Surviving the unsettled 1620s in Europe – The Annual John Roles Memorial Lecture, a Leeds400 event – with Dr Sara Barker, University of Leeds
Surviving the unsettled 1620s in Europe – The Annual John Roles Memorial Lecture, a Leeds400 event – with Dr Sara Barker, University of Leeds
The Spirit of Enlightenment Science in the 21st Century – Colin Campbell, CEO of The James Hutton Institute
A joint event with Leeds Phil & Lit
An illuminating journey into the dark heart of Leeds’ unique goth culture – with Mark Silver
A chance for LPLS Members to hear about the ambitions and priorities of Martin Elliot
The Phil & Lit is taking part in the Be Curious Festival 2026.
Volunteers are needed to help to run the Society’s stall.
Please get in touch with events@leedsphilandlit.org.uk to find out more. (Booking button doesn’t work for this listing.)
The Bedford Family, Wood & Bedford and Yorkshire Chemicals
Another in our occasional series on COLOUR – with Isabella Whitworth, artist who works with textiles & dyes
Dr Christopher Hassall, University of Leeds, explains the Biodar project
200 years since the death of Matthew Murray – Matt Edgar
How Eye Diseases Affect Vision & Transformed the Work of Famous Painters – Dr Ralf Dahm
From Myths to Models to Artificial Intelligence – with Professor Stephen Mobbs, University of Leeds
‘Watching Narrowly’: Joseph Priestley and Gilbert White 1767-1773
Whose Power? Learning from Leeds Museum’s Preservative Party – Professor Abigail Harrison Moore
A new tool of dictatorship – Alan Ereira
This event is fully booked
Take a trip to the heart of Bradford during its special year as UK City of Culture and have an exclusive experience of industrial heritage
Special day of activities at the University of Leeds – for all ages
Book tickets using links provided by the organisers
How tragic incidents in both World Wars, and the research of Isaac Berenblum in Leeds, contributed to the discovery of Chemotherapy – Andy Wilson, Engagement Manager, Yorkshire Cancer Research – in person only
Preventing chemical and biological warfare today – Professor Malcolm Dando – in person only
Colour in art from cave paintings to Leeds street art Dr Christine Holdstock MRSC, CCol ASDC, FSDC, FHEA
Conversation with Dr Kersten Hall
An insider’s story of ground-breaking research using X-ray crystallography and computational methods to study the structures and functions of molecules concerned with biological processes.
Progress by astronomers in addressing this timeless question
Paul Fellows FRAS, Fellow of the Institute of Engineering & Technology
Notes of a painter on the slippery properties of colour
Trevor Burgess, artist-curator
Historian Professor Caroline Dodds Pennock flips our traditional understanding of the ‘Age of Discovery’ – online only
Take your role as a member in overseeing the report of the last year’s activities and helping to set the path for the next year.
The 2024 Leeds Phil & Lit Annual General Meeting & Dinner
Why toxicology is important – Professor Nick Plant, University of Leeds
First results from the James Webb Space Telescope
The Priestley Lecture 2024 with Dr Catherine Walsh, University of Leeds
Join curators at the premises of Leeds Museums & Galleries in Hunslet to explore elements of the vast collection
Dr Wenjun Xia, University of Leeds A ‘Hot Topic’ event – Online-only
Innovation in the eighteenth-century town – Dr Gillian Cookson
In-person only event
Celebrating the bicentenary of the patent for Portland cement with a revealing look at evidence about the material, its invention in Hunslet and production in Wakefield
The surprising history of Britain’s Victorian Drinking Fountains – Dr Kathryn Ferry
A guided tour of this wetland reserve upstream from Leeds city centre
The art of war in Leeds Art Gallery from Lady Elizabeth Butler to Nevinson’ – with Jane Winfrey
Celebrating the tercentenary of the birth of ‘The Father of Civil Engineering’ – Bob and Jacki Lawrence, East Leeds History & Archaeology Society
Techniques and art of etching & printmaking – Professor Ian Brooks, University of Leeds
The evolving business and science of bringing colour into our lives – Andrew Filarowski, Deputy Chief Executive of the Society of Dyers and Colourists
A contemporary enquiry into a mysterious textile manufacturing success
– Dr Stephen Caunce
Widening the scope of research about seeing and understanding – with Professor Gordon Love, University of Leeds
Reflections and presentiments from an academic, corporate & political lifetime
The Right Hon Sir Vince Cable
Collectors of plants and curiosities – Lesley Newnham
The case for electoral reform – Chris Graham, former UK Information Commissioner
Take your role as a member in overseeing the report of the last year’s activities and helping to set the path for the next year.
