Optimism is central to the human psyche: it seems to give us an advantage in both everyday life and in addressing great collective challenges.

Sumit Paul-Choudhury, former editor-in-chief of New Scientist, visits the RSA to make a vital and transformative new argument: that optimism is not only the natural state of humanity, but an essential one.

Sumit argues that without optimism we would never have survived the unpredictable - and often hostile - world we evolved into. Yet optimism is not just reserved for times of extremity. Its benefits manifest throughout our everyday lives: our relationships, careers, bodies, and minds. And it will play a critical role in overcoming the toughest challenges of the twenty-first century.

Kick-start your New Year with a powerfully motivating manifesto for hope and a much-needed new perspective on our individual and societal prospects. By embracing action, imagination, and possibility, we can find a path to the bright side, even - perhaps especially - when the future seems dark.

Speaker:

• Sumit Paul-Choudhury, writer on science, technology, and the future; author of The Bright Side (Canongate, 2025)

Chair:

• Anna Markland, Head of Innovation & Change, RSA

 

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