and Dr. Elisa Kriza from Bamberg University; and by Professor Leona Toker of Hebrew University in Jerusalem, an expert on labour camp literature. Photo: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in Gulag clothing. (Apic/Getty Images) The Russian writer who exposed the grim, nightmarish world of Soviet forced labour camps Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Alexandre Dumas: The Man Behind The Musketeers | 20201203 | 20201204 (WS) 20201206 (WS) 20201207 (WS) | The word 'swashbuckling' is often used to describe the novels of Alexandre Dumas the Elder, the creator of D’Artagnan and the Three Musketeers, the Count of Monte Cristo and the Man in the Iron Mask. But Dumas himself led a life as colourful as many of his gallery of rogues, villains and heroes. Having grown up in poverty, he found employment in the household of a future king of France. He was prolific on the page and pretty active away from it. At first with a series of highly successful plays and then with serialised novels, his production house churned out hundreds of thousands of pages of gripping narrative. He had pet projects like building a mansion and theatre, he had countless mistresses and he frequently found himself in legal disputes and on the run from debt collectors. In the 150th anniversary year of Dumas’ death Rajan Datar explores the writer's life and work with Claudie Bernard, professor of French Literature, Thought and Culture at New York University; Daniel Desormeaux, professor of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore; Sylvain Ledda, professor of 19th Century Literature at Rouen University in France; and Anne O'Neil-Henry, associate professor of French and Francophone Studies at Georgetown University in Washington. [Image: Alexandre Dumas the Elder. Credit: The Print Collector/Getty Images] The adventurous life of the much-loved French novelist Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Alexandre Yersin And The Race To Fight The Plague | 20210107 | 20210108 (WS) 20210110 (WS) 20210111 (WS) | When Alexandre Yersin discovered one of the most lethal bacteria in human history, the tiny bacillus of the plague that over the centuries had killed tens of millions of people, he earned his place in the history books. Working in a straw hut in Hong Kong, armed with just a microscope, Yersin’s methodical mind worked out within just a few days where in human body to look for the plague bacteria. A much bigger and better-equipped Japanese team, competing with Yersin, came away empty-handed. So who was Alexandre Yersin? Why did this pioneering Swiss scientist spend most of his life in Vietnam? And why did it take decades fully to credit Yersin with the discovery of the microorganism that now bears his name, Yersinia pestis? These are some of the questions Bridget Kendall discusses with film director Stephane Kleeb, who made a documentary about Yersin; Professor Maxime Schwartz, medical historian and former director of the Pasteur Institute in France; and Dr. Mary Augusta Brazelton from Cambridge University whose research focuses on medical history of Asia. [Image: Alexandre Yersin in a sailor's uniform, c.1890. Credit: Pascal Deloche/Godong/Universal Images Group via Getty Images] The life and work of a pioneering Swiss microbiologist Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts When Alexandre Yersin discovered one of the most lethal bacteria in human history, the tiny bacillus of the plague that over the centuries had killed tens of millions of people, he earned his place in the history books. Working in a straw hut in Hong Kong, armed with just a microscope, Yersin’s methodical mind worked out within just a few days where in human body to look for the plague bacteria. A much bigger and better-equipped Japanese team who were competing with Yersin, came away empty-handed. So who was Alexandre Yersin? Why did this pioneering Swiss scientist spend most of his life in Vietnam? And why did it take decades fully to credit Yersin with the discovery of the microorganism that now bears his name, Yersinia pestis? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Aliens | 20140927 | 20140928 (WS) 20140929 (WS) | Why do some people believe in aliens and extra-terrestrials, and not others? What do you think about the possibility of extra- terrestrial life? Are we alone in the universe? And what do aliens reveal about us? Bridget Kendall asks ecologist Chris Thomas, science fiction writer Nnedi Okorafor, and psychologist Richard McNally to pool thoughts about what aliens mean to us. Illustration by Shan Pillay (Illustration: Artist impression of alien spaceship hovering over a city landscape. By Shan Pillay) Illustration by Shan Pillay |
| Amelia Earhart Ⓚ Trailblazer In The Skies | 20170508 | | The inspirational life of the USA’s celebrated female aviator. |
| Amelia Earhart: Trailblazer In The Skies | 20170506 | 20170508 (WS) 20170509 (WS) | This year is the 80th anniversary of the record-breaking attempt by the US aviator Amelia Earhart to circumnavigate the globe. It was a mission that cost her life, but helped to cement her place in history as one of the most inspirational and celebrated pilots of the 20th century. Bridget Kendall looks back at the life of a pioneering woman determined to break through barriers - with Susan Butler, author of ‘East to the Dawn: The Life of Amelia Earhart’; Dorothy Cochrane, Curator in the Aeronautics Division of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Washington; and Susan Ware, author of ‘Still Missing: Amelia Earhart and the Search for Modern Feminism’. Photo: Amelia Earhart in June 1928 (Getty Images) The inspirational life of the celebrated American aviator Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Anaesthesia: Unwrapping Oblivion | 20190307 | 20190308 (WS) 20190310 (WS) 20190311 (WS) | Millions of us around the world have undergone an anaesthetic, putting our trust in specialists who keep us alive while surgeons carry out complex operations. Huge advances have been made in this field in the last 150 years, thanks to the work of pioneering doctors, dentists and scientists who often risked their own lives to advance the possibilities of surgery and make anaesthetics safe. And yet in this twilight world of artificial sleep, there are many things experts still don’t understand about what is really happening in the brain and how our consciousness is affected. And what of the reports of patients waking during surgery? How credible are these stories and what can they tell us about memory, consciousness and human experience? Photo: A patient going under general anaesthesia. (BSIP/UIG via Getty Images) Getting under the skin of the discovery which made pain-free operations possible Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Andy Warhol: The Prince Of Pop Art | 20190815 | 20190818 (WS) 20190819 (WS) | "In the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes” is probably the best known quote attributed to Andy Warhol. Warhol was an American artist who became a superstar in the visual art movement known as Pop Art. He crossed the boundaries between art and celebrity becoming famous for what we now call branding, but the private Warhol was a deeply religious man and to his close relatives was known simply as ‘Uncle Andy’. In a world where some of what he predicted has come true, we look back at the life and work of this iconic figure. With Bridget Kendall to explore Andy Warhol are Eric Shiner the former Director of the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh USA and New York Director of London’s White Cube, Professor Jean Wainwright the British art historian and curator and a leading expert on Warhol and Andy Warhol’s nephew, the artist and illustrator James Warhola. (Photo: Andy Warhol. Credit: Ullstein Bild/Getty Images) Exploring the life and work of artist Andy Warhol Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts "In the future everybody will be world-famous for fifteen minutes” is probably the best known quote attributed to Andy Warhol. Warhol was an American artist who became a superstar in the visual art movement known as Pop Art. He crossed the boundaries between art and celebrity becoming famous for what we now call branding, but the private Warhol was a deeply religious man and to his close relatives was known simply as ‘Uncle Andy’. In a world where some of what he predicted has come true, we look back at the life and work of this iconic figure. (Photo: Andy Warhol. Credit: Ullstein Bild/Getty Images) |
| Anger | 20160213 | 20160215 (WS) 20160216 (WS) | Why do we get cross? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Anger | 20160215 | 20160216 (WS) | Why do we get cross? Feeling angry has always been an integral part of our nature, an instant response to being insulted, restrained or threatened. But is modern life making us angrier? And what goes on in our brain when we ‘snap’? Bridget Kendall talks to psychologist Raymond Chip Tafrate, historian of emotions Tiffany Watt Smith and neurobiologist R. Douglas Fields. Photo: Two angry people yell at each other (Credit: Corbis) 

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| Antigone: A Drama Of Defiance | 20190110 | 20190111 (WS) 20190113 (WS) 20190114 (WS) | The play Antigone by the Greek playwright Sophocles was written almost 2,500 years ago, but to this day it is believed to be the most performed play- anywhere in the world. It tells the story of Antigone, a girl who ends up challenging the power of the ruler of Thebes, in a devastating battle of wills that pits family duty against the law of the state. So why does this story of civil disobedience still speak to people, and how was it originally received by its very first audience in Ancient Athens in the 5th century BCE? Joining Rajan Datar to discuss Antigone and its later modern interpretations are the acclaimed actor, director and former Greek Culture Minister Lydia Koniordou, the theatre director Olivier Py who staged Antigone with male prisoners at this year’s Avignon Theatre Festival in France, the Syrian playwright Mohammad Al Attar who’s the author of a new adaptation of Antigone about Syrian women refugees, and Dr Rosie Wyles, Lecturer in Classical History at the University of Kent, and author of “Costume in Greek Tragedy”. Image: Antiogne and the body of Polynices (Artist: Lachmann. Credit: Print Collector/Getty Images) The classic play from Ancient Greece about civil disobedience Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Are We In Control? | 20111113 | | The unintended consequences of what we do, in economics, geo-engineering and on stage. How far can we control the outcomes of our actions? Economist Robert Frank says that competition is not always benign and that if we want to understand some of its negative results we should look to Charles Darwin for explanation. Soprano Claron McFadden discusses how far she can control audience reaction when she is performing on stage. And environmental scientist Peter Liss says we need a lot more data before we can decide whether pumping chemicals into the skies and oceans can really help solve global warming or just creates a new host of environmental problems. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: the monied hand of the individual controlling the life of the planet, to the sound of music. |
| Are We Losing The Ability To Focus? | 20150921 | 20150922 (WS) | In the age of perpetual distraction, are we losing the ability to focus? In the age of perpetual distraction, are we losing the ability to focus? Bridget Kendall is joined by three guests who have found a way to concentrate. David Hieatt is a Welsh denim jeans entrepreneur, his personal and professional maxim is “do one thing well ? Slovenian violinist Miha Pogacnik uses music to empower business leaders and Icelandic lawyer Ragnar Jonasson is also a writer, his latest novel “Snow Blind ? is a mystery set in a remote fishing village. Photo: A watchmaker examines a watch mechanism (Photo Credit: Getty Images) 

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| Are We Too Complacent About Social Mobility? | 20140322 | 20140323 (WS) 20140324 (WS) | Conventional wisdom has it that social mobility - ie how easy is it to move up or down the social ladder - has been accelerating in many countries. But in this week's Forum, Jo Fidgen hears some startling new research on how painfully slow that process really is, even in enlightened regions such as Scandinavia. Economic historian Gregory Clark has been finding out what your surname says about your chances of self-improvement. Sociologist Alan Bairner has been examining social mobility through sport: who gets to play at the top level, and what does that do to their social status? And economist Thomas Piketty has been analysing reams of data to find out why it's nearly always paid more to invest family money than to work. Photo of crown courtesy of Getty Images. 
Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Artemisia Gentileschi: The Painter Who Took On The Men | 20200326 | 20200327 (WS) 20200329 (WS) 20200330 (WS) | One of the most celebrated female painters of the 17th century, Artemisia Gentileschi was the first woman to become a member of the Academy of the Arts of Drawing in Florence. Through her talent and determination - and despite massive obstacles - she forged a 40-year career, and was collected by the likes of Charles I of England and Philip IV of Spain. But after her death, it wasn’t until the 20th century that people began to reinterpret her work in the light of her remarkable life story, including the well-documented fact that she was raped at the age of 17 by fellow painter, Agostino Tassi. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the life and work of Italian Baroque artist, Artemisia Gentileschi are four experts: Letizia Treves is curator of the 2020 Artemisia exhibition at London’s National Gallery; Mary Garrard is Professor Emerita of Art History at American University in Washington DC; Jesse Locker is Assistant Professor of Italian Renaissance & Baroque Art at Portland State University; and Patrizia Cavazzini is Research Fellow at the British School at Rome, Italy. Image: Self-Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria by Artemisia Gentileschi Credit: National Gallery, London The Italian Baroque artist who's become a hero for modern-day feminists Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Arthur Conan Doyle: The Man Behind Sherlock Holmes | 20170603 | 20170605 (WS) 20170606 (WS) | Since appearing in print in the late nineteenth century, Sherlock Holmes has become one of the world’s most famous detectives, known for solving crime and mystery in London and beyond. But who was the man that made this fictional super-sleuth? And what inspired him to write? Bridget Kendall explores the life and work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - the doctor and literary superstar who embraced both science and the spiritual world - and who changed crime fiction forever. She’s joined by biographer Andrew Lycett and the scholars Catherine Wynne and Stefan Lampadius. Photo: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Getty Images) The life of doctor and literary star Arthur Conan Doyle. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Arthur Conan Doyle: The Man Behind Sherlock Holmes | 20170605 | | The life of doctor and literary star Arthur Conan Doyle.Since appearing in print in the late nineteenth century, Sherlock Holmes has become one of the world’s most famous detectives, known for solving crime and mystery in London and beyond. But who was the man that made this fictional super-sleuth? And what inspired him to write? Bridget Kendall explores the life and work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - the doctor and literary superstar who embraced both science and the spiritual world - and who changed crime fiction forever. She’s joined by biographer Andrew Lycett and the scholars Catherine Wynne and Stefan Lampadius. Photo: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Getty Images) |
| Babylon, City Of Wonders | 20200604 | 20200607 (WS) 20200608 (WS) | From The Tower of Babel and the Hanging Gardens to why there are 60 minutes in an hour Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts With its Hanging Gardens and huge walls, Babylon was celebrated as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world; to the Israelites enslaved there under Nebuchadnezzar, it was a lasting emblem of oppression and depravity, where they wept as they remembered Zion. It is only in the last two hundred years that Babylon's fuller history has been unearthed, both the remains of its buildings and a huge number of clay tablets covered in writing, revealing a complex world that created epic stories, powerful people and an understanding of science and the stars, and it was their 60 based numbering system that led to our 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour. It has been called a cradle of civilisation. Bridget Kendall explores the reputation of Babylon and its contribution to the world with four experts: Frances Reynolds, Shillito Fellow in Assyriology at the Oriental Institute, University of Oxford; Grant Frame, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Pennsylvania and Curator of the Babylonian Section of Penn Museum; Daniel Schwemer, Chair of Ancient Oriental Studies at the University of Würzburg; and Jaafar Jotheri, Assistant Professor in Geoarchaeology at the University of Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq. (Image: Detail of the Ishtar gate, Babylon. Credit: Veronique Durruty/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) |
| Balance: How We Find Equilibrium | 20160423 | 20160425 (WS) 20160426 (WS) | Why balance in humans, machines and music are needed for effectiveness and safety Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Balance: How We Find Equilibrium | 20160425 | 20160426 (WS) 20160427 (WS) | Why balance in humans, machines and music are needed for effectiveness and safety Balance is essential. It stops us falling over or getting too cross and it stops machines failing catastrophically. There are also very fine balances present, more generally in nature and across the universe. But much of the World is not in exact and perpetual balance - it needs constant fine tuning. To help explore our latest understanding of balance in human beings, machines and music, Bridget Kendall talks to Patricia Kopatchinskaja, the distinguished Moldovan-Austrian violinist, who explores the internal balance need to play world class music; Jade Kindar-Martin, high wire artist and member of the Flying Wallendas who examines the fine tuning of mind and body needed to keep in balance on a high wire; Professor Andrew Heyes, head of Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, in Scotland who looks at the very fine balances needed to ensure machines work effectively and safely. (Photo: Acrobats form a human pyramid as they rehearse with Le Grand Cirque at the Sydney Opera House, 2009. Credit: Getty Images) 
Balance is essential. It stops us falling over or getting too cross and it stops machines failing catastrophically. There are also very fine balances present, more generally in nature and across the universe. But much of the World is not in exact and perpetual balance - it needs constant fine tuning. 
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| Balloons And How They Changed The World | 20160806 | 20160809 (WS) | The extraordinary impact of balloons on the human race. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Balloons And How They Changed The World | 20160808 | 20160809 (WS) 20160810 (WS) | The extraordinary impact of balloons on the human race. A small toy balloon floating free into the sky. A giant hot air balloon filled with passengers peering down at the ground. Classic images, but what about the huge balloons now being developed to help us explore outer space? Or the tiny balloons which bio engineers inflate inside your body to help blood surge through your veins? Or the extraordinary balloonomania that spread across Northern Europe in the late 18th century? Bridget Kendall explores the colourful history of the balloon and its even more intriguing future with guests: Debbie Fairbrother, Chief of NASA’s Balloon Programme Office. Professor Claudio Capelli, cardiovascular engineer from the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London. Fiona Stafford, Professor of literature from Somerville College, University of Oxford. Photo: NASA’s super pressure balloon is designed for long-duration flights at mid-latitudes to provide scientists and engineers with a means to inexpensively access the ’near-space’ environment for conducting research and technology test missions. The balloon’s operational float altitude is 110,000 feet (33.5 kilometers) (Credit: NASA/Bill Rodman) 

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| Beethoven: The Genius Rule Breaker | 20170304 | 20170306 (WS) 20170307 (WS) | Beethoven revolutionised music - how we listen to it and how we play it. Bridget Kendall explores Beethoven’s universal appeal and the anguished genius himself with Emeritus Professor of music and Beethoven expert Professor John Deathridge, musician and lecturer Dr Natasha Loges, Artistic Director of the Musical Society of Nigeria, (MUSON) and the NOK Ensemble, Nigeria's first professional chamber orchestra, Tunde Jegede and writer and composer Neil Brand. Image: Beethoven Credit: Rischgitz/Stringer/Getty Images Why Beethoven is so universally popular Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Beethoven: The Genius Rule Breaker | 20170306 | 20170307 (WS) | Why Beethoven is so universally popular Beethoven revolutionised music - how we listen to it and how we play it. Bridget Kendall explores Beethoven’s universal appeal and the anguished genius himself with Emeritus Professor of music and Beethoven expert Professor John Deathridge, musician and lecturer Dr Natasha Loges, Artistic Director of the Musical Society of Nigeria, (MUSON) and the NOK Ensemble, Nigeria's first professional chamber orchestra, Tunde Jegede and writer and composer Neil Brand. Image: Beethoven Credit: Rischgitz/Stringer/Getty Images 
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| Being Cold | 20151130 | 20151201 (WS) | How weather affects a nation’s character Does the experience of coping with bitter cold affect the way people think and feel? And what happens to culture and identity when climate begins to change? To explore these questions the Forum this week comes from Canada, one of the world’s most northern countries, with some 40 % of it in the Arctic. Joining Bridget Kendall are Nobel-nominated Inuit activist and former International Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Arctic spatial ecologist David Atkinson and “Ice Huts ? architectural photographer Richard Johnson. Recorded in the auditorium of the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, as part of the Spur Festival of Ideas. (Photo: Ice Hut #530 by Richard Johnson. Joussard, Lesser Slave Lake, Alberta, 2011) 
How weather affects a nation’s character |
| Bertha Von Suttner: A Champion Of Peace | 20200618 | 20200621 (WS) 20200622 (WS) | The writer who became the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Bertha von Suttner’s path to becoming a leading 19th-century pacifist and the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize was far from straightforward. The product of the aristocratic and militaristic world of 19th century Bohemia, as a young woman von Suttner eloped to the Caucasus and turned her hand to writing for a living. On her return to Europe she published an acclaimed anti-war novel, Lay Down Your Arms, a work that marked the start of her quest for disarmament. Her long friendship with Alfred Nobel finally bore fruit in the Swedish industrialist’s last will which included the Peace Prize. Bridget Kendall is joined by Dr. Barbara Burns, Reader in German at Glasgow University, and the editor of a new English edition of Lay Down Your Arms; Dr. Peter van den Dungen, former Lecturer in Peace Studies at the University of Bradford and until recently General Coordinator of the International Network of Museums for Peace; and musician Stefan Frankenberger, the author of an audio book called The Unknown Soldier, In memory of Bertha von Suttner. [Photo: Bertha von Suttner (nee Kinsky),c.1870 Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images] |
| Beyond Us And Them | 20130428 | 20130429 (WS) | with Aminatta Forna, Laura Nader and David Cannadine. with Aminatta Forna, Laura Nader and David Cannadine. Is it helpful to view the world as being divided along fault-lines of gender, class, race or religion? Matthew Taylor talks to anthropologist Laura Nader, who says we need to find new dialogues between the West and the Middle East that recognise our common humanity; historian David Cannadine who says that as well as studying conflict, we should explore our undivided past; and novelist Aminatta Forna, who examines the aftermath of civil war through her fiction; what about when ‘them’ also means ‘us’? Photo credit: JENS-ULRICH KOCH/AFP/Getty Images Is it helpful to view the world as being divided along fault-lines of gender, class, race or religion? Matthew Taylor talks to anthropologist Laura Nader, who says we need to find new dialogues between the West and the Middle East that recognise our common humanity; historian David Cannadine who says that as well as studying conflict, we should explore our undivided past; and novelist Aminatta Forna, who examines the aftermath of civil war through her fiction; what about when ‘them’ also means ‘us’? Photo credit: JENS-ULRICH KOCH/AFP/Getty Images |
| Big Data And Us | 20141110 | | Who can we trust in the world of Big Data and how is it changing our lives? From digital exahust to data-brokers, algorithms and data art, who and what can we believe in the world of Big Data? Bridget Kendall asks data researcher Adam Tanner, governance expert Sharath Srinivasan and designer Karin Von Ompteda to dive into the data lake. Photo: part of a honeycomb data-art installation: ‘Colony’ by David Hedberg and Gabriele Dini |
| Blood | 20140823 | 20140824 (WS) 20140825 (WS) | What do you see in a phial of blood? A life sustaining fluid teeming with millions of cells? Evidence to solve a terrible crime? Samira Ahmed explores blood in medicine, at crime scenes, and in our bodies and minds, with the help of Canadian writer Lawrence Hill who’s written a biography of the red stuff, Dr Gillian Leak, a forensic expert in crime scene blood pattern analysis, and Professor Kikkeri Naresh seeking to unlock the mysteries of blood cancer. Photo credit: Getty Images The life-giving fluid in science and in our culture 
What do you see in a phial of blood? A life sustaining fluid teeming with millions of cells? Evidence to solve a terrible crime? Samira Ahmed explores blood in medicine, at crime scenes, and in our bodies and minds, with the help of Canadian writer Lawrence Hill who’s written a biography of the red stuff, Dr Gillian Leak, a forensic expert in crime scene blood pattern analysis, and Professor Kikkeri Naresh seeking to unlock the mysteries of blood cancer. Photo credit: Getty Images |
| Boudica: Warrior Queen | 20180127 | 20180130 (WS) | Boudica, also known as Boadicea, was a member of Iron Age aristocracy in Roman-occupied England, and her husband was the ruler of the Iceni people. When he died in around 60AD, Boudica, driven by Roman brutality, led a rebellion against the Roman army and marched on London. It was a ferocious attack that nearly drove the Romans out of Britain before Boudica was finally defeated. Today, she is an iconic and sometimes controversial figure. To explore Boudica, Bridget Kendall is joined by Professors Richard Hingley and Miranda Aldhouse-Green and Dr Jane Webster. Photo: Queen Boudica of the Iceni (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) The Iron Age English warrior queen who led a rebellion against the Romans Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Brain Drain: Can We Stem The Flow? | 20160514 | 20160516 (WS) 20160517 (WS) | How can we stem the brain drain from countries who need their talented people? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Brain Drain: Can We Stem The Flow? | 20160516 | 20160517 (WS) 20160518 (WS) | The Forum is in Cape Town, South Africa, as guests of The British Council at the Going Global Conference. As globalisation enables the transit and relocation of people ever more quickly and easily, what impact is there on countries who desperately need to keep their skilled labour and what are the issues that need addressing? With Quentin Cooper to discuss the Brain Drain is professor Olusola Oyewole from Nigeria, Dr Jo Beall, from the British Council, professor Tao Xie from Beijing and Carolyn Medel-Anonuevo, from Unesco. (Photo: a human brain in a glass box. Credit: Getty Images) How can we stem the brain drain from countries who need their talented people? 

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| Bram Stoker's Dracula | 20170916 | 20170918 (WS) 20170919 (WS) | Few novels have had such a huge impact on modern popular culture as Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The story and its terrifying main character have fascinated readers, critics, writers and film-makers ever since it was first published in 1897. Across the world there are fan clubs devoted to the fictional Romanian aristocrat who brings terror to Victorian England. Bridget Kendall is joined by Dracula expert Dacre Stoker, gothic studies specialist Dr Sorcha Ní Fhlainn and Dr Sam George from the University of Hertfordshire in the UK. Photo: Actor Christopher Lee portraying Count Dracula. (Keystone/ Getty Images) Bridget Kendall and guests discuss the origins and the legacy of Bram Stoker's Dracula Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Bubbles | 20140809 | 20140810 (WS) 20140811 (WS) | The curious properties of bubbles in the oceans, in our bodies and in art. Fragile gas filled spheres, sparkling champagne globules that fill your nose with fizz, pipe dreams that pop when the illusion grows too big: the Forum explores the mysterious world of bubbles. Bridget Kendall is joined by bubble physicist Helen Czerski, biomedical engineer Constantin Coussios and artist Bradley Hart who makes giant paintings using bubble wrap. Photo credit: Associated Press 
Photo credit: Associated Press |
| Cali-topia: A New Vision Of Thomas More's Utopia? | 20161224 | 20161226 (WS) 20161227 (WS) | Is Silicon Valley a template for our utopian future? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Cali-topia: A New Vision Of Thomas More's Utopia? | 20161226 | 20161227 (WS) | Is Thomas More's vision of an ideal society becoming reality in modern-day California? The Forum travels to Singularity University at the heart of Silicon Valley to ask why California keeps attracting utopian thinkers who want to use advanced technology to solve humanity’s biggest challenges. Jack Stewart is joined by forecaster Paul Saffo, Chair of Future Studies at Singularity University, Ryan Mullenix, partner at NBBJ Architecture, Krista Donaldson, CEO of Silicon Valley healthcare start up D-Rev, and Colin Milburn, Chair in Science and the Humanities at University of California, Davis. Photo: NASA Hangar One at Moffett Field, California, Credit: Simon Dawson Is Silicon Valley a template for our utopian future? 
Photo: NASA Hangar One at Moffett Field, California, Credit: Simon Dawson |
| Calm In The Chaos: The Story Of The Stoics | 20181101 | 20181102 (WS) 20181104 (WS) 20181105 (WS) | Stoicism is a school of thought over two thousand years old that asked how to live "a good life" in an unpredictable world, and how to make the best of what is in our power, while accepting the rest as it happens naturally. It trumpeted the value of reason as man's most valuable Virtue, and offered a practical guide to remaining steadfast, strong and in control. This ancient Graeco-Roman philosophy had a broad influence that reached across time and disciplines: its Virtues inspired some of the same from Christianity in the Middle Ages, its belief in Reason spoke to the works of 18th Century German philosopher Immanuel Kant, and the relationship it drew between judgement and emotion went on to inspire the modern Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Movement. Bridget Kendall discusses this philosophy's key ideas and evolution, and explores what it is to live like a Stoic in the modern world with guests Massimo Pigliucci, Nancy Sherman and Donald Robertson. Photo: Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, 161-180, a practitioner of Stoicism. (Credit: Getty Images) A philosophy for resilience and equanimity Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Sharing knowledge This ancient Greco-Roman philosophy had a broad influence that reached across time and disciplines: its Virtues inspired some of the same from Christianity in the Middle Ages, its belief in Reason spoke to the works of 18th Century German philosopher Emmanuel Kant, and the relationship it drew between judgement and emotion went on to inspire the modern Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Movement. Photo: Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, 161-180, a practitioner of Stoicism. (Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images) |
| Calouste Gulbenkian: The Architect Of Middle East Oil | 20190228 | 20190301 (WS) 20190303 (WS) 20190304 (WS) | Today, the Istanbul-born Armenian financier Calouste Gulbenkian is mostly remembered as a great art collector and philanthropist; at his death in 1955 he was thought of as the world's richest man. But perhaps more than any of the above, he may have been the world's most tenacious negotiator: how else would he have held on - for decades - to the main source of his fabulous wealth, his minority share in major oil companies, despite their concerted effort to push him out? In the 150th year of Gulbenkian's birth, Rajan Datar follows Calouste's life and deal-making with his great grandson Martin Essayan; historian Dr. Jonathan Conlin, author of a new biography of Gulbenkian; and Professor of Business History Joost Jonker. Photo: Calouste Gulbenkian (credit: Arquivos Gulbenkian) The secretive Armenian financier who shaped petroleum production for decades Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Cambodia's Ancient Khmer Empire | 20181027 | 20181029 (WS) | Around the twelfth and thirteenth century CE Angkor was thought to be one of the world's biggest cities. Its massive temple complex at Angkor Wat covered hundreds of acres adorned with majestic towers, terraces and waterways: symbols of the might of the Khmer kings who ruled the region. Angkor Wat attracts millions of tourists every year and has pride of place on the Cambodian national flag but there's much more to Angkor and the Khmer civilisation than its temples. Bridget Kendall talks about Khmer history with David Chandler, Emeritus Professor of history at Monash University in Melbourne; architectural historian Dr. Swati Chemburkar from the Jnanapravaha Arts Centre in Mumbai; anthropologist Dr. Kyle Latinis from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore and former Dean of the University of Cambodia; and art historian Dr. Peter Sharrock from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.Photo: Angkor Wat temple complex. (SERENA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) Builders and sculptors of South East Asia's awe-inspiring monuments Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Sharing knowledge Photo: Angkor Wat temple complex. (SERENA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) |
| Carl Linnaeus: Naming Nature | 20170708 | 20170710 (WS) 20170711 (WS) | Carl Linnaeus, today a largely unknown figure, is one of the giants of natural science. He devised the formal two-part naming system we use to classify all life forms. With Quentin Cooper is botanist Dr Sandra Knapp, from the Natural History Museum in London, life sciences expert Professor Staffan Müller-Wille from Exeter University in the UK, and science writer and biographer of Linnaeus, Dr Lisbet Rausing. Photo: Carl Linnaeus painted by Per Krafft the Elder (Permission of The Linnean Society of London) The botanist who created a classification system to understand the natural world Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Carl Linnaeus: Naming Nature | 20170712 | | Naming things in the natural world.Carl Linnaeus, today a largely unknown figure, is one of the giants of natural science. He devised the formal two-part naming system we use to classify all life forms. With Quentin Cooper is botanist Dr Sandra Knapp, from the Natural History Museum in London, life sciences expert Professor Staffan Müller-Wille from Exeter University in the UK and science writer and biographer of Linnaeus, Dr Lisbet Rausing. Photo: Carl Linnaeus painted by Per Krafft the Elder (Permission of The Linnean Society of London) |
| Catherine The Great Of Russia | 20180519 | 20180522 (WS) | Famous for her lovers and satirised for her colourful personal life, Catherine the Great was in many ways one of Russia’s most progressive and moderate rulers, modernising 18th century Russia, improving educational standards and creating a flourishing arts and literature scene. But she also turned Russia into the biggest Empire on earth since the Roman Empire, which included the annexation of Crimea. So how far has her imperial mind set influenced Russia’s modern rulers, like President Putin? Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the life and legacy of Catherine II of Russia, is Professor Andrei Zorin, cultural historian and Chair of Russian at the University of Oxford, Simon Dixon, Professor of Russian History at University College London and author of the biography “Catherine the Great”’ and Dr Viktoria Ivleva, who specialises in Catherine’s role as a woman ruler and her use of uniform and costume. Photo: Equestrian Portrait of Catherine II. Oil on canvas by Vigilius Eriksen, Denmark. After 1762 (The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg) A woman and a foreigner who usurped her way to the throne in 18th century Russia Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Challenging Assumptions | 20140614 | 20140615 (WS) 20140616 (WS) | How easy is it to disregard conventional wisdom, for instance why customers stop buying, or staff leave? What about the assumed fears about globalisation or the perception of Scandinavians as gloomy. Samira Ahmed discusses challenging assumptions with Freakonomics author Steven Levitt, futurist Anne Lise Kjaer and Oxford Martin School director Ian Goldin. (Photo: A chimpanzee uses a stick to try and open a box. Credit: AFP/ Getty Images) 
Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Charlie Chaplin | 20181122 | 20181123 (WS) 20181125 (WS) 20181126 (WS) | For many people, Charlie Chaplin and the Tramp, a character he created at the start of his film career, are synonymous. This funny little man with a black moustache and a waddling gait, dressed in baggy trousers and a tight jacket, with oversized shoes and a small bowler hat, made millions of people laugh, turned Chaplin into a household name and - in his day - the highest paid entertainer in the world. But there was more to Chaplin than just a virtuoso physical comedian: he was a versatile actor, writer, musician and director. He carefully fine-tuned every aspect of his feature films, no matter how long it took or what the cost, making him - possibly - the only complete auteur in film history. He had an eye to posterity: even in the early days when films were thought of as disposable, he carefully preserved all his works. And he also had business acumen: with his brother Sydney he masterminded brilliant publicity campaigns, re-releases and lucrative deals. Bridget Kendall is joined by silent film historians Ellen Cheshire, Donna Kornhaber and Paul Duncan to explore Chaplin's world: the films that made him famous, the people who helped him become a star, and the hidden depths and contradictions behind the slapstick humour.Photo: Charlie Chaplin in the comedy film The Gold Rush (Bettmann/Getty Images) The life and work of early Hollywood's most successful comedian Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Chaucer, Father Of English Poetry | 20200716 | 20200719 (WS) 20200720 (WS) | Geoffrey Chaucer has been called the father of English poetry and the greatest poet in English before Shakespeare. He is best known for The Canterbury Tales, stories told by a band of pilgrims on their way from London to the shrine of Thomas Becket who was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral two centuries before. Chaucer’s was an age of plague, war and revolt and his pilgrims bring insight into the life and values of those tumultuous times, from the bawdy Miller and the earthy Wife of Bath to the corrupt Pardoner and the Knight whose chivalry was increasingly out of step with the times. Bridget Kendall explores the range of Chaucer’s world with Emily Steiner, Professor of English at University of Pennsylvania; Mary Flannery, Professor of Medieval English Studies at Bern University; and Anthony Bale, Professor of Medieval Studies at Birkbeck College, University of London. (Image: Portrait of Geoffrey Chaucer based on a 19th century engraving by James Thomson Credit: Stock Montage/Getty Images) The man who in the 14th Century made English a language fit for literature Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Chess: A Chequered History | 20190411 | 20190414 (WS) 20190415 (WS) | It’s been called the 'gymnasium of the mind', both mental exercise and a way to build self-esteem. Born some 1,500 years ago, the game of chess was one of the world’s first strategy board games, though little is still known about its origins. Was it first conceived to teach Indian army generals? Or devised to turn a tyrannical King into a virtuous ruler? Or was it a meditative diversion for Japanese monks? It’s easy to forget that the modern game of chess is only 500 years old – and that other ancient forms of Chess, like Xiangqi in China and Shogi in Japan, are much older, still evolving and still played today. Joining Bridget Kendall to explore the history of chess, are the chess historians Jean-Louis Cazaux and Rick Knowlton, the novelist Andrei Kurkov who’s followed the dramas of Russian chess through the ages, and the Grandmaster Jovanka Houska who’ll be challenging Bridget to a game of chess in the studio. Photo: Rick Knowlton's sculpted reproductions of the first confirmed chessmen ever discovered. The original pieces were found in Afrasiab, the ancient city of Samarkand (in present-day Uzbekistan) in 1977. They are dated at approximately AD 700. (Rick Knowlton) A war on the board - one of the oldest strategy games in the world Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Childhood: From Toddlers To Teenagers | 20170610 | 20170612 (WS) 20170613 (WS) | Why do humans have such a long period of immaturity? And how have our ideas about childhood changed through the ages and across the world? Bridget Kendall explores some of the key moments and figures in the history of childhood, including Confucian China, Victorian factories and the 'endless childhood' that some young people seem to be living today. Her guests are Alison Gopnik, Professor of Psychology and Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley; Ping-chen Hsiung Professor of History at the Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Hugh Cunningham Professor of Social History at the University of Kent.Photo: a young girl walks through an entrance to a walled garden (BBC) Through the ages and across the world, how have our ideas about childhood changed? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Childhood: From Toddlers To Teenagers | 20170614 | | Through the ages and across the world, how have our ideas about childhood changed?Why do humans have such a long period of immaturity? And how have our ideas about childhood changed through the ages and across the world? Bridget Kendall explores some of the key moments and figures in the history of childhood, including Confucian China, Victorian factories and the 'endless childhood' that some young people seem to be living today. Her guests are Alison Gopnik, Professor of Psychology and Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley; Ping-chen Hsiung Professor of History at the Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Hugh Cunningham Professor of Social History at the University of Kent. Photo: a young girl walks through an entrance to a walled garden (BBC) |
| Chinua Achebe: Rewriting The African Story | 20180203 | 20180206 (WS) | The Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe is regarded as a giant of world literature. Best known as the author of the ground-breaking novel Things Fall Apart, he was also acclaimed for his works of non-fiction, poetry and his books for children. Raised and educated when his country was still under British colonial rule, Achebe witnessed great change, experiencing both the dawn of an independent Nigeria and the devastation of civil war. He is a writer famed for depicting, in English, the traditions of Igbo society in south-eastern Nigeria, and for engaging with subjects such as conflict, corruption and colonialism. In this programme, Rajan Datar and guests reflect on the life and legacy of this academic, author and advocate of African fiction. Featuring scholars Louisa Egbunike, Ernest Emenyonu and Terri Ochiagha. Photo: Chinua Achebe (Getty Images) The life and work of the ground-breaking Nigerian author Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Christina Of Sweden: Queen Of Surprises | 20180728 | 20180731 (WS) | An accomplished young horsewoman who loved fencing and male attire, the 17th-century Swedish Queen Christina was anything but a conventional princess. And she kept springing surprises on her court and country: after just a decade on the throne she abdicated, converted to Catholicism and moved to Rome. Once there, she put herself forward as a candidate for the post of queen of Naples, opened a public theatre and scandalised the Holy See by a liaison with a cardinal. Bridget Kendall follows Christina's adventures with biographer Veronica Buckley, and historians Stefano Fogelberg Rota and Therese Sjovoll. Photo: Christina of Sweden by Jacob Heinrich Elbfas, 1640s The rebellious monarch who scandalised 17th-century Europe Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Cnut: England's Viking King | 20190613 | 20190616 (WS) 20190617 (WS) | King Cnut the Great started life as a young Viking warrior, but quickly became one of the most successful kings in Anglo-Saxon history, reigning over a huge empire covering England, Denmark and Norway in the early 11th century. For some, he was the perfect Christian king; for others, he was a ruthless warlord. Today in popular culture his name is associated with the tale of King Cnut and the waves - the legend of an arrogant king who believed he could stop the tide. Joining Bridget Kendall to disentangle the facts from legends about King Cnut are Else Roesdahl, Professor Emerita of Medieval Archaeology at the University of Århus, Denmark; Eleanor Parker, Lecturer in Medieval English Literature at Brasenose College, Oxford University, UK; and historian Timothy Bolton, author of the biography Cnut the Great. Image: An illustration where Cnut criticises his courtiers for believing that he could command the tide of the river. (Bettmann/Getty Images) King Cnut the Great ruled much of northern Europe a millennium ago Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts King Cnut the Great started life as a young Viking warrior, but quickly became one of the most successful kings in Anglo-Saxon history, reigning over a huge empire covering England, Denmark and Norway in the early 11th Century. For some, he was the perfect Christian king; for others, he was a ruthless warlord. Today in popular culture his name is associated with the tale of King Cnut and the waves - the legend of an arrogant king who believed he could stop the tide. Joining Bridget Kendall to disentangle the facts from legends about King Cnut are Else Roesdahl, professor emerita of Medieval Archaeology at the University of Århus, Denmark; Eleanor Parker, lecturer in Medieval English Literature at Brasenose College, Oxford University, UK; and historian Timothy Bolton, author of the biography Cnut the Great. (Image: An illustration where Cnut criticises his courtiers for believing that he could command the tide of the river. Credit: Bettmann/Getty Images) |
| Coal: A Burning Legacy | 20181115 | 20181116 (WS) 20181118 (WS) 20181119 (WS) | Coal is a commodity that’s often been considered dirty, old fashioned and cheap, a humble black stone that evokes images of soot covered workers. And yet this lump of energy became the essential fuel for industrialisation all over the world, transforming societies and launching empires. But this transformative power came at a cost, as well as bringing unprecedented wealth it also brought unprecedented pollution. So how are countries dealing with coal’s legacy, and will dependence on coal carry on into the future? Joining Rajan Datar is Dr Kenneth Mathu from Gibs, University of Pretoria in Johannesburg; Dr Shellen Xiao Wu, specialist on China and author of “Empires of Coal”; the American environmental lawyer Barbara Freese who’s written “Coal: A human history”, and Darran Cowd, the manager of Kent Mining museum in South East England. Photo: coal being loaded onto a truck at a mine in China. (MichelTroncy/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images) How coal created empires and wealth but also caused misery and unprecedented pollution Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Coco Chanel: French Style Icon | 20190808 | 20190811 (WS) 20190812 (WS) | “I didn’t like my life, so I created my life,” the French fashion designer, Coco Chanel declared. And what a life it was: from her humble beginnings in an orphanage, Chanel blazed a trail as a fiercely independent woman, rising to become the toast of French high society. She mixed with the artists who defined modernism in the 1920s and ‘30s, and created a fashion empire which today is a multi-billion dollar business that still dominates the luxury clothes and accessories market. The suit, the little black dress and the handbag are just some of the items Chanel shaped in a career which covered much of the 20th century. Luxurious and elegant, but also practical, her designs gave women freedom to move and pursue the kinds of activities which were now opening up as society’s barriers were being broken down. But the woman herself was a web of contradictions. While she contributed to the emancipation of rich women, she limited her workers’ rights. And controversially, she was involved with a Nazi officer in occupied France during World War II. She even tried to capitalise on Nazi laws to seize back her hugely profitable perfume business, having previously sold the majority shares to a Jewish family. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the complex life of Coco Chanel are dress historian Amy de la Haye, author of Chanel: Couture and Industry and professor at the London College of Fashion; fashion historian Emilie Hammen from the Institut Français de la Mode in Paris; and Madelief Hohé, curator of the fashion and costume department at the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague, and the author of Femmes Fatales: Strong Women in Fashion. Image: Coco Chanel Credit: Roger Viollet/Getty Images Exploring the rags to riches life story of the French fashion designer Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Comenius, A Pioneer Of Lifelong Learning | 20201105 | 20201106 (WS) 20201108 (WS) 20201109 (WS) | Teaching not by rote but through play? That's credited to the 17th-century Czech pastor and thinker called Jan Amos Comenius. Splitting schoolchildren up into year groups? That's Comenius. Universal education for all, rich and poor? That's down to him too. Nearly four centuries ago, Comenius came up with principles of modern education but they were only implemented hundreds of years after his death. That these ideas are now so widely accepted obscures the fact that they were ground-breaking - indeed too radical - in his day. Comenius lived through turbulent times: the devastating Thirty Year served as the backdrop to much of his life. He was suffered personal tragedy during the bitter battles between Protestants and Catholics in Europe and spent most of his adult life in exile. Joining Rajan Datar to analyse the contribution to modern thinking made by Comenius in this, the 350th anniversary year of his death are Dr. Vladimir Urbanek, Head of the Department of Comenius' Studies and Early Modern Intellectual History at the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague; Howard Hotson, Professor of Early Modern Intellectual History at Oxford University; and Dr. Yoanna Leek from the Faculty of Education Sciences at Lodz University in Poland. [Image: Portrait of Comenius by Jurgen Ovens, painted c. 1650 - 1670. Credit: Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images] The life and work of the father of modern education Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Concrete: Foundation Of The Modern World | 20161015 | 20161017 (WS) 20161018 (WS) | How concrete underpins the modern world Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Concrete: Foundation Of The Modern World | 20161017 | 20161019 (WS) | It has been around since before 6,000BC, the Ancient Egyptians used a version of it and so did the Romans. Nowadays it is the most common man-made building material in the world, used for some of the planets biggest engineering projects - and some of the smallest. It has not always been loved by the public but architects and designers see both practicality and beauty. There is also an environmental issue - the production of concrete has a major environmental impact. So what of its future? Bridget Kendall explores concrete with architect Anupama Kundoo, design critic and writer Stephen Bayley and engineer and scientist professor Paulo Monteiro. (Photo: The ceiling of the Pantheon in Rome is an example of Roman concrete construction. Credit: Getty Images) How concrete underpins the modern world. 
It has been around since before 6,000BC, the Ancient Egyptians used a version of it and so did the Romans. Nowadays it is the most common man-made building material in the world, used for some of the planets biggest engineering projects - and some of the smallest. It has not always been loved by the public but architects and designers see both practicality and beauty. There is also an environmental issue - the production of concrete has a major environmental impact. So what of its future? Bridget Kendall explores concrete with architect Anupama Kundoo, design critic and writer Stephen Bayley and engineer and scientist professor Paulo Monteiro. |
| Connections With The Sea | 20130126 | 20130127 (WS) | Exploring our connections with the sea; the goods that arrive by ever larger ships; the ideas that ocean travellers bring, and the identities that are shaped by proximity to the water. Bridget Kendall is joined by Marco Pluijm, a leading port designer; Croatian novelist and coast-dweller Dasa Drndic, and historian of the sea David Abulafia. Photo shows Hong Kong harbour Photo by Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty) Are all linked to the sea, even if we live hundreds of miles from the coast? 
Photo by Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty) |
| Consumption And Our Identity | 20160116 | 20160118 (WS) 20160119 (WS) | How what we consume shapes and defines our identity Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Consumption And Our Identity | 20160118 | 20160119 (WS) | What has been driving up the global levels of consumption – need? Government policies? Or, a hunger for social status? Bridget Kendall asks the historian of consumerism Frank Trentmann, the sociologist Lyla Mehta and the political scientist Eduardo Gómez to share their thoughts. (Photo: People consuming tapas) How what we consume shapes and defines our identity 

