Event Reports

• What is Needed for Enduring Peace in the Middle East

  James Watt shared key actions needed to bring about peace.

• The UK – US Defence Relationship

  Will the Special Relationship outlast the current crisis?

• Death in a Shallow Pond

  From Philosophical Thought Experiment to Global Ethics:

• Mental Wellbeing and the Arts

  Can the arts and humanities reduce our mental health crisis?

• UK Energy Policy.

  Will the ongoing failures in energy policy condemn the UK to a dark future in the slow lane?

• Trump and the New World (Dis)order: What next?

  Harkness Fellows discussed the challenges facing us as President Trump completes the early months of his second term.

• “The economic and social determinants of health – can the NHS ever succeed in the current environment?”

  Harkness Fellows considered what creates the challenging social and economic environment in which the NHS has to work.

• ‘Water: what’s gone wrong and what do we do about it?’ 

  Fellows considered the current concerns about water supply and waste disposal.

• ‘Is the current system of higher education sustainable? Can universities or students afford it?’ 

  Challenges in Higher Education. The first in the series of Harkness Centenary Discussion.

• Addressing International Public Health Emergencies

  Dr Douglas Noble (HF 2012-13), Global Lead for Public Health Emergencies for UNICEF, explains how UNICEF sets priorities and responds to public health emergencies. 

• The NHS to 2040: scenarios and options

  Dr Jennifer Dixon DBE, HF 1990/91, Chief Executive of the Health Foundation since 2013, spoke about the long term future of the NHS and considered the different models that would be possible.

• ‘Invisible Everywhere’: Poetry and Science

  The Harkness Fellows Association were delighted to hear Katrina Porteous, Harkness Fellow in 1983/84 share her approach to her poetry and read some of her inspiring poems to us.

• Trump and the Triumph of Popular Entertainment

  John Gapper shared his analysis of the impact of media and celebrity on Trump’s success.

• Professor Satvinder Juss

  Professor Satvinder Juss considered the impact of recent media and political actions on the judicial system.

• More with Less? AI and health care

  Jacob West (HF 2014-15) considered the potential for AI in healthcare.

• How National is the National Interest?

  Anthony Cary CMG considers what is in the national interest?

• Where Next for Russia?

  Sir Laurie Bristow offered a brief assessment of what motivated the Russian government to invade Ukraine in February 2022 and the consequences of their actions.

• Lord Norman Warner – Can the NHS be Saved?

  Lord Norman Warner shares suggestions for saving the NHS.

• Sara Nathan – Refugees in the UK– Getting Behind the Myths

  In the midst of media scare stories and political weaponisation of refugees, how do we get to the truth about the impact of refugees on the UK.  Why is there such political antipathy, when on an individual level families have been very welcoming to refugees from Ukraine in recent months.

• The Rise of China; What consequences for Britain?

  Charlie Parton, former diplomat, shared his expertise as a Sinologist, on UK/China relations.

• Professor Koen Lenaerts – Court of Justice of the European Union Contribution to EU Integration

  Professor Lenaerts outlines the role of law in supporting European Integration

• Can we deliver Sustainable Food Production?

  Professor John Pickett explains the wide range of biochemical research to address this issue.

• American Democracy in the Balance, Thomas Mann

  Tom Mann explains how American Democracy is under pressure

• What Is At Stake at COP26?

  As the UK prepares to host COP 26, William laid out the key issues that need to be addressed.

• COVID and the prospects for Mental Health

  As vaccines offer hope for controlling the pandemic, Mary and Parashar, Harkness Fellows and NHS consultant psychiatrists, review the impact of Covid-19 on mental health.

• Justin Russell – From ‘Advise, Befriend and Assist’ to ‘Assess, Protect and Change’ – some reflections on the history and future of the probation service.

  Justin Russell, Chief Inspector of Probation, charted the changing focus of probation since its inception as a national service.

• Britain’s Uncertain Media Future, Dame Frances Cairncross

  In 2018 Dame Frances Cairncross was commissioned by the government to lead an independent review into the future of the UK News Industry. She highlighted the current challenges to a Harkness audience in November.

• 2020 US Presidential Election – What is at Stake for International Relations?

  In the weeks before the US election, Sir David Manning considers the impact of the result on International Relations.

• Covid-19: a positive legacy for health outcomes and equity? Derek Feeley, immediate past President of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement

  In our first ever on-line Talk, Derek shared lessons from the IHI response to help the US healthcare industry survive the Covid-19 pandemic.

• The City after the crisis and Brexit: Will bankers ever be respected again? Sir Howard Davies, Chairman, Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc

  Sir Howard traced the impact of the financial crisis on our trust in bankers and the financial sector.

• Higher Education: a crisis of confidence? Sir David Bell KCB – Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Sunderland

  Sir David gave us an optimistic view about the future of Universities, highlighting their key role in society.

• Origins of the Royal Academy of Arts – John Entwistle OBE

  Fellows and guests learned about the origins of the Royal Academy, and how this famous institution and its post-graduate teaching school, known as The Schools, came into being.

• What are the consequences of Britain leaving the EU? Professor Robert Hazell CBE

  Noting that Brexit is both a political and constitutional crisis, Professor Hazel guided his audience through the constitutional issues raised by Brexit.

• Turkey’s Middle East and Wider Foreign Policies

  Sir David shared his analysis of the changes in Turkey’s foreign policy.

• Living Longer; a Blessing or a Curse? Dr Anna Dixon

  Dr Anna Dixon spoke about increased life expectancy and the steps society and individuals need to take to enhance the quality of those extra years.

• Sir David Omand

  Sir David Omand considered the issues surrounding the ethics of digital intelligence and offered suggestions for a code of ethics.

• Visit to Spencer House

  Harkness Fellows and their guests had a private conducted tour of the beautifully renovated Spencer House

• Sir Brian Hoskins

  Sir Brian Hoskins, Director of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change, gave an update on current issues in climate change.

• Sir Richard Dalton

  Sir Richard, a British diplomat for 36 years, spoke to Fellows on 14 March about Iran’s regional policies and the nature of Iran as a state.

• Sir Terry Farrell

  Sir Terry Farrell (HF 1962) gave the Harkness Fellows Annual Lecture in November 2017.

• Visit to West Horsley Place

  Harkness Fellows and their guests were delighted with the chance to see this house at a key stage in its development.

• Alex Beard

  Which would you think is the more daunting job, Deputy Director at the Tate or Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House? Alex Beard gave some unexpected answers in a talk to HFs.

• Sir Paul Nurse

  Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, Director of the Francis Crick Institute in London, and 2001 Nobel Prize winner in physiology, spoke to the HFA on four great ideas of biology on 26 February 2014