University's Free Public Lectures Announced for 2025

The University of Suffolk has announced the first speakers for its free public lectures series for 2025.

The Open Lecture Series brings revered experts from both inside the university and further afield to offer free public talks in Ipswich as part of the university’s commitment to the community. 

This year the speakers will include artists Daniel and Clara, Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch, lecturer Dr Michael Sauter and will see the return of dialect expert Charlie Haylock.

Kicking off the new series in 2025 on Tuesday 14 January are artists Daniel and Clara who will talk about their creativity. 

Since meeting in 2010, the pair, who live in Mersea Island, Essex, have dedicated themselves to a shared life of creative experimentation including performance, moving image and photography.

Their current projects focus on the complex relationship between humans and the natural world, particularly exploring issues around the climate crisis.

The following week, on Wednesday 22 January, the University welcomes one of its 2024 honorary graduates to present a lecture.

Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch draws on his recent book Lower Than Angels to look at how religion and sex are often tangled in politics in a toxic way, not only in today’s world but also historically.

The lecture will explore the past to help understand and calm present day fears.

Dialect expert, Charlie Haylock, one of the University’s 2023 honorary graduates, returns on the back of his popular lecture last year.

This time he will talk about the history of surnames starting with how and why the Normans introduced them, how they evolved after the Domesday Book of 1086, and the different types and origins of surnames.

The event on Thursday 6 March will end with a question and answer session.

On Thursday 20 March, the University’s Associate Professor of History, Dr Michael Sauter, will present his talk on Forging Global Minds: Libraries and Natural Knowledge in Colonial Latin America.

Last year, Dr Sauter was awarded a major research fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust which will allow him to complete a book about the history of libraries in colonial Latin America.

Professor Emma Bond, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Knowledge Exchange, said: “We are inviting people to step into a world of discovery at our open lecture series. 

“We are bringing cutting-edge research and fascinating insights directly to our community, creating evenings that will challenge your thinking and spark the imagination. 

“Our iconic Waterfront campus provides the perfect backdrop for these intellectual adventures, where experts share their ground-breaking work in an accessible and engaging way. 

“We invite everyone to join us here and be part of these enriching conversations that bridge the gap between university research and public knowledge”.

All open lectures start at 6pm with registration from 5.30pm.

To book a free place at the open lectures, and for more details go to Events | University of Suffolk