University of Cambridge

Extreme Ageing by University of Cambridge

Political extremism appears to be all around us. Populists, xenophobes and, some might argue, fascists seem to be on the rise. Many trace the current challenge to liberal representative democracy to the legacy of the post-2008 financial crisis and economic scarcity, recycling earlier interpretations of the rise of historic fascism. But what is really driving support for political extremism in the West today? What do we really know about those who vote for these parties, including their backgrounds and concerns? This lecture will examine the drivers of support for contemporary forms of political radicalism and extremism, from the election of Donald Trump to the vote for Brexit in the United Kingdom and to forthcoming elections in France, the Netherlands and Germany.

Biography

Matthew J. Goodwin is Professor of Politics at Rutherford College, University of Kent, and Senior Visiting Fellow at Chatham House. His books include Revolt on the Right: Explaining Public Support for the Radical Right in Britain (published by Routledge) and a forthcoming study of the Brexit vote with Cambridge University Press. He shares much of his research and thoughts on Twitter (@GoodwinMJ) and his website matthewjgoodwin.org

Extremes of the Universe

Andy Fabian, University of Cambridge

Darwin College Lecture Series 2017 – Extremes

Spending up to five months alone at sea, rowing for twelve hours a day, may appear extreme, but Roz Savage will suggest that, like many major achievements, an epic ocean voyage is simply the accumulation of a very large number of tiny actions applied consistently over time. This power of accumulation also applies to phenomena as diverse as environmental degradation (or restoration), living a life of meaning and purpose, or creating the collective future that serves the needs of people and planet. In this very personal lecture, she uses her ocean rowing adventures as the underlying narrative for musings on solitude, psychology, sustainability, systems thinking, the hero’s journey, truth, identity, and free will.

Biography

Roz Savage MBE spent the first 11 years of her career working as a management consultant, before an environmental epiphany led to her transformation into a world-class adventurer. Since 2005 Roz has rowed, solo, across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans making her the world’s foremost female ocean rower. On the ocean Roz had to redefine her comfort zone on a daily basis, and reach deep into her inner sources of strength, self-discipline, and commitment to her goal, as she spent up to five months alone at sea on a 23-foot rowboat, thousands of miles from land and humanity, at the mercy of winds, waves and currents. Roz now speaks to organisations all over the world that are keen to find new ways to inspire and motivate more engaged, happy and purpose-driven individuals. She shares stories from the epic adventures she has experienced and the lessons she has learned. Her speeches help audiences to take more personal responsibility for their individual and collective success, find higher levels of resilience and courage, more effectively navigate the uncharted waters of change and invest more of themselves into every challenge they undertake.

Talks - Wednesday 22 March by University of Cambridge

This is the audio transcription of the Cambridge Science Festival 2017 programme.

This is the audio transcription of the Cambridge Science Festival 2017 programme.

This is the audio transcription of the Cambridge Science Festival 2017 programme.

This is the audio transcription of the Cambridge Science Festival 2017 programme.

This is the audio transcription of the Cambridge Science Festival 2017 programme.