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| Controlling Our Health | 20120908 | 20120909 (WS) | Modern technology and medicine can treat conditions that were once thought to be incurable. In other ways though, are we any less vulnerable than in the past to disease and injury, both as individuals and societies? Bridget Kendall's guests this week bring personal as well as professional experience to the table: the award winning author MJ Hyland explains why she has gone public about her life with multiple sclerosis. Mark Harrison is a medical historian who has tracked the links between disease and commerce, and entrepreneur Frank Reynolds has devoted the last 20 years to developing treatments for his own spinal cord injury. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: the challenge of trying to control our own bodies. How much control do we really have over our bodies and health? Modern technology and medicine can treat conditions that were once thought to be incurable. In other ways though, are we any less vulnerable than in the past to disease and injury, both as individuals and societies? Bridget Kendall's guests this week bring personal as well as professional experience to the table: the award winning author MJ Hyland explains why she has gone public about her life with multiple sclerosis. Mark Harrison is a medical historian who has tracked the links between disease and commerce, and entrepreneur Frank Reynolds has devoted the last 20 years to developing treatments for his own spinal cord injury. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Cool: Sunglasses, Style And American Counter Culture | 20181006 | 20181009 (WS) | Exploring the elements of that seemingly effortless pose to which so many aspire Sharing knowledge We probably know ‘cool’ when we see it, but what lies behind it and where did it originate? Most scholars agree that cool is a mode of being, an attitude or aesthetic. Some argue it arose out of a West African mode of performance, and was later developed in jazz circles by African-American musicians. Cool served to hide one’s emotions and survive confrontation with any hostile external forces – namely racism. In post-World War Two America, cool took on a new meaning, especially when its ideas were translated to white popular culture. It symbolised an individual’s rebellion, and new icons of cool emerged (especially on the silver screen) onto which people projected their deepest desires and fears. Today cool is a commodity, taken up by global brands and in some ways divorced from its rebellious roots. Bridget Kendall is joined by three cultural historians to explore the multiple meanings and emergence of cool, including Joel Dinerstein from Tulane University in New Orleans, US, Claudia Springer from Framingham State University in Massachusetts, and Carol Tulloch from Chelsea College of Arts in London. (Photo: American jazz musician Miles Davis. Credit: Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images) |
| Cool: Sunglasses, Style And American Counter-culture | 20181006 | 20181009 (WS) | We probably know ‘cool’ when we see it, but what lies behind it and where did it originate? Most scholars agree that cool is a mode of being, an attitude or aesthetic. Some argue it arose out of a West African mode of performance, and was later developed in jazz circles by African-American musicians. Cool served to hide one’s emotions and survive confrontation with any hostile external forces – namely racism. In post-World War Two America, cool took on a new meaning, especially when its ideas were translated to white popular culture. It symbolised an individual’s rebellion, and new icons of cool emerged (especially on the silver screen) onto which people projected their deepest desires and fears. Today cool is a commodity, taken up by global brands and in some ways divorced from its rebellious roots. Bridget Kendall is joined by three cultural historians to explore the multiple meanings and emergence of cool, including Joel Dinerstein from Tulane University in New Orleans, US, Claudia Springer from Framingham State University in Massachusetts, and Carol Tulloch from Chelsea College of Arts in London. (Photo: American jazz musician Miles Davis. Credit: Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images) Exploring the elements of that seemingly effortless pose to which so many aspire Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Core: A Journey To The Centre Of The Earth | 20151109 | 20151110 (WS) | What lies at the heart of the universe and the core of the earth itself? How startling discoveries about the core of the earth and the oldest star yet known help us understand our place in the grand scheme of things. Tim Marlow and the astrophysicist Arif Babul, the astronomer Anna Frebel and the earth scientist Paul Savage go on a quest to find the core or centre. (Photo: a split Earth showing a molten core) 
How startling discoveries about the core of the earth and the oldest star yet known help us understand our place in the grand scheme of things. Tim Marlow and the astrophysicist Arif Babul, the astronomer Anna Frebel and the earth scientist Paul Savage go on a quest to find the core or centre. 
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| Cotton: A Yarn With A Twist | 20171216 | 20171219 (WS) | It is a fibre and a fabric that is part of many people's daily lives, it grows wild on at least three continents, it has been woven into cloth and traded all over the world for thousands of years. And when machines made possible the mass production of cotton, its story became entwined with the history of human slavery: making fortunes for a few, and condemning many to a life of misery. So what are the milestones in the history of cotton? And why has it always proved such a popular clothing material across the centuries and across the world? Bridget Kendall is joined by four textile historians to trace cotton's origins and its evolution into one of the world's most important global commodities: Sven Beckert, Professor of History at Harvard, Prasannan Parthasarathi, Professor of History at Boston College, Giorgio Riello, Professor of Global History and Culture at the University of Warwick and the President of the Textile Society Mary Schoeser. Photo: Cotton yarn (Getty Images) The chequered history of the original global fabric Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Curiosity: How Important Is It To Science And To Society As A Whole? | 20130602 | 20130603 (WS) | with Lee Smolin, Philip Ball and Masooda Bano. Curiosity has always been with us but it's not always easy to say what is the optimum amount in any given situation. Have the cosmologists lost sight of it in a dogmatic theory of the universe? Are there lessons in the scientific spirit of the 17th century? And when it comes to human beings and curiosity, does curiosity carry dangers for young people in changing societies? Joining Carrie Gracie are theoretical physicist Lee Smolin, science historian Philip Ball and social scientist Masooda Bano. (Photo by Al Barry/Three Lions/Getty Images) Curiosity has always been with us but it's not always easy to say what is the optimum amount in any given situation. Have the cosmologists lost sight of it in a dogmatic theory of the universe? Are there lessons in the scientific spirit of the 17th century? And when it comes to human beings and curiosity, does curiosity carry dangers for young people in changing societies? Joining Carrie Gracie are theoretical physicist Lee Smolin, science historian Philip Ball and social scientist Masooda Bano. (Photo by Al Barry/Three Lions/Getty Images) |
| Curves | 20150907 | 20150908 (WS) | in art, space and life An edition of The Forum dedicated to curves in art, in space and in life. Joining Quentin Cooper are social philosopher Charles Handy whose latest book The Second Curve suggests how some curved thinking could help point many of us in a new and better direction, artist Shirazeh Houshiary who uses curves extensively in her work and Carlo Rovelli, an expert on quantum loop gravity, author of Seven Brief Lessons in Physics, who tell us that space is curvy. Photo: The curves of a modern spiral staircase (Tim Allen) 
Curves in art, space and life An edition of The Forum dedicated to curves in art, in space and in life. 
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| Cyrano De Bergerac: Big-nosed Hero | 20191205 | 20191206 (WS) 20191208 (WS) 20191209 (WS) | Although the name conjures up the image of a swashbuckling poet with an enormous nose, little is known about the life of the maverick 17th-century writer and philosopher Cyrano de Bergerac. Born four centuries ago, he left behind a play, love letters and a handful of strange travelogues that imagine a journey to the moon. The sketchy details of his past were a blank canvas for the late 19th-century French playwright Edmond Rostand, who mythologised aspects of Cyrano’s life for his own ends. Immortalising Cyrano on stage, Rostand created a character whose heroism and generosity have resonated with audiences since the play’s premiere in 1897. Cyrano believes himself to be ugly and ridiculous on account of his large nose, and fears that in spite of his talent for romantic poetry he will never be able to win the heart of the woman he loves. Enter the good-looking but inarticulate Christian de Neuvillette, and together they devise the perfect hero whose identity is only revealed at the end of the play. Bridget Kendall explores the intersection between the real Cyrano and his fictional counterpart with Dr Clémence Caritté, who’s written extensively on Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac; Professor Isabelle Moreau from the University of Lyon, co-editor of Seventeenth Century Fiction: Text and Transmission; and Professor John Rodden who lectures in European history at the University of Texas at Austin, USA. (Main Image: Cyrano de Bergerac by the Comédie-Française, featuring Michel Vuillermoz as Cyrano, Paris, May, 2006. Photo credit: Raphael Gaillarde / Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images. The swashbuckling poet of a late 19th-century French play and his real-life inspiration Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Dante's Inferno: The Poetry Of Hell | 20180224 | 20180227 (WS) | Inferno is the 14th century epic that tells the story of Dante Alighieri’s imaginary journey through the underworld. It is the first part of Dante’s The Divine Comedy, and is widely considered to be one of the world’s greatest poems. “Abandon all hope you who enter here” is the famous phrase inscribed on the gates of Dante’s Inferno, and Hell is divided into nine circles, with cruel and unusual punishments afflicting the sinners, who range from the lustful and cowardly in the upper circles to the malicious at the bottom of Hell. Joining Rajan Datar to explore Dante’s Inferno is Dr Vittorio Montemaggi, author of Reading Dante’s Commedia as Theology; Claire Honess, Professor of Italian studies at the University of Leeds, and Sangjin Park, Professor of Italian at Busan University of Foreign studies in South Korea, who will be speaking about the role Inferno played in shaping Korea’s national identity. Photo: A visual interpretation of red hell-fire (Getty Images) The imagined poetic voyage through Hell that explores the meaning of human existence Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts The imagined poetic voyage through Hell that explores the meaning of human existence Inferno is the 14th century epic that tells the story of Dante Alighieri’s imaginary journey through the underworld. It is the first part of Dante’s The Divine Comedy, and is widely considered to be one of the world’s greatest poems. “Abandon all hope you who enter here” is the famous phrase inscribed on the gates of Dante’s Inferno, and Hell is divided into nine circles, with cruel and unusual punishments afflicting the sinners, who range from the lustful and cowardly in the upper circles to the malicious at the bottom of Hell. Joining Rajan Datar to explore Dante’s Inferno is Dr Vittorio Montemaggi, author of Reading Dante’s Commedia as Theology; Claire Honess, Professor of Italian studies at the University of Leeds, and Sangjin Park, Professor of Italian at Busan University of Foreign studies in South Korea, who will be speaking about the role Inferno played in shaping Korea’s national identity. Photo: A visual interpretation of red hell-fire (Getty Images) Inferno is the 14th century epic that tells the story of Dante Alighieri’s imaginary journey through the underworld. It is the first part of Dante’s The Divine Comedy, and is widely considered to be one of the world’s greatest poems. “Abandon all hope you who enter here ? is the famous phrase inscribed on the gates of Dante’s Inferno, and Hell is divided into nine circles, with cruel and unusual punishments afflicting the sinners, who range from the lustful and cowardly in the upper circles to the malicious at the bottom of Hell. Joining Rajan Datar to explore Dante’s Inferno is Dr Vittorio Montemaggi, author of Reading Dante’s Commedia as Theology; Claire Honess, Professor of Italian studies at the University of Leeds, and Sangjin Park, Professor of Italian at Busan University of Foreign studies in South Korea, who will be speaking about the role Inferno played in shaping Korea’s national identity. |
| Defiance: Why Are Some People More Defiant Than Others? | 20160702 | 20160704 (WS) 20160705 (WS) 20160706 (WS) | When is defiance a resistance to authority, and when is it a sign of disregard to others? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Acts of defiance small or large have proved to be incredibly powerful throughout history, but when does defiance spill into aggression? Bridget Kendall asks the employment lawyer Lewis Maltby, the theatre director Olivier Py and the psychopathologist Dr Luna Muñoz Centifanti. (Photo: Historic Marker at the bus stop in Alabama, USA, where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat. Credit: Getty Images) 
Acts of defiance small or large have proved to be incredibly powerful throughout history, but when does defiance spill into aggression? Bridget Kendall asks the employment lawyer Lewis Maltby, the theatre director Olivier Py and the psychopathologist Dr Luna Muñoz Centifanti. 
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| Democracy And The Arts In South Africa | 20140802 | 20140803 (WS) 20140804 (WS) | Twenty years on from the end of apartheid, what role can the arts play now in helping South African society develop? Recorded with an audience at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, Bridget Kendall talks to playwright Mike Van Graan, poet Phillippa Yaa de Villiers, arts journalist Percy Mabandu, and jazz singer Nomfundo Xaluva who performs live for us. (Photo: From left, Mike Van Graan, Phillippa Yaa de Villiers, Percy Mabandu and Nomfundo Xaluva. BBC copyright) The Forum at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. 
(Photo: From left, Mike Van Graan, Phillippa Yaa de Villiers, Percy Mabandu and Nomfundo Xaluva. BBC copyright) |
| Detroit: Migration, Motors And Music | 20171021 | 20171023 (WS) 20171024 (WS) | Bridget Kendall and guests examine the story of Detroit. Founded in 1701 by a French man named Cadillac, this American city became famous in the 20th Century for its automobile industry, the music of Motown, and the great unrest seen on the city’s streets in the summer of 1967. Bridget Kendall and guests discuss the city’s changing fortunes and its fascinating history, from the role played by some residents in the 'Underground Railroad’ of the 19th Century, to its recent experience of bankruptcy. Bridget is joined by Herb Boyd, Stephen Henderson, Thomas Sugrue and Anna Clark. Also featuring Tiya Miles and Carleton Gholz. (Photo: City of Detroit. Credit: AFP/Getty Images) The changing fortunes of the American city of Detroit Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Detroit: Migration, Motors And Music | 20171023 | | The changing fortunes of the American city of DetroitBridget Kendall and guests examine the story of Detroit. Founded in 1701 by a French man named Cadillac, this American city became famous in the 20th Century for its automobile industry, the music of Motown, and the great unrest seen on the city’s streets in the summer of 1967. Bridget Kendall and guests discuss the city’s changing fortunes and its fascinating history, from the role played by some residents in the 'Underground Railroad’ of the 19th Century, to its recent experience of bankruptcy. Bridget is joined by Herb Boyd, Stephen Henderson, Thomas Sugrue and Anna Clark. Also featuring Tiya Miles and Carleton Gholz. (Photo: City of Detroit. Credit: AFP/Getty Images) |
| Diaghilev And The Ballet Revolution | 20181129 | 20181130 (WS) 20181202 (WS) 20181203 (WS) | The Russian dance impresario Sergei Diaghilev transformed not only ballet, but all the arts in the 20th century. His ground-breaking Ballets Russes burst onto the scene in Paris in 1909 and replaced stuffy set pieces with shockingly vibrant performances that brought together scenery by artists Picasso and Matisse, costumes by Coco Chanel, avant-garde music by Stravinsky and Prokofiev, and a new style of movement from innovative dancers such as Nijinsky. The Ballet Russes became the world’s leading dance company for nearly quarter of a century, and its creative impulse still influences dance, music and art today. Bridget Kendall explores Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes with Lynn Garafola, Professor of Dance at Barnard College, Columbia University in the US; Jane Pritchard, Curator of Dance at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London; and the French dance writer Laura Cappelle. Photo: Portrait Of Sergei Dyagilev (Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images) The Russian impresario whose Ballet Russes company transformed 20th century dance Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Dido Of Carthage: A Love Story Gone Wrong | 20201029 | 20201030 (WS) 20201101 (WS) 20201102 (WS) | A Phoenician princess, who fled into exile to escape the cruel king of Tyre, sailed across the Mediterranean Sea to North Africa, where she founded the great city of Carthage in the ninth century BC. Well that is one story about Dido, or Elissa, as she is known in Lebanon and today's Tunisia. Another, from the Roman poet Virgil, puts her at the centre of a tragic love story: first entranced, then abandoned by the wandering Trojan hero Aeneas, Dido curses him and takes her own life. So who was the real Dido? Was she a powerful independent queen, or a victim - a spurned lover? And did she ever exist at all? Bridget Kendall is joined by Josephine Quinn, professor of Ancient History at Oxford University, and the author of the book In Search of the Phoenicians; Helene Sader, professor of Archaeology at the American University of Beirut, and the author of The History and Archaeology of Phoenicia; Roald Docter, professor of Archaeology at Ghent University and the editor of Carthage Studies; and Boutheina Maraoui Telmini, professor of Punic History and Archaeology at the University of Tunis. (Photo: A drawing of Dido and Aeneas hunting deer. Credit: Bettmann/Getty Images) What makes the legend of Dido so appealing to the arts and beyond? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Digital Shadows. | 20120324 | 20120325 20120325 (WS) | How much privacy is possible in a world which is increasingly digital? When you search the internet or pay with a credit card, do you ever wonder who might be snooping over your shoulder, mining the data about you that leaks out? Increasingly, computers and algorithms don’t need human intervention while monitoring and piecing together the secrets of our lives from the scraps of information which we unwittingly leave behind in cyberspace. So does this mean that privacy has become obsolete? Or are there either technological fixes or policy initiatives that can at least halt, if not reverse, the tide? Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss digital privacy are IBM Chief Scientist Jeff Jonas, Professor Nigel Shadbolt, UK government’s adviser on digital data, and ground-breaking electronic artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: Can we expect privacy in the digital age? When you search the internet or pay with a credit card, do you ever wonder who might be snooping over your shoulder, mining the data about you that leaks out? Increasingly, computers and algorithms don’t need human intervention while monitoring and piecing together the secrets of our lives from the scraps of information which we unwittingly leave behind in cyberspace. So does this mean that privacy has become obsolete? Or are there either technological fixes or policy initiatives that can at least halt, if not reverse, the tide? Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss digital privacy are IBM Chief Scientist Jeff Jonas, Professor Nigel Shadbolt, UK government’s adviser on digital data, and ground-breaking electronic artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. How much privacy is possible in a world which is increasingly digital? |
| Dna: The Code For Making Life | 20161105 | 20161107 (WS) | A close look at the remarkable set of building blocks which all cellular life shares Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Dna: The Code For Making Life | 20161107 | | Bridget Kendall and guests explore the current understanding of how DNA works, why it needs constant repair in every living organism and how new DNA-altering techniques can help cure some medical conditions. Joining Bridget are Swedish Nobel Laureate and Francis Crick Institute Emeritus Group Leader Tomas Lindahl who pioneered DNA repair studies, medical researcher Niels Geijsen from the Hubrecht Institute who works on curing diseases caused by faulty inherited genes, evolutionary biologist T Ryan Gregory from Guelph University who asks why an onion has 5 times as much DNA as a human, and Oxford University’s bio-archaeologist Greger Larson whose research suggests that dogs were independently domesticated twice, on different continents. Photo Credit: Thinkstock Photos A close look at the remarkable set of building blocks which all cellular life shares 
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| Do We Need Artificial Intelligence? | 20161022 | 20161024 (WS) 20161025 (WS) | How the relentless advance of computer logic is changing our world and the way we think Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Do You Know What You’re Eating? | 20160718 | 20160719 (WS) 20160720 (WS) | If you think of your favourite foods – chocolate, maybe, or samosas, or pizza – do you really know where all the ingredients came from? Bridget Kendall asks the food scientist Chris Elliott, the software designer Jérôme Malavoy and the food labelling expert Monique Raats. Photo: The food label on a box of brownies (Getty Images) How to ensure better food transparency: to track what we eat from farm to fork. 
If you think of your favourite foods – chocolate, maybe, or samosas, or pizza – do you really know where all the ingredients came from? Bridget Kendall asks the food scientist Chris Elliott, the software designer Jérôme Malavoy and the food labelling expert Monique Raats. 
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| Do You Know What You're Eating? | 20160716 | 20160718 (WS) 20160719 (WS) | How to ensure better food transparency: to track what we eat from farm to fork. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Does Finance Have To Be Invisible? | 20130519 | 20130520 (WS) | with Anat Admati, Zachary Formwalt and Felix Martin What would it take to fix, rather than just patch up, the underlying flaws in our banking system? Perhaps it’s time for some unorthodox approaches, viewing the problem through the lens of an artist, or re-thinking basic questions, for instance, what money actually is. Joining Bridget Kendall are artist and film-maker Zachary Formwalt, bond trader and economic historian Felix Martin, and Stanford University’s professor of Finance and Economics, Anat Admati. Photo: In Place of Capital, 2009, production still © Zachary Formwalt What would it take to fix, rather than just patch up, the underlying flaws in our banking system? Perhaps it’s time for some unorthodox approaches, viewing the problem through the lens of an artist, or re-thinking basic questions, for instance, what money actually is. Joining Bridget Kendall are artist and film-maker Zachary Formwalt, bond trader and economic historian Felix Martin, and Stanford University’s professor of Finance and Economics, Anat Admati. Photo: In Place of Capital, 2009, production still © Zachary Formwalt |
| Drones And Their Impact On The World | 20161112 | 20161114 (WS) 20161115 (WS) | The history, present and future of drones. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Drones And Their Impact On The World | 20161114 | 20161115 (WS) | The history, present and future of drones. Drones have been hailed as the most important technological development in aviation since the invention of the jet engine. They have changed the nature of modern warfare and they are also catalysing developments in fields as diverse as law enforcement, film production, disaster management, newsgathering and agriculture. The availability and prevalence of drones in everyday life is increasing and creating enormous challenges in the fields of ethics, law and regulation – not least managing the flight paths of a potentially enormous number of small planes. With Bridget Kendall to explore the history, present and future of drones are: Marke "Hoot" Gibson, the Federal Aviation Administration’s Senior Advisor on Unmanned Aerial Systems Integration. Sarah Kreps, Associate Professor of Government at Cornell University in the USA and an expert on the ethical, legal and political dimensions of drones. Michael Nautu who designs and builds drones for purposes ranging from agriculture and aerial mapping to “next-generation conservation ? in Namibia. Photo: A drone flying above the New York City skyline. (Getty Images) 
Marke ""Hoot"" Gibson, the Federal Aviation Administration’s Senior Advisor on Unmanned Aerial Systems Integration. Photo: A drone flying above the New York City skyline. (Getty Images) |
| Dust And Ash | 20130623 | 20130624 (WS) | In this week’s Forum Bridget Kendall and her guests discuss a substance which is everywhere. We can see it moving around, but we cannot stop its track. It’s in our houses and places of work as well as in the atmosphere. And although we try to avoid it, it can keep the planet a little cooler. We discuss dust and ash. Joining Bridget Kendall are: Japanese-American writer Katie Kitamura, whose latest novel was inspired by volcanic ash traveling across boundaries; Xenia Nikolskaya, a Russian photographer who has captured images of deserted palaces and mansions in Egypt that are covered in dust; and Professor Charlie Bristow, a sedimentologist from Birkbeck College at the University of London, who has worked in the dustiest place on earth - the Bodélé basin in the Sahara - and has been examining why dust travels the Atlantic to nourish the Amazon rainforest. Photo: Serageldin Palace, Cairo 2006 © Xenia Nikolskaya How dust helps to keep the planet cooler and nourishes the Amazon rainforest Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Edgar Allan Poe - Master Of Horror | 20180915 | | The dark, tumultuous life of America's great gothic writer Sharing knowledge Edgar Allan Poe is a 19th century American writer whose spine-chilling gothic tales have inspired generations of horror and mystery fiction writers. His poem ‘The Raven’, and short stories such as ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ and ‘The Pit and the Pendulum’ brought him international fame, and he is also thought to have invented the detective fiction genre with ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue’. But his tumultuous life was beset by personal tragedy, poverty and artistic struggle which seemed to echo many of the dark themes in his work. Bridget Kendall explores Poe’s life and extraordinary work with J. Gerald Kennedy, Boyd Professor of English at Louisiana State University; Diane Roberts, Professor of English and Creative Writing at Florida State University; and Paul Collins, Professor of English at Portland State University. Photo: Edgar Allan Poe (Corbis/Getty Images) |
| Edgar Allan Poe: Master Of Horror | 20180915 | 20180918 (WS) | Edgar Allan Poe is a 19th century American writer whose spine-chilling gothic tales have inspired generations of horror and mystery fiction writers. His poem ‘The Raven’, and short stories such as ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ and ‘The Pit and the Pendulum’ brought him international fame, and he is also thought to have invented the detective fiction genre with ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue’. But his tumultuous life was beset by personal tragedy, poverty and artistic struggle which seemed to echo many of the dark themes in his work. Bridget Kendall explores Poe’s life and extraordinary work with J. Gerald Kennedy, Boyd Professor of English at Louisiana State University; Diane Roberts, Professor of English and Creative Writing at Florida State University; and Paul Collins, Professor of English at Portland State University. Photo: Edgar Allan Poe (Corbis/Getty Images) The dark, tumultuous life of America's great gothic writer Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Einstein: Revolution In Time And Space | 20190829 | 20190901 (WS) 20190902 (WS) | Albert Einstein’s inability to get a job on graduating has given hope to generations of students. Knowing what we know now about the genius scientist, it’s hard to avoid smiling on reading his father’s pleas to physics professors to give his son an academic post. Perhaps it was just as well that these attempts failed, as the job Einstein eventually secured gave him the opportunity to daydream. Assessing new inventions at the Swiss capital’s patent office, Einstein allowed his imagination to run riot, creating ‘thought experiments’ that questioned centuries of knowledge about time, space and motion. In 1905 he published a series of papers that scientists today still use as a reference point. While Einstein himself didn’t foresee the technological application of his work, his research has since been used as the basis of modern inventions such as the atomic bomb, lasers, solar panels and GPS. Neither did he realise immediately the potential of his theories to help us understand the beginning of the universe. Rajan Datar explores the complexity of Einstein’s theories as well as what made him tick, with expert guests Janna Levin, professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College, Columbia University, USA; science historian Jimena Canales, author of The Physicist and the Philosopher: Einstein, Bergson and the Debate that changed our understanding of Time; and Matthew Stanley, professor of the history of science at New York University whose book Einstein’s War: How Relativity Conquered Nationalism and Shook the World was published in 2019. (Image: Portrait of German-born physicist Albert Einstein on his 75th birthday. Photo by American Stock/Getty Images) How one man defined the role of science and scientists in the modern age Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Eleanor Roosevelt: Redefining The First Lady | 20191219 | 20191220 (WS) 20191222 (WS) 20191223 (WS) | A First Lady who broke the mould: Eleanor Roosevelt was not just a hostess at her husband’s side, but a spokeswoman for the disadvantaged, a journalist, and an early civil rights campaigner, who placed herself at the heart of American politics, acting as a prominent adviser and representative for her husband, Franklin Roosevelt, the longest-serving president of the United States. But she was also in office in ‘no ordinary time’ as she put it – a period which encompassed the challenges of the Great Depression and World War Two. So who was Eleanor Roosevelt? What shaped her? How transformative was she? And how should we assess her legacy? Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss how Eleanor Roosevelt transformed the office of First Lady are Blanche Wiesen Cook, Professor of History at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York and author of a seminal three-volume biography of Eleanor Roosevelt; Maurine Beasley, former Professor of Journalism History at the University of Maryland; and Amy Bloom, Professor of Creative Writing at Wesleyan University and author of White Houses, a novel which explores a secret love affair in the Roosevelt White House. (Photo: Eleanor Roosevelt Credit: BBC) How the wife of US President Franklin Roosevelt became a powerful political operator Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts A First Lady who broke the mould: Eleanor Roosevelt was not just a hostess at her husband’s side, but a spokeswoman for the disadvantaged, a journalist, and an early civil rights campaigner, who placed herself at the heart of American politics, acting as a prominent adviser and representative for her husband, Franklin Roosevelt, the longest-serving president of the United States. But she was also in office in ‘no ordinary time’ as she put it – a period which encompassed the challenges of the Great Depression and the Second World War. So who was Eleanor Roosevelt? What shaped her? How transformative was she? And how should we assess her legacy? Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss how Eleanor Roosevelt transformed the office of First Lady are Blanche Wiesen Cook, Professor of History at City University of New York and author of a seminal three-volume biography of Eleanor Roosevelt; Maurine Beasley, former Professor of Journalism History at the University of Maryland; and Amy Bloom, Professor of Creative Writing at Wesleyan University and author of White Houses, a novel which explores a secret love affair in the Roosevelt White House. How the wife of an American President became a powerful political operator |
| Electric Telegraph: The First Worldwide Web | 20191003 | 20191006 (WS) 20191007 (WS) | The invention of the electric telegraph in the mid-19th century brought about a revolution in human communication that some argue rivals the printing press and the internet. Suddenly the ‘tyranny of distance’ could be overcome – messages that once might have taken days or even weeks to arrive could be sent almost instantly using Morse code signals. Soon wires reached across continents and under oceans, connecting the world as never before, and radically changing areas such as commerce, diplomacy, journalism and warfare forever. Bridget Kendall discusses the telegraph’s extraordinary impact with Roland Wenzlhuemer, Professor of Modern History at the University of Munich; Bruce J Hunt, Professor of History at the University of Texas; and Gillian Cookson, Historian of Engineering and Research Fellow at the University of Leeds. Photo: Old-fashioned telegraph pole in Rhineland, Germany Credit: bibi57/GettyImages The Morse code messaging network that changed the world forever Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Electricity | 20120818 | 20120819 (WS) | We explore how electricity and our bodies make the world go round. The recent power cuts in India were a reminder of how dependent the world has become on electricity. But electricity flows not just through our machines but round our bodies and in our music. On the Forum this week we are exploring electricity through all its shapes. How can the world make sure it keeps the lights on? What are the implications of seeing our own bodies as individual power grids? And how can electricity allow us to make completely new kinds of music? Some of the questions we will be debating with Dan Yergin one of the world’s leading authorities on energy; pioneering physiologist Francis Ashcroft; and cutting edge sound artist Miha Ciglar. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: the power of musical electricity. The recent power cuts in India were a reminder of how dependent the world has become on electricity. But electricity flows not just through our machines but round our bodies and in our music. On the Forum this week we are exploring electricity through all its shapes. How can the world make sure it keeps the lights on? What are the implications of seeing our own bodies as individual power grids? And how can electricity allow us to make completely new kinds of music? Some of the questions we will be debating with Dan Yergin one of the world’s leading authorities on energy; pioneering physiologist Francis Ashcroft; and cutting edge sound artist Miha Ciglar. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Eleusinian Mysteries: Secret Ceremonies And The Promise Of Happiness | 20210128 | 20210129 (WS) 20210131 (WS) 20210201 (WS) | In ancient Greece, thousands of people flocked each year to join the religious rites, known as the Eleusinian Mysteries. Based on the cult of the Greek goddess of fertility Demeter and her daughter Persephone, the Mysteries were for many a profoundly moving and life-changing experience. These rites went on for at least eight hundred years and remained a highlight of the Athenian calendar throughout that time. But what really went on in the great hall of the sanctuary at Eleusis? Why did the organisers deem it necessary to issue a strict injunction against divulging what actually took place - and what happened to some of those who broke that rule? These are some of the questions Bridget Kendall discusses with Christy Constantakopoulou, professor in ancient history and classics at Birkbeck College, London; Esther Eidinow, professor of ancient history at Bristol University; Dr. Philippe Michel Matthey who lectures about ancient religions at Geneva University; and Dr. Julietta Steinhauer, a lecturer in Hellenistic history at University College, London. [Image: Detail from a vessel showing a scene of the Eleusis cult with Triptolemus in a winged chariot and Demeter, c.460 BC. Credit DeAgostini/Getty Images] The enigma at the centre of religion in ancient Greece Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Eleusinian Mysteries: Secret Ceremonies Promising Happiness | 20210128 | 20210129 (WS) 20210131 (WS) 20210201 (WS) | In ancient Greece, thousands of people flocked each year to join the religious rites known as the Eleusinian Mysteries. Based on the cult of the goddess of fertility Demeter and her daughter Persephone, the Mysteries were for many a profoundly moving and life-changing experience. People from all over the Greek world and beyond travelled to Eleusis for at least 800 years and the ceremonies remained a highlight of the Athenian calendar throughout that time. But what really went on in the great hall of the sanctuary at Eleusis? Why did the organisers deem it necessary to issue a strict injunction against divulging what actually took place - and what happened to some of those who broke that rule? These are some of the questions Bridget Kendall discusses with Christy Constantakopoulou, professor in ancient history and classics at Birkbeck College, London; Esther Eidinow, professor of ancient history at Bristol University; Dr. Philippe Michel Matthey who lectures about ancient religions at Geneva University; and Dr. Julietta Steinhauer, a lecturer in Hellenistic history at University College, London. [Image: Detail from a vessel showing a scene of the Eleusis cult with Triptolemus in a winged chariot and Demeter, c.460 BC. Credit DeAgostini/Getty Images] The enigma at the centre of ancient Greek religion Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Elizabeth Fry: 'the Angel Of Prisons' | 20201001 | 20201004 (WS) 20201005 (WS) | Life behind bars in English prisons in the early nineteenth century was, to put it mildly, grim. Prisons at the time were often damp, dirty and over-crowded. Common punishments included shipping convicts to colonies like Australia - and many crimes carried the death penalty. And the poor suffered most of all, because they couldn’t buy privileges like extra food rations. Into all this walked a woman known as the "angel of prisons", Elizabeth Fry. She was one of the major driving forces behind a new way of thinking about prisons – one that stressed that improving conditions for prisoners and treating them with humanity would lead to better outcomes and lower re-offending rates. A Christian philanthropist from a large Quaker family, her ideas were taken up across much of Europe, and she became something of a celebrity in Victorian England. Joining Rajan Datar to discuss her work and legacy are: Averil Douglas Opperman, author of a biography of Elizabeth Fry called 'While It Is Yet Day'; Criminal barrister, Harry Potter, author of 'Shades of the Prison House – A History of Incarceration in the British Isles'; And Rosalind Crone, historian and author of 'The Guide to the Criminal Prisons of Nineteenth-Century England'. Produced by Jo Impey for the World Service. Image: Painting by Jerry Barrett depicting Elizabeth Fry reading to prisoners at Newgate, 1816 Image credit: Henry Guttmann / Hulton Archive / Getty Images How a nineteenth century Quaker philanthropist shook up the prison system Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Emilie Du Chatelet: A Free-spirited Physicist | 20200227 | 20200228 (WS) 20200301 (WS) 20200302 (WS) | Emilie du Chatelet was esteemed in 18th-century France as a brilliant physicist, mathematician, thinker and linguist whose pioneering ideas and formidable translations were known all across Europe. And yet, after her death in childbirth in her mid-40s she was nearly forgotten, and if she was remembered at all, then as a companion and collaborator of the famous writer Voltaire. Du Chatelet’s insights into kinetic energy foreshadowed Einstein’s famous equation and her suggestions for experiments with the different colours of light would only be carried out half-a-century after she’d written about them. Plus she was a remarkable personality, determined to live a life of an independent woman, often pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable even in the liberal social circles of her day. Bridget Kendall discusses du Chatelet’s life and work with history professor Judith Zinsser, Chatelet’s biographer David Bodanis and philosophy professor Ruth Hagengruber. Painting: Gabrielle Emilie de Breteuil (1706 -1749), marchioness of Le Chatelet by Marianne Loir. (Photo by Raphael Gaillarde/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images) The life and work of a remarkable 18th-century polymath Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Empress Nur Jahan: Leader Of The Mughals | 20180811 | 20180814 (WS) | Empress Nur Jahan was the most powerful woman in 17th century India, wielding an unparalleled control over the Mughal Empire. Born as Mehr-un-Nissa, she came from a wealthy Iranian family who came to India and made their way up the imperial court. After the death of her first husband, a Persian soldier, she became the twentieth and final wife of Mughal Emperor Jahangir and her rise to the top really began. Often sitting beside her husband in court, she controlled trade routes, designed gardens and mausoleums, was said to be a skilled hunter and was the only Mughal Empress to have coins minted in her own name. Joining Rajan Datar to explore the life of Empress Nur Jahan is Ruby Lal, professor of South Asian Studies at Emory University and author of 'Empress: The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan'; Mehreen Chida-Razvi, Research Associate in the Department of Art History at SOAS, University of London; and Shivangini Tandon, Assistant Professor at the Department of Women's Studies, Aligarh Muslim University, India. Photo: a detail from the painting Jahangir and Prince Khurram with Nur Jahan, c1624-1625 (Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images) The woman who wielded unparalleled power over the Mughal Empire in 17th century India Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Endurance | 20120721 | 20120722 20120722 (WS) | Why some athletes, plants and stars keep going for much longer than others. Why is it that so many long distance runners are from Kenya? Is it genetics that leads to the high performance we can expect to see in the London Olympics? Or maybe the stamina of the world's best athletes is above all about their mental attitude, the ability to deliver excellence, no matter what? Just some of the aspects of endurance we are exploring on the Forum this week with high-performance anthropologist Rasmus Ankersen. Also on the programme, award winning photographer Rachel Sussman takes us hunting for the longest living organisms on Earth. And endurance that dwarfs anything found on our planet: the mind boggling staying power of the stars in the sky. The UK's Public Astronomer Marek Kukula is our cosmic guide. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: the race to endure for sports people, stars and other forms of life. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Enemies, Or Rivals? Why The Distinction Matters. | 20121103 | 20121104 (WS) | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Expansion And Growth | 20151116 | 20151117 (WS) | How expansion and growth affects us in geopolitics, using China as an example, in space, as we increasingly understand how the universe is expanding and in our own bodies, as we discover more about how our cells replicate and change and how we can manufacture them for ourselves. Rajan Datar is joined by Professor Carlos Frenk from Durham University in the UK, a World renowned computational cosmologist who shares his thinking on the latest research about the infinite expansion of the universe. By Jeanne- Marie Gescher, an expert on China, who explores why she thinks the West’s focus on the economy is missing the point. China is indeed embarked on some ambitious economic reform - but it is underpinned by something even more ambitious: that the state will be able to choreograph the market. The top-down state is at the heart of everything, as it has been for thousands of years. And by Dr Robert Lanza, the Chief Scientific Officer at Ocata Therapeutics in the USA and Adjunct Professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Robert’s current research focuses on stem cells and regenerative medicine and their potential to provide therapies for some of the world’s most deadly and debilitating conditions. Photo: an artist's impression of cells expanding (illustration by Shan Pillay) Exploring ideas about expansion and growth 

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| Extrapolation | 20140517 | 20140518 (WS) 20140519 (WS) | The dangers and advantages of using what we know to explain what we don’t know Extrapolation in mathematics means extending the implications of a model beyond the range in which it was derived. In other words, using what we know to make educated guesses about what we don’t. But does extrapolation works so well when applied to the real world? Can mathematical models really indicate when the next ice age might come? Does genetic testing reliably tell us who our ancestors were? And when we sieve through fragments of history, can we ever escape the assumptions which colour what we will think? Joining Bridget Kendall to explore extrapolation are anthropologist Kim Tallbear who is a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate from South Dakota in the US; Ian Stewart Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Warwick University in the UK and Joan Breton Connelly, classical archaeologist and Professor of Classics and Art History at New York University in the US. Image by Roger Harris/ Science Photo Library. 
Extrapolation in mathematics means extending the implications of a model beyond the range in which it was derived. In other words, using what we know to make educated guesses about what we don’t. But does extrapolation works so well when applied to the real world? Can mathematical models really indicate when the next ice age might come? Does genetic testing reliably tell us who our ancestors were? And when we sieve through fragments of history, can we ever escape the assumptions which colour what we will think? Joining Bridget Kendall to explore extrapolation are anthropologist Kim Tallbear who is a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate from South Dakota in the US; Ian Stewart Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Warwick University in the UK and Joan Breton Connelly, classical archaeologist and Professor of Classics and Art History at New York University in the US. Image by Roger Harris/ Science Photo Library. |
| Fado: Portuguese Soul Music | 20190502 | 20190505 (WS) 20190506 (WS) | In its 200-year lifetime the Portuguese song known as fado has been intertwined with the country's politics. At first it was an expression of the woes of Lisbon's underclass, which perhaps explains its predominantly melancholy character. In the early 20th century when a military coup brought the fascist regime of António Salazar to power, fado was accused of being degenerate music and government officials censored its lyrics. However, as the dictatorship's grip on the country tightened over a 50-year period, fado flourished, and the regime saw its potential as a tourism marketing tool. When democracy was restored in the 1970s, fado began a decline because of its perceived links to the former far-right regime. As those associations have faded with time, fado is now enjoying a renaissance. The music's found favour with a new generation of singers who are taking this nostalgic, yearning song to a global audience. Rajan Datar investigates the ups and downs of fado, its history, legends and mystique, with guests historian Rui Vieira Nery, ethnomusicologist Lila Ellen Gray and editor-in-chief of Songlines magazine, Simon Broughton. Photo: Portuguese singer Amalia Rodrigues on stage in 1987 (Jacques Demarthon/Getty Images) Nostalgic song from Portugal, a small country with a big heart Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Famous Hats In History | 20201231 | 20210103 (WS) 20210104 (WS) | There have been so many, probably hundreds, different styles and types of hat in history that a question inevitably arises: why? Why did something that began as a simple protection against inclement weather take on such varied forms and social meanings? Bridget Kendall and guests explore not just how hats were made, and by whom, but also how their function has evolved over centuries and across cultures. By focusing on just five distinct hat types, they sketch out a brief social history of headwear. Bridget is joined by Dr. Drake Stutesman, an adjunct professor at New York University, and the author of the book Hat: Origins, Language, Style; Dr. Ulinka Rublack, professor of Early Modern European History at Cambridge University with a particular interest in Renaissance fashion; and Dr. Kirill Babaev, a cultural anthropologist and writer from the Russian Academy of Sciences and founder of the World of Hat museum in Riga, Latvia. [Image: Model Carre Otis wearing a wide-brimmed black straw hat with a print of lemons on the underside. Credit: Arthur Elgort/Conde Nast via Getty Images] The uses and meanings of headwear from prehistory to today Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts There have been so many, probably hundreds, different styles and types of hat in history that a question inevitably arises: why? Why did something that began as a simple protection against inclement weather take on such varied forms and social meanings? Bridget Kendall and guests explore not just how hats were made, and by whom, but also how their function has evolved over centuries and across cultures. By focusing on just five distinct hat types, they sketch out a brief social history of headwear. There have been so many, probably hundreds, different styles and types of hat in history that a question inevitably arises: why? Why did something that began as a simple protection against inclement weather take on such varied forms and social meanings? Bridget Kendall and guests explore not just how hats were made, and by whom, but also how their function has evolved over centuries and across cultures. By focusing on just five distinct hat types, they sketch out a brief social history of headwear. |
| Fear | 20131020 | 20131021 (WS) | How do humans and animals cope with one of the strongest emotions: fear Heart racing, palms sweating, skin prickling are some of the things we experience when we feel frightened. So how do humans cope with one of our strongest emotions - fear? Carrie Gracie takes an unflinching examination of fear with René Hurlemann, Lucy Bolton and Liana Zanette. Canadian biologist Liana Zanette explains breakthrough research on how intimidation changes the ecosystem. German neuroscientist René Hurlemann tells the story of very rare individuals who go through life without feeling fear. And horror film expert Lucy Bolton asks what scares us in the cinema, and why we deliberately seek to be made afraid. Photo: A man holding a child's hand in a dark tunnel, Credit: Jay Directo/AFP/Getty Images Canadian biologist Liana Zanette explains breakthrough research on how intimidation changes the ecosystem. German neuroscientist René Hurlemann tells the story of very rare individuals who go through life without feeling fear. And horror film expert Lucy Bolton asks what scares us in the cinema, and why we deliberately seek to be made afraid. Photo: A man holding a child's hand in a dark tunnel, Credit: Jay Directo/AFP/Getty Images |
| Fela Kuti: King Of Afrobeat | 20161231 | 20170102 (WS) 20170103 (WS) | The life and legacy of Fela Kuti, Nigeria's maverick musical pioneer Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Nigerian Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti was a maverick performer, a musical pioneer, and is a continuing inspiration across the world. But he was also a thorn in the side of the Nigeria’s successive military governments and a fearless activist for social justice. Twenty years after his death, Peter Okwoche is joined by three people who all had personal experience of Fela Kuti, to discuss his complex and extraordinary life, musical legacy, and revolutionary political ideals - Dele Sosimi is a former member of Fela Kuti's band and now an acclaimed Afrobeat musician; Carlos Moore wrote the only authorised biography of Fela Kuti, Fela: This Bitch of a Life; and Jahman Anikulapo is a Nigerian arts journalist who followed Fela's career closely. Photo: Fela Kuti, 1986, Credit: Associated Press |
| Fela Kuti: King Of Afrobeat | 20170102 | 20170103 (WS) | The life and legacy of Fela Kuti, Nigeria’s maverick musical pioneer Nigerian Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti was a maverick performer, a musical pioneer, and is a continuing inspiration across the world. But he was also a thorn in the side of the Nigeria’s successive military governments and a fearless activist for social justice. Twenty years after his death, Peter Okwoche is joined by three people who all had personal experience of Fela Kuti, to discuss his complex and extraordinary life, musical legacy, and revolutionary political ideals - Dele Sosimi is a former member of Fela Kuti's band and now an acclaimed Afrobeat musician; Carlos Moore wrote the only authorised biography of Fela Kuti, Fela: This Bitch of a Life; and Jahman Anikulapo is a Nigerian arts journalist who followed Fela's career closely. Photo: Fela Kuti, 1986, Credit: Associated Press 
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| Fermentation: Ancient Food Alchemy | 20181227 | 20181228 (WS) 20181230 (WS) 20181231 (WS) | Whether it’s kimchi, kombucha, kefir or kraut, fermented foods are today all the rage. And yet people have been fermenting food and beverages for thousands of years – to preserve food stuffs, to break down toxins, to mark rituals and to enhance flavour. Without knowledge of the science, local communities practised fermentation instinctively, through trial and error and by careful observation. In the 18th and 19th centuries, scientists argued over why foods fermented as they did. Many believed in the theory of ‘spontaneous generation’. But it was not until the discoveries of Louis Pasteur that the micro-organisms at work in food which bring about fermentation began to be understood. Ironically, Pasteur’s research led to a widespread preoccupation with killing the very bacteria that aid fermentation – combined with the growth of food production on an industrial scale. More recently, fermented food and drink has been marketed for its health benefits, with claims it can enhance the bacteria in our intestinal tracts, boost our immune systems and even lower the risk of contracting some serious diseases. Rajan Datar attempts to separate fact from fiction, with the help of three experts: the American fermentation revivalist Sandor Katz, Danish microbiologist Dennis Sandris Nielsen and the chef and food writer Olia Hercules, who’ll be demonstrating how to make a simple fermented recipe. Photo: Sauerkraut being made in a jar (Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) What's your brew? Friendly microbes making our fare tastier Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts What's your brew? Friendly microbes making our fare tasty (and wholesome) What's your brew? Friendly microbes making our fare tastier |
| Fernando Pessoa: The Man Who Multiplied Himself | 20190905 | 20190908 (WS) 20190909 (WS) | Fernando Pessoa is Portugal’s national poet and a giant of 20th Century literature but he’s also a writer who multiplied himself, who wrote under dozens of alter egos, ranging from an engineer trained in Glasgow in Scotland, to a hunchback who is helplessly lovesick, to a doctor and Latin scholar who’s a fervent Royalist. His masterpiece The Book of Disquiet, considered to be one of the defining works of modernist literature, is equally fragmented - written on scraps of paper and consisting of hundreds of virtually unordered manuscripts. So what makes Fernando Pessoa such a great writer and so relevant today? Joining Rajan Datar to discuss Fernando Pessoa and his many selves are his translator and biographer Richard Zenith, and the literary scholars and Pessoa experts Dr Mariana Gray de Castro and professor Bernard McGuirk. (Photo: Statue of Portuguese poet and writer Fernando Pessoa outside Café Brasilera, Lisbon, Portugal. Credit: Anne Khazam/BBC) The great Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa who invented dozens of alter egos Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Fire: How Climate Change Is Altering Our Attitudes To Wildfires | 20160827 | 20160829 (WS) 20160830 (WS) | How do we deal with fire to protect health without compromising the environment? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Fire: How Climate Change Is Altering Our Attitudes To Wildfires | 20160829 | 20160830 (WS) 20160831 (WS) | How do we deal with fire to protect health without compromising the environment? As fire risks change due to climate change, how should we deal with fire to protect human health and property without compromising the integrity of our environment? Bridget Kendall asks the geologist Andrew Scott, the fire ecologist Jennifer Balch and the biologist David Bowman. (Photo: A fire tornado in California, USA. Credit: Getty Images) 

