Rsa Events

Government policies in response to the Covid-19 pandemic have reignited the universal basic income (UBI) debate, showing us the vital lifeline that income support can provide. In the US, Congress has distributed nearly $850 billion through three rounds of stimulus checks. In the UK, the furlough scheme and self-employed income support schemes have helped millions to keep their heads above water. But these measures are temporary and specific, so what can they really tell us about the viability of UBI?The Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED), a 2-year guaranteed income pilot which began pre-pandemic and concluded in March this year has published results showing that the recipients of an unrestricted, reliable $500 monthly income are happier, healthier and better able to find full time work. Could this be the way out of the crisis that we need? Is there scope for UBI to pick up where the crisis-response income-support schemes end? And critically, can UBI really address persistent imbalances in pove

If the way we give to those in need reflects on our values and virtue as a society, what do we see today?Charitable giving has grown in response to the huge areas of need that the Covid crisis has exposed and intensified, in the form of mutual aid groups, donations, and volunteering. How has this changed our communities, our public values, and the ways we help one another?Writer and development expert Paul Vallely is joined by philanthropic activist Sir Bob Geldof and charity director Fran Perrin to explore the big questions for philanthropy today: what does charity mean in an age of increasing inequality? How should charities and the state interact? How can philanthropic giving connect us to one another, and redistribute not just money, but power?The expert panel reflects on the changing state of philanthropy through the ages, from Aristotle to Live Aid to Bill Gates, and asks the role that charity can play in a society built on justice and altruism.#RSAphilanthropyThis conversation was broadcast online on t

The speed with which Covid-19 vaccines have been developed represents a significant achievement for humanity and is providing hope for a way out of the pandemic, but the rollout so far has been unequal: high and middle-income countries are able to secure more vaccines than they need and vaccinate populations at speed, whilst low-income countries reliant on external supplies and funding are being left behind. Vaccine deployment is exposing deep health, political, racial and economic inequalities around the world.Inequitable distribution is not just a moral issue. It's also economically and epidemiologically self-defeating. As long as the virus continues to circulate, new variants will continue to emerge, economies will continue to be disrupted and people will continue to die.In order to achieve safe, effective and equitable access, vaccines need to be produced at scale, priced affordably, allocated globally, and widely deployed in local communities. We need a coordinated, cooperative international response. So

Employees in low-skill, low-paid and insecure occupations constitute 45% of Britain’s labour market, and it is these workers that are turning their backs on the left in droves.In the 2019 election, Labour lost many seats in former strongholds in the post-industrial north and Midlands, and by contrast stacked up votes in London and other major cities. The collapse of the red wall signals a serious fracture in the left’s relationship with the working class. Can a transformation of work itself help the left to re-establish a connection with the communities that founded it?Starting from the assumption that all work should be fulfilling, respected and well-rewarded, Jon Cruddas and Molly Kinder will explore ways to repair our civic life by paying closer attention to the interests and concerns of the working class. Practical interventions such as national colleges for skilled work and worker councils could help restore value to work and rebalance employer-employee relationships. By giving workers more respect and c

How should we understand the ‘value’ of nature?The natural world provides all the building blocks of our lives and societies; we are embedded within it, and nothing without it. But our economies currently operate as though separate from nature, with consumption outstripping its supply of resources, and environmental degradation and instability worsening faster than ever.What we need, argues Sir Partha Dasgupta, is to redefine the relationship between ecology and economy. His recently published Review on The Economics of Biodiversity proposes applying an economic lens to the value of the natural world to understand and measure the rich array of resources our planet provides, and how to use them responsibly. How can this approach help us to transform our extractive and exploitative relationship with nature into a sustainable and respectful one? Can quantifying the value of nature in economic terms be consistent with valuing our planet for its own sake?An expert panel gathers to reflect on the findings and recom

How can we all play a part in changing our ‘fast fashion’ culture? The fashion industry accounts for around 10% of global carbon emissions and a huge amount of pollution and waste. Sustainable fashion means change across the system: from how makers source and produce materials through to how we all consume and value clothing. Designers and collectives across the UK are finding local solutions to a global problem and putting communities at the centre of the effort towards sustainable fashion. To mark Fashion Revolution Week and as part of their Fashion Open Studios programme, fashion designer Patrick Grant and local movement builder Zero Waste Leeds join the RSA to discuss how we can care for our planet by caring for our clothes. How can we produce and use clothes better, for the benefit of makers, wearers, and the environment? They explore the potential for UK production to boost local economies, provide good quality work, and create great clothing that people can love, look after, and keep in use for longer.

