Talks & lectures

This instalment brings members of the New York House & Ballroom community to Glasgow, along with queer theorists, performance artists, archivists, theologians and filmmakers, to explore Voguing, drag, clubbing, and the politics of race, class and gender.

Peter Abrahams, Professor of Clinical Anatomy at Warwick University, explores the value of Leonardo’s anatomical drawings as a tool for understanding the human body, and how closely the artist anticipated the range of imagery used by the medical profession today.

Learn more about the library's collections with this special tour and talk.

The amiable bushcraft expert shares stories from his three decades roughing it in the bush.

A series of discussions examining various aspects of cinema.

The mountainous Abruzzo region has less than half the vineyard land of Tuscany, and yet it produces nearly twice as much wine, thanks to the dry Adriatic breezes that blow in from the East. The most famous wine of the region is Montepulciano, but here's a chance to try some others.

Writer, perfume expert and jogger Alex Musgrave talks about his life in poetry and scent (he's Business Manager of Penhaligon's), with a chance to smell the perfumes he mentions. Ages 16+. Booking is essential.

Archbishop Gerard Muller, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, gives a lecture in in recognition of the importance of the St. Andrew’s Foundation. Booking is essential.

Fiona Bruce and the BBC's team of experts descend on Scone Palace for this valuation day. Take along your heirlooms and car boot discoveries to see if you have a dusty treasure on your hands.

SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER Weekend events from 10am The Pill. Rebellion. Experimentation. Protest. Civil Rights. This weekend we look at the Vietnam protests, pop art, social change, the anti-nuclear movement, civil rights, the Profumo affair, Skiffle, the Beatles and maverick composers including Frank Zappa, Stockhausen…

SATURDAY 26 – SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER Weekend events from 10am The Pill. Rebellion. Experimentation. Protest. Civil Rights. This weekend we look at the Vietnam protests, pop art, social change, the anti-nuclear movement, civil rights, the Profumo affair, Skiffle, the Beatles and maverick composers including Frank…

Rebecca Goldstein ponders the conflict between literature and moral philosophy and whether or not literature is more adept at engendering moral advances than dear old Plato might have imagined.

One of Britain's leading intellectuals, AC Grayling makes his case against Religion and for Humanism. He gives a talk which asks, what is the alternative to religion as a view of the world and a foundation for morality? Is there a world-view and a code of life for thoughtful people who wish to live with intellectual…

Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the death of poet, artist and naturalist Alexander Wilson.

Gain some insight into a topic that affects everyone, with Dr Shona Hilton of the MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit.

Graphic design as an extreme sport. Andie Airfix talks about the challenges working with music’s ‘megastars’ including Metallica, Thompson Twins, Stones, Doa, Leppard, Zeppelin and more. Talk dates: May 10/11; (Def Leppard). 17/18; (Metallica). 12/19/24; (Music design; Early Days). 8/15/22/25; (Music design; Latter Days).

The historian and writer discusses her classic autobiography of Mary, Queen of Scots, published more than 40 years ago.

Ann Cvetkovich discusses queer archives and the importance of recording traumatic cultural experience.

Tax evasion, avoidance and non-collection cost £120 billion while benefit fraud was below £5 billion (2010). Katy Clark MP, Mark Serwotka (PCS leader) and Owen Jones discuss who’s really scrounging. With over 24 times as much lost to tax cheats, why do we hear little about them but so much about benefit scroungers? We…

Professor of Epistemics Jon Oberlander, Professor of Composition and Electroacoustic Composition Peter Nelson, and Chris Speed of the Edinburgh College of Art discuss historical, conceptual and philosophical relationships between the performing arts and technology. Chaired by theatre specialist Olga Taxidou.

The 'Dark Knights of Cholesterol' bring you over to the delicious, delicious evil side that has an abundant source of cheese. Presentations and a Q&A are followed up with selections from England, France and Italy with a glass of wine to wash it all down.

Four established freelancers talk about the tricks of the trade and explain how to find clients, how to create a great online presence and how to manage your taxes effectively.