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| First Impressions: The Printing Press | 20170902 | 20170904 (WS) 20170905 (WS) | When the fifteenth century German entrepreneur Johannes Gutenberg pioneered the printing press, he made an indelible mark on the history of communication. Here was a way to print pages in high quality and high quantities, using methods more efficient than had ever been seen before. Rajan Datar and guests explore the story of how the printing press was born, and how it changed our world - from the birth of the modern book to the rise of the information society, and the transformation of fields including scholarship and religion. Rajan is joined by art historian Hala Auji, publisher Michael Bhaskar, scholar Cristina Dondi and the writer John Man. Photo: Circa 1450, A bas-relief of the German printing pioneer Johannes Gutenberg (c 1400 - 1468) checking his work while his assistant turns the press. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) How a fifteenth century innovation changed our printed world Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| First Impressions: The Printing Press | 20201119 | 20201120 (WS) 20201122 (WS) 20201123 (WS) | When the fifteenth century German entrepreneur Johannes Gutenberg pioneered the printing press, he made an indelible mark on the history of communication. Here was a way to print pages in high quality and high quantities, using methods more efficient than had ever been seen before. Rajan Datar and guests explore the story of how the printing press was born, and how it changed our world - from the birth of the modern book to the rise of the information society, and the transformation of fields including scholarship and religion. Rajan is joined by art historian Hala Auji, publisher Michael Bhaskar, scholar Cristina Dondi and the writer John Man. [Image: A bas-relief of Johannes Gutenberg checking his work while his assistant turns the press, c.1450. Credit: by Hulton Archive/Getty Images] How a fifteenth century innovation changed our world Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts How the machine pioneered by 15th Century entrepreneur Johannes Gutenberg changed history |
| Flamenco: Darkness And Light | 20171230 | 20180102 (WS) | Flamenco is easily recognised across the world thanks to certain stereotypes, namely spotty dresses, shirt-tearing and lots of foot stamping. The reality however is far more nuanced, and this extraordinarily complex music and dance form can take many years – if not a lifetime – to master. For those steeped in its traditions, they describe it as a way of life. With the help of musical examples, Rajan Datar and guests explore how flamenco works, and discuss how it’s grown from its origins in the marginalised communities of southern Spain to become a commercial success the world over. Joining Rajan are flamenco aficionado and guitarist Brook Zern, dancer María Bermúdez from flamenco’s heartland in Jerez de la Frontera and Dr Matthew Machin-Autenrieth from the University of Cambridge in the UK. Photo: Flamenco dancing (Getty Images) Rajan Datar and guests explore the origins and evolution of flamenco Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Forgiveness | 20140621 | 20140622 (WS) 20140623 (WS) | Samira Ahmed explores the complexity of forgiveness. What effect does it have in the aftermath of violent crime, conflict or injustice? Is it possible without remorse and is there any crime that is beyond forgiveness? With the Rev’d Mpho Tutu, co-author with her father Archbishop Desmond Tutu of a book about forgiving; author and teacher Michael McGirr, and Marina Cantacuzino, former journalist and founder of The Forgiveness Project. (Photo: Hands stretched out with palms upright. Credit: AFP/ Getty Images) (Image: Hands stretched out with palms upright. Credit: AFP/ Getty Images) Can you have forgiveness without remorse? 
Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Fragility: What Is It That Makes Materials And Ecosystems Prone To Fracture? | 20130609 | 20130610 (WS) | With Barbara Kingsolver, David Goulson and Markus Buehler Why are some materials and ecosystems easier to break than others? And what gives others better resilience? Joining Bridget Kendall are the celebrated American novelist Barbara Kingsolver, whose latest novel contemplates vulnerability in butterflies and humans; one of world’s leading experts on bumblebees, professor David Goulson, who explains why artificially rearing bumblebee nests can paradoxically lead to mass extinction; and Markus Buehler, bio-engineer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who studies the molecular basis of strength and weakness in natural materials such as human bones and spider’s webs. (Photo by Al Barry/Three Lions/Getty Images) Why are some materials and ecosystems easier to break than others? And what gives others better resilience? Joining Bridget Kendall are the celebrated American novelist Barbara Kingsolver, whose latest novel contemplates vulnerability in butterflies and humans; one of world’s leading experts on bumblebees, professor David Goulson, who explains why artificially rearing bumblebee nests can paradoxically lead to mass extinction; and Markus Buehler, bio-engineer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who studies the molecular basis of strength and weakness in natural materials such as human bones and spider’s webs. (Photo by Al Barry/Three Lions/Getty Images) |
| Fragmentation: How Tiny Pieces Explain The Whole Picture | 20151026 | 20151027 (WS) | What can fragmented knowledge and physical matter tell us? Everything can be broken down into component parts and this multiplicity of existence can increasingly be examined and analysed in minute detail - and may be apparent in the potential for a 'multi-verse’. And of course fragmentation can occur in many spheres. It can occur in the brain causing observable damage and in memory and dreams. And, it appears in art and film and writing, and more literally, in the physical environment, telling us stories about the past. (Photo: A light bulb exploding into fragments) 
Everything can be broken down into component parts and this multiplicity of existence can increasingly be examined and analysed in minute detail - and may be apparent in the potential for a 'multi-verse’. And of course fragmentation can occur in many spheres. It can occur in the brain causing observable damage and in memory and dreams. And, it appears in art and film and writing, and more literally, in the physical environment, telling us stories about the past. 
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| Freedom | 20140215 | 20140216 (WS) 20140217 (WS) | Can you ever be free from the past? And if so, is it a good thing? 
Can you ever be free from the past? And if so, is it a good thing? |
| Frida Kahlo: A Life In Colour | 20180929 | 20181002 (WS) | Frida Kahlo, the iconic and flamboyant Mexican painter, is one of the most famous female artists of our age. Her rebellious and subversive works are instantly recognisable. Many are self-portraits depicting an arresting dark and heavy-browed woman, often in bright traditional Mexican dress with flowers woven into her hair, staring straight out of the canvas. In her life time, she was better known as the wife of her celebrated artist husband, Diego Rivera. Now, she is arguably more famous than him, and her paintings sell for millions of dollars. Having lived and documented a life filled with physical and emotional pain, her blisteringly personal and political accounts now speak to populations young and old the world over. Bridget Kendall discusses her life, work and posthumous success with Kahlo experts Circe Henestrosa, Gannit Ankori, and Oriana Baddeley. (Photo: Frida Kahlo. Credit: Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) The life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, known for her ground-breaking self-portraits Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Sharing knowledge |
| Fridtjof Nansen: Norway's Great Explorer | 20191114 | 20191115 (WS) 20191117 (WS) 20191118 (WS) | Mention famous polar explorers to most people and they will probably come up with the names Scott and Amundsen. But really there should be another name before these, Fridtjof Nansen, a man who can be viewed as a true pioneer of intrepid, indeed death-defying expeditions to the freezing, bleak extremities of the world. He ventured closer than anyone else before him towards the North Pole but this Norwegian national hero was so much more than a character from a boys-own adventure annual. He was a scientist, an early oceanographer, a top class skier, a bestselling author, a diplomat, a humanitarian who spearheaded the repatriation of nearly half a million starving First World War prisoners, a tireless fundraiser for famine relief, the man who gave thousands of stateless people passports and a Nobel Peace prize winner. Rajan Datar recounts Nansen's remarkable life with the help of historians Robert Marc Friedman and Carl Emil Vogt, writer Marit Fosse and polar explorer Paul Rose. Picture: Explorer and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen. Credit: The Print Collector/Getty Images The polar adventures of a remarkable man whose humanitarian work saved thousands of lives Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Friedrich Engels: The Man Behind Karl Marx | 20180818 | 20180821 (WS) | A champagne-loving industrialist who enjoyed hunting, a literary critic and an upstanding Victorian gentleman: this does not sound like a description of your typical advocate of proletarian revolution or the co-author of the Communist Manifesto. Yet Friedrich Engels was all those things and more. Deliberately keeping in the shadows of his comrade-in-arms Karl Marx, Engels led an eventful life, fighting in the 1848 German revolution, attending secret meetings with Chartists and keeping two homes in Manchester: a respectable one that fitted his image of a bachelor businessman, the other a boarding house where he lived with his working-class lover Mary Burns and her sister, and future wife, Lizzie. Rajan Datar charts the life and work of Friedrich Engels with the help of leading scholars of Marxism: Jonathan Sperber from the University of Missouri, Terrell Carver from Bristol University, Belinda Webb-Blofeld from Kingston University and Christian Krell from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.Photo: Statues of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in Berlin. (Getty Images) The eventful life of Engels and his pivotal contribution to Marxism Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| From Straw Poll To Opinion Poll | 20180331 | 20180403 (WS) | Today, we can’t imagine an election without an opinion poll gauging public opinion on who’s leading, who’s won a debate or who’s more popular with a specific group of voters. Even our favourite chocolate bars and footballers are subject to a poll. But how did straw polls evolve into the scientific number crunching we know now? What is their purpose and impact? How differently are they used around the world? And just how reliable are they? Bridget Kendall is joined by economist and chairman of Gallup Pakistan Dr Ijaz Shafi Gilani; Scott Keeter, senior survey advisor for the Pew Research Center in Washington; and Sir John Curtice from the University of Strathclyde. Picture: American President Harry S Truman smiles and waves to the excited Kansas City crowd after hearing the news that he had won the United States elections in 1948 and retained the Presidency, despite of what many polls had predicted, Credit: Keystone, Getty Images. With us since the 1930s, polls help forecast elections and conduct market research Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| From The Infinitesimally Small To The Infinitely Large | 20120505 | 20120506 | Why there is more to empty space than you might think. Cosmology, particle physics, mathematics and theatrical performance all come together this week, as we try to make sense of some of the biggest questions of all by juggling what we know about the very smallest things. Lawrence Krauss explains why the seemingly empty space that takes up so much of the cosmos is full of measurable energy. Plus theatre director Alexander Devriendt on the reasons for telling the history of the universe backwards so that it ends in … nothing, and slices of nothingness in mathematics with Ian Stewart: a glimpse of the near-magical world of infinitesimals. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: finding everything and nothing in the realm of the infinitesimally small and the infinitely large. Plus theatre director Alexander Devriendt on the reasons for telling the history of the universe backwards so that it ends in … nothing, and slices of nothingness in mathematics with Ian Stewart: a glimpse of the near-magical world of infinitesimals. |
| From The Infinitesimally Small To The Infinitely Large | 20120506 | | Why there is more to empty space than you might think. |
| Future Cities | 20140510 | 20140511 (WS) 20140512 (WS) | Smart and eco-cities are design buzz-words – but how realistic are such plans globally? 
Smart and eco-cities are design buzz-words – but how realistic are such plans globally? This week Bridget Kendall takes a future city tour with South African urban planning professor Vanessa Watson, who says plans to transform sub-Saharan African cities into gleaming Dubai-style hubs are harmful fantasies. Also, Delhi resident and writer Rana Dasgupta explains how he has watched his adopted city utterly transform in the last 20 years. And, futurologist Josef Hargrave offers a vision of an urban super-building in 2050. (Photo: A model of a proposed development in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Credit: AFP/ Getty Images) Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Smart and eco-cities are design buzz-words – but how realistic are such plans globally? This week Bridget Kendall takes a future city tour with South African urban planning professor Vanessa Watson, who says plans to transform sub-Saharan African cities into gleaming Dubai-style hubs are harmful fantasies. Also, Delhi resident and writer Rana Dasgupta explains how he has watched his adopted city utterly transform in the last 20 years. And, futurologist Josef Hargrave offers a vision of an urban super-building in 2050. |
| Gerard Mercator: The Man Who Revolutionised Mapmaking | 20200423 | 20200426 (WS) 20200427 (WS) | The mapmaker who defined the modern world Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts It’s the map of the world we all recognise today, but until Gerard Mercator came up with his elegant solution in 1569, the question of how to turn the earth’s three dimensional sphere into a flat image had long flummoxed mapmakers. Nearly 500 years later, Mercator’s model is still the standard for modern mapmaking. What makes it so enduring? Joining Rajan Datar to discuss the man who defined the way we see the world are geographer and explorer Nicholas Crane, philosopher Emily Thomas and professor of cartography Philippe De Maeyer. Illustration: Portrait of Gerard Mercator, Flemish cartographer (born Gerard de Kremer, 1512 - 1594). Image credit: Stock Montage/Getty Images Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Globalisation: Is It Changing The Way We Think? | 20130616 | 20130617 (WS) | with NoViolet Bulawayo, Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Ben Okri How is globalisation is changing the way we think about ourselves and others? What impact is it having on personal and national identity? Are we all more connected as global citizens now, or is globalisation actually driving us further apart? Joining Bridget Kendall and a lively audience at the Zamyn Cultural Forum 2013, at the Tate Modern Art Gallery in London are Zimbabwean author NoViolet Bulawayo, Indian political scientist Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Nigerian poet and novelist Ben Okri. (Photo Credit: Ana Escobar) How is globalisation is changing the way we think about ourselves and others? What impact is it having on personal and national identity? Are we all more connected as global citizens now, or is globalisation actually driving us further apart? Joining Bridget Kendall and a lively audience at the Zamyn Cultural Forum 2013, at the Tate Modern Art Gallery in London are Zimbabwean author NoViolet Bulawayo, Indian political scientist Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Nigerian poet and novelist Ben Okri. (Photo Credit: Ana Escobar) |
| Goethe: The Story Of Colour | 20170128 | 20170130 (WS) 20170131 (WS) | The German polymath Johann Wolfgang von Goethe considered his monumental book known in English as The Theory of Colours to be his greatest achievement. The book is a record of hundreds of Goethe's observations about the way colour affects our mood, as well as a long and heated polemic with Isaac Newton's colour theory. Goethe's understanding of light and colour was scientifically flawed yet his book had a surprisingly strong influence on the fine and applied arts. To find out why, Bridget Kendall talks to art historian Alexandra Loske, colour writer Victoria Finlay and designer Odette Steele. How colour affects our mood and thoughts 
Alexandra Loske is an art historian who teaches at the University of Sussex, Curator at the Royal Pavilion and Brighton Museums, editor of the book Languages of Colour and author of Palette (forthcoming); Victoria Finlay is a writer, former arts editor of the South China Morning Post and the author of Colour, Travels through the Paintbox and The Brilliant History of Color in Art; Odette Steele is a Zambian textile designer recent and a graduate from the London College of Fashion at the University of the Arts, London. Photo: Goethe’s colour wheel, 1809. (Credit: Freies Deutsches Hochstift / Frankfurter Goethe-Museum) Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Goethe: The Story Of Colour | 20200521 | 20200524 (WS) 20200525 (WS) | How colour affects our mood and thoughts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts The German polymath Johann Wolfgang von Goethe considered his monumental book known in English as The Theory of Colours to be his greatest achievement. The book is a record of hundreds of Goethe’s observations about the way colour affects our mood, as well as a long and heated polemic with Isaac Newton’s colour theory. Goethe’s understanding of light and colour was scientifically flawed yet his book had a surprisingly strong influence on the fine and applied arts. To find out why, Bridget Kendall talks to art historian Alexandra Loske, colour writer Victoria Finlay and designer Odette Steele. Alexandra Loske is an art historian who teaches at the University of Sussex, Curator at the Royal Pavilion and Brighton Museums and co-editor of the book Languages of Colour; Victoria Finlay is a writer, former arts editor of the South China Morning Post and the author of Colour, Travels through the Paintbox and The Brilliant History of Color in Art; Odette Steele is a Zambian textile designer recent and a graduate from the London College of Fashion at the University of the Arts, London. Photo: Goethe’s colour wheel, 1809. (Credit: Freies Deutsches Hochstift / Frankfurter Goethe-Museum) |
| Gold | 20140531 | 20140601 (WS) 20140602 (WS) | What makes gold so valuable? Gold has long been a symbol of wealth and power, but it also has spiritual significance, and today it’s even used to treat cancer. Matthew Taylor talks about the many values of gold with Kwasi Kwarteng, a member of Parliament in the UK and author of War and Gold; Maria Alicia Uribe, who is director of the Gold Museum in Colombia; and gold nano-particle scientist Nicholas Kotov. Photo: Gold bars, Credit: Science Photo Library 
Photo: Gold bars, Credit: Science Photo Library |
| Goya: Seeking Truth Through Art | 20190117 | 20190118 (WS) 20190120 (WS) 20190121 (WS) | The 18th Century Spanish artist Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes has been called the “most radical artist that ever lived”. He was not afraid to shock with his depictions of the darkest sides of human nature, and his work still shocks us today. Goya rose from humble beginnings to become the official court painter to the kings of Spain. But while he created dazzling portraits of royals and aristocrats, his personal vision was filled with madmen, witches, beggars, and fantastical creatures of the night. His years in the Spanish court coincided with one of the most turbulent times in the country’s history, and his graphic images of war and suffering reveal a compulsion to make art that changed the way we think about the world. Bridget Kendall discusses Goya’s life and works with Mark Roglán, Director of the Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, in the US; Janis Tomlinson, Director of Special Collections and Museums at the University of Delaware in the US; And Xavier Bray, Director of the Wallace Collection in London, UK. (Photo: The Third of May by Francisco Goya. Credit: UIG/Getty Images) The Spanish artist Francisco Goya, whose work explored the darker side of human nature Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Grass | 20140816 | 20140817 (WS) 20140818 (WS) | Their vital role in human existence. Almost all of us at some point play on, relax on, plant, tend, or harvest grasses – but how much do we really understand them and how much do they shape human existence? Samira Ahmed is joined by Susanne Lucas, Executive Director of the World Bamboo Organisation, Dr Umesh Singh a plant pathologist and biotechnologist from the International Rice Research Institute and Dr. Stephen Harris a population Geneticist and Curator of the Oxford University Herbaria. Photo: BBC 
Almost all of us at some point play on, relax on, plant, tend, or harvest grasses – but how much do we really understand them and how much do they shape human existence? Samira Ahmed is joined by Susanne Lucas, Executive Director of the World Bamboo Organisation, Dr Umesh Singh a plant pathologist and biotechnologist from the International Rice Research Institute and Dr. Stephen Harris a population Geneticist and Curator of the Oxford University Herbaria. Photo: BBC |
| Grass Roots | 20160102 | 20160104 (WS) 20160105 (WS) | Grass Roots: How \u2018people's' movements are changing. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Grass Roots | 20160104 | 20160105 (WS) | Grass Roots: The impact and influence of ‘people’s movements. How have grass movements have evolved and how are they responding to a world where there is increased democracy but increased challenge too. Looking at a shack dwellers movement in South Africa, rights organisations in Latin America and the Maker Movement in the United States, Bridget Kendall and guests explore how grass roots groups are working today and how they may develop in the future with S’bu Zikode, Professor Joe Foweraker and Gene Sherman. Photo: Grass Roots (credit: Shan Pillay) Grass Roots: How ‘people’s’ movements are changing. 

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| Gretta Cousins: Champion Of Irish And Indian Women | 20200416 | 20200419 (WS) 20200420 (WS) | How many people can lay claim to playing a key role in three different 20th century protest movements across the world, each of which largely succeeded in their aims? Margaret ‘Gretta’ Cousins, the daughter of a minor court official from Boyle in Ireland and a musician by profession certainly can. The common thread in all of these battles for this driven, feisty activist was the demand for equality for women: Gretta Cousins spent time in jails in Ireland, England and India for her beliefs and remained a catalyst for change throughout her life. As a suffragette she was involved in high-profile direct action in London and Dublin, while in India she not only contributed to the improvement of women’s lives but also became the country’s first female magistrate.Rajan Datar is joined by historians Dr. Margaret Ward from Queen's University in Belfast, Dr. Jyoti Atwal from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and University of Limerick and Dr. Emily Rook-Koepsel from the University of Pittsburgh. (Photo: Margaret Cousins, c.1931) A pianist and activist who fought for women's votes and better lives Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Grief | 20150810 | 20150811 (WS) | Is grief a uniquely human condition or do animals also feel similar emotions? Bridget Kendall and guests explore how universal the grieving process may be, comparing rituals among Catholics in Portugal and Ireland to the Hindu rituals in India. Susan Moreira Marques is an award winning Portuguese journalist and writer, Bharati Mukherjee is an Indian born author and academic and Barbara J King is an American anthropologist who investigates the links between primate behaviour and human development. (Photo: A woman grieves at the World Trade Centre, New York. Credit: Getty images) 

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| Guide Dogs For The Blind: A History | 20200319 | 20200320 (WS) 20200322 (WS) 20200323 (WS) | We are now familiar with dogs helping people with sight loss but where did the idea come from? And how have the ways of selecting, training and using guide dogs changed over time? Bridget Kendall explores the history of guide dogs with Pieter van Niekerk, Head of Public Relations for the South African Guide-Dogs Association and with Karin Floesser, one of the guide dog leaders of the German Federation for the Blind and Partially Sighted. Bridget is also joined by journalist and educator Miriam Ascarelli, biographer of Dorothy Harrison Eustis, the philanthropist who in the 1920s co-founded the American Seeing Eye school, and she hears from Michael Hingson, a blind survivor of the 9/11 attacks. (Image: A guide dog in Shanghai, China. Credit: Wang He/Getty Images) How did the idea of systematically training dogs for the blind originate? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Haile Selassie: The Last Emperor Of Ethiopia | 20170401 | 20170403 (WS) 20170404 (WS) 20170405 (WS) | The life and legacy of the man who became ‘the Father of Africa’ Emperor Haile Selassie was the last in the line of Ethiopia’s ancient monarchy. During his long rule he was revered as an international statesman and reformer, demonised as a dictator, and even worshipped as a God incarnate by the Rastafarians of Jamaica. He was without doubt a controversial figure, but achieved a status in the global arena previously unheard of for an African ruler. Bridget Kendall discusses Haile Selassie’s life and legacy with Prince Asfa-Wossen Asserate, political analyst and author of ‘King of Kings: The Triumph and Tragedy of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia’, who is also the great-nephew of Haile Selassie; Gerard Prunier, Independent Consultant on Eastern and Central African affairs, and former Director of the French Centre for Ethiopian Studies in Addis-Ababa; and Laura Hammond, an anthropologist specialising in Ethiopia at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Image: Haile Selassie Credit: Henry Guttmann/Getty Images 
Image: Haile Selassie Credit: Henry Guttmann/Getty Images The life and legacy of the man who became \u2018the Father of Africa' Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Haile Selassie: The Last Emperor Of Ethiopia | 20200305 | 20200306 (WS) 20200308 (WS) 20200309 (WS) | Emperor Haile Selassie was the last in the line of Ethiopia’s ancient monarchy. During his long rule he was revered as an international statesman and reformer, demonised as a dictator, and even worshipped as a God incarnate by the Rastafarians of Jamaica. He was without doubt a controversial figure, but achieved a status in the global arena previously unheard of for an African ruler.Bridget Kendall discusses Haile Selassie’s life and legacy with Prince Asfa-Wossen Asserate, political analyst and author of ‘King of Kings: The Triumph and Tragedy of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia’, who is also the great-nephew of Haile Selassie; Gerard Prunier, Independent Consultant on Eastern and Central African affairs, and former Director of the French Centre for Ethiopian Studies in Addis -Ababa; and Laura Hammond, an anthropologist specialising in Ethiopia at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Image: Haile Selassie Credit: Henry Guttmann/Getty Images The life and legacy of the man who became \u2018the Father of Africa' Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Hair, Fur And Cilia | 20140503 | 20140505 (WS) | The fine thread-like strands that grow from our bodies and organs Hair has always held us captive: a symbol of vitality, or of sexual attraction and youth. But what are its molecular secrets? And what are we learning about those other mysterious filaments: the hair-like cilia attached to almost every living cell? Bridget Kendall asks leading hair loss researcher Ralf Paus, medical geneticist Philip Beales, and artist Adeline de Monseignat whose sculptures of fur and hair look both dead and alive. Photo of hair on scalp (coloured scanning electron micrograph) courtesy of Science Photo Library. 
Hair has always held us captive: a symbol of vitality, or of sexual attraction and youth. But what are its molecular secrets? And what are we learning about those other mysterious filaments: the hair-like cilia attached to almost every living cell? Bridget Kendall asks leading hair loss researcher Ralf Paus, medical geneticist Philip Beales, and artist Adeline de Monseignat whose sculptures of fur and hair look both dead and alive. Photo of hair on scalp (coloured scanning electron micrograph) courtesy of Science Photo Library. |
| Hands | 20131228 | 20131229 (WS) 20131230 (WS) | Some say that the hand is where the mind meets the world. So what happens if you lose a hand? What are the options for a replacement? Are we focusing too much on the hands' ability to grip and hold and overlooking their sensitivity to heat and cold, to smooth or rough surfaces? And the power of the human hand to create music out of chaos: how does a conductor communicate his musical vision to an orchestra. Bridget Kendall's guests are: Professor Simon Kay, a surgeon based in Leeds, who performed the first hand transplant in the UK; New Zealander Lynette Jones, Senior Research Scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who studies tactile sensations; and Sakari Oramo, a Finnish musician who recently became the Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Photo/illustration by Shan Pillay Do our hands mark us out as human? Plus hand transplants and hands that make music 
Photo/illustration by Shan Pillay |
| Happiness | 20121222 | 20121223 (WS) | What really makes us smile? This week on the Forum: more countries around the world are starting to measure not only their Gross National Product, but also their citizens’ happiness. So how do we find contentment? American positive psychologist Todd Kashdan believes that being curious is the key to happiness. Belgian environmental scientist Eric Lambin argues that our lives can be enriched by a more intimate relationship with nature. And novelist Eva Hoffman’s recipe for happiness is about learning to use our time meaningfully, not hoarding it too preciously but sharing it generously with others. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. This week on the Forum: more countries around the world are starting to measure not only their Gross National Product, but also their citizens’ happiness. So how do we find contentment? American positive psychologist Todd Kashdan believes that being curious is the key to happiness. Belgian environmental scientist Eric Lambin argues that our lives can be enriched by a more intimate relationship with nature. And novelist Eva Hoffman’s recipe for happiness is about learning to use our time meaningfully, not hoarding it too preciously but sharing it generously with others. Illustration by Emily Kasriel. |
| Hazel Scott: Jazz Star And Barrier Breaker | 20200507 | 20200510 (WS) 20200511 (WS) | An exceptionally talented musician who always stood her ground Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts A child prodigy on the piano, then a glamorous jazz and popular music entertainer, a civil rights campaigner and the first black American woman to host her own TV show: for the first three decades of her life, Hazel Scott’s rise to fame was vertiginous. Born in Trinidad in 1920, Scott was the headliner in some of New York’s most fashionable clubs by the time she was 20. A couple of years later she became one of Hollywood’s highest paid entertainers and then married one of the most high-profile US Congressmen of her day. Their celebrity lifestyle regularly featured on newspaper front pages, Scott’s records were selling well, her syndicated TV show was given double airtime because it was so popular. And then, almost overnight, she vanished from public view. What happened? That's one of the questions Rajan Datar discusses with Scott's biographer and actor Karen Chilton; Loren Schoenberg, saxophonist, bandleader and Senior Scholar of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem; and playwright, lyricist and broadcaster Murray Horwitz. (Image: Hazel Scott in the 1950s. Credit: Archive Photos/Getty Images) |
| Herman Melville: Moby Dick | 20180310 | 20180313 (WS) | Moby Dick is the story of a crazed and vengeful sailor, Captain Ahab, hunting a giant whale that bit off his leg. It's a large and challenging book and its author, Herman Melville died without knowing how influential or revered it would become. Although it failed to impress when it first came out in 1851, it’s now hailed as a ‘great American novel’, one of the towering achievements of American literature. With Bridget Kendall to explore the book and its author, Professor Jamie Jones from the University of Illinois, Emily Ogden from the University of Virginia and poet and academic from Lancaster University in the UK, Paul Farley. Photo: Sperm Whale (Martin Camms/Getty Images) The 19th Century epic novel on a vengeful sailor's battle with the great \u2018white whale' Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Photo: Sperm Whale (Martin Camms/Getty Images) Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Highlife: The Sound Of Ghana | 20200109 | 20200110 (WS) 20200112 (WS) 20200113 (WS) | The name Highlife is thought to have been coined in the early 20th Century when people on the streets outside clubs reserved for the Gold Coast elite observed the elegant clothes and dancing of the customers inside. Dance band Highlife is just one element of the music which has soaked up all manner of cultural traffic that has marked this part of West Africa. Military bands, gospel, calypso, folk music, ragtime, jazz, reggae, hip hop have all left their imprint on Highlife in a dizzying back-and-forth between Africa and the New World. When the Gold Coast became the independent state of Ghana in 1957, the music became associated with the search for a national identity. Ghana's first president, Kwame Nkrumah, made Highlife the national dance music, a move that was copied by other emerging nations of West Africa. But from its heyday in the 1960s and '70s, Highlife fell on hard times when a military regime came to power and imposed a curfew. Many musicians left the country to pursue their careers elsewhere. But Highlife proved once more that it could take on new influences, even in exile, and today it is the backdrop to the popular Highlife genre. With the help of musical examples, Rajan Datar and guests will explore how Highlife works, and discuss how it has grown from its origins in the towns of the Gold Coast to become a commercial success the world over. Joining Rajan will be guitarist and singer Kari Bannerman, percussionist Oheneba Kofi Adu, producer of the long-running American radio show Afropop Worldwide, Banning Eyre, and Dr Nana Amoah-Ramey, author of Female Highlife Performers in Ghana: Expression, Resistance and Advocacy. (Phoito: Osibisa performing live in The Front Room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London) Exploring the background to the music which has absorbed so many cultural influences Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Hong Kong: A Blueprint For All China? | 20131116 | 20131117 (WS) 20131118 (WS) | Could this tiny, crowded enclave of free capitalism become a model for cities on the Chinese mainland? That's one the issues debated in this week's Forum from the City University as part of the Hong Kong International Literary Festival. Bridget Kendall talks to four prominent local residents: writer Xu Xi, photographer Palani Mohan, Americanist Peter Swirski and Hong Kong Arts Festival director Tisa Ho. Could this tiny, crowded enclave of free capitalism become a model for cities on the Chinese mainland? And does Hong Kong's political and geographical situation make it feel insular or outward looking? Some of the issues debated in this week's Forum from the City University as part of the Hong Kong International Literary Festival. Bridget Kendall talks to four prominent local residents: writer Xu Xi, photographer Palani Mohan, Americanist Peter Swirski and Hong Kong Arts Festival director Tisa Ho. Photo Credit: Victoria Prandle A lively debate from Hong Kong's City University about the city's uniqueness and future. Could this tiny, crowded enclave of free capitalism become a model for cities on the Chinese mainland? That's one the issues debated in this week's Forum from the City University as part of the Hong Kong International Literary Festival. Bridget Kendall talks to four prominent local residents: writer Xu Xi, photographer Palani Mohan, Americanist Peter Swirski and Hong Kong Arts Festival director Tisa Ho. |
| How Afghanistan Won Its Freedom From Britain | 20190606 | 20190609 (WS) 20190610 (WS) | The months between May and August 1919 were a crucial time for Afghanistan: it was the period of the Third Anglo-Afghan War followed by the declaration of Afghan independence from Britain. So how was modern Afghan national identity forged? Who were the leaders responsible? Why, in the 19th century, had the country become financially and politically dependent on Britain? And what, a century on, is the legacy Afghanistan's independence struggle? These are some of the issues that Bridget Kendall discusses with historians of Afghanistan, professors Shah Mahmoud Hanifi, Sana Haroon and Benjamin Hopkins. Photo: People hold Afghan flags as they celebrate Afghan Independence Day (Sayed Khodaberdi Sadat/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) 1919 and the creation of independent Afghanistan Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| How Free Are Women In 2012? | 20121208 | 20121209 (WS) | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| How Shyness And Introversion Can Be A Strength | 20160917 | 20160920 (WS) | Are shyness and introversion cultural or innate; do they help us negotiate today's world? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| How Shyness And Introversion Can Be A Strength | 20160919 | 20160920 (WS) 20160921 (WS) | Shyness and introversion are both very common human characteristics, but why do they have so many different guises? Rajan Datar asks the developmental psychologist Louis Schmidt, the behavioural scientist Sanna Balsari-Palsule and the cultural historian Joe Moran. (Photo: A lady hides behind a fan. Credit: Shan Pillay) Are shyness and introversion cultural or innate; do they help us negotiate today’s world? 

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| How The Metre Changed The World | 20170429 | 20170501 (WS) 20170502 (WS) | Nowdays, if you want to find out how long one metre is, you can use a tape measure or, if you are a scientist, you can calculate the distance that light travels in a vacuum in 1/299 792 458 seconds. But how did we decide on what length a metre should be in the first place? To follow the far-from-straight story of the metre Quentin Cooper is joined by Professor Robert Crease, historian of science at Stonybrook University in the USA; Professor Marc Himbert, Scientific director of the Metrology Laboratory at CNAM in Paris; and Dr. Jahnavi Phalkey, historian of contemporary and twentieth century science and technology at King’s College in London. Photo: Lilian Bourgeat's art creation 'Tape Measure', France 2013 (Getty Images) The universal unit of length that joined up the globe Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| How The Metre Changed The World | 20170501 | | The universal unit of length that joined up the globe |
| How We Perceive Art | 20140524 | 20140525 (WS) 20140526 (WS) | Why do we like some art works but not others and what role does cultural background play? Why can some artworks leave us awestruck? While others leave us cold? And how far is art determined by cultural bias? Bridget Kendall asks novelist Okey Ndibe, cultural sociologist Tiffany Jenkins, and cognitive neuroscientist Arthur Shimamura to try and pinpoint what happens when we perceive art. Photo Illustration by Shan Pillay 
Photo Illustration by Shan Pillay |
| Hugh Masekela: The Iconic South African Musician | 20190704 | 20190706 (WS) 20190707 (WS) 20190708 (WS) | The story of Hugh Masekela’s life is intertwined with the history of South Africa itself. Born into a relatively privileged family in a mining town east of Johannesburg, Masekela was aware from an early age of the separatist and exploitative legacy of colonialism. As he grew up and discovered his love of music, it soon became clear to him that fulfilling his ambitions as a black musician would have to be done far away from the brutal apartheid government which had come to power in 1948. In his adopted home in the United States, Masekela enjoyed a string of hit records and mixed with the great and the good of the jazz world. By now exiled from South Africa, he used his profile and his music to protest against repression and inequality, and wrote one of the defining songs of the campaign to free Nelson Mandela from prison. In his musical ventures he brought musicians together from across the African continent, in a spirit of Pan-Africanism which was so important to him. When he eventually returned to South Africa after thirty years away, he continued to rally for causes close to his heart. Joining Bridget Kendall is jazz historian Dr Lindelwa Dalamba from Wits University in Johannesburg; jazz critic Gwen Ansell and author of Soweto Blues: Jazz, Popular Music, and Politics in South Africa; and the late musician’s nephew and former road manager, Mabusha Masekela. Photo: Hugh Masekela (BBC/Danielle Peck) Looking back at the life and career of the South African musician and activist Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts In his adopted home in the United States, Masekela enjoyed a string of hit records and mixed with the great and the good of the jazz world. By now exiled from South Africa, he used his profile and his music to protest against repression and inequality, and wrote one of the defining songs of the campaign to free Nelson Mandela from prison. In his musical ventures he brought musicians together from across the African continent, in a spirit of Pan-Africanism which was so important to him. When he eventually returned to South Africa after thirty years away, he continued to rally for causes close to his heart. Joining Bridget Kendall is jazz historian Dr Lindelwa Dalamba from Wits University in Johannesburg; jazz critic Gwen Ansell and author of Soweto Blues: Jazz, Popular Music, and Politics in South Africa; and the late musician’s nephew and former road manager, Mabusha Masekela. |
| Ibn Khaldun: 14th Century Sage | 20191212 | 20191215 (WS) 20191216 (WS) | There were many sides to Ibn Khaldun - a top scholar, a scheming political mastermind, a peripatetic political guru to many a dynasty in North Africa, an inventor of a social science or two. He also spent a month talking to one of the world’s most dangerous conquerors and was imprisoned several times. At a time when the Black Death was raging through the area he suffered terrible personal tragedies. One of his books, the Muqaddimah, is now regarded as a classic text. And how many historians from the Middle Ages have come up with theories that are invoked by modern-day economists and American presidents? Rajan Datar follows Ibn Khaldun's life and work with the help of historians Syed Farid Alatas, Josephine van den Bent and Robert Irwin.(Image: Drawing of Ibn Khaldun on a 10 Dinar Tunisian banknote. Credit Georgios Art/Getty Images) The life and work of a pioneering social scientist and historiographer Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Ice | 20130216 | 20130217 (WS) | New views from the world’s freezer A journey into the kingdom of ice, with Danish glaciologist Poul Christoffersen, just back from measuring the effects of a warming ocean on the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica; American engineer Mary Albert who studies ancient snow cores for crucial past climate clues; and Camille Seaman, a Native American artist whose photos of polar icebergs are ‘portraits of individuals’. Photo: Grand Pinacle Iceberg © Camille Seaman A journey into the kingdom of ice, with Danish glaciologist Poul Christoffersen, just back from measuring the effects of a warming ocean on the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica; American engineer Mary Albert who studies ancient snow cores for crucial past climate clues; and Camille Seaman, a Native American artist whose photos of polar icebergs are ‘portraits of individuals’. Photo: Breaching Iceberg – Greenland, August 8, 2008 © Camille Seaman |
| Image Overload: Coping With The Modern World's Visual Clutter | 20160813 | 20160816 (WS) | How do our brains cope with the visual clutter of the modern world? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Image Overload: Coping With The Modern World's Visual Clutter | 20160815 | 20160816 (WS) 20160817 (WS) | Our lives are increasingly cluttered by images, not just in the world around us, but on advertising bill-boards, television screens, and even on our mobile phones. So how are we to process this barrage of information and make sense of the visual world? How can today’s designers help us and how are we to avoid image-overload? Bridget Kendall talks to three people who help us navigate the increasingly crowded world of visual imagery: Alan Kitching, one of the world’s foremost practitioners of letterpress typographic design and printmaking, Aowen Jin, a Chinese-born artist who leads museum tours in the dark and Roma Agrawal, a structural engineer who spent six years designing London’s skyscraper The Shard. (Image: Edition Print, 2012 by Alan Kitching) How do our brains cope with the visual clutter of the modern world? 

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| Imhotep: The Man Behind The Mummy | 20190822 | 20190825 (WS) 20190826 (WS) | Fans of Hollywood cinema may recognise the name Imhotep from the original The Mummy film from 1932, and its various remakes. In the movie, Imhotep (played by Boris Karloff) is an Ancient Egyptian high priest who was mummified alive because he had attempted to resurrect his forbidden lover. Fast forward several thousand years, and an archaeologist brings the mummy back to life, with dangerous consequences. The real Imhotep was a far cry from this Hollywood invention. A high priest yes, but also possibly the architect of the first monumental building fashioned entirely of stone, the Step Pyramid which dates from around 2,600 BC. Imhotep was also an adviser to one of the most important pharaohs, King Djoser, as text on a statue base found at the Step Pyramid confirms. Later generations revered Imhotep as a sage and a scribe, one of the highest honours a person could be paid in Ancient Egypt. He eventually became linked with the Greek god of medicine, Asclepius, and then worshipped as a saint. Bridget Kendall journeys through the centuries to understand all the different titles that have attached themselves to this legendary figure, with experts Dr David P Silverman, curator in charge of the Egyptian Section of the Penn Museum and Professor of Egyptology at the University of Pennsylvania, USA; Dr Salima Ikram, Distinguished Professor of Egyptology at The American University in Cairo, Egypt, and Dr Aidan Dodson, Honorary Professor of Egyptology at the University of Bristol in the UK. (Image: Step pyramid of King Djoser, Saqqara, Egypt Credit: Print Collector/Contributor/Getty Images) Uncovering the identity of the bandaged villain of Hollywood legend Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts (Image: Step pyramid of King Djoser, Saqqara, Egypt Credit: Print Collector/Contributor/Getty Images) |
| Imitation | 20130105 | 20130106 (WS) | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. 
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| Improvisation | 20130209 | 20130210 (WS) | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| In Search Of The Good Life: Epicurus And His Philosophy | 20200402 | 20200405 (WS) 20200406 (WS) | The popular view of an Epicurean is that of somebody who focuses on pleasure as our guiding principle, indulging in the finer things of life to achieve happiness. And yet what the Ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus understood by pleasure was far more nuanced. In fact, Epicurus and his followers advocated a simple lifestyle, withdrawn from society, where we are content with little. What is perhaps less known is how Epicurean writings on physics foreshadowed some of the most significant developments in early modern science – including Darwin’s theory of evolution and even Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. Joining Bridget Kendall is Catherine Wilson, visiting Professor at the Graduate Centre of the City University of New York, and the author of various works on Epicureanism, including How to Be an Epicurean: The Ancient Art of Living Well; Dr Sonya Wurster, Honorary Fellow at La Trobe University in Australia who’s working on a book about the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus; and philosopher and historian David Sedley, Emeritus Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, and the author of numerous publications on Greek and Roman thought.(Image: Bust of Epicurus. Photo: DEA / G. DAGLI ORTI/De Agostini via Getty Images) Exploring how an Ancient Greek school of thought has resonated through the ages Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Indian Princely States | 20170624 | 20170626 (WS) 20170627 (WS) | At the time of the Partition of India 70 years ago this year, there were more than 500 Princely States. These were states nominally ruled by Indian Princes but ultimately under the control of the British colonial powers. Many of these princes - male and female members of the Royal Family - had kingdoms dating back to the 8th and 9th Centuries. But after the British curbed their powers, was their role largely ceremonial or did they have a deeper impact on the Indian people? And how did these Princes survive after Partition? Joining Rajan Datar is the writer and historian William Dalrymple, the director of the King’s College London India institute Sunil Khilnani, and the Indian social scientist Nikita Sud from Oxford University. (Photo: A view of the Umaid Bhawan Palace, set high above the desert city of Jodhpur in Rajasthan. Credit: Getty Images) The lives of the Princes of India, their relationship with the British and legacy today Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Indian Princely States | 20170626 | | A lost world of culture and romance.At the time of the Partition of India 70 years ago this year, there were more than 500 Princely States. These were states nominally ruled by Indian Princes but ultimately under the control of the British colonial powers. Many of these princes - male and female members of the Royal Family - had kingdoms dating back to the 8th and 9th Centuries. But after the British curbed their powers, was their role largely ceremonial or did they have a deeper impact on the Indian people? And how did these Princes survive after Partition? Joining Rajan Datar is the writer and historian William Dalrymple, the director of the King’s College London India institute Sunil Khilnani, and the Indian social scientist Nikita Sud from Oxford University. (Photo: A view of the Umaid Bhawan Palace, set high above the desert city of Jodhpur in Rajasthan. Credit: Getty Images) |
| India's Urban Challenge | 20151102 | 20151103 (WS) | Will India cope once the majority of its people live in cities? City life: about a third of all Indians enjoy or endure it now, but in the next 15-20 years, the majority of the country’s inhabitants are expected to become urban dwellers. Can the country cope with such a large population movement? And what are the best ways to ensure that India’s cities work for everyone? To discuss the challenges and opportunities of India's urbanisation, Ritula Shah visits the City Lab conference in London, a global gathering of people who spend their working lives trying to improve the urban experience. She is joined by writer and environmentalist Sunita Narain; Sheela Patel, who champions the urban poor; and architect and urban planner Bimal Patel. Photo: A New Delhi street (Getty Images) 