Over the course of the last year, the pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement have exposed deep fault lines that show us how much work there is still to be done to make our societies equitable. At the same time, we are witnessing increased momentum for change, with individuals, communities and organisations embracing opportunities to tackle disparity through design, innovation, experimentation and renewal.  In the final event in our RSA Living Change season, we talk to four pioneering changemakers who are working to address imbalances in our social and economic systems, innovating, testing and iterating to create meaningful change for the better. From supporting organizations to shift practices to end white supremacy, to empowering women and girls in developing countries through STEM education and employment opportunities, these are stories of community collaboration, frontline innovation, and system re-design building more diverse and inclusive societies.The RSA has been at the forefront of societal change

The 2021 Albert Medal EventSarah Gilbert is the scientist who designed the Oxford Vaccine – one of the most significant breakthrough developments in the global fight against coronavirus. As she receives the 2021 RSA Albert Medal for ‘collaborative innovation for the global common good’, Professor Gilbert joins RSA Chief Executive Matthew Taylor to reflect on an extraordinary year for scientific innovation, and to tell the inside story of what it took to design, trial, and manufacture a safe and effective vaccine at record speed and scale.  The RSA has been at the forefront of societal change for over 250 years. Our proven Living Change Approach, and global network of 30,000 problem-solvers enable us to unite people and ideas to understand the challenges of our time and realise lasting change.Make change happen. Find out more about our approach.#RSAchangeThis conversation was broadcast online on the 14th April 2021 

Catching the creative wave: digital learning after lockdownThe pandemic, and worldwide lockdown that accompanied it, required schools across the globe to redesign their delivery models overnight. Teachers, some for the first time, had to rethink their practice to engage with learners and parents in a virtual classroom. At the same time, schools have had to confront the issue of unequal access to technology and data. One year on, as schools and colleges have adapted to remote and blended learning models, what valuable learning has emerged from the crisis? As the workforce has improved its digital fluency, what new opportunities have arisen for post-Covid recovery and beyond? Are there opportunities for consensus about how to utilise new technologies to improve access and maximise learning for all, especially the most disadvantaged?  Join us for the first in a new series of Rethinking Education events, bringing together respected practitioners, policymakers and thinkers, to discuss whether the challenges that e

There is no secret formula for success, but what if there was a pattern you could follow to help you accomplish your goals?Certain features of accomplishment are universal: it might not be an exact science, but if you look at the successes of others there are definite patterns. Sir Michael Barber has spent many years advising governments, businesses and major sporting teams around the world on how to achieve ambitious goals. In this conversation he’ll share the wisdom he has gained from this experience to demonstrate how we can all tackle our most challenging goals.  Whatever it is that you aspire to do - run a marathon, govern successfully, transform a school or provide a business of public service to millions – it may not be easy, but it is achievable following certain steps.  Drawing on the real-life stories of historic visionaries and modern changemakers, Barber maps out the processes and mindsets we need to accomplish our goals and navigate the obstacles along the way. And once we know how to accomplish

What does it take to challenge the status quo? And when and how does society’s understanding of what’s ‘normal’ start to change? From the civil rights movement to #MeToo, we’ve seen that individual and collective action has the power to disrupt and re-define our prevailing social norms – leading in turn to changes in institutional policy, practice and the law itself.  So at a time when we find the status quo no longer serving us, when Covid-19 has challenged so much of what we previously thought of as normal – from working practices to social life to the relationship between citizen and state – is it time to imagine and build a new and better normality?   Cass Sunstein, one of the most influential legal scholars working today, shows us that by looking critically at what we define as normal, we can find opportunities to recalibrate our social relationships and systems. And with a deeper understanding of what can influence or stymie these opportunities, we’re better equipped to create the conditions for lasting

In this episode, we’re delighted to share a conversation recently hosted by our Regenerative Futures programme team, which brought together a group of leading designers and entrepreneurs who are breaking new ground in the field of circular design.Since 2011, the RSA and EMF have been working together to accelerate change and support the transition to a more sustainable, regenerative future. Through initiatives such as the Rethink Fashion project, our work has focused on advancing the circular agenda and supporting the next generation of creative talents to design for a circular future.We are delighted to add another element to our collaborative endeavours: “partnership for change”. The partnership will see both organisations co-create tools, resources, events and projects to inspire, educate and engage communities around the topic of circular design, and increase understanding and practice.The partnership launch event introduces our work in progress, including projects across our systemic change initiatives,

Crisis can bring us together, if we let it remind us what really matters.In March 2020, as the pandemic took hold across the world, beloved children’s author Michael Rosen became seriously ill with coronavirus. During several months in hospital, he observed first-hand the many different kinds of love that bind us to one another, and recorded his path to recovery under the remarkable care of loved ones and strangers.In his new book, Many Different Kinds of Love, he shares the story of his journey to the brink and the people who brought him back. He reflects on the power of compassion and community, and the institution that embodies both: the NHS. He considers how illness and recovery change us, and how we can move forward from a period of shared grief and loss. How can a renewed awareness of our own vulnerability and deep interdependence help shape a society built on care?Michael Rosen speaks with the BBC’s Sophie Raworth about his experiences of a year that has changed everything, and shares the lessons we ca

