Presented by Dr Edward (Ned) Taylor on Friday 18 October 2019.
At its most basic, astronomy is an attempt to understand the nature of the universe in which we find ourselves. As such, understandings of astronomy have always had a profound impact on how we conceive of and understand ourselves — as a society, if not as individuals. In this talk, I want to share my 'cosmic perspective’: some of the lessons from modern astronomy and astrophysics that I carry with me into my daily life, and how my understanding of the universe shapes how I see the world. I also want to reflect especially on this extraordinary moment in the history of humanity, of our planet, and indeed our universe, and how our visions for our future might be enhanced with a more cosmic perspective.