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| Indigo: The Bluest Blue | 20191024 | 20191027 (WS) 20191028 (WS) | Blue Gold or Devil's Dye? The complex history of the precious blue dye Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Indigo: not only one of the seven colours of the rainbow and the dye that makes your jeans look like they do but and a highly valued pigment which is naturally found in some plants and whose use can be traced back at least six thousand years to Peru. Such was the desirability of indigo that along with sugar, cotton, coffee and tobacco it became a major driver for globalised trade and the horrors of slavery. In India it was the source of so much exploitation that a lawyer called Gandhi rose to fame standing up for indigo farmers. Rajan Datar explores the rich history of the dye with Jenny Balfour-Paul, an Honorary Research Fellow at Exeter University and author of Indigo: Egyptian Mummies to Blue Jeans; Lucille Junkere, an artist and textile researcher with a particular interest in the history of indigo in Nigeria and the Caribbean; and Andrea Sella, a professor of chemistry at University College London who delights his students with all kinds of colourful experiments with indigo. Photo: Detail of adire indigo cloth from Nigeria. Credit: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images |
| Inequality | 20120728 | 20120729 20120729 (WS) | We present a special edition of The Forum hosted by former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson. Do we have a moral responsibility to reduce inequality for the next generation? Is there a danger that by striving for equality between the sexes we’re actually ignoring real differences between men and women? And is the idea of a world without extremes of inequality a utopian fantasy? The first in a special series of Forum episodes where eminent thinkers lead discussions about the most pressing challenges of the age. This week former President of Ireland Mary Robinson chairs a discussion about a subject close to her heart: Inequality. Joining her in front of a lively audience at the RSA in London are Nobel prize-winning biologist John Sulston, Lawrence Goldman, Fellow in Modern History at the University of Oxford and Bangladeshi novelist Tahmima Anam. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: equality or inequality - between rich and poor; men and women. Inequality - the challenge for our age? Presented by former Irish President Mary Robinson. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Inner Speech | 20130818 | 20130819 (WS) | This week on the Forum: do you ever consciously talk to yourself? Maybe muttering in private what you won’t say out loud, or giving yourself a private pep talk to improve your performance, or perhaps arguing with yourself about whether to do something or not. We explore these inner monologues or dialogues, what shapes the process, and ask if they are a good thing, or can they trap us inside ourselves? British psychologist Charles Fernyhough explains why he believes the inner voice is vital in helping guide us through life and is rarely a sign of mental illness. Pakistani fiction writer Aamer Hussein writes in both Urdu and English, and explores the tension between thinking in one language and being forced to interact in another. And the American social psychologist Aleks Krotoski has been looking at how the internet affects the way we talk to ourselves. Image by Shan Pillay/ BBC Talking to yourself – is it a good thing? This week on the Forum: do you ever consciously talk to yourself? Maybe muttering in private what you won’t say out loud, or giving yourself a private pep talk to improve your performance, or perhaps arguing with yourself about whether to do something or not. We explore these inner monologues or dialogues, what shapes the process, and ask if they are a good thing, or can they trap us inside ourselves? British psychologist Charles Fernyhough explains why he believes the inner voice is vital in helping guide us through life and is rarely a sign of mental illness. Pakistani fiction writer Aamer Hussein writes in both Urdu and English, and explores the tension between thinking in one language and being forced to interact in another. And the American social psychologist Aleks Krotoski has been looking at how the internet affects the way we talk to ourselves. Image by Shan Pillay/ BBC |
| Inside The Mind Of Leonardo Da Vinci | 20190418 | 20190421 (WS) 20190422 (WS) | Leonardo da Vinci is best known for his paintings - creating masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. But through his notes and drawings we know him also to have been a sculptor, mathematician, botanist, palaeontologist, anatomist, architect and engineer, recording insights and inventions that were astonishingly ahead of their time. So what do his observations and experiments tell us about his unique understanding of the visible world around him? To mark the 500th anniversary of Leonardo's death Bridget Kendall talks to Martin Kemp, Emeritus Professor in the History of Art at Oxford University in the UK; Carmen C. Bambach, a curator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, in the US; and Prof Marina Wallace, a curator and art historian. Photo: Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519), Self-portrait, Red Chalk Drawing (Christophel Fine Art/Getty Images) The Italian artist's unique understanding of science and the natural world Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Invisibility | 20140705 | 20140706 (WS) 20140707 (WS) | Would you like to become invisible? What does invisibility mean anyway: is it just a matter of advanced optics, or something deeper that pre-dates science? Samira Ahmed discusses these issues with science writer Philip Ball, philosopher Kenan Malik, and psychologist Susan Blackmore. Photo by Shan Pillay (BBC) Is invisibility good or bad? Is it a matter of optics, morality or magic? 
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| J. William Fulbright: Scholarships And Soft Power | 20180616 | 20180619 (WS) | In many countries, the word 'Fulbrighter' has become almost synonymous with US-sponsored scholarships. But what about the man whose idea it was to set up this international scholar exchange programme over 70 years ago: how did J. William Fulbright convince his fellow Senators to support this novel concept? After all, the aims of the programme were nothing if not ambitious: "the achievement in international affairs of a regime more civilized, rational and humane than the empty system of power of the past". To discuss the history of the Fulbright programme, Bridget Kendall is joined by Fulbright's biographer Randall Woods, Professor of History at the University of Arkansas; Joan Dassin, Professor of International Education and Development at Brandeis University in Massachusetts; and two recent Fulbright scholarship recipients: language teaching specialist Vitoria Prochet from Brazil and human rights activist from Afghanistan Nilofar Sakhi. Historic recordings of Fulbright speeches used in the programme courtesy of Special Collections, University of Arkansas. Photo: William Fulbright (Getty/Corbis Historical) The man behind the renowned scholarship programme Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Sharing knowledge Photo: William Fulbright (Getty/Corbis Historical) |
| James Watt: The Power Of Steam | 20190627 | 20190630 (WS) 20190701 (WS) | In this 200th year since his death, we look at the life and work of James Watt, the Scottish innovator whose ground-breaking ideas helped power the Industrial Revolution and lay the basis for much of the mechanised world we take for granted now. He wasn't the inventor of the first steam engine - that had existed before his time - but his improved steam engine was vastly more efficient than earlier versions. As a result, industrial production rates soared and workplaces were transformed by new machines: changes that were to revolutionise society as well as industry. So who was James Watt? What inspired him and who helped him? Bridget Kendall talks to historians Dr. Malcolm Dick, Director of the Centre for West Midlands History at the University of Birmingham, and Professor Larry Stewart from the University of King's College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who specialises in early modern science. She is also joined by curators Val Boa from The McLean Museum in Greenock, Scotland that houses an important James Watt collection, and Ben Russell, Curator of Mechanical Engineering at the Science Museum in London where he looks after a number of Watt-related objects, including his legendary attic workshop.Steam escaping from a pressure gauge. (mevans/Getty Images) How the Scottish engineer's ingenuity transformed industry Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts In this 200th year since his death, we look at the life and work of James Watt, the Scottish innovator whose ground-breaking ideas helped power the Industrial Revolution and lay the basis for much of the mechanised world we take for granted now. He wasn't the inventor of the first steam engine - that had existed before his time - but his improved steam engine was vastly more efficient than earlier versions. As a result, industrial production rates soared and workplaces were transformed by new machines: changes that were to revolutionise society as well as industry. So who was James Watt? What inspired him and who helped him? Bridget Kendall talks to historians Dr. Malcolm Dick, Director of the Centre for West Midlands History at the University of Birmingham, and Professor Larry Stewart from the University of King's College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who specialises in early modern science. She is also joined by curators Val Boa from The McLean Museum in Greenock, Scotland that houses an important James Watt collection, and Ben Russell, Curator of Mechanical Engineering at the Science Museum in London where he looks after a number of Watt-related objects, including his legendary attic workshop. In this 200th year since his death, we look at the life and work of James Watt, the Scottish innovator whose ground-breaking ideas helped power the Industrial Revolution and lay the basis for much of the mechanised world we take for granted now. He wasn't the inventor of the first steam engine - that had existed before his time - but his improved steam engine was vastly more efficient than earlier versions. As a result, industrial production rates soared and workplaces were transformed by new machines: changes that were to revolutionise society as well as industry. So who was James Watt? What inspired him and who helped him? Bridget Kendall talks to historians Dr. Malcolm Dick, Director of the Centre for West Midlands History at the University of Birmingham, and Professor Larry Stewart from the University of King's College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who specialises in early modern science. She is also joined by curators Val Boa from The McLean Museum in Greenock, Scotland that houses an important James Watt collection, and Ben Russell, Curator of Mechanical Engineering at the Science Museum in London where he looks after a number of Watt-related objects, including his legendary attic workshop. |
| Joan Of Arc: Making A Martyr | 20170722 | 20170724 (WS) 20170725 (WS) | Born six centuries ago, Joan of Arc is regarded as a French national heroine: a peasant girl who, inspired by saintly visions, battled to break the Siege of Orléans and see Charles VII finally crowned King of France in a grand cathedral. But in 1431, she was burned at the stake. In this programme, Bridget Kendall and guests discuss the life and death of this medieval teenage celebrity who helped to shape the course of the Hundred Years War with England. They also reflect on her status as an enduring symbol in popular culture through the ages, including on the stage and the big screen. Bridget is joined by film scholar Robin Blaetz, and historians Juliet Barker, Xavier Helary and Daniel Hobbins. Photo: Joan of Arc: Painting by J D Ingres in the Louvre. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images) How a teenager fought to save France Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Joan Of Arc: Making A Martyr | 20170724 | | How a teenager fought to save FranceBorn six centuries ago, Joan of Arc is regarded as a French national heroine – a peasant girl who, inspired by saintly visions, battled to break the Siege of Orléans and see Charles VII finally crowned King of France in a grand cathedral. But in 1431, she was burned at the stake. In this programme, Bridget Kendall and guests discuss the life and death of this medieval teenage celebrity who helped to shape the course of the Hundred Years War with England. They also reflect on her status as an enduring symbol in popular culture through the ages, including on the stage and the big screen. Bridget is joined by film scholar Robin Blaetz, and historians Juliet Barker, Xavier Helary and Daniel Hobbins. Photo: Joan of Arc: Painting by J D Ingres in the Louvre. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images) |
| Joan Of Arc: Making A Martyr | 20200611 | 20200614 (WS) 20200615 (WS) | How a teenager fought to save France Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Born more than six hundred years ago, Joan of Arc is regarded as a French national heroine – a peasant girl who, inspired by saintly visions, battled to break the Siege of Orléans and see Charles VII finally crowned King of France in a grand cathedral. But in 1431, she was burned at the stake. Bridget Kendall and guests discuss the life and death of this medieval teenage celebrity who helped to shape the course of the Hundred Years War with England. They also reflect on her status as an enduring symbol in popular culture through the ages, including on the stage and the big screen. Bridget is joined by film scholar Robin Blaetz, and historians Juliet Barker, Xavier Helary and Daniel Hobbins. Photo: Joan of Arc: Painting by J D Ingres in the Louvre. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images) |
| Job Satisfaction | 20131027 | 20131028 (WS) | What is the most important aspect of working? Is it as simple as the money it puts in your pocket? Is it the people you work with? Or, is it the meaning you derive from what you do – the difference you make and the room you have for creative development? The Forum explores the notion of job satisfaction – what it means to us as individuals, and what difference it makes to a nation’s prosperity. Nobel Prize winning economist Edmund Phelps explains why innovation is the key. Norwegian Philosopher Lars Svendsen describes why finding meaning in what you do is essential to job satisfaction. And, artist and photographer Dyanita Singh admits that creating something new is the key but it comes at a cost because it is all consuming. Photo credit: Evrard/AFP/Getty Images What does the notion of job satisfaction mean to you? Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| John Harvey Kellogg: The 'wellness' Pioneer | 20191031 | 20191101 (WS) 20191103 (WS) 20191104 (WS) | John Harvey Kellogg is best known, along with his brother, for changing the way the world ate breakfast. But cornflakes were actually a by-product of Dr Kellogg’s lifelong mission to improve the dietary health of patients at his Battle Creek Sanitarium, a once world-famous medical centre and spa in the US state of Michigan that he ran from 1876 to 1943. Here Kellogg preached the art of ‘biologic living’: a healthy vegetable-based diet, avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine and meat, and getting plenty of exercise and fresh air. This was a revolutionary way of living at the time in the US, and Kellogg’s work influenced many of our current ideas about food and its relationship to bodily health, and the concept of ‘wellness’. Rajan Datar discusses John Harvey Kellogg’s life story with Howard Markel, Professor of the History of Medicine at the University of Michigan; Laura J. Miller, Professor of Sociology at Brandeis University in Massachusetts; and Brian C Wilson, Professor of Comparative Religion at Western Michigan University. Image: John Harvey Kellogg Credit: Library of Congress/Getty Images How the co-inventor of cornflakes inspired a healthy living revolution Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Kafka's The Metamorphosis: A Man Turns Into A Monstrous Bug | 20190711 | 20190713 (WS) 20190714 (WS) 20190715 (WS) | A man wakes up in the body of a verminous insect – this is the plot of one of the most celebrated short stories of all time – Franz Kafka’s 1915 novella The Metamorphosis. Dealing with the isolation and absurdity of modern existence, it has fascinated readers all over the world in its openness to varying interpretations, and the way it questions the very norms of society as well as literary form. Joining Rajan Datar to explore this most enigmatic work is Dr Carolin Duttlinger, the author of four books on Kafka and co-director of the Oxford Kafka research centre, Professor Alice Staskova, native of Kafka’s home city of Prague and specialist on Kafka and music, Dr Peter Zusi from the department of Czech Literature at University College London, and with the contribution of the Nigerian novelist Adrian Igoni Barrett who wrote his own take on The Metamorphosis – about a black man in Lagos who wakes up white. (Photo: Kafka's The Metamorphosis choreographed and directed by Arthur Pita at the Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House, UK. Credit: Robbie Jack/Corbis/Getty Images) A man transforms into a kind of huge vermin overnight \u2013 Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Karl Kraus: Austria's Fearless Satirist | 20181013 | 20181016 (WS) | The Austrian satirical writer Karl Kraus used his forensic pen to expose the Hapsburg Empire and 20th century Vienna for its dishonesty and decay. He was the master of the punchy one liner, as well as being extremely prolific: his magazine Die Fackel ran to 922 editions, that's some 22 thousand pages, and Kraus wrote most of them. He was also full of contradictions: he could be both progressive and reactionary, sometimes profound and sometimes petty, and while he was born into affluence he remained concerned by other people's poverty. Many of his contradictions could be equally applied to the cultural world of Vienna itself in this period of turmoil and transition. And this makes Kraus - the journalist, poet, playwright, actor, lecturer and acerbic aphorist - a uniquely scathing and illuminating guide to this important historical epoch and the city at its heart. Rajan Datar talks about Kraus with Dr. Katharina Prager from the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for History and Society, Dr. Simon Ganahl from the Austrian Academy of Sciences, both in Vienna, and Germanist Dr. Ari Linden from the University of Kansas. Photo: Karl Kraus (Imagno/Getty Images) The scathing critic of deceit and corruption in Vienna Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Sharing knowledge Photo: Karl Kraus (Imagno/Getty Images) |
| Korea: Two Countries, One Past | 20161126 | 20161128 (WS) 20161129 (WS) | Why and how the Korean Peninsula came to be divided into North and South Korea Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts 
For over a thousand years the Korean Peninsula was one nation, with a unique identity and character. So what caused it to be divided into two countries that have become so radically different, culturally, economically and politically? Bridget Kendall is joined by Namhee Lee, associate professor of modern Korean history at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); Eleanor Soo-ah Hyun, curator of the Korean Collections at the British Museum; and Dr James Hoare, a former diplomat who set up the first British Embassy in North Korea, and is now a Research Associate at the Centre of Korean Studies in the School of Oriental and African Studies in London (SOAS). Photo: Korean dancers perform a traditional dance. (Getty Images) Photo: Korean dancers perform a traditional dance. (Getty Images) |
| Kubla Khan: A Vision In A Dream | 20180113 | 20180116 (WS) | “In Xanadu did Kubla Khan a stately pleasure dome decree … “ - Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is one of the most famous poems in the English Language. But it is also one of the strangest. It was composed during an opium dream, it remains unfinished and according to one theory, was implicated in a war in South Africa. And what is its relation to the real life Kublai Khan, the 13th century Mongol emperor who conquered China? Joining Rajan Datar to discuss this mysterious poem is Coleridge’s award winning biographer Richard Holmes, the poet and senior lecturer in English Dr Peter Anderson from Cape Town University in South Africa, Professor Samantha Harvey from Boise State University in the US, and the Chinese historian Professor Kent Deng from the London School of Economics. (Photo: Royal Pavilion in the Phraya Nakhon Cave, Thailand. Credit: Mazzzur/GettyImages) Samuel Taylor Coleridge's epic is one of the most famous poems in the English language Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Lal Ded, Mystical Kashmiri Poet | 20200827 | 20200830 (WS) 20200831 (WS) | There is a great deal of mystery surrounding the poems attributed to the female Kashmiri poet, mystic and sage known as Lal Ded or Lalla. There are no records of her life but what is beyond doubt is the vitality, wisdom and endurance of her work. Her poems, usually just four lines long, have been around for centuries and remain so popular that some of them have passed into everyday speech in Kashmir. Lal Ded’s poems are also celebrated for their independence of thought and spirit and for challenging stereotypical images of what counts as female poetry during the Middle Ages. Rajan Datar is joined by leading Kashmiri writer and translator Neerja Mattoo; poet Ranjit Hoskote, author of a complete rendering of Lalla's poetry into English; Andrew Schelling, professor of poetry at Naropa University in Colorado who has translated and edited Indian devotional poetry for many years; and Dean Accardi, professor of history at Connecticut College who specialises in medieval Kashmir.(Photo: a woman at sunset. Credit: rvimages/Getty Images) A free-spirited woman whose pithy words challenged social norms Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts A wise woman from medieval Kashmir |
| Lawrence Of Arabia | 20180324 | 20180327 (WS) | T.E Lawrence was a British scholar and adventurer whose involvement with the Arab Revolt during the World War One inspired one of the most celebrated films in cinema history. So how did a man who was offered a knighthood and became an international celebrity end his days in near obscurity? Bridget Kendall is joined by historians James Barr and Juliette Desplat, and writer Scott Anderson to discuss his life and legacy. Photo: T. E. Lawrence. Photo by Hulton Archive / Getty Images. The life of T.E Lawrence renowned for his involvement with the Arab Revolt during WW1 Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Leeuwenhoek: The Fabric Seller Who Discovered Bacteria | 20190718 | 20190721 (WS) 20190722 (WS) | Antonie van Leeuwenhoek opened up a whole new world to us; he was the first to observe bacteria and other microscopic lifeforms which could not be seen by the naked eye. He is now regarded as the father of microbiology and yet he had neither scientific training nor university education, and spent his life first as a linen merchant and then a civil servant in a small Dutch city. To understand quite how game-changing Leeuwenhoek’s discoveries were, you have to imagine a world where just about everyone on the planet could only see things that were within the range of unaided human eyesight. Magnifying glasses were the preserve of a privileged few, and other optical instruments, such as simple telescopes and microscopes, were rarer still. So it’s little wonder that Leeuwenhoek was met with disbelief when he claimed that he had seen bustling, vibrant lifeforms in what for everyone was just a drop of clear, pure water. To find out how this extraordinarily curious Dutchman arrived at his discoveries, Rajan Datar is joined by Elisabeth Entjes who is one of the editors of Leeuwenhoek’s Collected Letters, Tiemen Cocquyt who as curator at the Boerhaave Museum of the history of science in Leiden has a special interest in Leeuwenhoek’s microscopes, and by biochemist and writer Nick Lane who is professor of Evolutionary Biochemistry at University College London. (Photo: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek's microscope. Credit: Rijksmuseum Boerhaave) The life and work of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, the Dutch pioneer of microscopy Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts To find out how this extraordinarily curious Dutchman arrived at his discoveries, Rajan Datar is joined by Elisabeth Entjes who is one of the editors of Leeuwenhoek’s Collected Letters, Tiemen Cocquyt who as curator at the Boerhaave Museum of the history of science in Leiden has a special interest in Leeuwenhoek’s microscopes, and by biochemist and writer Nick Lane who is professor of Evolutionary Biochemistry at University College London. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Legacy Of London 2012 | 20120812 | | It's been a two week-long festival of sporting excellence that has captivated the world: there's been spectacle, drama and the inevitable controversies. But what might be the legacy of the London Olympic Games, for the UK capital and its people, for Britain as a whole and for international sports events of the future? Bridget Kendall is joined by distinguished sports commentator Mihir Bose, Australian Professor Malcolm Gillies, social deprivation researcher Faiza Shaheen and financial journalist Anthony Hilton. Illustration by Laura Morris. How much has London and the UK, changed as a result of the Olympics? |
| Letting Go | 20130901 | 20130902 (WS) | Why do some of us find it easier than others to let go of places, people, the past, or ideas and traditions? Bridget Kendall talks to Bulgarian writer Miroslav Penkov who left his homeland and his native language to seek a new life in the United States; medical doctor and philosopher Raymond Tallis who says to let go of old assumptions, we need to stop thinking too hard, and just walk and look; and Chinese choreographer Xu Rui who is encouraging classically trained Chinese dancers to let go of their strict traditional styles and embrace new moves. Photo: Children let go of balloons, Credit: Stephane De Sakutin/AFP/Getty Images Can letting go of places, people, ideas and traditions bring big rewards? Why do some of us find it easier than others to let go of places, people, the past, or ideas and traditions? Bridget Kendall talks to Bulgarian writer Miroslav Penkov who left his homeland and his native language to seek a new life in the United States; medical doctor and philosopher Raymond Tallis who says to let go of old assumptions, we need to stop thinking too hard, and just walk and look; and Chinese choreographer Xu Rui who is encouraging classically trained Chinese dancers to let go of their strict traditional styles and embrace new moves. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Lewis Carroll’s Alice In Wonderland | 20170422 | 20170424 (WS) 20170425 (WS) 20170426 (WS) | The story behind this weird and wonderful literary classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is said to be one of the most quoted books in the world. It has been translated into 174 languages, from Catalan to Zulu, and its fantastical creatures, nonsense words and magical happenings have become part of our shared cultural landscape. Bridget Kendall investigates the story behind Lewis Carroll’s Victorian literary classic and its sequel with Angelika Zirker, Assistant Professor of English Literature at Tübingen University, Germany; Virginie Iché, Associate Professor of English Studies at Paul Valéry University in Montpellier, France, and currently a Visiting Scholar at the University of Texas at Austin; and Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, Professor of English Literature at Oxford University in the UK, and author of ‘The Story of Alice: Lewis Carroll and the Secret History of Wonderland’. Illustration by John Tenniel (Photo by Rischgitz/Getty Images) 
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| Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland | 20170422 | 20170424 (WS) 20170425 (WS) | Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is said to be one of the most quoted books in the world. It has been translated into 174 languages, from Catalan to Zulu, and its fantastical creatures, nonsense words and magical happenings have become part of our shared cultural landscape. Bridget Kendall investigates the story behind Lewis Carroll’s Victorian literary classic and its sequel with Angelika Zirker, Assistant Professor of English Literature at Tübingen University, Germany; Virginie Iché, Associate Professor of English Studies at Paul Valéry University in Montpellier, France, and currently a Visiting Scholar at the University of Texas at Austin; and Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, Professor of English Literature at Oxford University in the UK, and author of ‘The Story of Alice: Lewis Carroll and the Secret History of Wonderland’. Illustration by John Tenniel (Photo by Rischgitz/Getty Images) The story behind this weird and wonderful literary classic Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Li Bai: The Revered Chinese Poet | 20200206 | 20200207 (WS) 20200209 (WS) 20200210 (WS) | A nomadic wanderer and free-spirited romantic, Li Bai 李白, also known as Li Po, lived some 1300 years ago and yet his poems are still cherished for their wild imagination and effortless artistry. There are many colourful stories about his life but how much can we really know about someone who not only lived so long ago but was also very good at projecting an image of himself as a rebel? And how much of Li Bai's intricate, allusion-rich poetry can be translated successfully into other languages? These are some of the issues that Bridget Kendall discusses with Li Bai scholars Paula Varsano and Wilt Idema, and writer and Li Bai biographer Ha Jin. Picture: Li Bai sitting on a tree branch. Detail of the decoration on a large ceramic plate from China, 17th-18th century. Photo: DeAgostini/Getty Images The prodigious talent and restless life of Tang dynasty's literary rebel Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts A nomadic wanderer and free-spirited romantic, Li Bai 怀?白, also known as Li Po, lived some 1300 years ago and yet his poems are still cherished for their wild imagination and effortless artistry. There are many colourful stories about his life but how much can we really know about someone who not only lived so long ago but was also very good at projecting an image of himself as a rebel? And how much of Li Bai's intricate, allusion-rich poetry can be translated successfully into other languages? These are some of the issues that Bridget Kendall discusses with Li Bai scholars Paula Varsano and Wilt Idema, and writer and Li Bai biographer Ha Jin. (Picture: Li Bai sitting on a tree branch. Detail of the decoration on a large ceramic plate from China, 17th-18th century. Credit: DeAgostini/Getty Images) |
| Life Support: The Story Of The Red Cross | 20171209 | 20171212 (WS) | The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was formed in 1863 and its objectives have been to ensure protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict ever since. It's a story about the often challenging and sometimes controversial development of global humanitarian intervention, the Geneva Conventions and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Bridget Kendall and guests Dr Hugo Slim, Professor Andrew Thompson, Caroline Morehead and Syrian Canadian aid worker Layal Horanieh will explore the story of the ICRC and the complex negotiations required to operate in conflicted parts of the World. Photo: An aircraft of the International Committee of the Red Cross (AFP/Getty Images) The Story of The International Committee of the Red Cross Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Lifting The Lid: The History Of The Toilet | 20181108 | 20181109 (WS) 20181111 (WS) 20181112 (WS) | Toilets come in many shapes and sizes around the world: squat and throne, dry and flush, indoor and outdoor. Most of us use one every day, but over two billion people still do not have access to facilities, leading to health and sanitary problems and even risks for personal security. From the 50 seater public toilets of ancient Rome and the modern flush toilet, invented by a godson of a 16th century British monarch, this feat of human engineering is believed to date back 5000 years to the Indus Valley Civilisation. In recent years it’s become a battleground for equality, but in a world of increasing water shortages, could the flush toilet become a thing of the past? Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the history of the toilet are Ann Koloski-Ostrow - an archaeologist specialising in Roman toilets from Brandeis University in the United States; Barbara Penner - a Professor of Architectural Humanities from University College London and the author of books on public toilets and the modern bathroom; and Dr Bindeswar Pathak - a sociologist, social activist, and Founder of the Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement. He is also the inventor of an environmentally friendly compost toilet that’s used widely around India today. Photo: A close-up of a toilet (Getty Images) An invention many rely on, but prefer not to discuss Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Sharing knowledge |
| Limits Of Markets | 20120526 | 20120527 | Is there something morally distorted in a world where you can rent a womb for a woman to carry your baby? Or take a gamble on other people’s ill health by dealing in the new market in death bonds? Or is free market competition the best oil that makes the world go round? Michael Sandel is one of the world’s best known political philosophers, and he joins us on this week’s Forum to argue that market values, especially in America, are in danger of infiltrating all aspects of our lives, eroding moral standards and undermining social bonds. Testing his ideas are Chinese writer Jianying Zha and Indian social entrepreneur Harish Hande. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: the market driving out civic values. Free market: the best aid to development or a hydra that devalues everything it touches? Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Lines | 20141117 | 20141118 (WS) | Our world seems to be bound and criss-crossed by lines: except that when you look closely, many of them do not exist in reality, only in your mind. So what are we to make of lines: a useful human abstraction, to help us make sense of the world? And what does a line mean to an artist, whether one who wields a paintbrush or pencil, or one who fashions words into poetic verse? Joining Bridget Kendall are distinguished South African artist William Kentridge, poet and graphic artist Imtiaz Dharker and social anthropology professor Timothy Ingold. (Photo: Lines of pebbles on the beach with Timothy Ingold) How a spark of inspiration is transformed into a line on canvas or a line of verse. (Photo: Lines of pebbles on the beach with Timothy Ingold) |
| Listening: The Forum Live @ The Radio Theatre | 20121117 | 20121118 (WS) | Celebrating 90 years of BBC Radio. |
| Living At The Edge: Life In Extreme Environments | 20160402 | 20160404 (WS) 20160405 (WS) | Extreme life on earth and in space. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Living At The Edge: Life In Extreme Environments | 20160404 | 20160405 (WS) 20160406 (WS) | Extreme life on earth and in space. Bridget Kendall explores extreme living and what it tells us, from human exploration to deep sea fish and synthetic biology. Bridget and her guests explore hot dry deserts and sub-zero polar ice, deep sea vents, salt heavy lakes, acid hot springs and outer space. NASA scientist Lynn Rothschild is a pioneer in the field of astrobiology, interested in probing the limits of life on earth, to better understand where we might find life signs elsewhere in the universe. Oliver Crimmen is the Fish Curator at the Natural History Museum in London. He’s an expert on how some sea creatures can survive both freezing and hot water – and several miles beneath the surface of our oceans. And explorer Rosie Stancer takes her own body to the edge – with solo trips to both the South Pole and the Arctic North, and a new expedition planned across China’s largest desert. (Image credit: Science Photo Library) 

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| Lost And Found | 20160416 | 20160418 (WS) 20160419 (WS) 20160420 (WS) | From the horrors of human suffering and plunder of ancient artefacts in war to the reshaping of musical traditions, we examine the notion of things lost and found. British journalist Julian Borger reflects on the unmasking of some of the most notorious Balkan war criminals, Iraqi archaeologist Dr Lamia al-Gailani Werr mourns the loss of ancient relics in modern conflict and American pianist Bruce Brubaker deconstructs modern minimalist music. (Photo: The inner walls of Babylon, Iraq) Can loss be a force for renewal, forcing us to adjust and experience things differently? 
From the horrors of human suffering and plunder of ancient artefacts in war to the reshaping of musical traditions, we examine the notion of things lost and found. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Lu Xun: Writing The Story Of New China | 20190214 | 20190215 (WS) 20190217 (WS) 20190218 (WS) | Lu Xun has been often been called the father of modern Chinese literature. His short stories about the misery and cruelty of ordinary life in China have been interpreted both as revolutionary political statements inspired by the May Fourth Movement of 1919 which wanted to sweep-away outdated social mores, and as a brilliant new take on ancient Chinese literary traditions. Some of his works, both fiction and non-fiction, have been required reading for Chinese schoolchildren since the communists took charge of education in the country. But - like his life - Lu Xun's work doesn't easily fit under any simple banner and reflects the turbulent, confusing and contradictory history of China in the first three decades of the 20th century. Quentin Cooper talks to Professor Eileen Cheng, the author of acclaimed new translations of Lu Xun into English, Ohio State University Professor Kirk Denton, one of today's leading Lu Xun scholars, Professor Hu Ying from University of California who studies the culture of early 20th century China, and writer Yiyun Li. The reader is Paul Courtenay Hyu. Photo:The Chinese writer Lu Xun around 1910 (Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images) Life and works of the man who transformed Chinese literature. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Machiavelli - Master Of Power | 20170408 | 20170410 (WS) 20170411 (WS) 20170412 (WS) | The life and reputation of Niccolò Machiavelli’s ‘The Prince’ Over five hundred years ago, dismissed diplomat Niccolò Machiavelli produced his most famous work, ‘The Prince’. Written on the fringes of the Italian city of Florence, the book has long been read as a priceless guide to power and what holding it truly involves. But who was the man behind the work? Why did he claim that a leader must be prepared to act immorally? And why did the name of this one-time political insider become a byword for cunning and sinister strategy? Rajan Datar explores the life and impact of Machiavelli’s ‘The Prince’, with writer and scholar Erica Benner, historian Professor Quentin Skinner and journalist David Ignatius. Image:Circa 1499, Niccolò Machiavelli (Hulton Archive/Getty Images) 
The life and reputation of Niccol\u00f2 Machiavelli's \u2018The Prince' Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Machine Translation: The End Of The Human Translator? | 20160206 | 20160208 (WS) 20160209 (WS) | Will new technology mean the end of the human translator? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Machine Translation: The End Of The Human Translator? | 20160208 | 20160209 (WS) | Will new technology mean the end of the human translator? Translating from one language to another is fraught with difficulty – capturing exact words can be hard enough let alone more subtle meanings like metaphor, pathos, or culturally specific references and phrases. But machine translation is even more complex, although it is developing at a very rapid pace and both text and voice can now be translated very quickly. Bridget Kendall and guests explore whether machine translation means an end to human translators and what impact it might have on our desire and ability to learn and immerse ourselves in other languages. (Photo: Scholar reading Walatta Petros manuscript at monastery. Credit: Wendy L.Belcher) 
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| Machu Picchu: The Secrets Of A Forgotten City | 20180505 | 20180508 (WS) | The ancient Inca town Machu Picchu is now the most visited tourist attraction in Peru - and yet it lay nearly forgotten for over three centuries until American and Peruvian explorers drew the world's attention to it in the 1910s. And despite a century of excavations at the site, there are still many unanswered questions about Machu Picchu: why was it built in the first place, who were the immigrants that made up a large proportion of the town's population, and why was it abandoned so quickly. To find out more about Machu Picchu, Bridget Kendall is joined by leading archaeologists of the Inca civilisation Lucy Salazar and Michael Malpass, the celebrated mountaineer and explorer Johan Reinhard and by writer Mark Adams who retraced the steps of the 1911 expedition led by Hiram Bingham that put Machu Picchu back on the map. Photo: Machu Picchu, Peru. (Eitan Abramovich/Getty Images) The enigma of the Inca mountain retreat Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Magellan: First Man Round The Globe? | 20180217 | 20180220 (WS) | Portuguese sailor and explorer Ferdinand Magellan set out 500 years ago to find a route to the riches of the spice islands, north east of present day Indonesia. Through a series of adventures and tragedies, Magellan’s voyage discovered the Straits of Magellan joining the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through Southern America and was the first expedition to completely circumnavigate the World. But Magellan died on the way and the remaining crew were in fact first round the globe. To explore an achievement that changed the World and still influences us today, Bridget Kendall is joined by Dr Rodrigo Cacho, Dr Alison Sandman and Dr Rachel Winchcombe. Photo: An illustration of Ferdinand Magellan (Hulton Archive/Getty Images) The story of the man whose voyage accidently circumnavigated the globe Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Photo: An illustration of Ferdinand Magellan (Hulton Archive/Getty Images) |
| Magic | 20150824 | 20150825 (WS) | The art - and science - of magic and its place in the world today. Are we too technologically advanced for magic to cast a spell on us, or is there a significant place for the enchantment it can generate? Tim Marlow asks the stage magician Scott Penrose, the fantasy novelist Aliette de Bodard and the experimental psychologist Dr Kevin O’Regan for their thoughts. (Photo: Magic cards. Credit: Shan Pillay) 
Are we too technologically advanced for magic to cast a spell on us, or is there a significant place for the enchantment it can generate? Tim Marlow asks the stage magician Scott Penrose, the fantasy novelist Aliette de Bodard and the experimental psychologist Dr Kevin O’Regan for their thoughts. 
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| Making It Big In Hong Kong: A Matter Of Good Fortune? | 20131123 | 20131124 (WS) 20131125 (WS) | Has the Asian concept of 'Fortune' been the key to Hong Kong's economic success but also a limitation on its creativity? In a special programme recorded at the Hong Kong Literary Festival, Bridget Kendall asks if this dynamic yet conservative city, could in future, measure up creatively to its neighbour China and other countries in the region. Perspectives from banker-turned-novelist Phillip Kim, neo-Victorian specialist Liz Ho, screenwriter Ivy Ho and designer Danielle Huthart. (Photo: Chinese people kneeling and praying for good fortune at a temple in Hong Kong. Credit: Britt Yip) Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Making Scents: The Story Of Perfume | 20170812 | 20170814 (WS) 20170815 (WS) | Throughout history, fragrance has been used to scent both the body and our surroundings. With just one drop, perfume has the potential to stir memories, awaken the senses and even influence how we feel about ourselves. But what’s the story behind this liquid luxury in a bottle, now found on the shelves of bathrooms and department stores worldwide? In this programme, Bridget Kendall and guests explore the modern history of perfume, including its flowering in France and the explosive chemical discoveries that helped to make fine fragrance what it is today. They also explore perfume’s ancient roots and ask: what’s in a name? Bridget is joined by scientist and critic Luca Turin, writer and curator Lizzie Ostrom and the perfumer Thomas Fontaine. Also featuring William Tullett and James McHugh. Photo: Perfume bottles and smelling strips (Getty Images) How fine fragrance became liquid luxury in a bottle Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Man V Mosquito | 20200220 | 20200221 (WS) 20200223 (WS) 20200224 (WS) | Mosquitos are a fast-adapting, elusive enemy which humans have been trying to combat for thousands of years. As vectors of dangerous diseases, these tiny insects have killed more people in human history than any other animal. So what impact has the mosquito had on our lives? How have humans tried to halt its spread? And who is winning the battle? Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the history of man and the mosquito are Dr. Erica McAlister, Senior Curator of Diptera - Flies - at the Natural History Museum in London; Dr. Timothy Winegard, historian and author of The Mosquito: A Human History of our Deadliest Predator; and Dr. Clifford Mutero of the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Nairobi, Kenya, and author of Mosquito Hunter: Chronicles of an African Insect Scientist. Image: Health workers tackling the spread of the Zika virus in Brazil, 2016 Credit: Mario Tama / Getty Images How humans have waged war against the mosquito for thousands of years Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Manuela Se1enz: South America's Revolutionary Heroine | 20191010 | 20191013 (WS) 20191014 (WS) | Manuela Sáenz was an Ecuadorian revolutionary who for many years was most famous for her role as the lover of Simón Bolívar - the Venezuelan military leader who secured independence from Spain for a number of countries in South America between 1819-1830. Sáenz left her British husband for Bolívar, or 'The Liberator' as he was known, and famously saved the leader from an assassination attempt, earning her the name 'Libertadora'. But Sáenz was a political force in her own right, receiving various honours for her work for the revolutionary cause. She continued her involvement in politics right to the end of her life while exiled in Peru, acting as a spy and creating a network of informants. As many countries in what used to be known as 'Gran Colombia' celebrate 200 years of independence from Spain, Bridget Kendall speaks to three experts about Manuela Sáenz's key role in the independence struggle: Pamela Murray, professor of history at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and author of the biography For Glory and Bolívar: The Remarkable Life of Manuela Sáenz; Matthew Brown, professor in Latin American history at the University of Bristol, UK; and Marcela Echeverri, associate professor at Yale University's Department of History in the United States. (Photo: Portrait of Manuela Sáenz in 1825 by Pedro Durante. Credit: Museo Nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú) The Ecuadorian woman who fought for South American independence in the 19th Century Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Maps | 20121215 | 20121216 (WS) | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Marie Curie Ⓚ Inside The Mind Of A Genius | 20170313 | 20170314 (WS) | The Polish physicist and chemist Marie Curie was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize, and the first person to be awarded twice in two different fields. Her discoveries in the field of radioactivity – adding polonium and radium to the table of elements – changed the course of scientific history and led to huge advances in the treatment of cancer. 150 years after her birth to a poor family in occupied Poland, Quentin Cooper traces Marie Curie’s extraordinary life story with Patricia Fara, President of the British Society for the History of Science; Maciej Dunajski, Mathematician and Theoretical Physicist at Cambridge University; and Susan Quinn, author of Marie Curie: A Life. Photo: Marie Curie (Credit: Hulton Archive/ Getty Images) The extraordinary life of the Polish scientist who changed the course of physics 
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| Marie Curie: A Pioneering Life | 20170311 | 20170313 (WS) 20170314 (WS) | The Polish physicist and chemist Marie Curie was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize, and the first person to be awarded twice in two different fields. Her discoveries in the field of radioactivity – adding polonium and radium to the table of elements – changed the course of scientific history and led to huge advances in the treatment of cancer. Quentin Cooper traces Marie Curie’s extraordinary life story with Patricia Fara, president of the British Society for the History of Science; Maciej Dunajski, mathematician and theoretical physicist at Cambridge University; and Susan Quinn, author of Marie Curie: A Life. (Photo: Marie Curie. Credit: Hulton Archive/ Getty Images) The extraordinary life of the Polish scientist who changed the course of physics Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Mark Twain: The 'father Of American Literature' | 20180714 | 20180717 (WS) | Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was known for his piercing wit, irreverent satire and social commentary. Leaving school early following the death of his father, he lived many lives in one: spending time as a journalist, steamboat pilot and world traveller, suffering significant personal and financial losses. These are just some of the experiences that would feed into his novels, articles, short stories, essays and the thousands of letters that are still being unearthed today. Best known for his book Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which tells the story of a rebellious young boy called Huck floating down the Mississippi River with a runaway slave called Jim, Twain developed a style that led to him being credited as "the father of American literature". The work, like so much of Twain's other writing, tackles serious social issues and continues to be shrouded in controversy to this day. Bridget Kendall discusses his life and works with Twain scholars Shelley Fisher Fiskin, Thomas Smith, Jocelyn Chadwick and Mark Dawidziak. (Photo: Mark Twain (Donaldson Collection. Credit: Getty Images) Bridget Kendall and guests discuss the life, work and legacy of Mark Twain Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Mata Hari: Dancer, Lover, Spy | 20170121 | 20170123 (WS) 20170124 (WS) | It is 100 years since the exotic dancer and legendary ‘femme fatale’ Mata Hari was executed by a French firing squad for passing secrets to the Germans during World War One. She was described at the time as the ‘greatest woman spy of the century’. But many now see Mata Hari as a convenient scapegoat, condemned merely for her unconventional lifestyle. Bridget Kendall discusses the myths and realities surrounding women in espionage with Julie Wheelwright, programme director of non-fiction writing at City, University of London, and author of The Fatal Lover: Mata Hari and the Myth of Women in Espionage; Tammy Proctor, Professor of History at Utah State University and author of Female Intelligence: Women and Espionage in the First World War; and Hanneke Boonstra, a Dutch journalist who is writing an official blog about Mata Hari as part of this year’s centenary commemorations in the Netherlands. (Photo: Mata Hari. Credit: Getty Images) What is the truth behind the legendary WW1 spy-seductress? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Mata Hari: Dancer, Lover, Spy | 20170123 | 20170124 (WS) | What is the truth behind the legendary WW1 spy-seductress? It is 100 years since the exotic dancer and legendary ‘femme fatale’ Mata Hari was executed by a French firing squad for passing secrets to the Germans during World War One. She was described at the time as the ‘greatest woman spy of the century’. But many now see Mata Hari as a convenient scapegoat, condemned merely for her unconventional lifestyle. Bridget Kendall discusses the myths and realities surrounding women in espionage with Julie Wheelwright, programme director of non-fiction writing at City, University of London, and author of ‘The Fatal Lover: Mata Hari and the Myth of Women in Espionage’; Tammy Proctor, Professor of History at Utah State University and author of ‘Female Intelligence. Women and Espionage in the First World War’; and Hanneke Boonstra, a Dutch journalist who is writing an official blog about Mata Hari as part of this year’s centenary commemorations in the Netherlands. (Photo: Mata Hari. Credit: Getty Images) 
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| Material World: Making The Modern Factory | 20180512 | 20180515 (WS) | Bridget Kendall and guests discuss the key components of the global story of the factory, tracing its development from eighteenth century Britain to twenty-first century China and beyond. Exploring how the factory came to shape not just the material world but entire social worlds too, they share their expert knowledge on topics such as the lives of factory workers, the capitalist and communist factory, and the changing face of manufacturing in an age of robots and smart technology. Bridget is joined by Joshua B. Freeman, Martin Krzywdzinski, Alessandra Mezzadri and Nina Rappaport. The sociologist Ching Kwan Lee also shares her insights into factory life in Shenzhen as it transformed in the late twentieth century. Image: Illustration of an old 18th century factory. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images) The global factory story Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Measuring Impact | 20131006 | 20131007 (WS) | Measuring is embedded into everything we do from our personal achievements to profits and losses. But has it become an obsession? Or are we measuring the wrong things? How can you measure trust for example? To discuss the results, Carrie Gracie talks to Mike McCreless who invests in rural businesses in developing countries, academic economist Rocco Macchiavello, who has been looking at trust in the work place and clinical psychologist Oliver James. (Picture: Computer screen showing a graph. Credit: Nicky Barranger) Are we too obsessed with metrics and are we measuring the right values? Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Mental Health | 20120609 | 20120610 20120610 (WS) | Innovative ways to tackle mental illness worldwide One in three of us will be affected by mental illness during our lifetime. What is it like to suffer from that most common mental illness, depression? Antipodean artist and writer Matthew Johnstone characterised it as a black dog, in a bestselling picture book he wrote about his experiences. What can be done to help the millions of sufferers worldwide who never see a trained professional and often encounter discrimination and abuse? Indian Psychiatrist Vikram Patel discusses the challenge of promoting global mental health. And what can we learn from methods used to help people who have committed violent crimes while suffering from mental illness? Broadmoor psychotherapist Gwen Adshead explains how she helps her patients begin to heal. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: the disturbing stories inside our minds |
| Mermaids: Tales From The Deep | 20210204 | 20210205 (WS) 20210207 (WS) 20210208 (WS) | We delve into the watery depths of sea creature folklore, with a round-the-world tour of different variations on the concept of mermaids – from the Sirens of Greek mythology to the Selkies or Seal Folk of Scottish legend, and water spirits known as Mami Water, which are venerated in parts of Africa and the Americas. Not forgetting the famous fairy tale, The Little Mermaid, which has captivated the imagination ever since its publication in 1837 and was popularised by Disney in the 1980s. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss what these ancient stories can tell us are Cristina Bacchilega of the University of Hawaii, co-editor of The Penguin Book of Mermaids; British writer, Marcelle Mateki Akita, who has written a book for children called Fatama and Mami Wata's Secret; and Lynn Barbour, founder and Arts Director of the Orkney Folklore and Storytelling Centre in the Orkney Islands in Scotland. Produced by Jo Impey for the BBC World Service. [Image: Detail from Fisherman and Mermaids in the Blue Grotto on Capri by Hermann Corrodi (1844-1905). Credit: Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images] A history of sea creature folklore from around the world Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Microbes And Humans: The Science Of Living Together | 20160625 | 20160627 (WS) 20160628 (WS) | New insights into the human microbiome, the tiny organisms living in and on our bodies Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Microbes And Humans: The Science Of Living Together | 20160627 | 20160628 (WS) 20160629 (WS) | The Obama administration recently announced it will spend over a hundred million dollars on deepening our knowledge of the human microbiome - the bacteria, fungi, viruses and other organisms which make their home in and on our bodies. Bridget Kendall is joined by three people whose work in different ways enriches our appreciation of the world of human microbiota - the epidemiologist Mark Woolhouse, microbiology educator Christine Marizzi and gut flora researcher Jeroen Raes. (Photo: The NYC Biome MAP part of the Collective Urban Biome MAP project. Credit: Genspace NYC and The DNA Learning Center) New insights into the human microbiome, the tiny organisms living in and on our bodies 

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| Modern Alchemy | 20140125 | 20140126 (WS) 20140127 (WS) | We look at some of the most ingenious ways in which entrepreneurs and scientists are turning useless junk into precious gold…or at least extracting the elements we can go on using. Joining Bridget Kendall are water refiner Alison Lewis, road-dust miner Angela Murray; and global recycling analyst Adam Minter. Transforming waste into valuable products 
Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Moomin Creator Tove Jansson | 20190314 | 20190315 (WS) 20190317 (WS) 20190318 (WS) | Tove Jansson was a Finnish-Swedish author and illustrator best known for her children’s books about the Moomins. These white, hippo-like characters live in the imaginary world of Moominvalley where they subtly challenge social norms and utter philosophical statements such as "I knew nothing, but I believed a lot." While the Moomins brought Jansson worldwide fame in the 20th century, she was also a painter, an accomplished novelist and a political cartoonist who took risks poking fun at Hitler. Her work often mirrored her private life in which she defied stereotypes of the time by working and earning money for her family, travelling alone, and having relationships with both men and women. Joining Rajan Datar to discuss the life and works of Tove Jansson are her niece, Sophia Jansson; Boel Westin - a professor of children’s literature from Stockholm University and the author of the authorised biography of Tove’s life called Life, Art, Words; and British children’s author Philip Ardagh, author of The World of Moominvalley. Plus Mayumi Tomihara - an expert on Tove Jansson from Tokyo’s Sacred Heart University who has translated many of Tove’s adult novels into Japanese. Photo: Finnish illustrator Tove Jansson in a self-portrait with her Moomin characters (© Moomin Characters™) The life and work of the Finnish-Swedish author, illustrator and painter Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Mugham: The Sound Of Azerbaijan | 20201224 | 20201225 (WS) 20201227 (WS) 20201228 (WS) | Azerbaijan’s strategic location along the old Silk Road and its wealth of natural resources has made it a prime target for warring empires over centuries. The conquests and the invasions by Turkic and Persian peoples find echoes in the traditional art music of Azerbaijan known as mugham. The influence of the Russian and then Soviet empire also brought change for mugham, the effects of which are still debated today. Mugham is characterised by a large degree of improvisation, but musicians learn for years from mugham masters to acquire the skills which allow them to extemporise within a strict framework. It’s no surprise to learn that in the 20th century, mugham fused with that other great improvisatory music – jazz. With the help of musical examples, Rajan Datar and guests will explore how mugham works and the instruments such as the tar and the kamancha that give this music its unique sound. Joining Rajan will be ethnomusicologist and tar player Dr Polina Dessiatnitchenko who’s writing a book on mugham in post-Soviet Azerbaijan; Jeffrey Werbock, musician and chair of the Mugham Society of America; and music producer and artistic patron Nasib Piriyev, who set up BUTA Arts, an organisation designed to raise awareness of Azeri music and culture. Produced by Fiona Clampin for BBC World Service. Image: Alim Qasimov sings an improvised Mugham during the Opening Ceremony for the Baku 2015 European Games Image credit: Francois Nel/Getty Images for BEGOC Transcendental music from the Caucasus Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Multilingualism | 20140830 | 20140831 (WS) 20140901 (WS) | The Forum explores whether it make a difference to a child’s development if they speak one language at home and another at school, how the brain is affected by juggling between different languages and what effect being bi-lingual or multilingual has on the way people feel about their identity? Bridget Kendall talks to writer and academic Gustavo Perez Firmat, developmental linguistics academic Antonella Sorace, and cognitive neuroscientist Ellen Bialystok. Illustration by Shan Pillay The advantages and disadvantages of speaking more than one language 
Illustration by Shan Pillay |
| Napoleon: From Empire To Exile | 20190328 | 20190329 (WS) 20190331 (WS) | The story of how an average-sized artillery officer from a small Mediterranean island came to dominate revolutionary France and become the international celebrity of his age is an extraordinary one. Born on Corsica in 1769, Napoleon Bonaparte appeared to avoid engaging with the military career for which he was destined. And yet within a decade, his ambition, ego and enormous talent for self-promotion propelled him to the rank of general and eventually the highest office in France. At the beginning of the 19th century Napoleon’s rise appeared unstoppable. He was declared First Consul for life, then crowned himself Emperor of the French. He brought a period of much-needed stability to France and codified laws and systems which exist to this day. When his wife Joséphine was unable to give him a child, he divorced her and cemented an alliance with Austria’s imperial family. At its height, the Napoleonic empire stretched across most of Western Europe and numbered 40 million people. But his continuing thirst for power also sowed the seeds of his downfall. Bridget Kendall delves into the life and legacy of one of history’s most divisive figures. With guests Rafe Blaufarb, Professor of History at Florida State University in the US; Kate Astbury, Professor of French Studies at the University of Warwick, UK and the co-curator of www.100days.eu ; and Professor Annie Jourdan from the University of Amsterdam, Holland. Photo: Jacques-Louis David painting 'The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries', 1812 (VCG Wilson/Corbis via Getty Images) Exploring the life and legacy of France's revolutionary emperor Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Natsume Soseki: Japan's Great Novelist | 20200409 | 20200412 (WS) 20200413 (WS) | Natsume Soseki is one of the greatest writers in the history of Japan. The backdrop to his work is the disorientation and social anxiety of the early 20th century as Japan undertook rapid modernization after centuries of being closed to the world. Soseki has had a huge influence on generations of Japanese authors and has obsessed some international artists. His work is taught to generations of school children in Japan and greatly admired by scholars but remains obscure to much of the rest of the world. Why? Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the life and work of Japanese writer Natsume Soseki: The author and critic Damian Flanagan; Michael Bourdaghs, Professor of East Asian Languages at the University of Chicago; and Reiko Abe Auestad, Professor of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages at the University of Oslo.(Photo: Natsume Soseki on a 1000 Yen note, series D. Credit: Getty Images/DEA/A Dagli Orti) The Japanese literary giant of the early 20th century Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Natsume Soseki is one of the greatest writers in the history of Japan. The backdrop to his work is the disorientation and social anxiety of the early 20th Century as Japan undertook rapid modernization after centuries of being closed to the world. Soseki has had a huge influence on generations of Japanese authors and has obsessed some international artists. His work is taught to generations of school children in Japan and greatly admired by scholars but remains obscure to much of the rest of the world. Why? Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the life and work of Japanese writer Natsume Soseki: The author and critic Damian Flanagan; Michael Bourdaghs, Professor of East Asian Languages at the University of Chicago; and Reiko Abe Auestad, Professor of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages at the University of Oslo. (Photo: Natsume Soseki on a 1000 Yen note, series D. Credit: A Dagli Orti/DEA/Getty Images) The Japanese literary giant of the early 20th Century Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Navigation | 20120714 | 20120715 | This week's Forum comes from London's only lighthouse, on the banks of the river Thames and right opposite one of the Olympic venues. With the world's eyes focused on London over the course of the next month, and with so many people travelling to the UK capital, the lighthouse is the perfect place to explore the concept of navigation. Bridget Kendall is joined by Nick Ward, the Research Director of the General Lighthouse Authorities of the UK and Ireland, an organisation that has been looking after lighthouses and other navigational aids for 500 years; Margarette Lincoln, Deputy Director at the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich; and Andrei Kurkov, a Ukrainian writer who divides his time between the capital Kiev, with its majestic Dnieper river, and London. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: the Lighthouse as a beacon to ideas, people and goods. How do we find the way to our destination? Bridget Kendall is joined by Nick Ward, the Research Director of the General Lighthouse Authorities of the UK and Ireland, an organisation that has been looking after lighthouses and other navigational aids for 500 years; Margarette Lincoln, Deputy Director at the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich; and Andrei Kurkov, a Ukrainian writer who divides his time between the capital Kiev, with its majestic Dnieper river, and London. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Nefertiti: The Beguiling Egyptian Queen | 20200130 | 20200131 (WS) 20200202 (WS) 20200203 (WS) | A mysterious Egyptian Queen who lived more than 3,000 years ago, Nefertiti still dazzles the modern imagination. Once the wife of a Pharaoh, she might have faded into obscurity, but for the 1912 discovery of an extraordinary bust of her wearing a distinctive flat-topped crown, which captured her very modern beauty and made her into a global celebrity. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the story of Queen Nefertiti are Tarek Tawfik, Associate Professor of Egyptology at Cairo University and former Director General of the Grand Egyptian Museum Project; Christian Loeben, curator of the Egyptian and Islamic Collections at the Museum August Kestner in Hannover, Germany; And Joyce Tyldesley, Reader in Egyptology at the University of Manchester, and author of Nefertiti’s Face: The Creation of an Icon. (Image Credit: Oliver Lang / DDP / AFP / Getty Images) The story behind the beautiful bust and the powerful woman it represents Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the story of Queen Nefertiti are Tarek Tawfik, Associate Professor of Egyptology at Cairo University and former Director General of the Grand Egyptian Museum Project; Christian Loeben, curator of the Egyptian and Islamic Collections at the Museum August Kestner in Hannover, Germany; And Joyce Tyldesley, Reader in Egyptology at the University of Manchester, and author of Nefertiti’s Face: The Creation of an Icon. |
| Nikola Tesla's Electric Dreams | 20171125 | 20171128 (WS) | The extraordinary life and prophetic inventions of the Serbian-American engineer Nikola Tesla. Bridget Kendall and guests discuss not just Tesla's key contributions to the design of modern electrical appliances and systems but also his dream of a worldwide system of free wireless electricity, his ambitious scheme to build huge towers to make it happen and why in 1917 his plans and the first tower at Wardenclyffe near New York City came crashing down. Bridget is joined by Jasmina Vujic, Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Berkeley, University of California, and a Vice President of the Tesla Memorial Society of New York; Jane Alcorn, the President of the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe; and Michael Krause, a historian, writer and director of the documentary All About Tesla. Photo: A Tesla Coil in action. The man in the photo is wearing a specially designed ferroalloy metal suit which keeps him safe while the high voltage crackles from him.(Getty Images) A showman and a dreamer or an engineering genius well ahead of his time? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Nineteen Eighty-four: Orwell's Dystopian Classic | 20190801 | 20190804 (WS) 20190805 (WS) | The vision of the future evoked in George Orwell’s last novel Nineteen Eighty-Four was so terrifying to its first readers that some claimed to be unable to sleep at night. When the book was adapted by the BBC for the new medium of television after Orwell’s death, millions became aware of the novel’s concepts and language which have since seeped into Western popular culture. Big Brother, Room 101, the thought police, doublethink: few novels of the 20th century have had such a lasting impact. Over the seventy years since its publication, world events have brought Orwell’s vision into focus at various points. The Cold War, the collapse of Communism, the rise of surveillance, and the inauguration of President Trump are among those moments in history which have made readers return to the novel time and again. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the origins of Orwell’s novel and its ongoing relevance are Professor John Rodden, author of George Orwell: Life and Letters, Legend and Legacy; journalist and writer Dorian Lynskey whose biography of Nineteen Eighty-Four, The Ministry of Truth, was published in 2019; and editor of the George Orwell Society Journal Masha Karp, writer of the forthcoming George Orwell and Russia (Bloomsbury Academic). Photo: A man holding a German translation of George Orwell's 1984. (Adam Berry/Getty Images) Why George Orwell's novel remains topical 70 years after publication Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Photo: A man holding a German translation of George Orwell's 1984. (Adam Berry/Getty Images) |
| Obsessions, New And Old, In Literature And Technology | 20130407 | 20130408 (WS) | With Javier Marias, Evgeny Morozov and Manil Suri. This week on The Forum we explore something we all succumb to now and then: obsessive behaviour. It may be an infatuation with another person you can’t get out of your head or a fixation on a single object or idea that, like a talisman, you are scared to let go of. But what is it that drives our obsessions? Joining Bridget Kendall are internet analyst and cyber-sceptic, Belarus -born Evgeny Morozov; leading Spanish novelist and translator, Javier Marias; and Indian-American mathematics professor and author, Manil Suri. Photo Credit: Science Photo Library This week on The Forum we explore something we all succumb to now and then: obsessive behaviour. It may be an infatuation with another person you can’t get out of your head or a fixation on a single object or idea that, like a talisman, you are scared to let go of. But what is it that drives our obsessions? Joining Bridget Kendall are internet analyst and cyber-sceptic, Belarus -born Evgeny Morozov; leading Spanish novelist and translator, Javier Marias; and Indian-American mathematics professor and author, Manil Suri. Photo Credit: Science Photo Library |
| Olympe De Gouges: France's Forgotten Revolutionary Heroine | 20210114 | 20210115 (WS) 20210117 (WS) 20210118 (WS) | She fought to give women the right to divorce and campaigned on behalf of children born out of wedlock. But in late 18th century France, her radical thinking proved too much for her contemporaries in the French revolution. She insisted women should be allowed to speak out, and she was executed at the guillotine for doing just that. For nearly two centuries her story was largely forgotten, until she was championed by modern-day French feminists, who called for her to be given pride of place in the pantheon of France’s national heroes. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the life of the French political activist and playwright Olympe de Gouges are: French philosopher of feminist thought, Geneviève Fraisse; Professor Catriona Seth of the University of Oxford; and British-French playwright and translator, Clarissa Palmer. Produced by Jo Impey for the BBC World Service. Image: Portrait of Olympe de Gouges (1748-1793) by Anonymous Image credit: Christophel Fine Art/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The French social activist, feminist and playwright who was executed at the guillotine Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Oscar Niemeyer: Brazil's King Of Curves | 20200312 | 20200313 (WS) 20200315 (WS) 20200316 (WS) | Best known for his curvaceous buildings and his design of Brasilia, Oscar Niemeyer was one of Brazil’s greatest architects and a leading pioneer of modernism. During his seven- decade career, Niemeyer designed hundreds of remarkable buildings not just in his native Brazil but also in Europe and as far afield as Algeria. His experimentation with reinforced concrete produced organic curved shapes that were a significant departure from the austere style of European modernism. An ardent communist, Niemeyer hoped his beautiful buildings would be for all sections of society to enjoy, but how does his vision and influence endure today, and are his striking creations still functional and sustainable? Joining Rajan Datar to discuss Oscar Niemeyer and his work are Professor Richard Williams from the University of Edinburgh and the author of “Brazil: Modern Architectures in History”; the Brazilian architect and lecturer at the University of Bath, Dr Juliana Calabria Holley, and Maria Paz Gutierrez, Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley. (Image: a view of the Contemporary Art Museum (MAC) in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro state, with the Sugar Loaf mountain in the background. Credit: REUTERS/Pilar Olivares) Brazil's visionary architect and leading pioneer of modernism Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Joining Rajan Datar to discuss Oscar Niemeyer and his work are Professor Richard Williams from the University of Edinburgh and the author of “Brazil: Modern Architectures in History ?; the Brazilian architect and lecturer at the University of Bath, Dr Juliana Calabria Holley, and Maria Paz Gutierrez, Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley. |
| Oxygen: Its History And Its Future | 20160220 | 20160222 (WS) 20160223 (WS) | The history and the future of oxygen Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Oxygen: Its History And Its Future | 20160222 | 20160223 (WS) | The history of oxygen on Earth, in the human body and new discoveries in space. With the leading authority on geochemistry, Don Canfield, geologist and professor of Ecology at the University of Southern Denmark; Peter Calverley, professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Liverpool in the UK and the chief scientist on the European Rosetta Space orbiter project; Kathrin Altwegg from the University of Bern Physics Institute in Switzerland. Bridget Kendall and her guests explore how oxygen appeared and evolved on Earth, what we know about its interaction with the human body and what its discovery on a comet might mean for theories about the origins of life. (Photo: The DFMS (the Double Focusing Mass Spectrometer on the Rosetta space orbiter, which is the instrument measuring the oxygen in space. Credit: University of Bern) The history and the future of oxygen 