The social contract shapes everything: our political institutions, legal systems and material conditions, but also the organisation of family and community, our well-being, relationships and life prospects. And yet everywhere, the social contract is failing. At a time of global crisis, when we have an opportunity to think afresh about the future we want, visionary economist Minouche Shafik puts forward a new and hopeful framework for social, economic, and political recovery – one with profound implications for gender equality, education, healthcare provision and the future of work.Encouraging us to ask what we owe to each other – how we might better balance individual with collective responsibility, pool risks and share resources - Baroness Shafik identifies the key principles that every society must adopt if it is to meet the challenges of the coming century - and improve our life together. The RSA has been at the forefront of societal change for over 250 years –  our proven approach to change, and global ne

Over recent months, we have seen individuals, communities and organisations embracing uncertainty as an opportunity for innovation, experimentation and renewal.Last year gave us all the signals we need to actively question whether the old normal is healthy and sustainable for the long term, as pandemic shock exposed deep fault-lines in our social and economic systems. The energy released in emergency response is creating the foundations for change at different levels of the system, from policymakers to funders, and from professionals to citizens. Across communities, within workplaces, and at the frontlines of public services, we witnessed the emergence of new relationships, new approaches and new mindsets characterised by a spirit of agile, adaptive and entrepreneurial problem-solving and innovation.   This is what the RSA describes as Living Change in action: an approach to change that recognises that living systems are dynamic, complex and interconnected; that identifying root causes and interdependencies i

As interest in green business models increases all over the world, how can we make sure we’re eliminating destructive practices and not merely greenwashing them?  What can we do to achieve growth that is regenerative rather than wasteful, and which instils equity rather than exacerbating inequalities? Per Espen Stoknes, Director of the Center for Sustainability and Energy at the Norwegian Business School in Oslo, guides us through the mindset and mechanisms that we need to move towards a sustainable model of growth that will benefit not only buyers and sellers but society and planet. We already have the tools at our disposal, he argues, but success will depend on scaling innovation, and transforming both government practices and individual behaviours.#RSAGrowthThis conversation was broadcast online on the 25th February 2021. Join us at: www.thersa.org

As we strengthen our connection with one another, we are healthier, more resilient, more productive, more vibrantly creative and more fulfilled. - Dr Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon GeneralAs humans we’re hardwired for connection; the need for community and family have deep roots in our health and wellbeing. The impact of strong relationships and social attachments on the quality of our lives is becoming better understood, but long periods of isolation and social distancing to protect physical health through the Covid-19 pandemic have driven widespread loneliness and loss of a sense of community.Advances in technology enable us to be connected in more ways than ever before, but can also drive us further apart. What about the culture and infrastructure of our societies mean we’re becoming lonelier, and how can we rebuild companionship? How can we invest in our relationships and communities, and remove the stigma of loneliness? Dr Vivek Murthy, 19th and soon to be 21st Surgeon General of the United States is leading t

How do we eat, where does it come from, and what’s gone wrong?Our food systems are fragmented and plagued by short-termism. Even as we have become wealthier and enjoyed greater choice in what we eat, we have failed to balance health and environmental issues with fair and secure access to good quality food.Brexit and the pandemic together have exposed the fragility of the systems upon which we rely, and who tends to suffer when those systems encounter problems. When it comes to food, it’s not just a question of supply chains and logistics; it’s one of justice. Ensuring everyone has choices around food of good quality and quantity is one of the most fundamental issues we face, and one that recent months have demonstrated we are yet to solve. Food policy expert Professor Tim Lang examines the vulnerabilities, strengths, and impacts of our food system, and explores how we can rework it to serve us all fairly, securely, and sustainably.#RSAFoodThis conversation was broadcast online on the 11th February 2021. Join

A year of crisis and confusion has led many of us to think hard about what we really want and need from our working lives.Pandemic shock has up-ended conventional ways of working and prompted profound re-examination of our work-life priorities, practices and pathways.Professor Herminia Ibarra is a leading expert on career development and transition.In an unmissable talk for anyone contemplating a career change or thinking about how to re-define their existing role, Professor Ibarra offers a set of practical strategies to increase our chances of successful reinvention and find greater fulfilment in our working lives.Making significant career moves and life changes most often means living through long and messy periods of uncertainty and doubt. But this is an important and necessary stage in the journey of change – to be embraced, rather than endured, Professor Ibarra argues. Through trial-and-error testing and exploration of our many possible working selves, we can clarify our career goals and aspirations, and

Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life, right? Wrong.This neoliberal ideal of “doing what you love” is actually a recipe for exploitation that is wreaking havoc on our lives and communities. Whether it’s working for exposure and experience, or enduring long hours and poor treatment in the name of ‘being part of the family,’ many of us have fallen into the trap of making sacrifices for the ‘privilege’ of fulfilling work.Understanding the trap, and why we so readily buy into it, will empower us to work less and demand what our work is actually worth. And once freed from those binds, we can finally figure out what actually gives us joy and satisfaction. Drawing on a series of interviews with workers in the cultural, healthcare, sports sectors, among others, author, journalist and podcaster Sarah Jaffe invites us to reimagine a future built on care rather than exploitation. At a time when so many of us have been forced to look again at the way we work, this could not be more important.#RSAWorkT