The 2023 Leeds Phil & Lit Annual General Meeting & Dinner
A root-and-branch rethinking of how history has shaped the science of genetics – Professor Gregory Radick, University of Leeds
Historian Janet Douglas presents this year’s Priestley Lecture
In-person event with option to join remotely – link to be sent to all who book
Explore changes to the grounds at Temple Newsam, on the 100th anniversary of the Park and the House opening to the people and city of Leeds.
For MEMBERS only
Recent archaeological explorations in Leeds – with Dan Waterfall, CFA Archaeology
Exactly 150 years after the opening of Victorian Leeds Bridge, learn how the waterways & crossing points relate to the long story of Leeds – with Rachael Unsworth
A woman ahead of her time – with Michael Meadowcroft – ONLINE ONLY
The life and work of Phil May (1863-1903), a forgotten Leeds artist & humourist – with historian Janet Douglas
Historical, scientific and sociological dimensions of measurement – with James Vincent, author of ‘Beyond Measure’
Annual event at Leeds Museum when local scientists and scientific community groups welcome curiosity from the public.
Budding scientists especially welcome.
No booking required.
Why a Victorian giant has been taken apart and how it’s being remade – with Leeds City Organist Darius Battiwalla and organ builder Andrew Caskie of Nicholsons
Take your role as a member in overseeing the report of the last year’s activities and helping to set the path for the next year.
The 2022 Leeds Phil & Lit Annual General Meeting, Dinner and Musical Entertainment
The quest to rediscover the heritage of a Leeds township – with local historian Steve Burt author of ‘The remarkable story of Hunslet’, 2022
… and how to protect knowledge in a digital world
The Priestley Lecture 2022 with Bodley’s Librarian, Richard Ovenden OBE
In association with Mill Hill Chapel and The Leeds Library
170 years of image making & photography, in Leeds & worldwide
A talk by Alan Parsons at the hall in NE Leeds where the LPS usually meets
How analysis of patterns led to the Nobel prize for chemistry – with science author Georgina Ferry
An in-person event hosted by The Leeds Library
The story of how scientists worked together to make progress in breast cancer treatment
Announcement 18 July: ONLINE ONLY – because of weather-related travel problems
All who booked to attend in person will be added to the list to receive Zoom details
Coach outing called off – apologies
From ‘Thick Brown Muck’ to ‘Wall Street Gold’ – Dr Kersten Hall
Professor Dame Julia Higgins takes us on a journey to explain how modern techniques of experimental observation can give us a fascinating insight into hidden worlds
Where science and art combine
Reflections on Putin’s war in Ukraine – a Hot Topic talk
Poetry, conversation and a celebration of libraries – a University of Cambridge online event
Annual event at Leeds Museum – all welcome – no booking required
Richard Henderson won a Nobel Prize for his work looking into structures of molecules forming the basis of life. Hear his remarkable story.
From West Yorkshire wool to global multi-fibre business: shifts in power & environmental impacts – David Hart & Shirley-Anne Sherriff
Deepening Connections, Widening Impact: Leeds Museums & Galleries 2022-27
– Dr David Hopes
A vividly illustrated talk exploring our understanding of colour – Professor Stephen Westland
A talk exploring the relationship between central and local government in the UK’s largest county
How understanding of disease transmission has evolved during COVID-19
Professor Cath Noakes, expert on ventilation
A Leeds Phil & Lit talk at Leeds City Museum 10:30am Thursday 2 December 2021. Rachael Unsworth, Urban Geographer and Tour Guide.
What is ethical AI? A landscape of possibilities and pitfalls
Gabriela Arriagada Bruneau, University of Leeds
An intelligent introduction: opportunities and challenges
Professor Netta Cohen, University of Leeds
A Leeds Phil & Lit ‘Hot Topic’ talk by Professor Nicholas Tosca, University of Cambridge
A sinologist’s view of a century of politics and culture in the world’s most populous country
The story of the Benin Bronzes sits at the heart of a heated debate about cultural restitution, repatriation and the decolonisation of museums. Professor Hicks, author of ‘Brutish Museums’, makes a powerful case for the urgent return of such objects.
The 2020 Priestley Lecture is sponsored by the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society, The Leeds Library and Mill Hill Chapel. Professor Gareth Williams discusses the life and work of Jenner and his impact on the science of vaccination.
In this talk, leading microbiologist Professor Kellam explained how and why SARS-CoV-2 variants arise and spread and discussed what this may mean for the course of the pandemic and the effectiveness of vaccinations around the world.
Dr Christine Holdstock taught Colour Science at the University of Leeds for over 20 years. Before joining the University staff, she worked at WIRA (the Wool Industries Research Association in Headingley), where she obtained a PhD from the University of Leeds on the control of the dyeing process.
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