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| Paul Robeson: Singer, Actor And Civil Rights Activist | 20201022 | 20201025 (WS) 20201026 (WS) | The multi-talented Paul Robeson could have turned his hand to pretty much anything he set his mind to: lawyer, athlete and linguist were just some of the career paths he could have taken. But he chose to become an actor and singer, and in doing so reached into the lives of huge numbers of people as one of the most popular American entertainers of his time. Outspoken on the issues of racism, colonialism and the rights of workers, he used his popularity to campaign against the injustice he saw in many countries across the world – not just injustice suffered by his fellow African Americans. During the Cold War, his support for Soviet-style communism was deemed unacceptable by the American establishment, and some set out to destroy his career. Joining Bridget Kendall to examine Paul Robeson’s life are Dr Gerald Horne, the Moores Professor of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston and the author of Paul Robeson: The Artist as Revolutionary; Dr Shana L Redmond, Professor of Musicology and African American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the author of Everything Man: The Form and Function of Paul Robeson; and Tayo Aluko whose one-man play Call Mr Robeson has won numerous awards and toured countries around the world since its premiere in 2007. Photo: Paul Robeson Credit: Keystone Features/Getty Images Exploring the life of a man who campaigned for disenfranchised people around the world Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Pearls: Treasures Of The Sea | 20190516 | 20190519 (WS) 20190520 (WS) | Pearls are the most chameleon-like of jewels: they can sell for millions or for just a few dollars, they have been used to symbolize both chastity and debauchery, they have been conspicuously worn by men and women. The production methods of both cultured and natural pearls have been fraught with controversy and their position as fashion and status symbols has waxed and waned over the centuries. Bridget Kendall discovers the social history of pearls with jewellery historian Beatriz Chadour-Sampson and Pittsburgh University professor Molly Warsh. Plus jewellery writer Victoria Finlay puts to the test one of the more colourful claims about what is in essence an iridescent blob of nacre: that if you drop a pearl in a glass of vinegar it will quickly dissolve.(Photo: Pearls in a shell. Credit: Greg Vaughn/VW Pics/UIG/Getty Images) The social history of pearls as a fashion and status symbol over the centuries Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Peering Into Space | 20130706 | 20130707 (WS) 20130708 (WS) | The Forum at the Aspen Ideas Festival Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| People Power Ⓚ How Much Do We Really Have? | 20121110 | 20121111 (WS) | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Picasso, Artist Of Reinvention | 20200730 | 20200802 (WS) 20200803 (WS) | Pablo Picasso is commonly regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th Century, changing our way of seeing with his radical innovation and revolutionary approach. As pioneer of Cubism, godfather to the Surrealists, and creator of the enduring anti-war painting Guernica, he produced thousands of paintings in his lifetime, not to mention his sculptures, ceramics, stage designs, poetry and plays. Rajan Datar discusses his life and work with curators Ann Temkin and Katharina Beisiegel, and art historian Charlie Miller. (Photo: Pablo Picasso in 1955. Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images) How an artist changed our way of seeing Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Picasso: Artist Of Reinvention | 20170819 | 20170821 (WS) 20170822 (WS) | Pablo Picasso is commonly regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th Century, changing our way of seeing with his radical innovation and revolutionary approach. As pioneer of Cubism, godfather to the Surrealists, and creator of the enduring anti-war painting Guernica, he produced thousands of paintings in his lifetime, not to mention his sculptures, ceramics, stage designs, poetry and plays. Rajan Datar discusses his life and work with curators Ann Temkin and Katharina Beisiegel, and art historian Charlie Miller. (Photo: Pablo Picasso in 1955. Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images) How Pablo Picasso changed our way of seeing Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Pioneers Of Surgical Hygiene | 20180707 | 20180710 (WS) | The Hungarian obstetrician Ignaz Semmelweis, born 200 years ago this month, saved the lives of hundreds, possibly thousands, of new mothers with his forward-looking ideas about hospital hygiene. He insisted that junior doctors working for him wash their hands in chlorinated lime solution before examining expectant mothers. This simple procedure reduced mortality by something like 90 per cent at the Vienna maternity ward that he was in charge of. Many more deaths could have been prevented had other physicians followed his advice without delay. So why did many in the medical profession resist not just Semmelweis's findings but also similar ideas of his fellow hygiene pioneers, such as Joseph Lister? Quentin Cooper discusses the beginnings of surgical cleanliness with Dr. Sonia Horn from Vienna University, Dr. Andrew Cunningham from Cambridge University and Prof. Michael Worboys from the University of Manchester.Photo: presurgery sanitization. (PeopleImages/Getty Images) The painful route to cleanliness in 19th century hospitals Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Plant And Flower Shapes | 20130112 | 20130113 (WS) |  Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Plastic: How It Changed The World | 20180428 | 20180501 (WS) | The birth of modern plastic began in 1907 with the invention of Bakelite, one of the first plastics to be made from entirely synthetic components. But plastic in a particular form was being used many thousands of years ago by the Olmec, the earliest known civilisation in Mexico, who played with balls made of a natural polymer - rubber. Over the years the plastics industry has grown from the work of a handful of inventors to a global player whose products reach into almost every corner of our lives. Plastic has been at the heart of one of the most important changes in virtually all societies since the second world war: the consumer revolution. But while it is a force for good in many areas and a highly versatile material that appears in the most surprising places, plastic today is a major environmental preoccupation. Can we modify our use towards this wonder material, or can scientists rise to the challenge of creating a plastic that will break down completely when it has reached the end of its useful life? Rajan Datar is joined by nanoscientist Professor Ajay Mishra, chemist Professor Andrea Sella and journalist Susan Freinkel to explore the story of plastic. Photo: Plastic bottles on a production line (Getty Images) Experts from the world of science discuss the story of plastic with presenter Rajan Datar Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Precision Medicine @ Aspen Ideas Festival | 20130825 | 20130826 (WS) | With Margaret Hamburg, Thomas Frieden and Anthony Coles. The Forum @ Aspen Ideas Festival delves into the emerging fields of precision and personalized medicine. How are they transforming the treatment of chronic and infectious disease? Joining Bridget Kendall, two of the top public health officials in the US; Margaret Hamburg at the FDA, and Thomas Frieden at the CDC. We also hear from drugs company CEO Tony Coles, and get the views of a lively audience in Aspen. Photo © All rights reserved by aspeninstitute-internal. |
| Progress: Are We Making Any? | 20130414 | 20130415 (WS) | with Mohsin Hamid, Susan Neiman and Ruchir Sharma. Recent advances in science, social justice and personal prosperity suggest that things can only get better for the majority of people. So why are so many of us afraid they might get worse? Best-selling Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid weighs up the balance sheet of profit and loss in rising Asia, Indian investor and writer Ruchir Sharma explains why it is so hard to sustain economic progress, and American moral philosopher Susan Neiman cautions against equating progress with increasing wealth. Photo shows construction site on the Jiangumenenei Road in Beijing. Photo credit: BBC/ Kevin Foy Recent advances in science, social justice and personal prosperity suggest that things can only get better for the majority of people. So why are so many of us afraid they might get worse? Best-selling Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid weighs up the balance sheet of profit and loss in rising Asia, Indian investor and writer Ruchir Sharma explains why it is so hard to sustain economic progress, and American moral philosopher Susan Neiman cautions against equating progress with increasing wealth. Photo shows construction site on the Jiangumenenei Road in Beijing. Photo credit: BBC/ Kevin Foy |
| Queen Njinga Of Angola: Fearless Fighter | 20190425 | 20190428 (WS) 20190429 (WS) | The 17th Century Queen Njinga was among the most successful of Africa's rulers in resisting European colonialism: she defied no fewer than 13 different Portuguese governors of modern-day Angola and ruled the kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba for over three decades. She was no ordinary person, the warrior Queen. She was a fearless fighter, a military strategist, often ruthless, a shrewd diplomat and an inspirational leader in a period of huge turmoil, shifting alliances and conflict. Her name still resonates throughout the region and she stands as a symbol of the continent's fight against oppression. Rajan Datar is joined by professor Linda Heywood, author of the first comprehensive biography of Njinga in English, professor Roquinaldo Ferreira whose many publications include studies of the frequent social and cultural exchanges between Brazil and central Africa; and one of the leading experts on west African economic history Dr Toby Green.(Photo: Statue of Queen Njinga in Luanda, Angola. Sculptor: Rui de Matos. Credit: mtcurado/Getty Images) The remarkable 17th Century leader who defied European oppression Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Queen Tamar: The Myth Of A Perfect Ruler | 20200917 | 20200920 (WS) 20200921 (WS) | Queen Tamar was one of Georgia’s most iconic and colourful rulers, a powerful medieval sovereign who controlled large parts of the Caucasus and the eastern side of the Black Sea and forged strong cultural links with both the Byzantine West and the Persian South. Her influence extended beyond the battlefield: she presided over the last phase of the Georgian ‘Golden Age’ which saw the building of classic Georgian churches and a flowering of the Arts that produced one of Georgia’s most important poets. So who was Queen Tamar? How did she rise to power and outmanoeuvre her enemies? And why do the myths about her rule publicised by her faithful chroniclers persist till today? Bridget Kendall is joined by Dr. Ekaterine Gedevanishvili, Senior Researcher at the National Centre for the History of Georgian Art in Tbilisi; Alexander Mikaberidze, Professor of History at Louisiana State University; Dr. Sandro Nikolaishvili, researcher at the University of Southern Denmark, who works on retracing connections between the Byzantine and Georgian worlds; and Donald Rayfield, Emeritus Professor of Russian and Georgian at Queen Mary, University of London.(Image: Queen Tamar, detail of a mural in Vardzia monastery, Georgia, c. 12th century. Credit: G. Chubinashvili National Research Centre for Georgian Art History and Heritage Preservation, Tbilisi) Georgia's most iconic female sovereign Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Radioactivity: Friend Or Foe? | 20160709 | 20160711 (WS) 20160712 (WS) 20160713 (WS) | Separating the benefits of radioactivity from its dangers One of the first things that comes to mind when thinking of radioactivity is often a nuclear accident or dangerous rays. But radioactivity is in fact a much more varied phenomenon, one that can bring us great benefits as well as put us in danger. With help from three experts, Rajan Datar looks for a more nuanced picture of the role radioactivity plays in our lives. Photo: A symbol for radioactivity is visible on a radioactively-contaminated container. (Getty Images) 
Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Rain Or Shine? A Short History Of The Weather Forecast | 20171104 | 20171107 (WS) | How did we get from not having any reliable way of predicting the weather just 150 years ago, to today's accurate, tailor-made forecasts for places as small as a village? Bridget Kendall and guests trace the history of meteorology, from its first steps as an aid to quicker trans-Atlantic shipping to the latest methods which can help anticipate weather events as short-lived as a tornado. Bridget is joined by Kristine Harper, a former US Navy forecaster and now a history professor at Florida State University; Peter Gibbs who started out as a meteorologist with the British Antarctic Survey and the UK's Met Office before becoming one of the best known weather forecasters on BBC radio and television; and Peter Moore, a writer and historian with a particular interest in weather discoveries of the 19th century. Photo: A hurricane is seen from the International Space Station. (Scott Kelly/NASA via Getty Images) A century and a half of scientific meteorology Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Photo: A hurricane is seen from the International Space Station. (Scott Kelly/NASA via Getty Images) |
| Rasputin: The Siberian Mystic Who Charmed The Tsar | 20190530 | 20190602 (WS) 20190603 (WS) | Rasputin’s story is a familiar one – an illiterate Siberian peasant who managed to secure the confidence of the last Tsar and Tsarina of Russia, while indulging his legendary sexual appetite and love of hard drinking. Rasputin was so revered by his acolytes that they would collect his fingernail clippings, as if they were some kind of holy relic. When his extraordinary life was brought to an equally extraordinary end when he refused to die – murdered eventually in cold blood by a group of aristocrats – it unleashed the Russian revolution, and changed the geopolitical landscape in ways that still resonate today. That’s one version of events that’s held sway for more than one hundred years. And yet so much of the Rasputin legend has been pieced together by those looking to discredit him. Is it possible to peel away the layers of myth-making and get to the heart of who Rasputin really was and what he stood for? Joining Bridget Kendall on a truth-seeking mission is Russian imperial historian Helen Rappaport, author of The Race to Save the Romanovs; Russian literary translator and executive editor of the Los Angeles Review of Books, Boris Dralyuk; and historian Douglas Smith, author of the 2016 biography Rasputin: Faith, Power and the Twilight of the Romanovs. Photo: Grigori Rasputin. (Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images) Untangling the web of contradictions of the spiritual guide to the Romanov dynasty Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Ray Bradbury, A Master Of Science Fiction | 20200813 | 20200816 (WS) 20200817 (WS) | ”People ask me to predict the future, when all I want to do is prevent it.” Ray Bradbury has been acclaimed as the writer most responsible for bringing modern science fiction into the literary mainstream but, as the quote above shows, he regarded himself as the author of modern philosophical fables, rather than a sci-fi writer. In his dystopian works, such as Fahrenheit 451, he holds up a mirror to contemporary society and then transposes it into fantastical and futuristic scenarios. Bradbury was a prolific writer who tried his hand at everything from poems and novels to TV and radio scripts but it’s his early short stories which he produced in his twenties that are perhaps the most imaginative. To mark the centenary of Bradbury’s birth, Rajan Datar is joined by three Bradbury experts to help him navigate through the author’s prodigious output: Professor Jonathan Eller from Indiana University who is also the Director of the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies; Dr. Miranda Corcoran who teaches American literature at University College Cork with particular interest in science fiction, horror and the gothic; and Dr. Phil Nichols who combines research into Bradbury's TV and other media work with the teaching of Film and Television Production at Wolverhampton University. (Photo: Ray Bradbury in Los Angeles, circa 1980. Credit Michael Montfort/Pix/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Celebrating the author of Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Real Versus Virtual | 20121006 | 20121007 (WS) | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Reality | 20140222 | 20140223 (WS) 20140224 (WS) | What is reality made of? It’s easy to be hoodwinked into thinking the world you immediately see and experience is the most important part of reality. So this week you’re invited to join us in leaving earth and zooming up into space to discover what we can see when we’re thousands of miles away. Joining Bridget Kendall for this journey are space archaeologist Sarah Parcak, artist Mishka Henner, and cosmologist Max Tegmark. Photo of Planet Earth from space courtesy of NASA/ Getty images 
It’s easy to be hoodwinked into thinking the world you immediately see and experience is the most important part of reality. So this week you’re invited to join us in leaving earth and zooming up into space to discover what we can see when we’re thousands of miles away. Joining Bridget Kendall for this journey are space archaeologist Sarah Parcak, artist Mishka Henner, and cosmologist Max Tegmark. Photo of Planet Earth from space courtesy of NASA/ Getty images |
| Reawakening Language | 20160123 | 20160125 (WS) 20160126 (WS) | Reawakening language and culture Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Reawakening Language | 20160125 | 20160126 (WS) | Reawakening language and culture Many of us are fluent in at least one language and some people are proficient in two, three, four or even more. But not all languages around the world are in good health. In fact it is thought that at least half of the languages that are alive today could cease to be spoken by the end of this century. What can we do about it? How do you re-awaken hibernating or dying languages and the cultures that go with them? Or, is some extinction inevitable? Bridget Kendall discusses the positive things that are happening with some minority languages, focusing on Australia, Nepal and Hawaii with linguists Professor Ghil’ad Zuckermann and Dr. Candace Kaleimamoowahinekapu Galla and anthropologist Dr. Mark Turin. (Photo: Idea written (clockwise from top) in Hebrew, Arabic, Yiddish and Indonesian. Illustration by Shan Pillay) 

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| Reconciliation: Healing The Nation | 20151123 | 20151124 (WS) | With the recent election of a new, Liberal government, the issue of reconciliation between Canada's indigenous peoples and the rest of the population is again high on the agenda. So what is the best way to atone for the wrongdoings of the past? The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; Kristina Llewellyn, professor of Social Development studies at the University of Waterloo; and Torsten Klengel, a German psychiatrist and geneticist now based at Harvard Medical School in the USA offer their views to Bridget Kendall and the Spur Festival audience at the National Gallery in Ottawa. (Photo: In the 19th and 20th Centuries, tens of thousands of Canadian aboriginal children were sent to church-run, government-funded boarding schools, called residential schools. Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories, date unknown. Library and Archives Canada/PA-042133) What is the best way to redress historical injustices? 

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| Reducing Urban Poverty | 20161001 | 20161003 (WS) 20161004 (WS) | How to ensure people in deprived areas get secondary education and adequate nutrition Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Reducing Urban Poverty | 20161003 | 20161004 (WS) 20161005 (WS) | With half the world’s population now living in just 1% of the land area, urban poverty is a growing problem. We head to a gathering of leading global thinkers at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Centre, to explore practical and innovative ways to tackle the issue. Quentin Cooper is joined by population expert Purnima Mane, anthropologist professor Francis Nyamnjoh, former president of a chain of ethical grocery stores Doug Rauch, and food and water policy expert Paula Daniels. (Photo: Comuna 13 Shantytown Colombia. Credit: Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images) How to ensure people in deprived areas get secondary education and adequate nutrition 
(Photo: Comuna 13 Shantytown Colombia. Credit: Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images) |
| Reflecting On Love, Laughter And Friendship | 20140315 | 20140316 (WS) 20140317 (WS) | This week The Forum is at the London School of Economics as part of their Space for Thought Festival 2014, and we’re playing it for laughs, with a little heart-ache thrown in. Tim Marlow is joined by award-winning writers Tracy Chevalier and Daniyal Mueenuddin, who both read from their most recent work; and by neuroscientist and part-time stand-up comedienne Professor Sophie Scott, who explains why and how we laugh. We also hear the views (and the giggles) of an international audience in the Sheikh Zayed Theatre. Photos by Nigel Stead A special programme from the London School of Economics Literary Festival 2014 
Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Reinventing Peace | 20140426 | 20140427 (WS) 20140428 (WS) | When it comes to conflict resolution, psychotherapist Gabrielle Rifkind says we should adapt the skills used by mediators and marriage counsellors. Philosopher Mary Zournazi says we need to reimagine what we mean by peace. And neuroscientist James Blair explains how to subdue aggression using the latest research into brain circuitry. (Photo: White paper cut-outs of birds stuck to a fence. Credit: Getty Images) 
Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Resilience: A Survivor's Guide To Adversity | 20160604 | 20160607 (WS) 20160608 (WS) 20160606 20160606 (WS) | Why some people and animals adapt to hardship These days everyone from schoolchildren to business owners is being told to become more resilient, but what does resilience mean in geological time? How and why do some organisms survive mass extinctions? And, on a shorter time-scale, how do people cope with the demands of dictators? Janina Ramirez and her guests discuss how to survive adversity across time and space. (Photo: Caiman crocodiles in San Marcos, Sucre in Colombia. Credit: Getty Images) 

Why some people and animals adapt to hardship Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Revenge | 20120901 | 20120902 (WS) | What drives our vengeful desires and what happens if we listen to them? Conflicts around the world remind us daily of the perils of taking an eye for an eye. How deep into our societies does the instinct for revenge go? If revenge is a dish best not served at all, can victims of personal trauma find closure by other means? And what are the consequences of supressing our vengeful desires? Bridget Kendall is joined by the celebrated novelist Rose Tremain, whose latest book Merivel, depicts a man incapable of taking revenge. Indian essayist Salil Tripathi considers righting the wrongs of history in Bangladesh. And the activist Yvette Alberdingk Thijm encourages victims from all over the world to relate their experiences on video and begin the process of moving on. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: Vengeance pacified by storytelling. Bridget Kendall is joined by the celebrated novelist Rose Tremain, whose latest book, Merival, depicts a man incapable of taking revenge. Indian essayist Salil Tripathi considers righting the wrongs of history in Bangladesh. And the activist Yvette Alberdingk Thijm encourages victims from all over the world to relate their experiences on video and begin the process of moving on. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: vengeance pacified by storytelling. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Risor Festival: Outcasts | 20140712 | 20140713 (WS) 20140714 (WS) | When is it better to remain an outsider? And what makes outcasts unwelcome? From the Risor Festival in Norway, presenter Bridget Kendall hears from four distinguished Scandinavians and an attentive festival audience on the topic of the uninvited. With film director Margreth Olin, bioethicist Bjorn Hofmann, Icelandic writer Sjon and violinist Henning Kraggerud. (Photo: Bridget Kendall, Margreth Olin, Bjorn Hofmann, Sjon and Henning Kraggerud in front of an invited audience. Credit: Liv Øvland/Risør Chamber Music Festival) 
(Photo: Bridget Kendall, Margreth Olin, Bjorn Hofmann, Sjon and Henning Kraggerud in front of an invited audience. Credit: Liv Øvland/Risør Chamber Music Festival) |
| Rivers | 20140906 | 20140907 (WS) 20140908 (WS) | The world’s rivers have always played a powerful role in human history. But in today’s world - with air travel, super highways and the internet - do rivers matter less? Bridget Kendall asks Egyptologist Toby Wilkinson, geologist Mathew Wells and actor Olwen Fouéré to probe the watery depths. (Photo: The Huka river in New Zealand. Credit: BBC) 
Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Robinson Crusoe: The Man And His Island | 20190221 | 20190222 (WS) 20190224 (WS) 20190225 (WS) | The story of Robinson Crusoe and his many years of survival alone on a deserted island has enchanted the English-speaking world for centuries. Many people first come across the story as a children’s book or a film portrayal, celebrating Crusoe’s buccaneering adventures and his heroic efforts to tame his wild environment, create shelter and food supplies, and eventually befriend the indigenous man he calls Friday. But closer reading of Daniel Defoe’s original novel, written 300 years ago this spring, reveals a more complex tale of sin and redemption, debating fundamental questions about man’s place in the world against a backdrop of colonial expansion, transatlantic commerce and the slave trade. Bridget Kendall talks to the Defoe scholar Professor Andreas Mueller from the University of Northern Colorado in the USA; Olivette Otele, Professor of History at Bath Spa University in the UK; and Karen O’Brien, Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford in the UK. Photo: Engraving of Robinson Crusoe by Wal Paquet. (Ipsumpix/Corbis via Getty Images) Daniel Defoe's classic adventure story Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Rudolf Nureyev: Superstar Russian Dancer | 20191107 | 20191108 (WS) 20191110 (WS) 20191111 (WS) | From the moment the seven-year-old Rudolf Nureyev saw a ballet on stage in his local theatre, he lived and breathed dance. That overwhelming desire to be on stage carried him throughout his life – from his student days in Leningrad to his defection to the West in a blaze of publicity, from theatres around the world to his final curtain in 1992 when his gaunt body was ravaged by Aids. He made good on his promise: “the main thing is dancing, and before it withers away from my body, I will keep dancing till the last moment, the last drop.” In a career spanning more than three decades, he brought new audiences to ballet, and gave new meaning to the role of male dancers. He was a pin-up, a performer whose stage presence and artistry was so mesmerising that those who saw him perform in the 1960s have never forgotten the experience. His leaps defied gravity; he gave the impression of floating through the air. But his demands for perfection could make him a difficult person to be with. His temper was as legendary as his dancing. Bridget Kendall explores how Nureyev’s commitment to transcend his childhood in grinding poverty made him one of the world’s most celebrated dancers, with writer Julie Kavanagh, author of Rudolf Nureyev: The Life; writer and translator, Irina Klyagin, who looks after Harvard University’s extensive theatre collection and specialises in Russian ballet; and Thierry Fouquet, vice chair of the board of trustees of the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation who worked with Nureyev during his time at the Paris opera, the home of France’s leading ballet company. (Photo: Rudolf Nureyev In 'Aureole'. Credit: Linda Vartoogian/Getty Images) Exploring the life of a man who pushed the boundaries of ballet. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Rules And How They Govern Us | 20160430 | 20160502 (WS) 20160503 (WS) | Rules and how they govern us. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Rules And How They Govern Us | 20160502 | 20160503 (WS) 20160504 (WS) | We all need rules - nature has them and we impose them on our communities in order to function; sometimes fairly and sometimes not- depending on your perspective. But just how important are rules and how do rules in nature affect our function as human beings? And how are our rules being used and interpreted by machines as artificial intelligence and deep learning evolve at enormous speed? Bridget Kendall discusses rules in nature, rules in society and rules in robotics and AI with Sean B. Carroll, professor of molecular biology, genetics, and medical genetics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, whose new book The Serengeti Rules: The Quest to Discover How Life Works and Why it Matters, explores regulation in the natural world- from every molecule in our bodies to the number of animals and plants in the wild. Dr Nina Power, a philosopher interested in protest who explores when and why we break the rules. And, Dr Jason Millar an engineer and philosopher who explores the ethics of robotics- how we apply human rules to machines and how they might begin to interpret those rules independently. (Photo: The Forum book of rules) 
We all need rules - nature has them and we impose them on our communities in order to function; sometimes fairly and sometimes not- depending on your perspective. But just how important are rules and how do rules in nature affect our function as human beings? And how are our rules being used and interpreted by machines as artificial intelligence and deep learning evolve at enormous speed? Rules and how they govern us. 
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| Rumi: Sufi Poet Of Love | 20171007 | 20171009 (WS) 20171010 (WS) | From East to West, Rumi is one of the most universally respected poets of all time. A 13th Century Islamic scholar, his encounter with a wandering dervish transformed him into a globally celebrated mystic and poet of love who has crossed borders of time, faith, language and geography. Rajan Datar discusses his life, work and legacy with scholars Fatemeh Keshavarz and Omid Safi, and biographer Brad Gooch. (Photo: Pray Mount Nemrut, Commagene. Credit: Getty Images/tugbahasbal) The life, poetry and legacy of 13th Century Sufi poet Rumi Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Sankara: Africa's Revolutionary President | 20171223 | 20171226 (WS) | Thomas Sankara is the revolutionary who became the first president of Burkina Faso in West Africa, and gave the country its name, meaning 'the land of upright people'. In his short time as leader of Burkina Faso, Sankara instituted sweeping reforms to make the country more self-sufficient and society more equal. For some Sankara was a hero, for others, he was a ruthless autocrat. This year marks 30 years after his mysterious -and as yet unsolved- assassination, but why do memories of him still haunt Africa to this day? Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss Thomas Sankara, are Dr Amber Murrey-Ndewa from the American University in Cairo, Lamine Konkobo BBC Afrique journalist from Burkina Faso, and Aziz Fall, Professor of International Studies in Canada and campaigner for justice on behalf of the Sankara family. Photo: Thomas Sankara at a press conference in Paris, 1986. (Getty Images) Thomas Sankara: why his assassination and time in power still haunts Africa to this day Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Scarcity | 20140118 | 20140119 (WS) 20140120 (WS) | How does scarcity change our behaviour? Does it cloud our thinking or make us more innovative? And what about scarcity on a planetary scale - how would we cope if we ran short of the precious metals and gases which power modern life? Joining Bridget Kendall are Princeton psychologist Eldar Shafir, innovation strategist Simone Ahuja and chemistry professor Andrea Sella. 
Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Secrets Of The Great Pyramid | 20170909 | 20170911 (WS) 20170912 (WS) | The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt is one of the greatest wonders of the ancient World. It is the largest pyramid ever built and even today, with advanced satellite and thermal imaging and other high tech science, we don’t know everything about the pyramid- exactly what’s inside or how it was built. To explore the history of The Great Pyramid - also known as the Pyramid of Khufu, after the Pharaoh who commissioned it as his tomb, Rajan Datar is joined by Professor Salima Ikram, Distinguished University Professor and Egyptology Unit Head at the American University in Cairo, space archaeologist Dr Sarah Parcak, a National Geographic fellow and associate Professor at Birmingham University Alabama in the USA and Dr Joyce Tyldesley, an archaeologist and Egyptologist from the University of Manchester in the UK. Photo: The Pyramids at Giza. (Getty Images) Exploring The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Secrets Of The Great Pyramid | 20200820 | 20200823 (WS) 20200824 (WS) | The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt is one of the greatest wonders of the ancient World. It is the largest pyramid ever built and even today, with advanced satellite and thermal imaging and other high tech science, we don’t know everything about the pyramid- exactly what’s inside or how it was built. To explore the history of The Great Pyramid - also known as the Pyramid of Khufu, after the Pharaoh who commissioned it as his tomb - Rajan Datar is joined by Salima Ikram, Distinguished University Professor and Egyptology Unit Head at the American University in Cairo, space archaeologist Sarah Parcak, a National Geographic fellow and Professor at Birmingham University Alabama in the USA, and Professor Joyce Tyldesley, an archaeologist and Egyptologist from the University of Manchester in the UK. Photo: The Pyramids at Giza (Getty Images) Exploring the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Self Assembly | 20141004 | 20141005 (WS) 20141006 (WS) | How simple cells, molecules and even robots can work together to achieve complexity Cells working together to build a human embryo, a swarm of bees, robots joining forces to explore challenging terrain. These are all examples of self assembly – the coming together of simple units to form something of great complexity. To explore this wide-ranging area of research Bridget Kendall is joined by experimental biologist Jamie Davies, chemical engineer and physicist Sharon Glotzer and robotics engineer Roderich Gross. (Photo: Bees working together: Credit: Matt Cardy/ Getty Images) Cells working together to build a human embryo, a swarm of bees, robots joining forces to explore challenging terrain. These are all examples of self assembly – the coming together of simple units to form something of great complexity. To explore this wide-ranging area of research Bridget Kendall is joined by experimental biologist Jamie Davies, chemical engineer and physicist Sharon Glotzer and robotics engineer Roderich Gross. (Photo: Bees working together: Credit: Matt Cardy/ Getty Images) |
| Seven Samurai: A Japanese Masterpiece | 20170204 | 20170206 (WS) 20170207 (WS) | The 1954 Japanese epic Seven Samurai by Akira Kurosawa has been described as one of the most influential films in the history of cinema. Set in 16th century rural Japan it tells the story of a small village that hires seven masterless samurai to protect them from a group of bandits intent on stealing their harvest. Seven Samurai’s unique style and themes redefined the action movie genre and inspired filmmakers across the world. Bridget Kendall talks to Daisuke Miyao, Professor of Japanese film at the University of California, San Diego; David Desser, Emeritus Professor of Cinema Studies at the University of Illinois; and Dolores Martinez, Emeritus Reader in Anthropology specializing in Japanese popular culture at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. Photo: Actor Toshiro Mifune in the film Seven Samurai (Credit: AFP/ Getty Images) The global impact of Akira Kurosawa's 1954 groundbreaking action film Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Sharing And Why It Is Essential For The Human Race | 20160730 | 20160801 (WS) 20160802 (WS) | Why do we share and how important is it for our survival? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Sharing And Why It Is Essential For The Human Race | 20160801 | 20160802 (WS) 20160803 (WS) | Why do we share and how important is it for our survival? Everyone likes to be alone sometimes, but we also all spend much of our lives collaborating and sharing things with others. Many argue that on this increasingly crowded planet, we need to master the art of sharing much better if we are to survive and flourish. So what makes us want to share new ideas and pass on our experience? Bridget Kendall discusses three very kinds of sharing - digital information, genes and national infrastructure. She is joined by Jonah Berger, marketing professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States; Connie Jeffery, assistant professor of Biological Sciences and head of the Jeffery Lab at the University of Illinois in Chicago; Dr Elham Ibrahim, commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy for the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Photo: The Golden Gate Bridge, in California, provides a means to sharing infrastructure. Credit: Getty Images) 
Everyone likes to be alone sometimes, but we also all spend much of our lives collaborating and sharing things with others. Many argue that on this increasingly crowded planet, we need to master the art of sharing much better if we are to survive and flourish. So what makes us want to share new ideas and pass on our experience? 
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| Shining A Light On Crystals | 20130728 | 20130729 (WS) | With Elspeth Garman, Penelope Boston and Roger Hiorns. Bridget Kendall discusses the incredibly varied uses and meanings of crystals with cave scientist Penny Boston, who studies ancient life forms trapped inside the earth’s largest crystals; biophysicist Elspeth Garman who can spend years growing one perfect protein crystal in her lab; and artist Roger Hiorns who encrusted an entire apartment with bright blue crystals. Photo: Liberata; taken by Giovanni Badino © SpeleoResearch&Film-LaVenta-C/Producciones Bridget Kendall discusses the incredibly varied uses and meanings of crystals with cave scientist Penny Boston, who studies ancient life forms trapped inside the earth’s largest crystals; biophysicist Elspeth Garman who can spend years growing one perfect protein crystal in her lab; and artist Roger Hiorns who encrusted an entire apartment with bright blue crystals. Photo: Liberata; taken by Giovanni Badino © SpeleoResearch&Film-LaVenta-C/Producciones |
| Silence | 20130505 | 20130506 (WS) | Joining Bridget Kendall to be noisy about silence are American conservationist John Francis, who chose to stop talking one day and didn’t speak again for seventeen years; Russian ice artist and explorer Galya Morrell, who has found that silence is an essential tool for survival in the North; and award-winning historian Diarmaid MacCulloch, who is interested in the tension between speech and silence that has existed throughout Christian history. From communication and contemplation to obedience and shame, we explore silence Joining Bridget Kendall to be noisy about silence are American conservationist John Francis, who chose to stop talking one day and didn’t speak again for seventeen years; Russian ice artist and explorer Galya Morrell, who has found that silence is an essential tool for survival in the North; and award-winning historian Diarmaid MacCulloch, who is interested in the tension between speech and silence that has existed throughout Christian history. |
| Silk Routes: 2000 Years Of Trading | 20200625 | 20200629 (WS) | Luxuries and everyday goods that travelled West and East Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts China, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Uzbekistan and India: if you went to any of these places a thousand years ago, you would find goods and produce from the others. But how did they get there and why? This week’s Forum explores the ancient pattern of trading networks which criss-crossed the plains, deserts and mountains of China, Central Asia and points further West, and which encouraged not just the exchange of commodities such as silk, paper and horses but ideas and people too. Bridget Kendall talks to Valerie Hansen, professor of history at Yale University who has a particular interest in trade and exchanges across Eurasia; historian Dr. Susan Whitfield, former curator of the Central Asian collections at the British Library in London; and Tamara Chin, professor of comparative literature at Brown University whose work focuses on ancient China. (Photo: A man rides a horse at Band-e-Amir lake, central Afghanistan, on a former Silk Route that once linked China with Central Asia and beyond. Credit: Getty Images) |
| Silk Routes: Two Thousand Years Of Trading | 20170701 | 20170703 (WS) 20170704 (WS) | China, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Uzbekistan and India: if you went to any of these places a thousand years ago, you would find goods and produce from the others. But how did they get there and why? This week’s Forum explores the ancient pattern of trading networks which criss-crossed the plains, deserts and mountains of China, Central Asia and points further West, and which encouraged not just the exchange of commodities like silk, paper and horses but ideas and people too. Bridget Kendall talks to Valerie Hansen, professor of history at Yale University who has a particular interest in trade and exchanges across Eurasia; historian Dr. Susan Whitfield who is curator of the Central Asian collections at the British Library in London; and Tamara Chin, professor of comparative literature at Brown University whose work focuses on ancient China. Photo: A man rides a horse overlooking Band-e-Amir lake, through central Afghanistan, on the former Silk Road that once linked China with Central Asia and beyond. Credit: Getty Images Luxuries and everyday goods that travelled East and West Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Silk Routes: Two Thousand Years Of Trading | 20170703 | | Luxuries and everyday goods that travelled East and WestChina, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Uzbekistan and India: if you went to any of these places a thousand years ago, you would find goods and produce from the others. But how did they get there and why? This week’s Forum explores the ancient pattern of trading networks which criss-crossed the plains, deserts and mountains of China, Central Asia and points further West, and which encouraged not just the exchange of commodities like silk, paper and horses but ideas and people too. Bridget Kendall talks to Valerie Hansen, professor of history at Yale University who has a particular interest in trade and exchanges across Eurasia; historian Dr. Susan Whitfield who is curator of the Central Asian collections at the British Library in London; and Tamara Chin, professor of comparative literature at Brown University whose work focuses on ancient China. Photo: A man rides a horse overlooking Band-e-Amir lake, through central Afghanistan, on the former Silk Road that once linked China with Central Asia and beyond. Credit: Getty Images |
| Simone De Beauvoir: Feminist Thinker For Modern Times | 20180526 | 20180529 (WS) | Simone de Beauvoir was a French philosopher and writer whose work exploring what it is to be a woman shaped feminist thinking today. A pioneering intellectual, she used her existential ideas around freedom and responsibility to shape her life, literature and politics. Rajan Datar discusses her life and work with writers Claudine Monteil and Lisa Appignanesi, and philosopher Tove Pettersen.Photo: Simone de Beauvoir (Getty Images) How a philosophical thinker radically changed the way we see women Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Sharing knowledge Photo: Simone de Beauvoir (Getty Images) |
| Sister Juana, A Great Mind Of Mexico | 20210211 | 20210212 (WS) 20210214 (WS) 20210215 (WS) | Sister Juana Ines de la Cruz is celebrated today as one of the finest poets in the history of Mexico. She was not just a creative and intellectual force but also a campaigner for women’s education and someone not afraid to challenge male hypocrisy. The colonial 17th-century society in which she lived was very patriarchal so, not surprisingly, her views brought her into conflict with the men in power. Rajan Datar looks at key episodes in Sister Juana’s life and examines the passion and ingenuity in her poetry and plays with the help of Alicia Gaspar de Alba, Professor at University of California Los Angeles and a writer whose novels include Sor Juana’s Second Dream; Dr. Amy Fuller, Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, specialist in early modern Spain and Mexico and author of Between Two Worlds, a monograph on Sister Juana's plays; and Rosa Perelmuter, Professor of Romance Studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The reader is Pepa Duarte. [Image: A painting of Sister Juana by the Mexican artist Miguel Cabrera (1695-1768). Credit: DeAgostini/Getty Images] An outspoken nun who was also a daring poet Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Sixty Seconds To Improve The World | 20111224 | 20111225 | A selection of our sixty second ideas, our regular slot where we ask programme guests to imagine they have a magic wand, and tell us what they would do to make the world a better place. The British artist Antony Gormley calls for us all to walk barefoot, the American satirist P.J. O’Rourke proposes a very unusual device to force children to listen, and the Serbian economist Branko Milanovic argues taxi drivers should rule the world. To discuss these suggestions are the animal behaviourist and former chief scientific advisor to the British government, Lord Robert May, the physicist and authority on music, Philip Ball, the poet and film maker Imtiaz Dharker, and the Executive Producer of the Forum, Emily Kasriel who came up with the idea of this sixty second manifesto. Illustration by Emily Kasriel; Taxis, camouflage, naked feet, no ear phones and silence We discuss a selection of sixty second ideas from Forum guests over the past year. Illustration by Emily Kasriel; Taxis, camouflage, naked feet, no ear phones & silence A selection of our sixty second ideas, our regular slot where we ask programme guests to imagine they have a magic wand, and tell us what they would do to make the world a better place. The British artist Antony Gormley calls for us all to walk barefoot, the American satirist P.J. O’Rourke proposes a very unusual device to force children to listen, and the Serbian economist Branko Milanovic argues taxi drivers should rule the world. |
| Sixty Seconds To Improve The World | 20111225 | | We discuss a selection of 60 second ideas from Forum guests over the past year. A selection of our 60 second ideas, our regular slot where we ask programme guests to imagine they have a magic wand, and tell us what they would do to make the world a better place. The British artist Antony Gormley calls for us all to walk barefoot, the American satirist P.J. O'Rourke proposes a very unusual device to force children to listen, and the Serbian economist Branko Milanovic argues taxi drivers should rule the world. To discuss these suggestions are the animal behaviourist and former chief scientific advisor to the British government, Lord Robert May, the physicist and authority on music, Philip Ball, the poet and film maker Imtiaz Dharker, and the Executive Producer of the Forum, Emily Kasriel who came up with the idea of this 60 second manifesto. Illustration by Emily Kasriel; Taxis, camouflage, naked feet, no ear phones and silence. Illustration by Emily Kasriel; Taxis, camouflage, naked feet, no ear phones & silence. The British artist Antony Gormley calls for us all to walk barefoot, the American satirist P.J. O'Rourke proposes a very unusual device to force children to listen, and the Serbian economist Branko Milanovic argues taxi drivers should rule the world. We discuss a selection of sixty second ideas from Forum guests over the past year. |
| Smallpox: The Defeat Of The Speckled Monster | 20200903 | 20200906 (WS) 20200907 (WS) | As scientists around the world look for ways to combat COVID-19, the only human disease ever to be eradicated by vaccination could provide us with some insights. Since 1979 the world has been free from smallpox. But before the WHO’s concerted effort to eradicate the disease, it claimed millions of victims every year. It’s estimated that 300 million people died from it in the 20th century alone, and those who survived were often left with disfiguring scars or sometimes blind. Such was its destructive power, some commentators have argued that smallpox changed the course of human history, wiping out indigenous populations and allowing imperial nations to colonise new territories with little resistance. The English doctor Edward Jenner developed the first vaccine against smallpox in 1796. This procedure laid the foundations for immunisation programmes which have saved hundreds of millions of lives ever since, by giving people protection against a whole range of diseases - not just smallpox. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the history of smallpox are Professor Gareth Williams, author of Angel of Death: The Story of Smallpox; former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, Dr Bill Foege who worked on the WHO smallpox eradication programme in Africa and India, and Dr Anne-Marie Moulin, author of The Vaccine Adventure. (Photo: Man with smallpox in the Middle East, 1898. Credit: Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Exploring the 200 year campaign to wipe out a killer disease Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Social Intelligence | 20140607 | 20140608 (WS) 20140609 (WS) | These days, it’s not just IQ that people measure when they talk about intelligence. Social intelligence is a big field of research. How we interact can be about building success as individuals, cooperating to achieve an outcome for your group or tribe, but what about at the microscopic level? Samira Ahmed discusses these issues with bio-physicist, professor Eshel Ben-Jacob, writer Romesh Gunesekera, and professor of social interaction Elizabeth Stokoe. Photo credit: BBC/ Corbis Some people seem to get on with anyone and everyone: is it down to talent or practice? 
Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Solitude | 20140419 | 20140420 (WS) 20140421 (WS) | When being alone is a blessing and when it is a blight. Do you crave precious moments of solitude, to take stock and think things through? Or do you loathe being alone and always try to be around other people? Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss solitude are New Zealand novelist Eleanor Catton, New York educator Diana Senechal and Chinese-American writer Yiyun Li. Do you crave being on your own, precious time to take stock and think things through? Or do you loathe being alone and always try to be around other people? Joining Bridget Kendall to explore solitude are New Zealand novelist Eleanor Catton, New York educator Diana Senechal and Chinese-American writer Yiyun Li. 
Do you crave being on your own, precious time to take stock and think things through? Or do you loathe being alone and always try to be around other people? Joining Bridget Kendall to explore solitude are New Zealand novelist Eleanor Catton, New York educator Diana Senechal and Chinese-American writer Yiyun Li. |
| South Africa: Education | 20140726 | 20140727 (WS) 20140728 (WS) | What’s the future of education in South Africa? We gather a panel of experts and an audience in Grahamstown, to tackle one of the hottest topics in South Africa right now – the future of education. Joining Bridget Kendall - the man in charge of Witwatersrand University, professor Adam Habib, education activist and historian Dr Nomalanga Mkhize and artistic director of the National Arts Festival Ismail Mahomed. Photo: From left, Adam Habib, Nomalanga Mkhize, Ismail Mahomed. BBC copyright) 
Photo: From left, Adam Habib, Nomalanga Mkhize, Ismail Mahomed. BBC copyright) |
| Spontaneity | 20140330 | 20140331 (WS) | Acting on impulse is a curious thing. Is it an expression of inner freedom or a reckless letting go of protocol? And, do different cultures value spontaneity differently? Samira Ahmed discusses spontaneity with Edward Slingerland, professor of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia, psychologist Daniel Goleman, known for his work on emotional intelligence, and Mary Robertson, emeritus professor of Neuropsychiatry at University College London, who brings her insights from treating Tourette’s Syndrome. 
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| Stanislavsky: Founder Of Modern Acting | 20171202 | 20171205 (WS) | It was at the Moscow Art Theatre from the 1890’s onwards that Stanislavsky developed an innovative acting system that demanded actors really inhabit the role they are playing. This then inspired Method acting, which originated in the United States, and whose disciples range from Marlon Brando to Marilyn Monroe to the majority of big stars around the world today - some of whom have taken the system to an alarming extreme. This programme explores Stanislavsky's life and legacy, and also asks if his work has a role outside the theatre. Joining Bridget Kendall are Maria Shevtsova, Professor of Drama at Goldsmiths University of London, the Russian theatre historian Dr Arkady Ostrovsky, and the actor and director Bella Merlin. Photo: Anton Chekhov, in the centre of the picture, reading his play 'The Seagull' with theatre director Stanislavsky on Chekhov's right. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Konstantin Stanislavsky: the greatest single influence on acting today Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Steel | 20150831 | 20150901 (WS) | Steel has been produced for thousands of years, but is it time to find a greener alternative to the metal alloy which built the global economy ? Exploring the unique properties of steel, its strength and versatility, are materials scientist Mark Rainforth, historian of steel-pan music Kim Johnson and the South African artist Marco Cianfanelli. Photo; a steel band performing at a music festival (BBC) How steel gives us music, art and the modern world 

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| Steps For Economic Recovery | 20111210 | 20111211 | We take an in depth look at the unprecedented financial crisis the world is now facing in our New Global Economy. Three highly distinguished professors of economics put forward their plans – for at least partial – recovery. Far East expert Danny Quah suggests that China can play a vital role to help stabilise and revive the world economy. The Middle East specialist Timur Kuran calls for the modernising of the economies of many Islamic countries, which he believes have been held back because of religious law. And the eminent economic historian and member of the British House of Lords, Robert Skidelsky advocates kick starting stagnant economies by sprinkling them with "helicopter money" – spending vouchers given to people with an expiry date to make them spend money they would not otherwise spend. Illustration by Emily Kasriel; redrawing the map of the global economy As the world faces an unprecedented economic crisis, we ask what is the best way forward. |
| Steps For Economic Recovery | 20111211 | | As the world faces an unprecedented economic crisis, we ask what is the best way forward. |
| Sugar: A Sweet Menace | 20180421 | 20180424 (WS) | Rarely has one foodstuff had such global influence as Sugar – on our trade and economy, movement of people around the world, and health and treatment of fellow humans. Once a costly luxury called “white gold”, it was pivotal in one of mankind’s most shameful chapters – slavery. Joining Rajan Datar to find out more about Sugar and its connection with power is the Canadian historian Dr Elizabeth Abbott, the writer Marina Budhos whose Indian background inspired her research, and the Columbian political scientist Dr Eduardo Gomez, author of ‘Geopolitics in Health’. Photo: A sugar bowl (Getty Images) How sugar travelled across the world and seduced all on its path Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Survival At Sea: What Does It Take To Improve Your Chances? | 20130721 | 20130722 (WS) | with Baltasar Kormákur, Michael Tipton and Dinesh Bhugra. +++ Some listeners may find parts of this programme upsetting +++ If by accident you are thrown into icy waters, what can you do to help your chances of survival? As Professor of Survival and Thermal Medicine, Michael Tipton, explains, there are a number of things that will help you but they are surprisingly counter-intuitive. And it’s not just about what you do physically: Professor Dinesh Bhugra from the Institute Of Psychiatry suggests that your attitudes to your family and wider community also play a crucial role. Perhaps that’s what spurred on Gulli, the real-life hero of Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur’s film The Deep, as he successfully braved the freezing waters of the North Atlantic for several hours. Photo: Production still from the film The Deep directed by Baltasar Kormákur Photo: Production still from the film The Deep directed by Baltasar Kormákur |
| Symbols, Signs And Secrets. What Symbols Tell Us About Ourselves. | 20151214 | 20151215 (WS) | Why symbols are so important, their history and their future. Art Historian Dr Janina Ramirez explores symbols in our past and present- how we use them in our everyday lives, their place in distant history and how they are evolving. Ranging from hieroglyphics in the ancient World through symbols in art to the increasing use of the emoji, Dr Ramirez examines the power of the symbol and its importance. With her to discuss symbols and signs, Professor Martin Kemp, Emeritus Research Professor of the History of Art at Oxford University whose special interest is Leonardo Da Vinci, Professor Mimi Ito, a cultural anthropologist who studies new media use, particularly among young people in Japan and the US, from the University of California, Irvine and Professor Joann Fletcher, an Egyptologist and honorary visiting Professor at the University of York in the UK who explores the link between ancient symbols and how we communicate today. Photo: Hieroglyphics from the Giza Pyramids in Cairo (Getty Images). 

