Exciting Line-up of Guest Speakers Announced for Great Lives 2019

A free guest lecture series which connects audiences with inspiring public figures from the worlds of business, sport, politics, science and the arts will return in 2019 with an exciting line-up of guest speakers announced.

The University of Lincoln has published the first dates in its 2019 Great Lives season with one of the UK’s best-known technology experts, an acclaimed art historian and journalist, and the country’s most famous poet among the names on the bill.

Great Lives talks, which are free to attend, aim to offer inspirational insights into a range of industries, careers and passions, with a particular focus on supporting the ambitions of young people. Past speakers have included scientist and broadcaster Lord Robert Winston, lawyer and human rights campaigner Baroness Helena Kennedy QC and the UK’s most senior scientist Professor Sir Mark Walport.

The 2019 Great Lives season will begin on Monday 25th February with the return of science and technology specialist, and former Gadget Show presenter Jason Bradbury, who will be talking about the latest technological innovations set to transform the way we live. The next highlight is a talk on Tuesday 19th March from broadcaster and BBC Countryfile presenter Tom Heap who will share his passion for rural affairs, science and the environment. Tom is the principal voice of BBC Radio 4’s Costing the Earth, the nation’s only dedicated environment series, and is also a regular Panorama reporter covering food, farming energy and wildlife.

The Great Lives programme continues into the spring with an appearance from eminent art historian and journalist Andrew Graham Dixon whose talk on Friday 17th May will offer an insight into his fascinating career in the arts. Best known for his work on Renaissance artist Caravaggio, Andrew is a Visiting Lecturer on the University’s MA in Creative Writing Course in partnership with The Guardian.

Poet Laureate and Visiting Artist at the University of Lincoln, Dame Carol Ann Duffy will perform a poetry reading on Friday 31st May. Guests to the event can enjoy some of the poet’s best-known works as well as having the opportunity to ask questions about her work and her career during a question and answer session.

Naturalist, broadcaster and environmental campaigner Chris Packham returns to the University of Lincoln on Thursday 31st October with his Halloween themed ‘All About Bats and Owls’ talk. Audiences will be able to see these fascinating creatures up close and learn more about their habitats, diets and the significance of their conservation.

More events in the Great Lives 2019 season will be announced early in the new year.
Elly Sample, Director of Communications, Development and Marketing at the University of Lincoln, said:  “Our Great Lives series has been compiled to bring together a diverse range of speakers, each of whom brings their own unique life experiences, individual stories and successes.

“We are thrilled to welcome our new season’s speakers to the University to showcase their ideas and inspire our audiences to pursue new opportunities and broaden their own knowledge and expertise.”
Great Lives lectures are free to attend (though booking is essential) and take place throughout the academic year at venues across the University’s main Brayford Pool Campus. Places are limited and priority is given to school and college groups. For more information and booking details, visit:
www.lincoln.ac.uk/events

Schools and colleges wishing to book places for larger groups can contact the University’s Events Office by phone on 01522 837100 or email
events@lincoln.ac.uk