Rsa Events

RSA Student Design Awards 2021 Keynote AddressJoin us for this special event celebrating the 2020/21 RSA Student Design Awards programme and the power of design to make a positive social impact.The 2021 SDA Keynote Address will be delivered by internationally renowned designer and social innovator, Jennie Winhall.System innovation is the challenge of an age in which society needs to make profound transitions to meet the challenges brought by climate change, ageing, growing inequality and the future of work.Jennie will talk about why we need radical creation to meet these challenges. Drawing on fifteen years of pioneering design for social good, she’ll show what designers can do to tackle complex social challenges and how design itself is changing to change systems.Jennie is the founder of ALT/Now, a group of international collaborators leading practical programmes for system innovation, leads systeminnovation.org at the Rockwool Foundation in Denmark and is a member of The Point People. As a co-founder of Par

Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia within families and within communities drives thousands of young people into homelessness. In the US, studies show that LGBTQ+ youths make up 40% of the nation’s total homeless youth population, despite LGBTQ+ youth comprising merely 5% of the overall youth population. In the UK, it is estimated that one in four trans people have experienced homelessness. This is an international phenomenon, and one which has been greatly exacerbated by the pandemic.While recent years have seen more awareness of the crisis, our collective response has fallen drastically short. There is an urgent need for further research and action to support LGBTQ+ homeless youth populations across the world and to respond to the problems the pandemic has heightened. So how can we do better at protecting young people driven from their homes because of their sexual orientations and gender identities?We can start by supporting the organizations that provide housing to LGBTQ+ youth. We need to be advocates,

Rethinking Education III | Beyond the School Gates: the role of schools in the wellbeing of communities  Throughout the pandemic, schools have played a central role in the wellbeing of local communities, especially in the most disadvantaged areas. School leaders have provided high quality and safe learning environments, reassurance for staff, parents and students and maintained critical relationships with other key providers of support for the health and well-being of children and families.  The idea that schools are self-contained institutions, responsible only for academic development, is increasingly at odds with the realities of their role. What has the pandemic revealed about schools’ interconnectedness with their communities?  How do we build more sustainable models that recognise schools as civic organisations, essential to wider community wellbeing?  Join us for a new series of Rethinking Education events, bringing together respected practitioners, policymakers and thinkers, to discuss whether the cha

Innovations are emerging worldwide to address the challenges of a rapidly changing future of work.  The pandemic is likely to accelerate the pace of technological change and automation globally. To secure a future where good work is available to all, we will need new approaches to skills, training and lifelong learning, to economic security and to worker voice and power.To launch the RSA Good Work Guild, a panel of good work innovators gather to share the solutions they have pioneered to support and empower workers in the transition to the jobs of the future; the systemic challenges they have faced in taking new ideas to scale; and the opportunities for innovators, investors and institutional actors to come together to build and sustain system-wide good work innovation, and a global movement for change.Read: Good work innovations in Europe: reimagining the social contractExplore: Innovations in Good Work DirectoryJoin: The Good Work GuildIn partnership with Autodesk FoundationThis conversation was broadcast o

As nation-states grapple with generation-defining issues from the Covid-19 pandemic to the climate crisis, what role does civil society play in addressing the issues of our time?For the first time since President Biden took office and the UK left the EU, the G7 countries will come together at the 2021 summit in England to discuss the pandemic, prosperity, climate change, and shared values. But without support, solidarity, and citizen engagement, these ambitions for a better world will come to nothing. Activism and political movement-building has always played a key role in democracies around the world – and in an age of crisis, we need people-powered change more than ever. How can grassroots mobilisation drive progress alongside more formal political processes?On the eve of the 2021 G7 summit, Anthony Painter and Leah Greenberg explore the role of progressive political movements as engines of change during the 2020s.This event is co-hosted by the RSA and Das Progressive Zentrum, as part of the 2021 Progressiv

In ordinary times, our exam system ensures that a third of young people finish school without the qualifications they need to progress. Now, after two years of cancelled exams, public dismay at algorithmic blindness to the true nature of student achievement, and after millions of the most disadvantaged children have missed out on key learning milestones, there has never been a more critical time to question our approach to assessment.  The questions reach deeper than addressing the unfairness of the exam system, however. With Covid-19 sparking a youth unemployment crisis and social mobility grinding to a halt, do the events of 2020-21 force a fundamental rethink of the capabilities on which school curriculum and assessment should focus? Join us for a new series of Rethinking Education events, bringing together respected practitioners, policymakers and thinkers, to discuss whether the challenges that emerged during the Covid-19 crisis might, in fact, be opportunities to build consensus across political divides

The more we spend time with people unlike ourselves, doing things together, the more understanding, tolerant, and even friendly we become.And yet, increasingly, most of us spend less and less time with people who are different - as defined by age, race, or class, earning power or education.The pandemic may have forced us apart, but it also reminded us of what we share and value. We witnessed the power of community, connection and common cause. And we saw clearly the urgent work that needs to be done to tackle the barriers that stand in the way of full, equal-status participation and flourishing for everyone in society.Emerging from the crisis, we now have an unprecedented opportunity to bridge our divides and forge a new 'Common Life' - a set of shared practices and institutions - that can strengthen the glue that bonds our societies, in all their diversity.For the health of our democracy, our society, and our economy, the time to act is now.#RSAfractured This conversation was broadcast online on the 3rd June

What if women’s untapped power to make change was harnessed to fight the climate crisis?Climate change affects us all globally – but it does not affect us all equally. Vast social and economic inequities mean we don’t all contribute to the climate crisis to the same degree; nor are its effects evenly distributed. Racialised women are the most likely to suffer the consequences of climate change, which they have done the least to cause. Meanwhile, women are marginalised in the spaces where climate solutions are shaped.Gender inequality has helped cause climate catastrophe – and we need gender equality to help us solve it, argues writer and sociologist Anne Karpf. We must see women not simply as the victims nor the sole saviours of our global situation, but as holders of power to make systemic change. She speaks with inspiring women from across the world building movements for gender-inclusive climate action.#RSAclimateThis conversation was broadcast online on the 27th May 2021 . Join us at: www.thersa.org

We need a solid base camp from which to map new routes forward for humanity. One that’s built on a shared understanding of how core human needs and motivations interact with social forces to shape and drive the dynamics of change.Imagine a theory that united perspectives from human psychology to anthropology, from the sociology of groups and organisations to political science and policy design.Imagine if this theory was simple enough for anyone to understand, yet nuanced and practical enough to both diagnose the critical challenges currently facing us - in our communities, workplaces, and public institutions - and to develop new ways to tackle and solve them.Might such a theory not only enrich public debate but also enable us to overcome seemingly intractable divisions in the worldviews emerging from different social science disciplines and ideological starting points?In his final RSA Chief Executive’s event, Matthew Taylor is joined in conversation by author, entrepreneur and CEO Margaret Heffernan to explor

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