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| Taiwan: An Island History | 20170513 | 20170515 (WS) 20170516 (WS) | Perhaps the island of Taiwan makes you think of those familiar "Made in Taiwan" labels on computer and electrical goods but it was nicknamed 'Ilha Formosa' or the 'beautiful island' by the Portuguese in the 1500s. Bridget Kendall explores its rich and surprising history with Emma Teng, Professor of Asian Civilisations at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dr Jie Yu, Head of China Foresight, focused on Chinese foreign policy, at the London School of Economics and Dr Bi-yu Chang and Dr Dafydd Fell from SOAS (formerly known as the School of Oriental and African Studies) in London. Photo: people celebrate Taiwan' s annual Lantern Festival, which marks the end of the Lunar New Year festivities. (Getty Images) An exploration of the island of Taiwan Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Taiwan: An Island History | 20170515 | | An exploration of the island of Taiwan |
| Taking Time Out | 20121229 | 20121230 (WS) | This week on the Forum: how do we find meaning from unaccustomed experiences and gaps in our history, and how does this change the way we think about ourselves. Swedish evolutionary biologist Svante Pääbo shares with us his search for our missing early human ancestors, and his findings about how our for-bears spread across the globe. American writer and former diplomat Terry Tracy vividly describes the epilepsy that has permeated her life with unpredictable and traumatic breaks in consciousness, and explains how she recovers the lost time. And Senegalese-French anthropologist Hélène Neveu Kringelbach explores how secret dance societies and cross dressing rituals in West Africa allow people to momentarily step out of their day to day lives. Making sense of gaps in our lives that take us out of our routine. This week on the Forum: how do we find meaning from unaccustomed experiences and gaps in our history, and how does this change the way we think about ourselves. Swedish evolutionary biologist Svante Pääbo shares with us his search for our missing early human ancestors, and his findings about how our for-bears spread across the globe. American writer and former diplomat Terry Tracy vividly describes the epilepsy that has permeated her life with unpredictable and traumatic breaks in consciousness, and explains how she recovers the lost time. And Senegalese-French anthropologist Hélène Neveu Kringelbach explores how secret dance societies and cross dressing rituals in West Africa allow people to momentarily step out of their day to day lives. |
| Talking Rubbish: Clever Ways With Waste | 20160611 | 20160613 (WS) 20160614 (WS) | Advice from a garbologist, a waste expert and a taxidermist about re-using waste Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Talking Rubbish: Clever Ways With Waste | 20160613 | 20160614 (WS) 20160615 (WS) | Advice from a garbologist, a waste expert and a taxidermist about re-using waste According to the United Nations, we probably throw away over one billion tonne of waste every year. Some goes into landfill, some is destroyed and some is recycled. The mountain of cast-off litter is not just a huge environmental challenge, but a logistical one as well. Bridget Kendall explores ideas about how to harness waste with - Martin Medina, a global waste consultant, who suggests scavenging might be the answer to developing country’s growing waste problems; Dr Tom Licence, an historian at the University of East Anglia and ‘garbologist’, who uses archaeological beachcombing for historical rubbish to unveil our detailed past; Polly Morgan an artist who uses taxidermy to ascribe new meaning to what was once discarded and dead. (Photo: A rubbish tip in Kolonawa suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Credit: Getty Images) 

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| Taming Nature | 20160326 | 20160328 (WS) 20160329 (WS) | What lies behind our desire to improve and perfect nature Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Taming Nature | 20160328 | 20160329 (WS) 20160330 (WS) | What lies behind our desire to improve and perfect nature Is the idea of a pristine landscape an illusion, given that over thousands of years human activity has almost everywhere left its mark? Bridget Kendall asks the gardener Gilly Drummond, the land artist Danae Stratou, the archaeobotanist Dorian Fuller, and the historian William Beinart. (Photo: Blenheim Palace Park where English landscape architect Capability Brown created a 150-acre lake and planted more than a million trees to make perhaps his finest artificial landscape © Blenheim Palace) 
Is the idea of a pristine landscape an illusion, given that over thousands of years human activity has almost everywhere left its mark? Bridget Kendall asks the gardener Gilly Drummond, the land artist Danae Stratou, the archaeobotanist Dorian Fuller, and the historian William Beinart. 
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| Tasty Or Disgusting? | 20121013 | 20121014 (WS) | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Technology. Does It Connect Or Divide Us? | 20120825 | 20120826 (WS) | Does digital technology open or close our minds? A show from the Aspen Festival of Ideas. As digital technology gets ever more integrated into our lives we present a special edition of The Forum from the Aspen Festival of Ideas. What effect does technology have on how we think, live and learn? Should we worry about creating virtual echo chambers where we only hear what we want? Or should we celebrate the increased interconnectivity the internet brings? Bridget Kendall is joined by Director of the celebrated MIT media lab Joi Ito, who thinks the internet enables a type of openness which is shaping approaches in education. Leading advocate for the American video game industry, Mike Gallagher, argues we can achieve connectedness and empathy through game play. We also hear from filmmaker and theatre director Julie Taymor who cautions us about the limiting power of screens and digital technology. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: Is new technology making us more open or more closed? Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Telling The Time: From Sundials To Satnav | 20170527 | 20170529 (WS) 20170530 (WS) | Many of us can find the time of day quickly and accurately but where did the idea of time keeping originate and how did our ancestors manage without the instant access we take for granted today? From ancient shadow and water clocks to the latest super accurate optical clocks, Bridget Kendal explores time keeping with the Curator of the Royal Observatory in London, Dr Louise Devoy, the Director of the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford, Dr Silke Ackermann and watch and clock expert Grégory Gardinetti from the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva. Photo: World Clocks (Credit: EyeWire, Inc.) A brief history of how we tell the time Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Telling The Time: From Sundials To Satnav | 20170530 | | A brief history of how we tell the time. |
| Telling The Time: From Sundials To Satnav | 20201015 | 20201018 (WS) 20201019 (WS) | Many of us can find the time of day quickly and accurately but where did the idea of time keeping originate and how did our ancestors manage without the instant access we take for granted today? From ancient shadow and water clocks to the latest super accurate optical clocks, Bridget Kendal explores time keeping with the Curator of the Royal Observatory in London, Dr Louise Devoy; the Director of the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford, Dr Silke Ackermann; and watch and clock expert Grégory Gardinetti from the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva. Photo: World Clocks (Credit: EyeWire, Inc.) A brief history of how we tell the time Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The 1918 Spanish Flu: The Mother Of All Pandemics | 20200430 | 20200503 (WS) 20200504 (WS) | The last global pandemic and what it can tell us about tackling Covid-19. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts A century ago a deadly flu virus swept the planet, uniting the world in a disaster on a par with World War One.Over 50 million people died. Social distancing was put in place but drugs were ineffective, there was no vaccine, and in many places medicine could not cope. The world recovered but was never the same again. What can the last great pandemic teach us about how to combat Covid-19 today? Three world experts join Bridget Kendall: Laura Spinney, science journalist and author of Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How it Changed the World;. Svenn Erik Mamelund, historical demographer and research professor at Oslo Metropolitan University; Siddharth Chandra, director of the Asian Studies Centre and professor at James Madison College, Michigan State University. (Photo: Japanese school girls wear protective masks to guard against the influenza outbreak. Credit: Bettmann/Getty Images) |
| The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre | 20200924 | 20200927 (WS) 20200928 (WS) | Greenwood was an African American success story: a thriving, wealthy district of Tulsa. Over the course of two days at the end of May 1921 it was the scene of looting, rioting and murder. After 18 hours the area was razed to the ground by vigilantes. One eye witness said it looked like the world was coming to an end with bullets. Nobody to this day has been able to establish the true number of deaths. Some put the figure in the hundreds, with casualties on both sides. The community rebuilt itself however, and today it’s the focus of a multi-million dollar investment and education programme. Joining Rajan Datar to examine the events of 1921 are Carol Anderson, the Charles Howard Candler Professor of African American Studies at Emory University and the author of White Rage; Hannibal B Johnson, lawyer and author of numerous books on the city’s history including the forthcoming Black Wall Street 100: An American City Grapples With Its Historical Racial Trauma and John W Franklin, cultural historian and former senior manager at the Smithsonian National Museum for African American History and Culture in Washington DC. He’s also the grandson of Buck Colbert Franklin, a lawyer and leading community figure who survived the massacre. There is language in the programme which reflects the historical records and accounts recorded at the time of the events in Tulsa, which some listeners may find offensive. (Image: The aftermath of the Tulsa Race Massacre at east corner of Greenwood Avenue and East Archer Street. Credit: Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) Investigating how a thriving African American community was razed to the ground Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Greenwood was an African-American success story: a thriving, wealthy district of Tulsa. Over the course of two days at the end of May 1921 it was the scene of looting, rioting and murder. After 18 hours the area was razed to the ground by vigilantes. One eye witness said it looked like the world was coming to an end with bullets. Joining Rajan Datar to examine the events of 1921 are Carol Anderson, the Charles Howard Candler Professor of African American Studies at Emory University and the author of White Rage; Hannibal B Johnson, lawyer and author of numerous books on the city’s history including the forthcoming Black Wall Street 100: An American City Grapples With Its Historical Racial Trauma and John W Franklin, cultural historian and former senior manager at the Smithsonian National Museum for African-American History and Culture in Washington DC. He’s also the grandson of Buck Colbert Franklin, a lawyer and leading community figure who survived the massacre. Investigating how a thriving African-American community was razed to the ground Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Acropolis: Cradle Of Democracy | 20180825 | 20180828 (WS) | The Acropolis of Athens, with its crowning glory the Parthenon and its massive marble pillars, is one of the most recognisable sites in the world. In the 5th and 6th century BCE, it was where the concept of democracy – rule by the people – first developed, where modern- day theatre was born, and it gave the West the foundation of its politics, philosophy and history. But the Acropolis is also, like our humanity, a place of constant struggle and contradiction, from the pride and ambition of the ancient Athenians that led to its destruction, to its current status as a symbol of the Greek state. Joining Rajan Datar to look at the history and meaning of the Acropolis is Paul Cartledge, Emeritus Professor of Greek culture at the University of Cambridge and author of Democracy: A Life; Dr Andronike Makres, co-Director of the Hellenic Education and Research in Athens, and Demetrios Papageorgiou, Professor of Applied Mathematics at Imperial College London. Photo: The Acropolis (Anne Khazam) How the Acropolis of Athens provided the West with its foundations of politics and drama Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Air You Breathe | 20130929 | 20130930 (WS) | with Renato Zenobi, John Potter and William Bryant Logan with Renato Zenobi, John Potter and William Bryant Logan Breathing: one of the paradoxes of life. Voluntary but at the same time involuntary. Personal but at the same time communal. Joining Carrie Gracie is Renato Zenobi, a biochemist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology who has been analysing the chemicals in what we all exhale. His findings suggest that our ‘breath print’ could turn out to be a marker as unique to you as your finger print and perhaps one day a regular part of your own personalised medicine; tenor John Potter who not only sings but also writes about the relationship between the singing voice and the breath; and writer and tree specialist William Bryant Logan who reminds us that the air we breathe is not a thing or a place but the continual product of the breathing of all living things. It’s also an ancient way of measuring our lives: did you know that a human being takes 500 quadrillion breaths in an average lifetime? Breathing: one of the paradoxes of life. Voluntary but at the same time involuntary. Personal but at the same time communal. Joining Carrie Gracie is Renato Zenobi, a biochemist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology who has been analysing the chemicals in what we all exhale. His findings suggest that our ‘breath print’ could turn out to be a marker as unique to you as your finger print and perhaps one day a regular part of your own personalised medicine; tenor John Potter who not only sings but also writes about the relationship between the singing voice and the breath; and writer and tree specialist William Bryant Logan who reminds us that the air we breathe is not a thing or a place but the continual product of the breathing of all living things. It’s also an ancient way of measuring our lives: did you know that a human being takes 500 quadrillion breaths in an average lifetime? |
| The Alphabet Of Chemistry | 20180120 | 20180123 (WS) | The Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev attempted nothing less than to pull apart the fabric of reality and expose the hidden patterns that lie beneath everything in existence, from shoes and ships and sealing wax to cabbages and kings. The result was something known to almost everyone who has ever been to school: the Periodic Table of the elements. But why this particular arrangement? And why is it still the foundation of chemistry? Quentin Cooper is joined by Hugh Aldersey-Williams, who since he was a teenager has collected samples of elements and has drawn on his samples and knowledge to write Periodic Tales: The Curious Lives of the Elements; Michael Gordin, Professor of History at Princeton University and the author of A Well-Ordered Thing: Dmitri Mendeleev and the Shadow of the Periodic Table; Ann Robinson, Historian at the University of Massachusetts studying the development of the periodic table; And Eugene Babaev, Professor of Chemistry at Moscow State University who maintains both Russian and English websites on Mendeleev and his work. Photo: Periodic Table Concept Illustration. (Getty Images) The history of the Periodic Table of the elements Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Amazing Dr Darwin | 20200123 | 20200124 (WS) 20200126 (WS) 20200127 (WS) | Erasmus Darwin was a man of many talents; not only was he a successful physician, a popular poet, an ardent abolitionist and a pioneering botanist, he also worked out how organisms evolve, some 70 years before his grandson Charles’s theories about this revolutionised science. He is credited with many inventions and discoveries including the steering mechanism used in modern cars, the gas laws of clouds and a document copying machine. And he knew how to live life to the full; he fathered at least 14 children and his love of food meant that his dining table had to have a chunk sawn out of it to accommodate his considerable waistline. Joining Rajan Datar to explore the life and work of this remarkable man are Dr Patricia Fara, Emeritus Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, and biographer of Erasmus Darwin; Dr Malcolm Dick, director of the Centre for West Midlands History at the University of Birmingham; and Maurizio Valsania, professor at the University of Turin in Italy who specialises in 18th Century intellectual history. (Picture: Portrait of Erasmus Darwin by Joseph Wright of Derby. Credit: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Images) The life of Erasmus Darwin, one of the most remarkable minds in 18th Century Britain Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The American Author James Baldwin | 20180901 | 20180904 (WS) | Born in 1924, the prolific writer and thinker James Baldwin is a landmark figure in twentieth century American culture. The author of popular novels such as Go Tell It on the Mountain and bold essay collections such as The Fire Next Time, his works explored themes including race, sexuality, identity, democracy and love. An African-American man born in Harlem who spent much of his life in France, he became an important literary voice during his country’s civil rights movement. A critic and analyst of his country’s racial divide, he saw division as destructive and urged his fellow citizens to achieve a better future together. Rajan Datar and guests reflect on some of the key moments in James Baldwin’s life and work. With expert scholars Rich Blint, Ernest L. Gibson III and Magdalena Zaborowska. Photo: James Baldwin in 1964 (Jean-Regis Rouston/Roger Viollet/Getty Images) A giant of twentieth century American culture Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Art Of Political Decision Making | 20130512 | 20130513 (WS) | with Joseph Nye, David Graeber, Martijn de Liefde and Stephen Whitefield How can we embrace the views of many and still take decisive action? Joining Bridget Kendall are Harvard Professor Joseph Nye, who asks how much individual decisions by American presidents mattered over the course of the last century; veteran of the Occupy Wall Street movement, social anthropologist David Graeber who talks about an alternative way of decision making, a consensus model; dialogue facilitator Martijn de Liefde who has adapted traditional African techniques to guide decisions in today’s large companies; and Oxford professor Stephen Whitefield who explains why politicians are increasingly appealing to our emotions. Photo: FETHI BELAID/AFP/GettyImages How can we embrace the views of many and still take decisive action? Joining Bridget Kendall are Harvard Professor Joseph Nye, who asks how much individual decisions by American presidents mattered over the course of the last century; veteran of the Occupy Wall Street movement, social anthropologist David Graeber who talks about an alternative way of decision making, a consensus model; dialogue facilitator Martijn de Liefde who has adapted traditional African techniques to guide decisions in today’s large companies; and Oxford professor Stephen Whitefield who explains why politicians are increasingly appealing to our emotions. Photo: FETHI BELAID/AFP/GettyImages |
| The Belle Epoque: A Golden Age? | 20170415 | 20170418 (WS) 20170419 (WS) | The Moulin Rouge in Paris is the risqué cabaret venue that encapsulates for many the 'Belle Epoque', a period of French and especially Parisian history around the turn of the 19th Century, where permissiveness mixed with political, commercial and creative optimism and when an extraordinary vitality and innovation seemed almost boundless. To explore the Belle Epoque, Dr Janina Ramirez is in Paris with the Director of Le Petit Palais art gallery and museum Christophe Leribault, The Associate Artistic Director of the Moulin Rouge Janet Pharaoh and Professor of French history from Leeds University in the UK, Diana Holmes. Photo: An 1891 lithograph by French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (Photo credit Honda /Getty Images) The Belle Epoque in Paris. 
The Moulin Rouge in Paris is the risqué cabaret venue that encapsulates for many the 'Belle Epoque', a period of French and especially Parisian history around the turn of the 19th Century, where permissiveness mixed with political, commercial and creative optimism and when an extraordinary vitality and innovation seemed almost boundless. To explore the Belle Epoque, Dr Janina Ramirez is in Paris with the director of Le Petit Palais art gallery and museum Christophe Leribault, the associate artistic director of the Moulin Rouge, Janet Pharaoh, and professor of French history from Leeds University in the UK, Diana Holmes. (Photo: An 1891 lithograph by French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Credit: Honda /Getty Images) Paris in the 19th Century when permissiveness mixed with political and creative optimism Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Belle Epoque: A Golden Age? | 20170418 | | Paris in the 19th Century when permissiveness mixed with political and creative optimism |
| The Benefits Of Simplicity | 20160227 | 20160229 (WS) 20160301 (WS) | How to make the world simpler Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Benefits Of Simplicity | 20160229 | 20160301 (WS) | The world might seem more complex by the day but there are practical steps which can make it less complicated again. Bridget Kendall talks to three people whose mission it is to make the world a simpler place through better design - designer Per Mollerup, software engineer Pieter Hintjens and art historian Timon Screech. (Photo: Red brush swirl on paper. Credit: Shan Pillay) How to make the world simpler 

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| The Bhagavad Gita: A Guide To Spiritual Wisdom | 20190620 | 20190623 (WS) 20190624 (WS) | The Bhagavad Gita didn't start life as an exclusively religious text but over the two thousand years since it was composed the verses have taken on many different layers of meaning. For millions of Hindus today, the Gita has a similar scriptural status to the Quran for Muslims or the Bible for Christians. In the 20th century, others have seen the Gita as a guide to management strategy, a tool for self-help and even a call to arms for Indian independence in the face of British colonial rule. The story begins on a battlefield with the warrior Prince Arjuna suffering a breakdown. As warring families line up on opposing sides, Arjuna appeals to his charioteer Krishna for help in overcoming this existential crisis. In the 700 verses which follow, Krishna presents his friend with three options: the paths of action, knowledge and devotion. Joining Bridget is Professor Chakravarthi Ram-Prasad from the University of Lancaster in the UK, Professor Angelika Malinar from the University of Zürich, Switzerland, and from the US Professor Richard Davis, the author of The Bhagavad Gita: A Biography. Image: Indian art depicting the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna. (Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images) The metaphysical and philosophical manual for Hindus and non-Hindus alike Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Bicycle: Freedom Machine | 20151012 | 20151013 (WS) | The importance of the bicycle around the World as a means to heat and light remote African communities, as an ideal city transport, as a vehicle for female emancipation and as a philosophy, exploring the relationship between us the bicycle. With Bridget Kendall are social enterprise guru Sameer Hajee, Helsinki city cycling planner Reetta Keisanen, historian Dr Sheila Hanlon and professor Mike Austin. (Photo: A village level entrepreneur using a Nuru Lights device. Credit: Nuru Lights) How important is the bicycle and what does it do for us? 

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| The Birth Of Hip Hop | 20170211 | 20170213 (WS) 20170214 (WS) | The story of early hip hop, from 1970s 'block parties' in the South Bronx to the next decade when some musicians used rap for harsh social critique while others looked to it for big commercial success. Trevor Nelson talks to Duke University hip hop historian Mark Anthony Neal, film-maker and impresario Michael Holman, and one of the central figures in early hip hop, Grandmaster Caz. DJ and MC Grandmaster Caz is one of the most important and influential pioneers of old school rap. Mark Anthony Neal is professor of African and African American Studies and the founding director of the Center for Arts, Digital Culture and Entrepreneurship at Duke University. Michael Holman is a leading New York hip-hop activist: musician, filmmaker, artist manager, club promoter, journalist and critic, television producer, archivist, visual artist, and educator. (Photo: A breakdancer. Credit: Getty Images) The early years of rap and breakdancing in New York Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Birth Of Hip Hop | 20170213 | 20170214 (WS) | The story of early hip hop, from 1970s 'block parties' in the South Bronx to the next decade when some musicians used rap for harsh social critique while others looked to it for big commercial success. Trevor Nelson talks to Duke University hip hop historian Mark Anthony Neal, film maker and impresario Michael Holman, and one of the central figures in early hip hop, Grandmaster Caz. DJ and MC Grandmaster Caz is one of the most important and influential pioneers of old school rap. Mark Anthony Neal is Professor of African & African American Studies and the founding director of the Center for Arts, Digital Culture and Entrepreneurship at Duke University. Michael Holman is a leading New York hip-hop activist: musician, filmmaker, artist manager, club promoter, journalist and critic, television producer, archivist, visual artist, and educator. The early years of rap and breakdancing in New York 
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| The Bittersweet Tale Of Cocoa | 20170520 | 20170522 (WS) 20170523 (WS) | Do you like cocoa? You are in good company: in South and Central America people have been enjoying the fruit of the cacao tree - the source of cocoa, chocolate and much else - for thousands of years. Ancient empires fought battles for the control of the best trees, cacao beans were used as currency, and being able to make a tasty cacao drink could even save your life. To trace the history of cacao in Latin America, Bridget Kendall is joined by archaeologist Cameron McNeil, chef and food historian Maricel Presilla and geneticist and cacao researcher Juan Carlos Motamayor. Photo: A cropped cocoa pod lies over dried cacao beans (Getty Images) Cacao in the Americas, from the Maya to the Aztecs Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Bittersweet Tale Of Cocoa | 20170522 | | Cacao in the Americas, from the Maya to the Aztecs |
| The California Gold Rush | 20200514 | 20200517 (WS) 20200518 (WS) | Who made a fortune and who was crushed in the rush for gold in California in 1849? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts From 1849, hundreds of thousands of prospectors from across the USA headed for California in the hope of finding gold. Some made great fortunes, and there was a new Californian dream for these 49ers, willing to risk everything and, if they failed, to try again. California was to become the engine house of the US economy, while expanding so rapidly that it unbalanced the free and slave-owning states and hastened the USA towards civil war. Yet the new arrivals also drove out competing miners from around the Pacific who had reached the goldfields first, and destroyed the lives of Native Americans there, and excluded Chinese people who had begun to settle, with lasting consequences. Joining Bridget Kendall to explore who won and who lost in the California Gold Rush are Cliff Trafzer, Distinguished Professor of History at the University of California, Riverside; Mae Ngai, Professor of History at Columbia University, and author of the forthcoming book The Chinese Question, a study of Chinese gold miners; and HW Brands, Professor of History at The University of Texas at Austin and author of Dreams of El Dorado: A History of the American West. (Image: Gold Nuggets Credit: bodnarchuk/Getty Images) Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Cat: In From The Wild | 20191017 | 20191020 (WS) 20191021 (WS) | Domesticated cats are thought to have started living alongside humans more than 9000 years ago. Unlike dogs, it's believed cats domesticated themselves, entering the homes of early arable farmers in the Fertile Crescent to control the rodent population. Since then, they've been worshipped, vilified and revered by various societies around the world. Today, they are one of the world's most popular pets, living on every continent except Antarctica and a favourite on the internet, and yet, they will never have that image of loyalty that is associated with dogs. Rajan Datar welcomes three experts in science, culture and archaeology to discuss the history of the domesticated cat: Katharine Rogers - a Professor Emerita of English Literature from City University of New York and author of numerous books including 'Cat' and 'The Cat and the Human Imagination'; Eva-Maria Geigl - an Evolutionary geneticist at the French National Research Institute CNRS; and John Bradshaw - an anthrozoologist from Bristol University, UK, and author of the book 'Cat Sense'. Photo: Copy of wall painting from private tomb 52 of Nakht, Thebes (I, 1, 99-102) cat eating fish, 20th century Credit: Ashmolean Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images Domesticated cats have been worshipped, vilified and revered throughout history Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Challenge Of Ageing | 20130302 | 20130303 (WS) | Helena Kennedy discusses our ageing world with Sarah Harper, PD James and Hans Rosling. Does the future belong to the old? And is it time to re-define what we actually mean by Old Age? Joining Helena Kenendy QC on stage at the London School of Economics is the celebrated Swedish statistician Hans Rosling, renowned crime writer PD James, now in her nineties, and Oxford Professor of Gerontology Sarah Harper. Plus a live audience at the Space For Thought festival at the LSE. Photo credit: Nigel Stead. Does the future belong to the old? And is it time to re-define what we actually mean by Old Age? Joining Helena Kenendy QC on stage at the London School of Economics is the celebrated Swedish statistician Hans Rosling, renowned crime writer PD James, now in her nineties, and Oxford Professor of Gerontology Sarah Harper. Plus a live audience at the Space For Thought festival at the LSE. Photo credit: Nigel Stead. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| The Creation Of Modern Canada | 20170617 | 20170619 (WS) 20170620 (WS) | 150 years ago three British North American colonies came together to form what was to become the world’s second largest country. To explain how this union came about and who the key players were, Bridget Kendall talks to historians Margaret Macmillan, Phillip Buckner and Sean Kheraj. Photo: The Canadian flag at an ice-hockey game (GETTY IMAGES) Exploring the Confederation of Canada in 1867 Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Creation Of Modern Canada | 20170619 | | Exploring the Confederation of Canada in 1867150 years ago three British North American colonies came together to form what was to become the world’s second largest country. To explain how this union came about and who the key players were, Bridget Kendall talks to historians Margaret Macmillan, Phillip Buckner and Sean Kheraj. Photo: The Canadian flag at an ice-hockey game (GETTY IMAGES) |
| The Element Of Surprise | 20160305 | 20160307 (WS) 20160308 (WS) | How open are you to the unexpected? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Element Of Surprise | 20160307 | 20160308 (WS) | Think about your life and you might realise how much you try to control what happens each day and how little you leave to chance. That might be a defence against the kind of bad surprises no one wants, but is it also depriving you of the spirit of life itself? Bridget Kendall is joined by three guests who are open to the idea of surprise in art, science and everyday life: author Yann Martel who delighted people with his surprising story of a boy and a tiger together on a lifeboat in Life of Pi, and says all real art is about surprise; social scientist and former president of the European Research Council, Professor Helga Nowotny, who says a sense of surprise is at the heart of scientific discovery; and psychologist-turned-surprisologist Tania Luna who says she has learned to relish the magic of surprise in life and now advises companies on how to deal with uncertainty and change. And if you are wanting to know what the sound was at the end of the programme: it was excited chimpanzees, much like the one in the photo above. An animal that features strongly in Yann Martel’s latest book, The High Mountains of Portugal. Photo: A 15 month old chimpanzee opens a present (Getty Images) How open are you to the unexpected? 

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| The Emergence Of Modern Turkey | 20181220 | 20181221 (WS) 20181223 (WS) 20181224 (WS) | 100 years ago, Turkish defeat in World War One signalled the end of the once great Ottoman Empire. What emerged was a European orientated secular republic led by a man who used social engineering to shape Turkey in his own image – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Bridget Kendall examines this key period of Turkish history and asks whether modernisation could have been brought in less forcefully, and why the women who were helping bring about similarly progressive ideas were eventually side-lined. And what impact did Ataturk’s social revolution have on the arts and literature? Joining Bridget is Recep Boztemur, Professor of History at the Middle Eastern Technical University in Ankara, Dr Hülya Adak from Sabanci university in Istanbul, who specialises in gender and nationalism, and the actor, theatre director and playwright Yeşim Özsoy, whose latest play examines Turkish identity from 1918 onwards. Photo: A statue of Ataturk located in Marmaris harbor, Turkey. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images) The birth of the secular republic of Turkey from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Fall Of The Roman Empire | 20200806 | 20200809 (WS) 20200810 (WS) | In 476, the last of the Roman emperors in the West was deposed; in 1776, historian Edward Gibbon wrote “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, and Rome’s fate became a major point of comparison for all empires. In Gibbon's view, instead of inquiring why the Roman empire was destroyed precisely 1300 years before, we should rather be surprised that it had subsisted so long. Ever since, there has been a fascination with what changed in Rome in 476 and why, and whether there were more significant changes earlier or later than that date and, importantly, what stayed the same. In this edition of The Forum, Rajan Datar explores the ideas about Rome’s Fall with Sarah E. Bond, Associate Professor of History at the University of Iowa, USA; Meaghan McEvoy, Lecturer in Byzantine Studies at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia; and Peter Heather, Professor of Medieval History at King’s College London, UK. (Photo: Sack of Rome by the Visigoths led by Alaric I in 410. Coloured engraving. Credit: Prisma/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Why did the once mighty Rome crumble and fall to invaders in 476AD? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts (Photo: Sack of Rome by the Visigoths led by Alaric I in 410. Coloured engraving. Credit: Prisma/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) |
| The First Heart Transplant | 20170826 | 20170828 (WS) 20170829 (WS) | The race to carry out the first human heart transplant 50 years ago was as dramatic as the race between the Americans and the Soviets to the moon. Four surgeons were days away from completing the operation, but it was the outsider, the South African Christiaan Barnard who became the winner, sparking a media frenzy that made him famous overnight all over the world. In this programme, Rajan Datar takes a look at the history of organ transplantation with particular focus on the first human heart transplant in 1967, and asks what it has made possible today and in the future. Joining him are Professor David Cooper, a British heart surgeon who worked with Christiaan Barnard; the South African historian Don Mc Rae; Professor Sharon Hunt, an American cardiologist who carried out pioneering work in the aftercare of heart transplant patients; and Pankaj Chandak, a British-Indian research fellow in transplant surgery. Photo: Surgeons performing a transplant operation. (Getty Images) A race to make medical history Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The First Skyscrapers | 20171111 | 20171114 (WS) | From Chicago to Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur to Dubai, the towering modern skyscraper has become a global icon. Touching the clouds worldwide and shaping our cities’ skylines, these bold structures have long captured the imagination and stirred debate. But where did the story start? In this programme, Bridget Kendall and guests look to America to explore the foundations of some of the world’s very first skyscrapers. Discussing cities such as Chicago and New York, and landmarks such as The Empire State and Seagram buildings, they discuss the factors that prompted such places and the people who built them to look to the skies. Plus, they ask what these early towers share with the dizzying structures that overshadow them today. With expert guests Carol Willis, Thomas Leslie and Benjamin Flowers. Photo: A construction worker sits on a girder above the New York streets. (Helmut Kretz/Keystone/Getty Images) How America reached for the skies Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Forum | 20170624 | | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas.At the time of the Partition of India seventy years ago this year, there were more than 500 Princely States. These were states nominally ruled by Indian Princes but ultimately under the control of the British colonial powers. Many of these princes - male and female members of the Royal Family - had kingdoms dating back to the 8th and 9th centuries. But after the British curbed their powers, was their role largely ceremonial or did they have a deeper impact on the Indian people? And how did these Princes survive after Partition? Joining Rajan Datar is the writer and historian William Dalrymple, the director of the King’s College London India institute Sunil Khilnani, and the Indian social scientist Nikita Sud from Oxford University. Photo: A view of the Umaid Bhawan Palace, set high above the desert city of Jodhpur in Rajasthan (Getty Images) |
| The Forum | 20170701 | | |
| The Forum @ London's South Bank: A Celebration Of Women Of African And Caribbean Descent. | 20130316 | 20130317 (WS) | Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze, Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, Ayanna Witter-Johnson |
| The Forum In Beijing | 20131102 | 20131103 (WS) 20131104 (WS) | Do the internet and social media empower the Chinese individual or the state? Bridget Kendall chairs a wide-ranging discussion in Beijing about the internet in China: does the rise of digital communication empower the Chinese individual or the state? How is the social media explosion changing the nature of Chinese society? How much is free expression really curtailed by the Great Firewall of China and the recent legislation aimed at curbing the spread of 'rumours' on the net? And is the ability to share the minutiae of their lives online making the young in China politically apathetic? Photo credit: Jackie Zhang Bridget Kendall chairs a wide-ranging discussion in Beijing about the internet in China: does the rise of digital communication empower the Chinese individual or the state? How is the social media explosion changing the nature of Chinese society? How much is free expression really curtailed by the Great Firewall of China and the recent legislation aimed at curbing the spread of 'rumours' on the net? And is the ability to share the minutiae of their lives online making the young in China politically apathetic? Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| The Future Of Renewable Energy | 20130915 | 20130916 (WS) | How do we develop a practical, reliable and cheap supply of renewable energy? |
| The Future Of The Car | 20111218 | | Has car transport reached a critical crossroads? The world's love affair with the car has been a defining feature of the 20th century. There are more and more of them, a billion cars so far, with projections of there being over two billion cars on the road within two decades, unless consumers and designers decide to embrace an alternative. So is the car culture now at a critical crossroads? Will it remain a status symbol we all aspire to, the world over? And can new car designs, especially for the emerging car markets in India and China, overcome problems of pollution, road safety and over crowding? Expert opinion from car designer for India, Rohan Saparamadu, Californian transport adviser Professor Daniel Sperling and British authority on social attitudes to travel Professor John Urry. Illustration by Emily Kasriel; The single-seater car as an office on the road to India's future. The world's love affair with the car has been a defining feature of the 20th century. There are more and more of them, a billion cars so far, with projections of there being over two billion cars on the road within two decades, unless consumers and designers decide to embrace an alternative. So is the car culture now at a critical crossroads? Will it remain a status symbol we all aspire to, the world over? And can new car designs, especially for the emerging car markets in India and China, overcome problems of pollution, road safety and over crowding? Expert opinion from car designer for India, Rohan Saparamadu, Californian transport adviser Professor Daniel Sperling and British authority on social attitudes to travel Professor John Urry. |
| The Heel And The Sneaker | 20190124 | 20190125 (WS) 20190127 (WS) 20190128 (WS) | What’s in a shoe - apart from a foot? Shoes can be so much more than a protection and ‘dressing’ of our feet: from Egyptian pharaohs to European paupers, footwear has been linked not just with the wearer’s social and economic standing but also cultural identity, personality and even moral values. Rajan Datar follows the history of footwear with the help of Elizabeth Semmelhack, Senior Curator of the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto; Giorgio Riello, Professor of Global History and Culture at the University of Warwick; sports shoe historian Thomas Turner; and footwear researcher at the KASK School of Arts in Gent, Catherine Willems. Photo: A fancy high-heeled shoe. (Getty Images) A history of footwear Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Rajan Datar follows the history of footwear with the help of Elizabeth Semmelhack, Senior Curator of the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto; Giorgio Riello, Professor of Global History and Culture at the University of Warwick; sports shoe historian Thomas Turner and footwear researcher Catherine Willems. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Hidden Power Of Noise | 20151228 | 20151229 (WS) | Why we should all pay more attention to background noise. Bridget Kendall and guests explore the unseen and often un-noticed power which noise has over us. With writer Garret Keizer, who is interested in the social and economic dimensions of noise; sound artist Jana Winderen who records sounds made by underwater creatures; and Cambridge Professor of English Steven Connor who focuses on the 'ums, ahs, ohs, and ahems', expressive language noises that are often dismissed as marginal or trivial. (Photo: Illustration showing computer wave-forms spelling 'noise'. Credit: Shan Pillay) 

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| The History Of Opium | 20190926 | 20190929 (WS) 20190930 (WS) | Made from the simple juice of the poppy, opium is arguably the oldest and most widely used drug in the world. Since prehistoric times it has been used to relieve physical pain and quieten troubled minds. It has enabled medical breakthroughs, and inspired some of the greatest Romantic poets and composers. But opium, and its later derivatives morphine and heroin, has also brought addiction and untold misery and death, destroyed families, and corrupted entire countries. Its trade has provoked wars, and is still making global headlines today, from its production in Afghanistan to the opioid crisis in the United States. Bridget Kendall explores opium’s long and complex history with Doris Buddenberg, former head of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Afghanistan, and curator of a recent exhibition on opium; Zhou Xun, Reader of Modern History at the University of Essex; and Mike Jay, author and cultural historian, whose books on the history of drug use include ‘High Society’. Image: Opium poppy flower Credit: yamatao/Getty Images Opium's journey from vital medicine to dangerously addictive drug Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Human Face: How We See Each Other | 20160319 | 20160321 (WS) 20160322 (WS) | How humans and machines interpret facial expressions Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Human Face: How We See Each Other | 20160321 | 20160322 (WS) | How humans and machines interpret facial expressions Bridget Kendall explores how we interpret facial expressions and how our face is being interpreted by machines for health, happiness and profit. How do we read each other’s faces? How much do we rely on visual clues? How much on context? What is going on in our heads when we respond to a grin or a grimace? And what is happening in the field of machine facial interpretation? To examine the human face Bridget is joined by Paula Niedenthal, an American social psychologist whose ground breaking research suggests one vital key to reading other people may be our subconscious inclination to mimic each other’s facial expressions; Rana el Kaliouby, an Egyptian born computer scientist who is at the forefront of the new field of ‘affective computing’ – programming machines to read and respond to human emotions; The British actor and director Tony Lidington, with his take on how facial expressions can enhance meaning- and mask it too. (Photo: Tony Lidington with a Dan Leno smile. Copyright: Harmony Studios) 

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| The Iliad: Beauty, Brutes And Battles | 20161203 | 20161205 (WS) 20161206 (WS) | Why is Homer's ancient Greek epic poem still so important? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Iliad: Beauty, Brutes And Battles | 20161205 | 20161206 (WS) | Why is Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem still so important? Nearly 3,000 years after it was written down, The Iliad is still one of the most influential and inspiring stories ever told. Homer’s epic poem is a tale of war, but puts human emotions centre-stage: wrath, grief, love, heroism and separation. With Bettany Hughes to discuss The Iliad’s origins, themes and continuing relevance to people across the world are: Stathis Livathinos, Director of the National Theatre of Greece; Antony Makrinos, a Greek classicist specialising in Homer who teaches at University College London; Professor Folake Onayemi, Head of the Classics Department at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria; and Edith Hall, Professor of Classics at King's College London. Photo: An engraving depicting the Trojan war. (Getty Images) 
Nearly 3,000 years after it was written down, The Iliad is still one of the most influential and inspiring stories ever told. Homer’s epic poem is a tale of war, but puts human emotions centre-stage: wrath, grief, love, heroism and separation. 
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| The Insider Or Outsider: Who Is Best Placed To Bring About Change? | 20120317 | 20120318 (WS) | Who drives change more effectively in our world: the insider working from within the establishment, or the maverick outsider? Voices from government, science and business discuss how to effect change within their fields. Does government tend to cling to the status quo, to preserve its power; should it welcome fresh ideas from science and business to meet the challenges of our age? With independent diplomat Carne Ross, cosmologist Lord Martin Rees and business supremo Simon Walker- plus a lively audience of opinion formers and business leaders. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: Thinking Inside and Outside the Box in Science, Diplomacy and Business. Does thinking outside the establishment box lead to more creative policies? Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| The Insider Or Outsider: Who Is Best Placed To Bring About Change? | 20120318 | | Does thinking outside the establishment box lead to more creative policies? |
| The Invention Of Numbers | 20180630 | 20180703 (WS) | Try and imagine a world without numbers. Telling people how many siblings you have, counting your wages or organising to meet a friend at a certain time would all be much more difficult. If you’re reading this on a digital screen, even these words are produced through a series of zero and one symbols. We take them so much for granted yet some cultures don’t count and some languages don’t have the words or symbols for numbers. This programme looks at when and why humans first started start to count, where the symbols many of us use today originate from and when concepts like zero and infinity came about. Joining Bridget Kendall to explore the history of numbers and counting are anthropological linguist Caleb Everett from the University of Miami, writer and historian of mathematics Tomoko Kitagawa, and Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Warwick University in the UK, Ian Stewart. Photo: An abacus on a table.(CaoChunhai//Getty Images) How numbers and counting shaped our world Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Iranian Coup Of 1953: Overthrow Of A Prime Minister | 20181206 | 20181207 (WS) 20181209 (WS) 20181210 (WS) | In 1953 Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq was overthrown in a coup. It was billed as a popular uprising in support of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, yet behind the scenes were the British and American intelligence services. Mossadeq had swept to power only two years earlier promising to nationalise Iran’s vast oil reserves, but this, along with an apparent Communist threat, worried the two western governments whose post-war economies relied heavily on access to Iranian oil. Rajan Datar discusses the coup with Iran scholar Ervand Abrahamian, professor of modern Iranian history at St Andrews University Ali Ansari and journalist and author Azadeh Moaveni. (Photo: Rioters armed with staves shout slogans, during riots in Tehran, August 1953. Credit: AFP/Getty Images) How British and US intelligence agencies helped oust Iran's leader Mohammad Mossadeq Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Jet Engine | 20180922 | 20180925 (WS) | Quentin Cooper and guests follow the twists and turns of jet engine development: from its 1930s origins and the often highly dangerous early fighters in World War 2, through Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War, to the much more reliable modern incarnations which now take us all over the world. Just three decades after the first airplane took off, the emerging aero industry was already stalling. There were limits to how big propeller-driven aircraft could get. How fast they could go. And how far. For the air age to truly take off it needed a new kind of propulsion: the jet engine. With Professor of the History of Industry and Technology at Rutgers University Philip Scranton; historian Hermione Giffard, author of Making Jet Engines in World War II; and former head of the Aircraft Collection at the Deutsches Museum in Munich Walter Rathjen.Photo: close-up of a jet engine. (Getty Images/Dushlik) The trailblazing technology which made the air age soar Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Sharing knowledge Photo: close-up of a jet engine. (Getty Images/Dushlik) |
| The Kalevala: the Finnish epic that inspired a nation | 20210218 | | When the Kalevala was published in 1835, Finland had a distinct cultural and linguistic identity but it had always been part of either the Swedish or the Russian empire. Neither did Finland have much of a literary tradition, but as the 19th-century progressed the Kalevala took on a symbolic role as the representation of a Finnish identity that fed into the movement for Finnish independence. Rooted in the folk culture of the Karelia region, a travelling doctor shaped the song texts into a story in a way which is still being debated today. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss how the Kalevala underscored the search for Finnish national identity are Dr Niina Hämäläinen, executive director of the Kalevala Society in Helsinki; Professor Tom DuBois from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the author of Finnish Folk Poetry and the Kalevala; and the award-winning British musician, playwright and storyteller, Nick Hennessey. Produced by Fiona Clampin for the BBC World Service. [Image: The Defense of the Sampo, 1896. Artist: Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Credit: Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images] The collection of folk songs and poetry that articulated Finnish independence Discover world history, culture and ideas with today\u2019s leading experts |
| The Kalevala: the Finnish epic that inspired a nation | 20210218 | 20210219 (WS) | When the Kalevala was published in 1835, Finland had a distinct cultural and linguistic identity but it had always been part of either the Swedish or the Russian empire. Neither did Finland have much of a literary tradition, but as the 19th-century progressed the Kalevala took on a symbolic role as the representation of a Finnish identity that fed into the movement for Finnish independence. Rooted in the folk culture of the Karelia region, a travelling doctor shaped the song texts into a story in a way which is still being debated today. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss how the Kalevala underscored the search for Finnish national identity are Dr Niina Hämäläinen, executive director of the Kalevala Society in Helsinki; Professor Tom DuBois from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the author of Finnish Folk Poetry and the Kalevala; and the award-winning British musician, playwright and storyteller, Nick Hennessey. Produced by Fiona Clampin for the BBC World Service. [Image: The Defense of the Sampo, 1896. Artist: Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Credit: Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images] The collection of folk songs and poetry that articulated Finnish independence Discover world history, culture and ideas with today\u2019s leading experts |
| The Kalevala: the Finnish epic that inspired a nation | 20210218 | 20210221 (WS) | When the Kalevala was published in 1835, Finland had a distinct cultural and linguistic identity but it had always been part of either the Swedish or the Russian empire. Neither did Finland have much of a literary tradition, but as the 19th-century progressed the Kalevala took on a symbolic role as the representation of a Finnish identity that fed into the movement for Finnish independence. Rooted in the folk culture of the Karelia region, a travelling doctor shaped the song texts into a story in a way which is still being debated today. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss how the Kalevala underscored the search for Finnish national identity are Dr Niina Hämäläinen, executive director of the Kalevala Society in Helsinki; Professor Tom DuBois from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the author of Finnish Folk Poetry and the Kalevala; and the award-winning British musician, playwright and storyteller, Nick Hennessey. Produced by Fiona Clampin for the BBC World Service. [Image: The Defense of the Sampo, 1896. Artist: Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Credit: Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images] The collection of folk songs and poetry that articulated Finnish independence Discover world history, culture and ideas with today\u2019s leading experts |
| The Kalevala: the Finnish epic that inspired a nation | 20210218 | 20210222 (WS) | When the Kalevala was published in 1835, Finland had a distinct cultural and linguistic identity but it had always been part of either the Swedish or the Russian empire. Neither did Finland have much of a literary tradition, but as the 19th-century progressed the Kalevala took on a symbolic role as the representation of a Finnish identity that fed into the movement for Finnish independence. Rooted in the folk culture of the Karelia region, a travelling doctor shaped the song texts into a story in a way which is still being debated today. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss how the Kalevala underscored the search for Finnish national identity are Dr Niina Hämäläinen, executive director of the Kalevala Society in Helsinki; Professor Tom DuBois from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the author of Finnish Folk Poetry and the Kalevala; and the award-winning British musician, playwright and storyteller, Nick Hennessey. Produced by Fiona Clampin for the BBC World Service. [Image: The Defense of the Sampo, 1896. Artist: Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Credit: Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images] The collection of folk songs and poetry that articulated Finnish independence Discover world history, culture and ideas with today\u2019s leading experts |
| The Kgb: Secrets And Spies | 20170325 | 20170327 (WS) 20170328 (WS) 20170329 (WS) | The story of the KGB 2017 is the centenary of the Cheka – the Bolshevik secret police organisation from which the KGB eventually emerged in 1954. The KGB was not just an intelligence agency like its adversaries in the west, but an all-encompassing organisation that covered every aspect of promoting and protecting the Soviet one party state. From its headquarters in Moscow’s infamous Lubyanka, the KGB’s influence spread across the world. To explore the KGB and its legacy, Bridget Kendall is joined by the Cambridge historian, Professor Christopher Andrew, the Anglo American intelligence and policy expert, Dr Calder Walton and the Russian historian, Dr Svetlana Chervonnaya. Photo: Badge logo of the KGB (Photo credit: KGB) 
Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Kingdom Of Aksum: Africa's Trading Empire | 20201217 | 20201218 (WS) 20201220 (WS) 20201221 (WS) | At its height, the Aksumite Empire extended across the northern Ethiopian and Eritrean highlands, and even included parts of Sudan, Somalia and modern-day Yemen. From the first century BC to the seventh or eighth centuries AD it was one of the most important trading hubs in north-east Africa. It was also one of the earliest states in the world to adopt Christianity. In fact the Persian prophet Mani named the Aksumite Empire as one of the “four great kingdoms on Earth” together with Persia, Rome and China. But despite its power and reputation, we’re only now beginning to understand more about the lives of the people who lived there. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the Aksumite Empire and its legacy are Helina Solomon Woldekiros, Assistant Professor of Archaeology at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri; Felege-Selam Solomon Yirga, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Tennessee; and Dr. Niall Finneran, Reader in Historical Archaeology and Heritage Studies at the University of Winchester in the UK. He is author of The Archaeology of Ethiopia. Produced by Jo Impey for BBC World Service. Image: 4th century stelae in Aksum, Ethiopia Image credit: Arterra / Marica van der Meer / Universal Images Group via Getty Images An ancient state in the Horn of Africa that is famed for its monumental stelae structures Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the Aksumite Empire and its legacy are Helina Solomon Woldekiros, Assistant Professor of Archaeology at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri; Felege-Selam Solomon Yirga, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Tennessee; and Dr. Niall Finneran, Reader in Historical Archaeology and Heritage Studies at the University of Winchester in the UK. He is author of The Archaeology of Ethiopia. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the Aksumite Empire and its legacy are Helina Solomon Woldekiros, Assistant Professor of Archaeology at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri; Felege-Selam Solomon Yirga, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Tennessee; and Dr. Niall Finneran, Reader in Historical Archaeology and Heritage Studies at the University of Winchester in the UK. He is author of The Archaeology of Ethiopia. |
| The Life And Works Of William Blake | 20180623 | 20180626 (WS) | William Blake is now one of England’s best-loved poets and artists, associated with the well-known poem “The Tyger” and the hymn “Jerusalem”, regularly coined England’s unofficial national anthem. But in his time he was an eighteenth century radical visionary who challenged the social order as well as political and religious orthodoxy at every turn. He was even tried for sedition. Rajan Datar discusses his life, works and remarkable legacy with Blake experts Dr. Linda Freedman, Dr. Susan Matthews, Prof. Jason Whittaker and artist Michael Phillips. Photo: 'Newton' by William Blake (Bettmann Collection) Radical visionary, artist and poet Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Sharing knowledge William Blake is now one of England’s best-loved poets and artists, associated with the well-known poem “The Tyger ? and the hymn “Jerusalem ?, regularly coined England’s unofficial national anthem. But in his time he was an eighteenth century radical visionary who challenged the social order as well as political and religious orthodoxy at every turn. He was even tried for sedition. Photo: 'Newton' by William Blake (Bettmann Collection) Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| The Little Prince: Lessons From An Aviator’s Life | | | ‘It is only with the heart that one can see clearly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.’ Words of advice from a wily desert fox to a little boy who fell to Earth from an asteroid. That quote, by the French author and pilot Antoine Saint-Exupery, is one of the most memorable passages from The Little Prince, a slim volume that is one of the most frequently translated books of all time and has achieved this in just 75 years since its first publication. But who was Saint-Exupery? How did he come to write The Little Prince? And what else do we know about this adventurer and romantic who risked his life as a pilot many times and captivated the world with his writing? Bridget Kendall is joined by Olivier d'Agay, great-nephew of the writer and Director of the Antoine de Saint-Exupery Estate and Youth Foundation, Stacy Schiff, Pulitzer-prize winning author of an acclaimed biography of Saint-Exupery, and Bernard Chabbert, pilot and historian of French aviation. Antoine de Saint-Exupery (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) |
| The Little Prince: Lessons From An Aviator's Life | 20180210 | 20180213 (WS) | ‘It is only with the heart that one can see clearly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.’ Words of advice from a wily desert fox to a little boy who fell to Earth from an asteroid. That quote, by the French author and pilot Antoine Saint-Exupery, is one of the most memorable passages from The Little Prince, a slim volume that is one of the most frequently translated books of all time and has achieved this in just 75 years since its first publication. But who was Saint-Exupery? How did he come to write The Little Prince? And what else do we know about this adventurer and romantic who risked his life as a pilot many times and captivated the world with his writing? Bridget Kendall is joined by Olivier d'Agay, great-nephew of the writer and Director of the Antoine de Saint-Exupery Estate and Youth Foundation, Stacy Schiff, Pulitzer-prize winning author of an acclaimed biography of Saint-Exupery, and Bernard Chabbert, pilot and historian of French aviation. Antoine de Saint-Exupery (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Who was Antoine de Saint-Exupery, and how did he come to write The Little Prince? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Magic Of Bronze | 20170318 | 20170320 (WS) 20170321 (WS) | From Cellini's magnificent Perseus statue to the humblest of tools, people have been using bronze for at least five thousand years. So what makes bronze such a versatile material, how we first discovered it, and why is it that so many precious bronze art works have failed to survive? Bridget Kendall is joined by Carol Mattusch, Professor Emerita of Art History at George Mason University, Professor Jianjun Mei, from the University of Science and Technology, Beijing and Director of the Needham Institute in Cambridge who specialises in ancient metallurgy, and David Ekserdjian, Professor of Art and Film History at Leicester University. Also in the programme: Dutch sound artist Floris van Manen follows the key stages of making a bronze bell at Eijsbouts, one of Europe's leading foundries. Photo: Cellini's statue of Perseus holding the head of Medusa (Getty Images) Discover the amazing stories behind some of the world's greatest masterpieces in bronze 
From Cellini's magnificent Perseus statue to the humblest of tools, people have been using bronze for at least five thousand years. So what makes bronze such a versatile material, how we first discovered it, and why is it that so many precious bronze art works have failed to survive? Bridget Kendall is joined by Carol Mattusch, Professor Emerita of Art History at George Mason University, Professor Jianjun Mei, from the University of Science and Technology, Beijing and Director of the Needham Institute in Cambridge who specialises in ancient metallurgy, and David Ekserdjian, Professor of Art and Film History at Leicester University. Also in the programme: Dutch sound artist Floris van Manen follows the key stages of making a bronze bell at Eijsbouts, one of Europe's leading foundries. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Magic Of Bronze | 20200213 | 20200214 (WS) 20200216 (WS) 20200217 (WS) | From Cellini's magnificent Perseus statue to the humblest of tools, people have been using bronze for at least five thousand years. So what makes bronze such a versatile material, how did we first discover it and why have so many precious bronze art works failed to survive? Bridget Kendall is joined by Carol Mattusch, Professor Emerita of Art History at George Mason University; Professor Jianjun Mei, from the University of Science and Technology, Beijing and Director of the Needham Institute in Cambridge who specialises in ancient metallurgy; and David Ekserdjian, Professor of Art and Film History at Leicester University. Also in the programme: Dutch sound artist Floris van Manen follows the key stages of making a bronze bell at Eijsbouts, one of Europe's leading foundries. Photo: Cellini's statue of Perseus holding the head of Medusa (Getty Images) The stories behind some of the world's greatest masterpieces in bronze Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Making Of Modern Japan | 20180908 | 20180911 (WS) | In the mid-19th century Japan transformed itself from feudal state to economic powerhouse at breakneck speed. Taking their cue from Western imperial powers, the rebel samurai who seized power in 1868 implemented an astonishing programme of reform. By removing an entire ruling elite, introducing national conscription and compulsory education, the Meiji rulers set about building a brand new society. Even the measurement of time was changed, which led to considerable confusion between generations. Rajan Datar and guests will unpack the origins of this dynamic transformation, and examine how it led Japan to a period of drastic imperial expansion and the subsequent atrocities of World War II. Joining Rajan will be historians Naoko Shimazu from Yale NUS College in Singapore, Mark Ravina from Emory University in Atlanta, USA, and Barak Kushner from the University of Cambridge in the UK. Photo: Meiji Shrine In Tokyo, Japan. (Junko Kimura/Getty Images) Rajan Datar and guests discuss the astonishing transformation of Japan over 150 years Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Master And Margarita: Devilish Satire | 20190103 | 20190104 (WS) 20190106 (WS) 20190107 (WS) | The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, which tells the fantastical story of a visit of the devil to the Soviet Union, is considered to be one of the most successful Russian novels of the 20th Century. Written in secret in the 1930s when Stalinist repression of the arts was at its height, the novel was only published more than 25 years later, when its blend of biting satire and magic realism created a sensation, not just in Russia but also in the West, inspiring rock bands like The Rolling Stones. This programme explores the novel and its cultural influence, and also asks how it reflects Bulgakov’s often traumatic experience as a writer in Stalinist Russia. Joining Bridget Kendall are Julie Curtis, the biographer of Mikhail Bulgakov, and professor of Russian literature at Oxford University, Peter Mansilla-Cruz, the director of the Bulgakov museum in Moscow, Edythe Haber, associate of the Davis Centre at Harvard University and professor emerita at University of Massachusetts, Boston, and Dr Olga Voronina from SSEES, University College, London, who have both published widely on Bulgakov’s writings. (Photo: Improvisation 33 (Orient 1) by Wassily Kandinsky. Credit: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images) One of Russia's favourite novels that combines magical fantasy with dark political satire Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts One of Russia's favourite novels that combines magical fancy with dark political satire The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, which tells the fantastical story of a visit of the devil to the Soviet Union, is considered to be one of the most successful Russian novels of the 20th century. Written in secret in the 1930’s when Stalinist repression of the arts was at its height, the novel was only published more than 25 years later, when its blend of biting satire and magic realism created a sensation, not just in Russia but also in the West, inspiring rock bands like The Rolling Stones. This programme explores the novel and its cultural influence, and also asks how it reflects Bulgakov’s often traumatic experience as a writer in Stalinist Russia. Joining Bridget Kendall are Julie Curtis, the biographer of Mikhail Bulgakov, and Professor of Russian literature at Oxford University, Peter Mansilla-Cruz, the director of the Bulgakov museum in Moscow, Edythe Haber, associate of the Davis Centre at Harvard University and Professor Emerita at University of Massachusetts, Boston, and Dr Olga Voronina from SSEES, University College, London, who have both published widely on Bulgakov’s writings. Photo: Improvisation 33 (Orient 1) by Wassily Kandinsky (Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images) |
| The Moon From Earth | 20190523 | 20190526 (WS) 20190527 (WS) | For as long as humans have gazed up at the moon it has been an object of fascination. From the Aztecs to the Romans to the Romantics, the moon has inspired everything from artistic outpourings to religious devotion. So how has our understanding of our nearest cosmic companion changed over the millennia? And, 50 years on from the Apollo 11 Moon landing, how has our relationship with the moon been changed by our lunar explorations? Rajan Datar talks to Monica Grady, Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences at the Open University in the UK; Anthony Aveni, Professor Emeritus of Astronomy, Anthropology, and Native American Studies at Colgate University in the US; and Alexandra Loske, a German art historian and co-author of Moon: Art, Science, Culture. Photo: A couple have dinner on a hill as the Supermoon is seen in Turkey's Kayseri, 2019. (Sercan Kucuksahin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) The science, culture and mythology of the Moon Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Mysterious Kingdom Of Fungi. | 20130421 | 20130422 (WS) | Put any prejudices about poisonous toadstools and mould in damp corners out of your mind: this week’s Forum explores fungi as an extraordinarily tough and ecologically friendly building substance that could reshape our world. Plus the hundreds of thousands of species of fungi that have yet to be named and studied: some of them may hold vital clues on how to cure diseases or solve environmental problems. Bridget Kendall is joined by fungal ecologist Lynne Boddy, Danish mycologist and photographer Jens Petersen, and San Francisco-based artist, chef and fungal furniture-maker, Phil Ross. Hygrocybe Psittacina Photo: © Jens H. Petersen Fungal science and innovation with Lynne Boddy, Jens Petersen and Phil Ross. Put any prejudices about poisonous toadstools and mould in damp corners out of your mind: this week’s Forum explores fungi as an extraordinarily tough and ecologically friendly building substance that could reshape our world. Plus the hundreds of thousands of species of fungi that have yet to be named and studied: some of them may hold vital clues on how to cure diseases or solve environmental problems. Bridget Kendall is joined by fungal ecologist Lynne Boddy, Danish mycologist and photographer Jens Petersen, and San Francisco-based artist, chef and fungal furniture-maker, Phil Ross. Hygrocybe Psittacina Photo: © Jens H. Petersen |
| The New Curators: Who Decides What’s Culturally Important? | 20161031 | 20161101 (WS) | Some of us live in an age of super abundance – more things are being made and more information and goods are offered online than ever before. Yet the internet also means that we no longer have to leave our selections to other people. If we want, we can sift through options to make our own choices, personalise our preferences, and even enlist the help of machine recommendations to highlight what we might like. So in this brave new world, what is the role of a curator? Indeed, what does curation actually mean? With Bridget Kendall to explore the role of the modern curator, digital publisher Michael Bhaskar, the artistic director of the Serpentine Gallery in London, Hans Ulrich Obrist and Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, the director of one of India’s most iconic museums, the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum in Mumbai. Photo: Early 20th century, ornate porcelain vases on display at an exhibition. (Getty Images) How the idea of curation has radically changed. 
So in this brave new world, what is the role of a curator? Indeed, what does curation actually mean? With Bridget Kendall to explore the role of the modern curator, digital publisher Michael Bhaskar, the artistic director of the Serpentine Gallery in London, Hans Ulrich Obrist and Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, the director of one of India’s most iconic museums, the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum in Mumbai. Photo: Early 20th century, ornate porcelain vases on display at an exhibition. (Getty Images) |
| The New Curators: Who Decides What's Culturally Important? | 20161029 | 20161031 (WS) 20161101 (WS) | How the idea of curation has radically changed Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Next Generation: Hopes And Dreams | 20120101 | | Four outstanding, young global citizens discuss their aspirations for the future. This week we bring you the thoughts of four outstanding young people on what the future might hold for us: Winston Damarillo, a software entrepreneur from the Philippines, who believes cloud computing can transform developing countries; Canadian criminologist Baillie Aaron and her new ideas for helping young offenders; Ben Green, a brilliant young Cambridge mathematician, who is seeking to unearth new secrets about prime numbers; and Fauzia Musa, Indian-born trend analyst, who scours the world of commerce, fashion and travel for signs of changing attitudes. Illustration by Emily Kasriel; Young people's ideas - Primes, trends, clouds and prisoners |
| The One Thousand And One Nights | 20170729 | 20170731 (WS) 20170801 (WS) | The One Thousand and One Nights are a collection of fantastical stories of flying carpets, magic and genies whose ancient origins go back to the 7th century or earlier. The tales are told by Scheherazade who uses the power of storytelling night after night to stop her Sultan husband from beheading her... These highly influential stories were brought to the West in the 18th century, when more tales like Aladdin and Ali Baba were said to have been added by the French translator, and it has continued to evolve over the centuries. Rajan Datar and guests explore why these stories became so popular around the world and what they mean to us today. Joining Rajan is Wen Chin Ouyang, Professor of Arabic at SOAS in London; Dr Sandra Naddaff, senior lecturer in Comparative Literature at Harvard University; and the Iranian TV producer Shabnam Rezaei. Photo: Sand Sculpture depicting 1001 Nights of Sheherazade. (Getty Images) The power of storytelling Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The One Thousand And One Nights | 20170731 | | The power of storytellingThe One Thousand and One Nights are a collection of fantastical stories of flying carpets, magic and genies whose ancient origins go back to the 7th century or earlier. The tales are told by Scheherazade who uses the power of storytelling night after night to stop her Sultan husband from beheading her... These highly influential stories were brought to the West in the 18th century, when more tales like Aladdin and Ali Baba were said to have been added by the French translator, and it has continued to evolve over the centuries. Rajan Datar and guests explore why these stories became so popular around the world and what they mean to us today. Joining Rajan is Wen Chin Ouyang, Professor of Arabic at SOAS in London; Dr Sandra Naddaff, senior lecturer in Comparative Literature at Harvard University; and the Iranian TV producer Shabnam Rezaei. Photo: Sand Sculpture depicting 1001 Nights of Sheherazade. (Getty Images) |
| The Original Goths | 20180303 | 20180306 (WS) | The Goths were a Germanic tribe infamous for their brief sack of Rome in 410 AD, but their cultural and political influence was felt throughout Europe for centuries. They re-shaped the Balkans, preserved the Roman way of life in Italy, and presided over a cultural flourishing in Spain. But how, many centuries after their demise, did they come to give their name to an important architectural style in medieval Europe and, in the 20th century, to a subculture popular all over the world? Bridget Kendall talks all things Gothic with David Gwynn, historian at Royal Holloway, University of London, and author of Goths, the Lost Civilisation. Also on the panel are Janina Ramirez, a cultural historian, broadcaster and author who focuses on the Middle Ages, based at the University of Oxford, and Mischa Meier, professor of ancient history at the University of Tubingen in Germany. (Photo credits: Goth girl - BBC, Gothic King Theodoric coin - Mark Cartwright) The ancient tribe which shaped Europe's history Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts The Goths were a Germanic tribe infamous for their brief sack of Rome in 410 AD but their cultural and political influence was felt throughout Europe for centuries. They re-shaped the Balkans, preserved the Roman way of life in Italy and presided over a cultural flourishing in Spain. But how, many centuries after their demise, did they come to give their name to an important architectural style in medieval Europe and, in the 20th century, to a subculture popular all over the world? Bridget Kendall talks all things Gothic with David Gwynn, historian at Royal Holloway, University of London and author of Goths, the Lost Civilisation. Also on the panel, Janina Ramirez, cultural historian, broadcaster and author who focuses on the Middle Ages, based at the University of Oxford, and Mischa Meier, professor of ancient history at the University of Tubingen in Germany. (Photo credits: Goth girl - BBC, Gothic King Theodoric coin - Mark Cartwright) |
| The Past, Present And Future Of Shipping | 20151221 | 20151222 (WS) | Ocean-going scientist Helen Czerski is joined by underwater archaeologist Peter Campbell who leads a team which recently discovered an unprecedented 22 shipwrecks around a small Greek archipelago; conservation biology Professor Alex Rogers who says that the beautiful but fragile habitats in the depths of the high seas are under increasing threat from destructive deep-sea bottom trawling; and naval architect Oskar Levander who contends that automated and unmanned ships will dominate 21st century oceans. (Photo: Computer image map of an ancient shipwreck using rhinophoto 3D. Credit: Peter Campbell/ East Carolina University) New ways to travel across the ocean and to find out what lies in its depths 

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| The Piano: Hitting The Right Keys | 20180602 | 20180605 (WS) | What’s the secret to the 300 year-old success of the piano, an instrument that was hardly a huge hit when it was invented around the turn of the 18th century? Perhaps it’s the ability of the instrument to convey a vast range of styles from singing melodies to percussive rhythms, and from classical music to jazz, rock and pop. With the help of musical examples, Bridget Kendall and guests will explore how the piano has inspired music from composers on every continent. Joining Bridget will be the historic keyboard specialist Dr Elena Vorotko from the Royal Academy of Music in London, pianist and author Professor Kenneth Hamilton from the University of Cardiff, and the writer Stuart Isacoff in New York. Photo: Piano keys (Getty Images) Bridget Kendall and guests lift the lid on 300 years of the piano Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Sharing knowledge Photo: Piano keys (Getty Images) |
| The Pleasures And Perils Of Storytelling | 20160130 | 20160201 (WS) 20160202 (WS) | Why do we see a narrative in everything? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Pleasures And Perils Of Storytelling | 20160201 | 20160202 (WS) | Why do we see a narrative in everything? Almost everyone loves a story - in fact, you could argue that we all do our best to turn any sequence of events into a narrative. But in our ever more complex world, our inclination to look for narratives may not be an advantage. When it comes to making sense of complex systems, say, a nation’s economy or the human body, our propensity for story-telling can become a snare, a trap which may incline us to see a narrative when none exists. Bridget Kendall is joined by Raymond Mar, a psychologist at York University in Toronto, whose research explores whether the habit of reading fiction may help hone our social skills; business consultant Thaler Pekar, who seeks out persuasive stories and teaches people how best to share them; and science writer and broadcaster Philip Ball, who explains that if complex data defies simple analysis, we probably need to abandon a narrative and look for a completely different kind of thinking. (Photo: Children sit around a nanny reading a story. Credit: Getty Images) 
Almost everyone loves a story - in fact, you could argue that we all do our best to turn any sequence of events into a narrative. But in our ever more complex world, our inclination to look for narratives may not be an advantage. When it comes to making sense of complex systems, say, a nation’s economy or the human body, our propensity for story-telling can become a snare, a trap which may incline us to see a narrative when none exists. 
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| The Power Of Expectation | 20140301 | 20140303 (WS) | Can our expectations affect the outcome of what we do? Can our expectations affect the outcome of what we do? This week we look at the power of expectation. How good are you at blind tasting? Could you tell if you sipped three different cups of coffee which was the best quality without seeing the price? And if you were given a pill to cure a headache – do you think it would help, regardless of whether it was real medicine or not? The Swedish neuroscientist Predrag Petrovic asks if a doctor’s expectations can affect the success of a patient’s treatment, the Indian neuro-economist Baba Shiv explains why consumers expect something to be better if they pay more, and the American musicologist Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis on why our enjoyment of music is determined by what we’re expecting to hear. (Picture: A gift in a box, tied with a red riboon, Credit: Science Photo Library) 
(Picture: A gift in a box, tied with a red riboon, Credit: Science Photo Library) |
| The Power Of Seduction | 20120915 | 20120916 (WS) | This week on the Forum, why do we dream of a better life, aspire to more material comforts or look to another country for happiness, are we being rational or has our judgement been seduced? Robert Heath, a former advertising strategist, reveals how adverts seduce us and influence our feelings without our knowing it. Nigerian writer Chinelo Okparanta on why the dream of a life in America exerts such a strong pull on so many Nigerians and results so often in disappointment. And Indian novelist and political commentator Pankaj Mishra on how the West has forced the East under its spell since colonial times and how the East is still reacting to the West's dominance to this day. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: The hidden lure of people, places and ideas. How often are we lured into making choices without being aware of it? Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| The Powers Of The American President | 20170107 | 20170109 (WS) 20170110 (WS) | This month Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. What does it take to do one of the most powerful jobs in the world? Bridget Kendall is joined by four prominent American experts in political history and journalism - the BBC’s White House correspondent Tara McKelvey, public policy specialist Elaine Kamarck, historian and analyst Aaron David Miller and professor of History, Journalism and Media Studies David Greenberg. They discuss what the job involves, what powers the American President has, and how these have changed over the years to reflect the demands of the modern world. (Photo: Win McNamee. Credit: Getty Images) Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Powers Of The American President | 20170109 | 20170110 (WS) | What does it take to do one of the most powerful jobs in the world? This month Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. What does it take to do one of the most powerful jobs in the world? Bridget Kendall is joined by four prominent American experts in political history and journalism - the BBC’s White House correspondent Tara McKelvey, public policy specialist Elaine Kamarck, historian and analyst Aaron David Miller and professor of History, Journalism and Media Studies David Greenberg. They discuss what the job involves, what powers the American President has, and how these have changed over the years to reflect the demands of the modern world. (Photo: Win McNamee. Credit: Getty Images) 
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| The Real Pirates Of The Caribbean | 20171014 | 20171016 (WS) 20171017 (WS) | They are familiar figures in folklore and popular culture, swashbuckling across the silver screen, snarling on stage as pantomime villains or committing daring deeds in childhood literary classics. But who were the real life pirates of the Caribbean and how much of what we think we know about them is based on fact? Rajan Datar is joined by maritime historian David Cordingly, academic and author Margarette Lincoln and author Laura Sook Duncombe who has written about pirate women. Image:Black Beard Credit: Getty Images The story of the men and women who defined the \u2018Golden Age' of piracy. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Real Story Of Frankenstein | 20170218 | 20170220 (WS) 20170221 (WS) | In the nearly 200 years since Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, the story has taken on a life of its own. But the original tale is much more psychologically complex than the horror film versions suggest – a disturbing and thought-provoking parable that roots itself in the basic human need for love. Bridget Kendall discusses the book’s origins, themes and continuing legacy with two scholars of English literature - Prof Karen O’Brien from Oxford University in the UK and Jessica Tiffin from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and with the novelist and radio dramatist Jonathan Barnes. (Photo: A statue of the Frankenstein Monster. Credit: Getty Images) The origins, themes and continuing legacy of Mary Shelley's gothic tale Frankenstein Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Real Story Of Frankenstein | 20170220 | 20170221 (WS) | Mary Shelley’s heart-breaking gothic tale In the nearly 200 years since Mary Shelley wrote ‘Frankenstein’ the story has taken on a life of its own. But the original tale is much more psychologically complex than the horror film versions suggest – a disturbing and thought-provoking parable that roots itself in the basic human need for love. Bridget Kendall discusses the book’s origins, themes and continuing legacy with two scholars of English literature: Professor Karen O’Brien from Oxford University in the UK and Jessica Tiffin from the University of Cape Town in South Africa; and with the novelist and radio dramatist Jonathan Barnes. Photo: A statue of the Frankenstein Monster (Getty Images) 
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| The Reformation: A World Divided | 20171028 | 20171031 (WS) | Five-hundred years ago, in a remote part of Germany, a little known friar called Martin Luther set in train a series of events that led to the permanent splintering of Western Christianity. It changed the political and social landscape in a way that still resonates today all over the world. The Forum comes from Trinity Hall, part of Cambridge University in the UK, with historian professor Ulinka Rublack, professor of English Literature Brian Cummings, professor of Theology Alec Ryrie and the Reverend Daniel Jeyaraj. The British actor Simon Russell Beale reads from Luther's writings and members of the Cambridge University Choir of Gonville and Caius College perform Lutheran hymns. (Photo: A Statue of Martin Luther in Eisenach, Germany. Credit: Getty Images) How Martin Luther started a revolution that would lead to the Protestant Reformation Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Reformation: A World Divided | 20171031 | | The Monk who Changed the World: How a German friar split the Christian churchFive-hundred years ago, in a remote part of Germany, a little known friar called Martin Luther set in train a series of events that led to the permanent splintering of Western Christianity. It changed the political and social landscape in a way that still resonates today all over the world. The Forum comes from Trinity Hall, part of Cambridge University in the UK, with historian professor Ulinka Rublack, professor of English Literature Brian Cummings, professor of Theology Alec Ryrie and the Reverend Daniel Jeyaraj. The British actor Simon Russell Beale reads from Luther's writings and members of the Cambridge University Choir of Gonville and Caius College perform Lutheran hymns. (Photo: A Statue of Martin Luther in Eisenach, Germany. Credit: Getty Images) |
| The Rise And Fall Of Julius Caesar | 20170923 | 20170925 (WS) 20170926 (WS) | Bridget Kendall and guests examine the rise and fall of Julius Caesar, the Roman politician and general, who conquered vast areas of Europe, defied his political peers, and acquired great levels of power, becoming ‘dictator’ in Rome. His behaviour, battling and bold reforms shook the late Roman Republic to its very core. From Caesar’s early steps on the political career ladder in ancient Rome, to his affair with Egypt’s Cleopatra and his assassination by his colleagues, Bridget and guests discuss the action-packed life of this leader and writer whose legacy lives on, more than 2,000 years after his birth. Bridget is joined by Cynthia Damon, Luca Grillo and Matthew Nicholls. Plus, Miryana Dimitrova introduces Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar. Image: Julius Caesar (Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images) The ruler who revolutionised ancient Rome Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Russian Civil War: How The Soviets Rose To Power | 20191121 | 20191122 (WS) 20191124 (WS) 20191125 (WS) | The Russian Civil war was a struggle for power at every level – from the villages to the imperial centre, with more than 11 foreign powers involved as well as nationalists, from Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic states, fighting for independence. This conflict, which took place a hundred years ago, between a small group of revolutionaries known as the Bolsheviks and their enemies was one of the most brutal and tragic periods in Russian history, but it was also to shape the new Soviet state that was founded in 1922, and still characterises Russia today. But why did events of the Russian Civil war end up crushing hopes for democracy after the idealism of the October revolution? And how did a small extremist group like the Bolsheviks manage to take control, despite resistance - not just from the upper and middle classes- but also from peasants and workers? Joining Bridget Kendall to explore these themes further is Laura Engelstein, Professor Emerita of Russian history and author of “Russia in Flames”; Steve Smith, Professor of History at Oxford University who wrote “Russia in Revolution”, and Dr Katya Rogatchevskaia, lead curator of the Russian and East European collections at the British Library in London. Image: Cossack Throws General Wrangel in the Black Sea (Poster). Private Collection. (Photo by Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images) How the events of the Russian civil war led to Lenin's communist dictatorship Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Salt Story | 20150817 | 20150818 (WS) | Salt: its history and future. Salt has, in some ways, been as geopolitically important as oil or water. In trade, in food and in human health it is a critical ingredient. Tim Marlow talks about different aspects of salt with four expert guests. Adel Sharif, Professor of Water Engineering and Process Innovation at Surrey University explains the latest developments in desalination; historian Professor Paul Lovejoy, discusses his book ‘Salt in the Desert Sun’ which looks at a history of salt production in parts of Africa, Graham MacGregor; Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Chairman of World Action on Salt and Health at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine examines salt and health but also salt in a cultural context and Mikki Osterloo, a planetary and geological research scientist, who discovered approximately 200 places on southern Mars that show characteristics consistent with salt, explores salt- and therefore possibly water- on Mars. (Photo: Large salt crystals. Credit: Getty Images) 
Salt has, in some ways, been as geopolitically important as oil or water. In trade, in food and in human health it is a critical ingredient. Tim Marlow talks about different aspects of salt with four expert guests. Adel Sharif, Professor of Water Engineering and Process Innovation at Surrey University explains the latest developments in desalination; historian Professor Paul Lovejoy, discusses his book ‘Salt in the Desert Sun’ which looks at a history of salt production in parts of Africa, Graham MacGregor; Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Chairman of World Action on Salt & Health at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine examines salt and health but also salt in a cultural context and Mikki Osterloo, a planetary and geological research scientist, who discovered approximately 200 places on southern Mars that show characteristics consistent with salt, explores salt- and therefore possibly water- on Mars. 
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| The Scythians: Masters Of The Steppe | 20191128 | 20191129 (WS) 20191201 (WS) 20191202 (WS) | They were the ancient horse lords of the Eurasian steppe, nomadic warriors whose influence extended over thousands of kilometres from Mongolia to the Ukraine. The spectacular gold jewellery and mummified remains preserved in their ancient burial mounds, some the size of a football pitch, tell us they loved colour and precious metal. But what else do we know about the enigmatic Scythians? They left us no written records so we have to rely on testimonies of their neighbours and new archaeological and genetic techniques. One thing seems sure, they knew how to party. Not only do Greek sources repeatedly mention ‘drunken Scythians’ but archaeological evidence confirms feast remnants with hundreds of wine amphorae and ‘purification tents’ filled with hemp smoke. Bridget Kendall is joined by leading experts on the Scythians: Professor Hermann Parzinger, president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, Dr Margarita Gleba from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and Sir Barry Cunliffe emeritus professor from Oxford University. (Photo: A traditional animal-like piece of ornament on display at an exhibition of the treasures of the ancient Scythian burial mounds in the Siberian Valley of the Kings, held at the Tuva Republic National Museum in Kyzyl (Credit: Artyom Geodakyan/TASS/Getty Images) The nomadic warriors who ruled vast swathes of Asia and Europe and who knew how to party Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Silicon Chip: A Tech Revolution | 20170114 | 20170116 (WS) 20170117 (WS) | It’s forty five years since the commercial introduction of the first microcomputer chip set which evolved into the modern microprocessor, changing computers from tools for scientists into the engines which power today’s electronic consumer appliances. So how did the silicon chip evolve and where might this revolution be heading next? Bridget Kendal is joined by four distinguished computer and internet pioneers who helped spearhead some of the most important inventions of the computer age. Vinod Dham invented the first Pentium micro-processor and went on to become Vice-President at the world’s largest chip maker-Intel. His early work in this field earned him the nickname “The Father of the Pentium chip. ? Sophie Wilson’s computer design was used to build the Acorn Micro-Computer. She also led the development of the ARM microprocessor, found in over half of the world’s consumer electronics. David Laws is a technology historian and a curator of the Computer History Museum in California. Dame Wendy Hall is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton in the UK. She worked alongside Sir Tim Berners Lee on an early version of the World Wide Web.Photo: A silicon chip (Getty Images) The story of the development of the silicon chip Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Silicon Chip: A Tech Revolution | 20170116 | 20170117 (WS) | The story of the development of the silicon chip It’s forty five years since the commercial introduction of the first microcomputer chip set which evolved into the modern microprocessor, changing computers from tools for scientists into the engines which power today’s electronic consumer appliances. So how did the silicon chip evolve and where might this revolution be heading next? Bridget Kendal is joined by four distinguished computer and internet pioneers who helped spearhead some of the most important inventions of the computer age. Vinod Dham invented the first Pentium micro-processor and went on to become Vice-President at the world’s largest chip maker-Intel. His early work in this field earned him the nickname “The Father of the Pentium chip. ? Sophie Wilson’s computer design was used to build the Acorn Micro-Computer. She also led the development of the ARM microprocessor, found in over half of the world’s consumer electronics. David Laws is a technology historian and a curator of the Computer History Museum in California. Dame Wendy Hall is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton in the UK. She worked alongside Sir Tim Berners Lee on an early version of the World Wide Web. Photo: A silicon chip (Getty Images) 
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| The Spartans: Ancient Greece's Fighting Machine | 20190725 | 20190728 (WS) 20190729 (WS) | For over two and a half thousand years the Ancient Greek Spartans have been known for their military might, discipline and self-sacrifice. Recent popular culture has portrayed them as the ultimate fearless warriors, especially ‘the 300’ Spartans who fought to the death at Thermopylae. But where does this image come from, and what do we really know about Spartan society and the peculiar utopia it tried to create? The city-state of Sparta has been admired for its stability, frugality, and the unusual social and sexual freedom of its women. But Sparta was also famous for its brutality towards its huge slave population, its authoritarian rule, and its policy of racial purity and eugenics that would eventually prove its undoing. Bridget Kendall talks to Christy Constantakopoulou, Professor of Classics and Ancient History at Birkbeck, University of London; Paul Rahe, Professor of History at Hillsdale College in the US; and Angie Hobbs, Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield. Photo: Statue of King Leonidas in Sparta, Greece (TPopova/Getty Images) The warriors famed for their discipline, fearless self-sacrifice and brutality Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Spice Trade: Selling The Scents Of Luxury | 20190321 | 20190322 (WS) 20190324 (WS) 20190325 (WS) | The trade in spices goes back to ancient times: from the Frankincense trails that originated in the Dhofar Highlands in present day Yemen to the Queen of Sheba who travelled to Jerusalem with camels laden with spices. For centuries, spices have captured our imagination far more than any other commodities, and spice traders, from the Arab merchants to the European trading companies of the Age of Discovery, capitalised on the mystique of these luxurious aromatics to create a value chain that led to vast fortunes being made and Empires established. And this worldwide craze for spices played a great part in the rise of globalised trade and the birth of the Stock exchange and the capitalist system. Joining Rajan Datar to discuss the Spice Trade is Professor Gary Paul Nabhan whose ancestors were Arab spice merchants and who’s the author of "Cumin, Camels, and Caravans: A Spice Odyssey", Dr Chris Nierstrasz, Lecturer in Global History at Erasmus University in Rotterdam and specialist on the United Dutch East India Company, and the TV Chef and Indian cookery writer Anjum Anand. The unique allure of spices that preyed on emotion and taste, and powered whole Empires Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Story Of Evita | 20180106 | 20180109 (WS) | Eva Peron rose from a childhood of poverty to become one of the most powerful figures in Latin America. An illegitimate small town girl, she smashed class and gender barriers to become Argentina’s controversial First Lady. Loved and loathed, Rajan Datar discusses her life, work and remarkable afterlife with biographer Jill Hedges, historian Ranaan Rein, and cultural theorist Claudia Soria. Photo: Eva Peron in 1951 (Keystone/Getty Images) Eva Peron rose from poverty to become one of the most powerful figures in Latin America Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Story Of The Guitar | 20170930 | 20171002 (WS) 20171003 (WS) | Bridget Kendall and guests explore the history of the guitar which stretches back over several thousand years. From early instruments made of tortoise shells the guitar emerged as one of the great cultural crossover instruments, encompassing folk traditions around the world, classical music and spine-tingling rock riffs. With guitar master John Williams, composer and guitar expert Professor Stephen Goss, Turkish guitarist Cenk Erdogan and French guitar maker Celine Camerlynck. (Photo: Boy with home made guitar. Credit: Daniel Hayduk/AFP/Getty Images) The history and popular rise of the guitar Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Submarine: Stealth Machine | 20190912 | 20190915 (WS) 20190916 (WS) | Given the submarine's importance to many of the world's navies, it's perhaps surprising to learn that for many years it was considered an inventor's folly and of little use in maritime warfare. Indeed the submarine had a difficult birth because of the technical challenges involved in putting a moving vessel underwater, challenges that could only be overcome once the technology became available. The submarine eventually proved its potential in World War I, where its ability to pass undetected ushered in a new era of ‘unrestricted warfare’. Since then, it has never looked back and today’s submarines are capable of remaining submerged for months at a time – the ultimate stealth weapon. As navies modernise, what has traditionally been an exclusively male service is now opening up to women in some countries. Rajan Datar prowls the ocean's depths to find out more about the 'silent service', along with submarine designer Professor David Andrews from the Mechanical Engineering department of University College London; historian Axel Niestlé, author of German U-boat Losses in World War II; George Malcolmson, the curator of the British Royal Navy's submarine museum; and author Eric Wertheim, editor of the US Naval Institute’s reference book Combat Fleets of the World. Image: Karelia nuclear-powered submarine, Murmansk, Russia, 2018 Credit: Lev Fedoseyev/Getty Images Exploring the silent and secretive world of underwater vessels Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Tales Of Timbuktu | 20180609 | 20180612 (WS) | The fabled city of Timbuktu is a curiosity. To 16th century Muslim scholars, it was the cosmopolitan hub of Islamic learning in West Africa; to European explorers 300 years later, it was a place of mystery, whose name remains synonymous with being at the end of the Earth. Most recently, in 2013, Timbuktu was at the centre of the world's attention again, after Islamist militants threatened thousands of valuable historic manuscripts stored in the city's famous libraries. Believed to be the richest person in history, it was Mansa Musa - the emperor of the vast Mali Empire - who first developed the desert settlement into a place of intellectual debate in the 1300s. The golden age of Islamic learning he began still survives today. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the importance of Timbuktu in Islamic history are Dr. Gus Casely-Hayford, director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C., who has recently published a Ladybird Expert book about the city; Dr. Susana Molins-Lliteras, a researcher at the Tombouctou Manuscripts Project and postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Historical Studies, University of Cape Town; and Dr. Lansiné Kaba, Professor of History and Thomas M. Kerr Distinguished Career Professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. Photo: Sankore Mosque in Timbuktu, Mali (Getty Images) How a remote desert town in Mali became world famous Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Talking Drums Of West Africa | 20190207 | 20190210 (WS) 20190211 (WS) | The Talking Drum is one of the most sacred instruments of West Africa. Shaped like an hourglass, the drum has a unique melodic sound which means it can imitate the tones of language and in this way speak words. Along with its spiritual power and healing properties, the talking drum is also a source of history, poetry and proverbs. Bridget Kendall traces the story of the talking drum to the present day with Mohamed Gueye from Senegal, who descends from a hereditary drummer family, Richard Olatunde Baker who specialises in the talking drum of the Yoruba of Nigeria, the Ivorian-French poet and novelist Veronique Tadjo who focuses on the influence of the talking drum on African literature and the Senegalese-French social anthropologist Dr Hélène Neveu Kringelbach. Photo: (from left to right) Veronique Tadjo, Mohamed Gueye, presenter Bridget Kendall, Richard Olatunde Baker and Hélène Neveu Kringelbach in The Forum studio. A source of music, spiritual power and oral literature Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Top Of The World | 20190131 | 20190201 (WS) 20190203 (WS) 20190204 (WS) | The North Pole lies at the very top of our world. Covered in a thick layer of sea ice, this uninhabitable frozen point in the Arctic Sea has fascinated us for centuries as both a physical location on a map and as a far away place in our imagination. Warmer than the South Pole, the northernmost point of the Earth’s axis sits outside of any time zone in a place where the sun rises and sets just once a year. Today, it has come to symbolise a warming planet but remains linked to exploration and mythology. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the North Pole are the explorer, author and former climate scientist Felicity Aston MBE; Klaus Dodds, Professor of Geopolitics at Royal Holloway, University of London, and author of the forthcoming book The Arctic: What Everyone Needs to Know; and Michael Bravo, Senior Lecturer at the University of Cambridge, Head of Circumpolar History and Public Policy Research at the Scott Polar Research Institute and author of a new book called North Pole. Photo: Robert Peary's North Pole Expedition. (Getty Images) The history of the North Pole as both a place on the map and in our imaginations. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Unpredictable Planet: Understanding Volcanoes And Earthquakes | 20160723 | 20160725 (WS) 20160726 (WS) | New ideas about volcanoes, earthquakes and other geological processes Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| The Unpredictable Planet: Understanding Volcanoes And Earthquakes | 20160725 | 20160726 (WS) 20160727 (WS) | New ideas about volcanoes, earthquakes and other geological processes New ideas about volcanoes, earthquakes and other geological processes that both enrich and threaten us. Jack Stewart is joined by four leading Earth scientists in the city of Yokohama at the 2016 Goldschmidt Conference - volcanologists Tamsin Mather and Michihiko Nakamura, plate tectonics expert Carl Spandler and seismologist and Nature magazine editor John VanDecar. (Photo: Mount Fuji in Japan. Credit: Getty Images) 
New ideas about volcanoes, earthquakes and other geological processes that both enrich and threaten us. Jack Stewart is joined by four leading Earth scientists in the city of Yokohama at the 2016 Goldschmidt Conference - volcanologists Tamsin Mather and Michihiko Nakamura, plate tectonics expert Carl Spandler and seismologist and Nature magazine editor John VanDecar. 
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| The Wind: Its Impact On Earth And In Space | 20150928 | 20150929 (WS) | Wind is all around us, on earth, on the high seas and in a different form, out in space - a powerful force which shapes our environment, and which increasingly we are trying to tame and harness. It is also the stuff or myth and legend around the World. With Bridget Kendall to explore some aspects of wind, Dr Max Platzer, the distinguished aerospace engineer, once involved in Nasa’s iconic space launches, who is now focused on how to harvest energy from the powerful winds of the world’s oceans using a massive fleet of sailing ships with the ability to convert wind energy into hydrogen. Earth and space meteorologist professor Chris Scott from Reading University in the UK tracks the solar winds which come to us from space, to probe how they affect us on earth and has new research linking wind with lightening. And, from Boston in the USA, artist Nathalie Miebach weaves extraordinary sculptures and musical compositions out of storm data she takes from weather stations. (Photo; The art sculpture Noel Hurricane. Credit: Nathalie Miebach) How the wind shapes our environment from the sea to art and outer space 
Wind is all around us, on earth, on the high seas and in a different form, out in space - a powerful force which shapes our environment, and which increasingly we are trying to tame and harness. It is also the stuff or myth and legend around the World. With Bridget Kendall to explore some aspects of wind, Dr Max Platzer, the distinguished aerospace engineer, once involved in Nasa’s iconic space launches, who is now focused on how to harvest energy from the powerful winds of the world’s oceans using a massive fleet of sailing ships with the ability to convert wind energy into hydrogen. Earth and space meteorologist professor Chris Scott from Reading University in the UK tracks the solar winds which come to us from space, to probe how they affect us on earth and has new research linking wind with lightening. And, from Boston in the USA, artist Nathalie Miebach weaves extraordinary sculptures and musical compositions out of storm data she takes from weather stations. 
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| The Woman Whose Cells Changed Medical History | 20201112 | 20201113 (WS) 20201115 (WS) 20201116 (WS) | The story of a young mother who unwittingly left behind a vast medical legacy. Henrietta Lacks died of cancer in Baltimore in 1951 and though she never gave consent to her tissue being used for research, doctors at the time found that her unusually virulent tumour had extraordinary properties. As her cells multiplied in labs around the world, they helped make possible all sorts of medical breakthroughs, from the polio vaccine to cancer drugs and IVF treatment. But it took the Lacks family decades to discover what was going on, and the story raises questions for all of us – about medical ethics, institutional racism, and our right to privacy. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss this remarkable story are: Henrietta Lacks' grandson David Lacks Jnr who's on the board of the HeLa Genome Access Working Group; the award-winning science writer, Rebecca Skloot, whose book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks brought the story to the world's attention a decade ago; and Sir John Burn, Professor of Clinical Genetics at Newcastle University. Produced by Jo Impey for BBC World Service Image: Henrietta Lacks Image credit: Lacks Family The story of Henrietta Lacks who unwittingly left behind an extraordinary medical legacy Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Thomas More's Utopia | 20161217 | 20161219 (WS) 20161220 (WS) | Celebrating More's radical book and its political influence in the past and present Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Thomas More's Utopia | 20161219 | 20161220 (WS) | Five-hundred years ago, in what is now the Belgian city of Leuven, Thomas More published his vision for an ideal society which he called Utopia.To mark the anniversary, The Forum travels to Leuven University to debate More's book, its place in history and the politics it inspired. Presenter Bridget Kendall is joined by Leuven University rector Rik Torfs, culture studies professor Fátima Vieira who leads the Utopia 500 Project, historian of communism professor Erik van Ree from Amsterdam University, and Dilar Dirik, an expert on the Syrian-Kurdish ‘utopia’ of Rojava. Celebrating More's radical book and its political influence in the past and present 
Presenter Bridget Kendall is joined by Leuven University rector Rik Torfs, culture studies professor Fátima Vieira who leads the Utopia 500 Project, historian of communism professor Erik van Ree from Amsterdam University, and Dilar Dirik, an expert on the Syrian-Kurdish ‘utopia’ of Rojava. |
| Thoreau: The Writer Who Went To The Woods | 20190509 | 20190513 (WS) | Rajan Datar and guests explore the life and legacy of the American thinker Henry David Thoreau and his famous work 'Walden', which describes the young writer's experiment in living simply at Walden Pond in Massachusetts, for two years, two months and two days in the 1840s. A landmark text in American literature, ‘Walden’ has been enjoyed by generations for its insights into work and leisure, nature, solitude, society, the good life and more. Rajan and guests discuss this book and another of Thoreau’s famous works – the essay known as ‘Civil Disobedience’, read by some of the most influential figures of the twentieth century, such as Gandhi and Martin Luther King. They also reflect on the legacy of Thoreau’s work around the world today, in an age in which his themes – from protesting injustice to living the simple life – continue to resonate with readers. With expert guests Laura Dassow Walls, Kristen Case, John Kaag and Yoshiaki Furui. Produced by Alice Bloch.Photo: Henry David Thoreau (Universal History Archive/Getty Images) The author of the American classic \u2018Walden' Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Time To Rethink What Is 'normal'? | 20140719 | 20140720 (WS) 20140721 (WS) | Where is the dividing line between ‘being a bit different’ and having a mental illness that needs treatment and professional help? Bridget Kendall is joined by novelist Jerry Pinto, who has turned personal experiences of growing up with a bipolar relative into an award-winning book, Professor of Disability and Human Development Lennard Davis, and autism research pioneer Professor Uta Frith. (Photo: Shan Pillay/ BBC) 
Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Tolstoy: War And Peace | 20200723 | 20200726 (WS) 20200727 (WS) | 'War and Peace' by the Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy charts the story of Russia during the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century, covering the pandemonium and brutality of the battlefield, as well as the equally intense dramas and loves of several families. It is a monumental novel, tracking the fortunes of dozens of brilliantly drawn individuals, with a cast of more than six hundred characters, both historical and fictional. So why is 'War and Peace' still such a compelling masterpiece, and why did Tolstoy later disown it? Joining Bridget Kendall are Dr Galina Alexeeva, head of Research at Yasnaya Polyana, Tolstoy’s former country estate in Russia; Andrei Zorin, Professor of Russian at Oxford University and author of a new biography of Tolstoy, and Professor Donna Orwin, author of 'Simply Tolstoy', who’s from the University of Toronto in Canada. (Image: Anthony Hopkins as Pierre Bezukhov in the 1972 BBC 20- part dramatization of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Credit: BBC Copyright pictures) An epic sweep of war and love and family life set in 19th century Russia Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Top Performance: What Makes Your Adrenaline Flow? | 20130630 | 20130701 (WS) | Would you like to take part in the Ironman Triathlon, one of the most gruelling races, held in punishing conditions? Sports professor Greg Whyte tells us how you need to prepare. Why would anyone take on the riskiest challenges in mountaineering? Jennifer Jordan gets inside the heads of the women of K2. And what is happening in your body when you face danger or decide to push yourself to the limit? Brian Hoffman is an expert on adrenaline, the myths and the reality. They all join Matthew Taylor for the week’s Forum. Photo: Competitors at the 20th Marathon des Sables in Morocco by Pierre Verdy/AFP/Getty Images) Are high-altitude climbers and multiple marathon runners adrenaline junkies? Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Total Eclipse Of The Sun | 20170805 | 20170807 20170807 (WS) 20170808 (WS) | A plunge into darknessA total eclipse of the Sun is a spectacular cosmic event that can even be life changing. The 21st August 2017 sees one of the most accessible eclipses for years, an all-American eclipse crossing the United States for more than two thousand miles from northwest to southeast. And yet throughout the centuries, the sight of a total eclipse - seeing the sun totally blacked out by the moon – has often caused fear and turmoil. Joining Rajan Datar to find out more about the history of eclipses and what they reveal about the workings of the sun, is the NASA astrophysicist Lika Guhathakurta, the eclipse chaser and psychologist Kate Russo, and Marek Kukula, Public astronomer at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich in London. Photo: A total eclipse of the sun (BBC) A total eclipse of the Sun is a spectacular cosmic event that can even be life changing. The 21st August 2017 sees one of the most accessible eclipses for years, an all-American eclipse crossing the United States for more than two thousand miles from northwest to southeast. And yet throughout the centuries, the sight of a total eclipse - seeing the Sun totally blacked out by the moon – has often caused fear and turmoil. Joining Rajan Datar to find out more about the history of eclipses and what they reveal about the workings of the Sun is the NASA astrophysicist Lika Guhathakurta, the eclipse chaser and psychologist Kate Russo, and Marek Kukula, public astronomer at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich in London. Photo: A total eclipse of the Sun (BBC) Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Toussaint L'ouverture: Hero Of The Haitian Slave Rebellion | 20210121 | 20210122 (WS) 20210124 (WS) 20210125 (WS) | Late 18th-Century Saint Domingue in the Caribbean – now known as Haiti – was one of the richest countries in the world. Known as ‘the pearl of the Antilles’, its wealth was built almost entirely on slavery. Around half a million enslaved Africans were transported to the French colony to work on the sugar plantations. Toussaint L’Ouverture was destined to see out his days within this brutal system, but his skills as a negotiator and communicator saw him rise to the forefront of the resistance movement on the island. A wily and charismatic operator, he galvanised his fellow countrymen and women to lead history’s first and only successful slave uprising. Diverging from French colonial rule brought him to the attention of Napoleon Bonaparte, who sent a large fleet to re-establish slavery on Saint Domingue. The expedition ended with Toussaint’s capture and exile to France, where he died in a cold prison cell in 1803. But his generals meanwhile carried on the struggle to uphold Toussaint’s opposition to slavery, which became the basis for the new independent state of Haiti. Joining Rajan Datar to explore this complex figure are Marlene L Daut, Professor of African Diaspora Studies in the Carter G. Woodson Institute at the University of Virginia, and the author of Tropics of Haiti: Race and the Literary History of the Haitian Revolution in the Atlantic World, 1789-1865; Weibert Arthus, the Haitian ambassador to Canada, who’s also published widely on Haitian diplomacy and history; and Sudhir Hazareesingh, professor in politics at Balliol College, Oxford. His biography Black Spartacus: The epic life of Toussaint Louverture was published in 2020. Producer: Fiona Clampin (Image: Toussaint L'Ouverture painted on the body of a tap-tap bus operating in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Credit: Jan Sochor/Getty Images) The charismatic freed slave who was the true embodiment of French Revolutionary ideals Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Tracking | 20130922 | 20130923 (WS) | With smarter technology monitoring our behaviour how far should we compromise privacy? |
| Tradition | 20120602 | 20120603 20120603 (WS) | A useful springboard or an unnecessary hindrance? As Britain celebrates The Diamond Jubilee, sixty years of Queen Elizabeth’s rule, the Forum takes a look at the role of tradition in the 21st century. How important is it? Not just in linking us to our collective past but in helping to forge the future, especially in the countries now in the midst of the Arab Spring? And what happens in an ancient culture whose language has no way of describing the past? How does art challenge complacency by subverting tradition? Bridget Kendall’s guests are the award winning British artist Grayson Perry, anthropologist and expert on Amazonian languages Dan Everett, and the Islamic philosopher Tariq Ramadan. Illustration by Emily Kasriel: communicating the meaning of tradition through tapestry. As Britain celebrates The Diamond Jubilee - 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II's rule - the Forum takes a look at the role of tradition in the 21st Century. Bridget Kendall's guests are the award winning British artist Grayson Perry, anthropologist and expert on Amazonian languages Dan Everett, and the Islamic philosopher Tariq Ramadan. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Traps | 20140201 | 20140202 (WS) 20140203 (WS) | Catching neutrinos, unsuspecting gamers and pictures of elusive mammals. 
Catching neutrinos, unsuspecting gamers and pictures of elusive mammals. |
| Turmoil Around The World And In Ourselves | 20160910 | 20160913 (WS) | Exploring turmoil in politics and society Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Turmoil Around The World And In Ourselves | 20160912 | 20160913 (WS) 20160914 (WS) | Turmoil is all around us – in politics, in our mental health and in fantasy fiction, which often seems to excite our hunger for nightmare scenarios. With threats of terrorism, environmental catastrophe and political pandemonium around the globe amplified by modern communications, Samira Ahmed is joined by psychiatrist Mina Fazel, political scientist Daniel Drezner, and horror writer and Zombie expert Max Brooks to explore how we might cope with real or perceived disaster and disorder and examine whether the apparent chaos of the modern world really is greater than ever before. (Photo: People wave national flags as they march to react against a military coup attempt, in Ankara, in July 2016. Credit: Getty Images) Exploring turmoil in politics and society 

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| Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Seas | 20190404 | 20190407 (WS) 20190408 (WS) | It is an all-time adventure classic, a novel by Jules Verne that started life in serialized form 150 years ago and has gripped readers ever since, making it one of the most translated works in publishing history (and yes, the original French title says 'seas' in plural). It also made a household name out of its main character, Captain Nemo, the troubled and enigmatic commander who transports us through underwater wonders - including the lost world of Atlantis - in Nautilus, a submarine that itself is a technological marvel. So popular is the story, stars as famous as James Mason, Omar Sharif and Michael Caine have featured in movie versions. But there are dark undercurrents in the novel, themes of anger and revenge, as well as a number of enigmatic passages. To explore the long-lasting appeal of Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas, Rajan Datar is joined by Marie-Helene Huet, professor of French at Princeton University and MIT; French writer and translator Laurence Sudret, general secretary of the Société Jules Verne; Swiss-born author and engineer Jean-Michel Margot who had amassed one of the world's foremost collections of Verne materials; and Terry Harpold, Professor of English, Film and Media Studies at the University of Florida who specializes in science fiction.Photo: Submarine in the style of Captain Nemo's 'Nautilus'. (inhauscreative/Getty Images) Jules Verne's classic adventure novel Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Twins And Doubles | 20140104 | 20140105 (WS) 20140106 (WS) | Why do we pair up as we do, and does looking alike go beyond the surface? The Singh Twins are two sisters who are not only identical twins, but have created a successful career as a single artist. They will be telling us what it means to interpret the world through double vision. Also, psychologist Nancy Segal who has been studying identical Chinese twins separated at birth, and Nicholas Royle, a novelist and professor of literature, takes us into the unsettling world of doubles and alter egos in fiction. 
The Singh Twins are two sisters who are not only identical twins, but have created a successful career as a single artist. They will be telling us what it means to interpret the world through double vision. Also, psychologist Nancy Segal who has been studying identical Chinese twins separated at birth, and Nicholas Royle, a novelist and professor of literature, takes us into the unsettling world of doubles and alter egos in fiction. |
| Umm Kulthum: Egypt's Singing Superstar | 20201210 | 20201211 (WS) 20201213 (WS) 20201214 (WS) | Umm Kulthum’s powerful voice and talent for communicating poetry was spotted early, when she accompanied her family to perform at weddings and special occasions. It wasn’t long before she was performing in the elite salons of early 20th-century Cairo, although her father dressed her as a boy to protect her from any unwelcome interactions with strangers. In the Egyptian capital she quickly associated herself with the most talented musicians of the day, and from then on she never looked back. She explored the major Arabic song forms of the period, collaborating with composers and poets. She dabbled in film, negotiated record deals, and when public service broadcasting began in the 1930s, she secured herself a monthly slot on national radio. In awe of her talent and mesmerising presence, the Arab world practically came to a standstill whenever she was heard on the airwaves. Joining Bridget Kendall to explore Umm Kulthum’s life are Virginia Danielson, author of The Voice of Egypt: Umm Kulthum, Arabic Song and Egyptian Society in the 20th Century; Salwa el-Shawan Castelo-Branco, professor of ethnomusicology at the New University of Lisbon and president of the International Council for Traditional Music; and Yara Salahiddeen, whose current research at the University of Oxford focuses on music-making in 19th and early 20th century urban Egyptian society. [Image: Umm Kulthum performs on Nov 16 1967 at the Olympia concert hall, Paris. Credit: STRINGER, AFP via Getty Images] Exploring the life of a woman whose voice still captivates people across the Middle East Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Joining Bridget Kendall to explore Umm Kulthum’s life are Virginia Danielson, author of The Voice of Egypt: Umm Kulthum, Arabic Song and Egyptian Society in the 20th Century; Salwa el-Shawan Castelo-Branco, professor of ethnomusicology at the New University of Lisbon and president of the International Council for Traditional Music; and Yara Salahiddeen, whose current research at the University of Oxford focuses on music-making in 19th and early 20th century urban Egyptian society. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Uncertainty | 20141011 | 20141012 (WS) 20141013 (WS) | How to approach uncertainty in the modern world Can you be certain about anything these days? How much certainty do we need in our daily lives? In an intriguing discussion about uncertainty Bridget Kendall brings together three people with different perspectives to share their thoughts and expertise. Mathematician Jordan Ellenberg explains how a new kind of statistics deals with randomness as well as certain logic, philosopher Rupert Read argues that we should act when facing serious situations like climate change without absolute evidential certainty and writer and literary scholar Namwali Serpell explores how novelists use uncertainty to captivate and challenge their readers. (Photo: Dice being rolled. BBC copyright) Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Underground: How Deep Can Life Survive? | 20160903 | 20160905 (WS) 20160906 (WS) | Exploring the mysteries of the biosphere below the earth's surface. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Underground: How Deep Can Life Survive? | 20160905 | 20160906 (WS) 20160907 (WS) | This week, The Forum delves into the subterranean world of life underground – from the forgotten tunnels and catacombs of our cities to life found in the stifling sunless world two miles below the Earth’s surface. Might humans one day retreat underground if living above ground becomes too tough? Bridget Kendall with Social Geographer Dr. Bradley L. Garrett, Zoologist Dr. Gaetan Borgonie and Isotope Geochemist Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar. Photo: Car Quarry image (credit: Bradley L. Garrett) Exploring the mysteries of the biosphere below the earth’s surface. 

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| Unfinished: The Art Of The Incomplete | 20160618 | 20160620 (WS) 20160621 (WS) | How do we respond to things that are unfinished or incomplete? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Unfinished: The Art Of The Incomplete | 20160620 | 20160621 (WS) 20160622 (WS) | We are at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York at The Met Breuer, where the exhibition "Unfinished: Thoughts Left Visible", is a springboard to explore the notion of things unfinished or incomplete. The concept of a work of art that is unfinished, the so called 'non finito' style, has been with us since the Renaissance. But it has taken on new meaning in modern art of the 20th and 21st Century. So how should we respond to a work which is unfinished whether it is a painting, a book, a piece of music, a film or a building? And, how does the idea of ‘unfinished’ translate into an ever-changing historical and political context? Presenter Bridget Kendall is joined by Andrea Bayer, Jayne Wrightsman, Curator in The Met’s Department of European Paintings and co-curator of "Unfinished: Thoughts Left Visible" at The Met Breuer; Negin Farsad, a celebrated stand-up comedian, actor and film-maker of Iranian heritage; Kerry James Marshall, the internationally renowned American artist whose work will be the subject of a major exhibition at The Met Breuer this October 2016; Andrew Solomon, professor of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University in New York, and an award-winning writer who is also president of PEN American Center. (Photo: The Met Breuer in New York. Credit: Ed Lederman) How do we respond to things that are unfinished or incomplete? 
We are at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York at The Met Breuer, where the exhibition ""Unfinished: Thoughts Left Visible"", is a springboard to explore the notion of things unfinished or incomplete. The concept of a work of art that is unfinished, the so called 'non finito' style, has been with us since the Renaissance. But it has taken on new meaning in modern art of the 20th and 21st Century. So how should we respond to a work which is unfinished whether it is a painting, a book, a piece of music, a film or a building? And, how does the idea of ‘unfinished’ translate into an ever-changing historical and political context? Presenter Bridget Kendall is joined by Andrea Bayer, Jayne Wrightsman, Curator in The Met’s Department of European Paintings and co-curator of ""Unfinished: Thoughts Left Visible"" at The Met Breuer; Negin Farsad, a celebrated stand-up comedian, actor and film-maker of Iranian heritage; Kerry James Marshall, the internationally renowned American artist whose work will be the subject of a major exhibition at The Met Breuer this October 2016; Andrew Solomon, professor of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University in New York, and an award-winning writer who is also president of PEN American Center. 
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| Uniformity | 20141103 | 20141104 (WS) | When is regularity good and when does it become boring, or even oppressive? Everything from transport to building regulations to medical science needs to be underpinned by the idea of uniformity to ensure safe and consistent production and delivery. But can too much uniformity, or misapplied uniformity, be bad for us? And if so, in what way? Tim Marlow discusses uniformity with the multi-faceted concert pianist and thinker Kirill Gerstein, distinguished sociologist George Ritzer, and award-wining architect Alison Brooks. Photo: Keystone / Getty Images Everything from transport to building regulations to medical science needs to be underpinned by the idea of uniformity to ensure safe and consistent production and delivery. But can too much uniformity, or misapplied uniformity, be bad for us? And if so, in what way? Tim Marlow discusses uniformity with the multi-faceted concert pianist and thinker Kirill Gerstein, distinguished sociologist George Ritzer, and award-wining architect Alison Brooks. Photo: Keystone / Getty Images |
| Unlocking The Mysteries Of Cuneiform Tablets | 20201126 | 20201127 (WS) 20201129 (WS) 20201130 (WS) | Cuneiform is an ancient writing system distinguished by wedge-shaped marks made into clay. It developed over 5,000 years ago in Ancient Mesopotamia. At its height it was used to write languages across the ancient Middle East, from Iran to Syria to Anatolia in Turkey. But cuneiform writing fell out of use about 2,000 years ago in favour of alphabetic scripts. When scholars in the 19th century finally managed to redecipher it, they discovered fascinating insights into the culture and rituals of people living in the ancient Middle East, unlocking texts that have changed our understanding of history, including The Epic of Gilgamesh, the Code of Hammurabi and The Amarna Letters of Ancient Egypt. And cuneiform has even seen something of a revival in modern-day Iraqi visual culture. Joining Rajan Datar to discuss cuneiform script are Professor Eleanor Robson of University College London, Dr Mark Weeden of SOAS, University of London and Ahmed Naji, author of 'Under The Palm Trees: Modern Iraqi Art with Mohamed Makiya and Jewad Selim'. Image: Cuneiform writing of the ancient Sumerian or Assyrian civilisation in Iraq Image credit: Getty Images We explore the system of writing that developed 5,000 years ago in Ancient Mesopotamia Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Unpicking The Un | 20161119 | 20161121 (WS) 20161122 (WS) | The history and current challenges facing the UN Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Unpicking The Un | 20161121 | 20161122 (WS) | What is the United Nations for, what brought it about, and has it lived up to expectations? As a new Secretary-General takes over, Bridget Kendall and guests give all you need to know about the world’s most ambitious public body. Joining Bridget Kendall are Jussi M. Hanhimäki, professor of International History at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva; Heidi Tworek, fellow at the Transatlantic Academy and assistant professor of International History at the University of British Columbia; Carolyn Medel-Anonuevo, head of the Education Unit at Unesco’s Southern Africa regional office in Zimbabwe; Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, who served as Deputy Secretary-General and Chief of Staff of the UN under Kofi Annan. Photo: The United Nations building in New York. (Getty Images) The history and current challenges facing the UN 
Photo: The United Nations building in New York. (Getty Images) |
| Up Close With Tango | 20170715 | 20170717 (WS) 20170718 (WS) | Tango is easy to recognise: those daring steps, the tight hold of the dancing partners, the intense yet melancholy music dominated by the plaintive sounds of the bandoneon. But if you ask what exactly tango is and where it came from, the answer may not be so immediately clear - because it's more than a genre of music, more than just a style of dance. To get insights into the roots, the culture and even the magic of tango, Rajan Datar is joined by leading tango historians Maria Susana Azzi, Christine Denniston and John Turci-Escobar.Photo: Argentine dancers on stage at the World Tango Championships in 2014 (Getty Images) The dance that seduced the world Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Up Close With Tango | 20170717 | | The dance that seduced the worldTango is easy to recognise: those daring steps, the tight hold of the dancing partners, the intense yet melancholy music dominated by the plaintive sounds of the bandoneon. But if you ask what exactly tango is and where it came from, the answer may not be so immediately clear - because it's more than a genre of music, more than just a style of dance. To get insights into the roots, the culture and even the magic of tango, Rajan Datar is joined by leading tango historians Maria Susana Azzi, Christine Denniston and John Turci-Escobar. Photo: Argentine dancers on stage at the World Tango Championships in 2014 (Getty Images) |
| Up Close With Tango | 20200709 | 20200712 (WS) 20200713 (WS) | Tango is easy to recognise: those daring steps, the tight hold of the dancing partners, the intense yet melancholy music dominated by the plaintive sounds of the bandoneon. But if you ask what exactly tango is and where it came from, the answer may not be so immediately clear – because it’s more than a genre of music, more than just a style of dance. To get insights into the roots, the culture and even the magic of tango, Rajan Datar is joined by leading tango historians Maria Susana Azzi, Christine Denniston and John Turci-Escobar.Photo: Argentine dancers on stage at the World Tango Championships in 2014 (Getty Images) The dance that seduced the world Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Photo: Argentine dancers on stage at the World Tango Championships in 2014 (Getty Images) |
| Upside Down | 20150914 | 20150915 (WS) | Subversion and inversion in a topsy-turvy world Bridget Kendall and her guests step into a world turned upside down. Inverted buildings are a passion of structural engineer Hanif Kara. Cabaret artist Fez Faanana subverts gender stereotypes in his entertaining and subversive show and Dr Kirsty Park explains why bats spend so much of their lives hanging from their toes. (Photo: A Sloth hanging upside down. Credit: Getty Images) 
Bridget Kendall and her guests step into a world turned upside down. Inverted buildings are a passion of structural engineer Hanif Kara. Cabaret artist Fez Faanana subverts gender stereotypes in his entertaining and subversive show and Dr Kirsty Park explains why bats spend so much of their lives hanging from their toes. 
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| Using Other People’s Water | 20160926 | 20160927 (WS) 20160928 (WS) | Bridget Kendal is joined by Professor in Water Management Arjen Hoekstra to discuss the idea that we urgently need to change industrial and agricultural practices to reduce our water footprint and avert a global crisis. Esther de Jong specialises in water usage in the developing world. She believes water use and gender are closely related. Also joining the discussion is scientific diver Henry Kaiser who is inspired by waters beneath Antarctica to create haunting soundscapes. Photo: Henry Kaiser working under the ice at Arrival Heights, beneath Ross Sea ice near McMurdo Station, Antarctica (Credit: Rob Robbins) Are we sucking our worldwide supply dry? 
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| Using Other People's Water | 20160924 | 20160926 (WS) 20160927 (WS) | Are we sucking our worldwide supply dry? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Valkyries: Fierce Women Of War | 20200702 | 20200705 (WS) 20200706 (WS) | In Norse mythology, Valkyries were women who went out into battles to choose the slain warriors who deserved to be in Valhalla, Odin’s place in Asgard, to carry on fighting in preparation for the final apocalyptic confrontation of Ragnarok, between gods and giants. Fighters would see the Valkyries flying through the air or riding on horses, with shields and helmets, some saving the lives and ships of those they favoured, some causing death to those they disliked. These stories of Valkyries and Valhalla offer insights into the lives and values of the people who told them, with the possibility that human women went into battle too. Bridget Kendall is joined by Sif Rikhardsdottir, Professor and Chair of Comparative Literature at the University of Iceland, Marianne Hem Eriksen, Associate Professor of Archaeology at the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo in Norway, and Judith Jesch, Professor of Viking Studies at the University of Nottingham, in the UK. (Picture: Illustration from The Rhinegold and the Valkyrie, 1910. Artist: Arthur Rackham Credit: Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images/Getty Images) Choosing dead heroes from the battlefield, to fight with Odin in the apocalyptic Ragnarok Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts (Picture: Illustration from The Rhinegold and the Valkyrie, 1910. Artist: Arthur Rackham Credit: Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images/Getty Images) |
| Vanity | 20140208 | 20140209 (WS) 20140210 (WS) | Trillions of dollars are spent on vanity megaprojects round the world, every year. Many of them well over budget, delivering far fewer benefits than originally promised. So why is it that politicians and planners keep commissioning ever grander projects? Is it the same vanity that drives more and more of us to cosmetic surgery? Joining Bridget Kendall are Danish authority on the pitfalls of megaprojects, Bent Flyvbjerg; British critic and curator Stephen Bayley, who has a special interest in design and architecture; and American anthropologist Alex Edmonds, who takes us from vanity architecture to body shaping, as a means for self-promotion. (Photo courtesy of Hulton Archive/ Getty Images) Ever-taller buildings, more cosmetic surgery: is there no limit to human vanity? 
Trillions of dollars are spent on vanity megaprojects round the world, every year. Many of them well over budget, delivering far fewer benefits than originally promised. So why is it that politicians and planners keep commissioning ever grander projects? Is it the same vanity that drives more and more of us to cosmetic surgery? Joining Bridget Kendall are Danish authority on the pitfalls of megaprojects, Bent Flyvbjerg; British critic and curator Stephen Bayley, who has a special interest in design and architecture; and American anthropologist Alex Edmonds, who takes us from vanity architecture to body shaping, as a means for self-promotion. (Photo courtesy of Hulton Archive/ Getty Images) |
| Vincent Van Gogh: The Struggling Artist | 20180721 | 20180724 (WS) | The Dutch post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh is one of the most influential painters in western art. His series of still life sunflowers are known around the world today, but during his lifetime in the 1800s he lived in poverty, selling incredibly little of his work, some say just one painting, and suffered several serious breakdowns. One of his most famous paintings - The Starry Night - is said to be the view from his room in a French psychiatric hospital where he’d admitted himself shortly after severing his own left ear. This programme looks at the man behind these iconic paintings, explores how and why he became a painter and picks apart the various theories around his death from a gunshot wound at the age of just 37. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss van Gogh’s life and work are Louis van Tilborgh, Senior Researcher at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and Professor of Art History at the University of Amsterdam, van Gogh biographer and co-author of van Gogh: The Life, Steven Naifeh, and British art historian Lucrezia Walker. Photo: Self-Portrait by Vincent van Gogh (Getty Images) Charting the highs and lows of the influential Dutch post-Impressionist painter Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Violence | 20130908 | 20130909 (WS) | How much is violence a choice, and how much a natural human instinct? A grim subject but intensely important: our human capacity for violence. What is it in our biology and our society that drives it? And is it something we can rise above? Criminal psychologist Adrian Raine argues that breakthroughs in neuroscience and genetics should be transforming the way we treat violent criminals. Human rights advocate Kavita Ramdas, examines why violence against women in India and beyond is not decreasing, despite advances in women’s rights. And primate anthropologist John Mitani explains what can be learnt from chimpanzees’ lethal aggression. Presented by Bridget Kendall. (Photo: A man aiming to take a punch. BBC copyright) 
Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
| Viruses: In Medicine, Technology And In Our Minds | 20130323 | 20130324 (WS) | Viruses: both lethal vectors that can sow death and destruction, and clever adaptable mechanisms that could transform the future of manufacturing. And should we worry more about the viral spread of ideas and trends? Bridget Kendall's guests are the Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Peter Piot, who is the co-discoverer of the Ebola virus; bioengineer professor Angela Belcher, who uses viruses to make novel materials at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and psychologist Dr. Susan Blackmore, who has a special interest in the viral potential of digital technology. PHOTO: Artwork of HIV virus by Science Photo Library The terrifying and wonderful viral world with Peter Piot, Angela Belcher, Susan Blackmore Viruses: both lethal vectors that can sow death and destruction, and clever adaptable mechanisms that could transform the future of manufacturing. And should we worry more about the viral spread of ideas and trends? Bridget Kendall's guests are the Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Peter Piot, who is the co-discoverer of the Ebola virus; bioengineer professor Angela Belcher, who uses viruses to make novel materials at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and psychologist Dr. Susan Blackmore, who has a special interest in the viral potential of digital technology. PHOTO: Artwork of HIV virus by Science Photo Library |
| Votes For Women: The Global Story | 20180407 | 20180410 (WS) | It was exactly a hundred years ago that women in the UK won the right to vote: though at first it was only for property owning women over thirty. But Britain wasn’t the trail blazer. Seven countries were ahead of it including two of its colonies. So what were the deciding factors? Was it the changing circumstances created by wars and the collapse of Empires? Or was it the suffragettes’ sometimes violent tactics? And why did Switzerland take as long as 1971 to enfranchise women? Joining Bridget Kendall to look at the global story of how women got the vote is the Indian social scientist Nikita Sud, Jad Adams the author of “Women and the Vote”, and Lindie Naughton the biographer of the first woman elected to the British parliament Constance Markievicz. Photo: Women voting (Reuters) The extraordinary stories of the women around the world who won the right to vote Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Waiting For Godot: The Play That Changed The Rules Of Theatre | 20180804 | 20180807 (WS) | Waiting for Godot is a play by the Irish writer Samuel Beckett that revolutionised 20th century theatre when it was first performed more than 60 years ago. Often referred to as a play in which nothing happens, it is about two characters who spend their time waiting for a mysterious person called Godot who never appears. Today it is one of the world's most important and best- known plays and has become a comment on our political and social climate, as its themes of hope and despair have led to it being re-interpreted in a number of conflict situations around the world, from South Africa to Sarajevo. Joining Rajan Datar is the South African theatre director Benjy Francis who was the first to stage Waiting for Godot with an all-black cast in Apartheid South Africa in 1976, the Irish theatre director Garry Hynes whose current production of Waiting for Godot is at the Edinburgh International Festival, and Professor of theatre at Reading University, Anna McMullan, who is also co-Director of the Beckett International Foundation. Photo:The Druid Theatre Company's production of Waiting for Godot (Matthew Thompson). How a play in which nothing happens created a revolution in contemporary theatre Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| What If...the Forum Could Change The World? | 20130330 | 20130401 (WS) | Visions of the future with Michio Kaku, Barbara Sahakian and Karen Lord. This week The Forum joins the BBC World Service 'What If' season. Bridget Kendall is joined by three brave visionaries, each presenting an idea that they believe could shape our future: theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, clinical neuropsychologist Barbara Sahakian and speculative fiction writer Karen Lord. What if we could move things with the power of thought alone (plus a little magnetism)? What if we could take a pill to prevent our brains betraying us in old age? What if we could read each other’s minds? This week The Forum joins the BBC World Service 'What If' season. Bridget Kendall is joined by three brave visionaries, each presenting an idea that they believe could shape our future: theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, clinical neuropsychologist Barbara Sahakian and speculative fiction writer Karen Lord. What if we could move things with the power of thought alone (plus a little magnetism)? What if we could take a pill to prevent our brains betraying us in old age? What if we could read each other’s minds? |
| What Is The Best Way To Deal With Anxiety? | 20160820 | 20160823 (WS) | How anxiety is created in the brain and how we can best help the anxious Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| What Is The Best Way To Deal With Anxiety? | 20160822 | 20160823 (WS) 20160824 (WS) | How anxiety is created in the brain and how we can best help the anxious Anxiety is a universal human emotion that has been described as the price-tag on freedom. It is the price we pay for a brain that can anticipate the future. But when anxiety spirals out of control it can take over our lives as we battle against phobias, panic attacks, dread and debilitating fear. So how is anxiety triggered and constructed in the brain? Is the almond-shaped amygdala the seat of fear or are our anxieties constructed in other parts of the brain? And for those made miserable by anxiety, how best can it be treated? Bridget Kendall explores the biology of anxiety and some unexpected approaches to treatment, including friendship benches and therapy horses. She is joined by Joseph LeDoux, author of Anxiety and professor of Neuroscience and director of the Emotional Brain Institute, New York University; Dr Dixon Chibanda, a consultant Psychiatrist in Zimbabwe and pioneer of the Friendship Bench; Susanna Forrest, a British authority on the horse and author of The Age of Horse: An Equine Journey through Human History. (Photo: A young man holding his head in his hands) 
Anxiety is a universal human emotion that has been described as the price-tag on freedom. It is the price we pay for a brain that can anticipate the future. But when anxiety spirals out of control it can take over our lives as we battle against phobias, panic attacks, dread and debilitating fear. So how is anxiety triggered and constructed in the brain? Is the almond-shaped amygdala the seat of fear or are our anxieties constructed in other parts of the brain? And for those made miserable by anxiety, how best can it be treated? 
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| What Is Zoroastrianism? | 20180414 | 20180417 (WS) | It is a religion that has lasted three millennia, claims to be the world's first monotheistic creed and to have influenced major faiths such as Christianity, Judaism and Islam, inspired artists from Voltaire to Freddie Mercury but Zoroastrianism may be heading for extinction: in some communities only children of male Zoroastrians are admitted to the faith and there are probably fewer than 200 thousand left now. Rajan Datar talks about the history of Zoroastrianism with Dr. Sarah Stewart, Shapoorji Pallonji Lecturer in Zoroastrianism at SOAS, University of London, Malcolm Deboo, President of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe, the oldest Zoroastrian organisation on the continent, and Yuhan Vevaina, professor of Sasanian Studies at Oxford University. Photo: Faravahar - relief of winged sun symbol of Zoroastrianism in Persepolis city, Iran. (Getty Images) The history of a venerable religion Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| What Makes Your Adrenaline Flow? | 20130630 | | Are high-altitude climbers and multiple marathon runners adrenaline junkies? |
| What’s The Best Way To Build Up New Markets? | 20130119 | 20130120 (WS) | How do we ensure that opening up new markets helps to build up the economies of the developing world? And what role should women play in it? Bridget Kendall is joined by Sherry Coutu, a seasoned angel investor from Canada; leading Ugandan coffee entrepreneur Andrew Rugasira; and Oxford University anthropologist Catherine Dolan who studies the intersection of business and poverty. Photo: AFP/ Getty How do we encourage enterprise in a way that benefits lots of people, not just a few? And can we do it in a way that benefits lots of people, not just a few? 
How do we ensure that opening up new markets helps to build up the economies of the developing world? And what role should women play in it? Bridget Kendall is joined by Sherry Coutu, a seasoned angel investor from Canada; leading Ugandan coffee entrepreneur Andrew Rugasira; and Oxford University anthropologist Catherine Dolan who studies the intersection of business and poverty. |
| What's So Bad About Behaving Badly? | 20120401 | | Is it always wrong to be rude and are the seven deadly sins as deadly as they sound? This week on the Forum: what are the virtues of our vices? Does living in a dynamic changing culture such as ours mean we should re-examine our moral conventions? Australian psychologist Simon Laham challenges the notion the seven deadly sins are bad for us. He says latest scientific evidence shows sins can be pro-social: sloth makes you more helpful, anger makes you more open-minded, and lust aids concentration. Professor of Philosophy Emrys Westacott mounts a defence of rudeness, gossip and other bad habits. He argues that because of our rapidly changing times, we need to let go of outmoded moral codes. Urvashi Butalia is an award winning Indian historian and feminist. From her personal point of view as a Hindu, she explains why Hinduism blurs the notion of vice and virtue. "Should you resist the temptations of desire, sloth gluttony and riches?" Illustration by Emily Kasriel |
| Wheel Revolutions | 20160507 | 20160509 (WS) 20160510 (WS) | The technology and art of wheeled transport Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Wheel Revolutions | 20160509 | 20160510 (WS) 20160511 (WS) | The technology and art of wheeled transport People have come up with the idea of the wheel many times and in different places, but what were the key turning points which led to mass transport and the miracle of modern logistics? Bridget Kendall discusses the still-unfolding story of the wheel with historian Richard Bulliet, logistics expert Jagjit Singh Srai and Cyr wheel dancer Valerie Inertie. (Photo: Wagon wheels and the view of Monument Valley in Utah, USA) 

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| When Does Healthy Competition Become Destructive? | 20160528 | 20160530 (WS) 20160531 (WS) | What is the place of rivalry in human behaviour? Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| When Does Healthy Competition Become Destructive? | 20160530 | 20160531 (WS) 20160601 (WS) | What is the place of rivalry in human behaviour? What is the place of rivalry in human behaviour? What drives it? And where is the dividing line between competition as a positive force and one that wreaks havoc? Samira Ahmed discusses rivalry in sport, in cities and in our minds with psychologist Stephen Garcia, sport morality expert Maria Kavussanu and historian Philip Mansel. (Photo: The finish line at the men's 100 meters final at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988. Credit: Getty Images) 
What is the place of rivalry in human behaviour? What drives it? And where is the dividing line between competition as a positive force and one that wreaks havoc? Samira Ahmed discusses rivalry in sport, in cities and in our minds with psychologist Stephen Garcia, sport morality expert Maria Kavussanu and historian Philip Mansel. 
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| Whistle-blowers And Rumour-mongers | 20131013 | 20131014 (WS) | Who should we believe is telling the truth and why? This week on The Forum, how can we distinguish between truth and rumour? And in what circumstances is telling the truth a really bad idea? Carrie Gracie talks to Secrets and Leaks author Rahul Sagar, about the ethics of leaking state information. Media expert Jayson Harsin explains the dark arts of the ‘rumour bomber’ and award-winning novelist Ana Maria Machado, with a Brazilian story of whistle-blowing gone wrong. This week on The Forum, how can we distinguish between truth and rumour? And in what circumstances is telling the truth a really bad idea? Carrie Gracie talks to Secrets and Leaks author Rahul Sagar, about the ethics of leaking state information. Media expert Jayson Harsin explains the dark arts of the ‘rumour bomber’ and award-winning novelist Ana Maria Machado, with a Brazilian story of whistle-blowing gone wrong. |
| Who Was The Real Cleopatra? | 20181020 | 20181023 (WS) | The myths that have grown up around Cleopatra since her eventful reign in the first century BCE are so vivid and alluring that they seem to have taken on a life of their own. The Egyptian queen has been portrayed in art and literature as a wily temptress whose devastating beauty seduced two of Rome’s most powerful men, or as a ruthless killer who murdered her own relatives to get ahead, or as a tragic lover who took her own life using the bite from a poisonous snake. But how much of this is actually based on historical fact? There is evidence that Queen Cleopatra was in fact a clever stateswoman and scholar, who spoke multiple languages and successfully governed Egypt for over 20 years, becoming one of the most powerful female rulers in the ancient world. Bridget Kendall unpicks fact from fiction with Joyce Tyldesley, reader in Egyptology at the University of Manchester; Maria Wyke, professor of Latin at University College, London; and Christian Greco, director of the Museo Egizio (Egyptian Museum) in Turin, Italy. Image: Cleopatra on papyrus (DeAgostini/Getty Images) Unpicking fact from fiction in the life of the last queen of Egypt Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Unpicking fact from fiction in the life of the last Queen of Egypt Sharing knowledge The myths that have grown up around Cleopatra since her eventful reign in the first century BCE are so vivid and alluring that they seem to have taken on a life of their own. The Egyptian queen has been portrayed in art and literature as a wily temptress whose devastating beauty seduced two of Rome’s most powerful men; or as a ruthless killer who murdered her own relatives to get ahead; or as a tragic lover who took her own life using the bite from a poisonous snake. But how much of this is actually based on historical fact? There is evidence that Queen Cleopatra was in fact a clever stateswoman and scholar, who spoke multiple languages and successfully governed Egypt for over 20 years, becoming one of the most powerful female rulers in the ancient world. Bridget Kendall unpicks Cleopatra fact from fiction with Joyce Tyldesley, Reader in Egyptology at the University of Manchester; Maria Wyke, professor of Latin at University College, London; and Christian Greco, Director of the Museo Egizio (Egyptian Museum) in Turin, Italy. Image: Cleopatra on Papyrus (DeAgostini/Getty Images) |
| Who Were The Huguenots? | 20200910 | 20200913 (WS) 20200914 (WS) | The Huguenots gave the word 'refugee' to the English language - they were French protestants escaping religious persecution, who fled from France to neighbouring states between the 16th and 18th centuries. Despite their early experience of violence and religious upheaval, they are widely celebrated for their contribution as migrants, famously as silk weavers and silversmiths, traders and teachers. Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the Huguenots and their global legacy are three experts: Owen Stanwood is Associate Professor of History at Boston College in the United States and is the author of 'The Global Refuge: Huguenots in an Age of Empire'; Ruth Whelan is Professor of French at Maynooth University in Ireland, where she researches the religious and intellectual culture of French Protestants between 1680 and 1730; and Kathy Chater is a London-based historian and genealogist. She’s the author of 'Tracing Your Huguenot Ancestors'. Produced by Jo Impey for BBC World Service Image: Engraving depicting French Huguenot refugees as they landed in Dover Image Credit: adoc-photos / Getty Images The myths and mysteries surrounding French protestant refugees Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Why Are We Generous? | 20161008 | 20161010 20161011 (WS) 20161012 (WS) | Generosity feels like a good idea - most of us enjoy being generous from time to time and having people be generous to us. But what drives our altruistic tendencies? From local volunteering to big philanthropic donations, from small acts of kindness to major sacrifices, what does this sort of behaviour say about us as human beings? Do we really give without expecting something in return, or is there always some element of self- interest? Joining Bridget Kendall to explore how and why we are generous are evolutionary anthropologist David Sloan Wilson, philosopher Judith Lichtenberg and experimental psychologist Patricia Lockwood. Photo: Offering Aid after forest fire. Credit Cole Burston AFP Getty Images Are we generous out of kindness or self-interest? 
Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Why Do We Need The State? | 20151005 | 20151006 (WS) | Samira Ahmed is joined by World War Two historian Timothy Snyder who sees Hitler as the ultimate state destroyer, Belgian social policy researcher Benjamin Leruth who has been getting European citizens to be honest about what they really like and loathe about the EU, and writer Adrian Wooldridge who thinks authoritarian Singapore is a model for how to run an efficient state in the 21st Century. (Photo: Different flags of the world on flagpoles) Is it time to rethink what a modern state is for? 

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| Why Do We Tell Stories? | 20130526 | 20130527 (WS) | With Qais Akbar Omar, John Yorke and Emile Bruneau. The three heroes of our tale are award-winning TV drama producer John Yorke, who explains to Bridget Kendall why a 9 year old could storyline a Hollywood film; neuroscientist Emile Bruneau, who’s cutting edge research is about how narratives can trigger empathy; and Afghan writer Qais Akbar Omar, who says that when you have nothing else left, stories can sustain you. The three heroes of our tale are award-winning TV drama producer John Yorke, who explains to Bridget Kendall why a 9 year old could storyline a Hollywood film; neuroscientist Emile Bruneau, who’s cutting edge research is about how narratives can trigger empathy; and Afghan writer Qais Akbar Omar, who says that when you have nothing else left, stories can sustain you. |
| Winner Or Cheat? Doping In Sport | 20161210 | 20161212 (WS) 20161213 (WS) | The inside story; swapped samples, state-sponsored doping and the battle for world sport Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Winner Or Cheat? Doping In Sport | 20161212 | 20161213 (WS) | The inside story; swapped samples, state-sponsored doping and the battle for world sport A battle is raging over the future of sport. Advances in retrospective testing have seen champions stripped of their medals years after they stood on the podium. Allegations of state-sponsored doping in Russia have rocked the sports world and new treatments such as gene-doping are constantly evolving. The drugs change but the questions remain the same – how effective and how dangerous are performance-enhancing drugs? How do doping competitors evade the testers? And can sports tarnished by doping ever be cleaned up? Sharing their knowledge with Bridget Kendall are four sport insiders: David Howman stepped down as Director of the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2016 after twelve years battling drug-taking in sport. David Millar is a British cyclist and former World Champion who has won stages at the Tour de France and rode in the professional peloton for over a decade. Banned for doping, he returned to the sport as an anti-drugs campaigner. He is the author of the memoirs ‘Racing Through The Dark’ and ‘ The Racer: Life on the Road as a Pro-Cyclist’. Professor Mario Thevis is a chemist who has tested competitors at seven Olympic Games and is Director of the Centre for Preventive Doping Research in Cologne, Germany. Dr Zhouxiang Lu has researched allegations of doping in China in the 1980s and 90s. He teaches at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. Photo: Athletes in the starting block at a race. (Getty Images) 
A battle is raging over the future of sport. Advances in retrospective testing have seen champions stripped of their medals years after they stood on the podium. Allegations of state-sponsored doping in Russia have rocked the sports world and new treatments such as gene-doping are constantly evolving. The drugs change but the questions remain the same – how effective and how dangerous are performance-enhancing drugs? How do doping competitors evade the testers? And can sports tarnished by doping ever be cleaned up? Sharing their knowledge with Bridget Kendall are four sport insiders: David Millar is a British cyclist and former World Champion who has won stages at the Tour de France and rode in the professional peloton for over a decade. Banned for doping, he returned to the sport as an anti-drugs campaigner. He is the author of the memoirs ‘Racing Through The Dark’ and ‘ The Racer: Life on the Road as a Pro-Cyclist’. Professor Mario Thevis is a chemist who has tested competitors at seven Olympic Games and is Director of the Centre for Preventive Doping Research in Cologne, Germany. 
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| Writer Jorge Luis Borges: Mixing The Magical With The Mundane | 20201008 | 20201011 (WS) 20201012 (WS) | ‘We accept reality so readily - perhaps because we sense that nothing is real.' A typically paradoxical quote from the Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges whose works have become classics and an influence not just on many Latin American novelists but on countless authors around the world. Yet although he is one of the most analysed figures in literature, even his greatest fans struggle fully to explain his writing. So who was Jorge Luis Borges? And what is it that makes his writing so compelling? To find out, Bridget Kendall talks to three Borges experts: Dr. Patricia Novillo-Corvalán, from the University of Kent, author of Borges and Joyce, An Infinite Conversation; Prof. Evelyn Fishburn, from University College London, author of Hidden Pleasures in Borges’s Fiction; and Edwin Williamson, Professor at Oxford University and editor of the Cambridge Companion to Jorge Luis Borges. (Image: Jorge Luis Borges in 1973 Photo: Horacio Villalobos/Corbis via Getty Images) Teasing and thought provoking: the works of the Argentinian master of pithy stories Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Yellow Fever: Man Against Mosquito | 20170225 | 20170227 (WS) 20170228 (WS) | Outbreaks of yellow fever, such as the notorious 1878 'American plague' which swept through Memphis, Tennessee, used to kill thousands in a matter of weeks. So why was it so devastating? How did we manage to tame it in some parts of the world? And why does yellow fever still present a danger today for nearly a billion people living in tropical parts of Latin America and Africa? Bridget Kendall discusses the history and the future of yellow fever with American writer and journalist Molly Crosby, author of The American Plague; history professor from the University of Virginia, Christian McMillen who has a special interest in past and present epidemics; and Dr. Nick Beeching who teaches clinical infectious diseases at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Photo: Yellow Fever Virus (Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Public Health Image Library) How we tamed one of the world's deadliest diseases and why it's coming back 
How we tamed one of the world's deadliest diseases, and why it's coming back Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
| Yiddish: A Story Of Survival | 20200102 | 20200103 (WS) 20200105 (WS) 20200106 (WS) | At its height, Yiddish, the language of the European Jews, was spoken by more than ten million people, from Russia in the east to the Netherlands in the West. But by the mid -20th century, these numbers were severely depleted following the Holocaust, and then the creation of the modern-day state of Israel where the speaking of Yiddish was discouraged. So what does the future hold for this endangered culture with its great tradition of writers and thinkers? Joining Rajan Datar are Aaron Lansky, the director of the Yiddish book centre in the US, who helped save more than a million Yiddish books from destruction; the Jewish-Russian composer and singer Polina Skovoroda Shepherd who writes new songs that still remain within the Yiddish tradition, and Dr Lily Kahn from the Hebrew and Jewish studies department at University College, London, who’s also the author of “Colloquial Yiddish”. Image: A portrait of the Russian-Yiddish performer Polina Skovoroda Shepherd. Photo "All Snow" by Adela Nurullina. Regenerating Yiddish \u2013 the language and culture of the European Jews Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts So what does the future hold for this endangered culture with its great tradition of writers and thinkers? Joining Rajan Datar are Aaron Lansky, the director of the Yiddish book centre in the US, who helped save more than a million Yiddish books from destruction; the Jewish-Russian composer and singer Polina Skovoroda Shepherd who writes new songs that still remain within the Yiddish tradition, and Dr Lily Kahn from the Hebrew and Jewish studies department at University College, London, who’s also the author of “Colloquial Yiddish ? |
| Yves Saint Laurent: Fashion Revolutionary | 20180317 | 20180320 (WS) | In the ten years since his death, the impact of designer Yves Saint Laurent on women’s fashion remains undimmed. The pea coat, the trench, the trouser suit – many of his designs are now staples of the modern Western woman’s wardrobe. So how did this famously shy and retiring man achieve global success? And did his fashion innovations for women shape social change in the 1960s, or were they a response to his times? Bridget Kendall looks back at Saint Laurent’s life and legacy with director of the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, Olivier Flaviano, fashion historian Emilie Hammen and one of Saint Laurent’s last assistants, designer Charles Sébline. Photo: Yves Saint Laurent, French designer, with two fashion models, Betty Catroux (left) and Loulou de la Falaise, outside his 'Rive Gauche' shop. Credit: John Minihan, Getty Images. Bridget Kendall and guests on the glamorous world of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. Discover world history, culture and ideas with today's leading experts |
01 | 04/03/2017 Gmt | 20170304 | 20170306 (WS) | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. 
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01 | Guilt | 20121027 | 20121028 (WS) | What's the best way to deal with personal and collective guilt? Do you have a guilty secret that keeps you tossing and turning at night? Or do you sleep easy with a clear conscience? The Forum's subject this week is guilt: how much does it affect the behaviour of individuals, families and entire nations? Joining Bridget Kendall this week are Australian novelist and author of Schindler's List, Thomas Keneally, Turkish historian Taner Akcam and Jordanian writer Fadia Faqir. Illustration by Rosemary Baker. Do you have a guilty secret that keeps you tossing and turning at night? Or do you sleep easy with a clear conscience? The Forum's subject this week is guilt: how much does it affect the behaviour of individuals, families and entire nations? Joining Bridget Kendall this week are Australian novelist and author of Schindler's List, Thomas Keneally, Turkish historian Taner Akcam and Jordanian writer Fadia Faqir. Illustration by Rosemary Baker. |
01 | That's Disgusting! | 20121013 | 20121014 (WS) | This week, a programme to test how strong your stomach is. Why is slimy slithery food so often unappetizing? And why do babies respond to bitter tastes by screwing up their noses? We’ll be exploring disgust: when it’s a useful tool to keep us safe from disease and poisoning, and when it’s a gut reaction that could encourage risk-aversion and even predict the way we vote. |
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03 | Invisible Controllers | 20121020 | 20121021 (WS) | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |
04 | Guilt | 20121027 | 20121028 (WS) | Prominent international thinkers debating big ideas. |