Dear All,

There has been much debate on this list about the science and politics of 
climate change. This is a very important topic with important implications 
for the standing and integrity of science itself. I therefore hope that 
you will be interested in the Battle of Ideas debate on this topic 
involving several prominent scientists who have expressed varying 
perspectives on this issue: Mike Hulme, Hans von Storch and Chris Rapley.

There are also a lot of other great debates taking place - see below and 
log on to www.battleofideas.org.uk for full details.

Hope to see some of you there and here what you have to say.

Best wishes, Tony

Tony Gilland
Science and Society Director
Institute of Ideas

The Battle for Science: BoI Festival 27 & 28 October 2007

I thought you might like to hear about this year’s Battle of Ideas, a two-
day festival of social, political and cultural discussion taking place in 
London, 27-28th October 2007.

Specifically, I thought you would be interested in our exciting line-up of 
science and environment related debates:

•	Recycling is a waste of time
•	CAM - junk science or genuine alternative?
•	Debating Darwin Should evolution be taught as the only truth?
•	The science and politics of climate change
•	My brain made me do it Biology and freedom
•	What are the barriers to science in the 21st Century?
•	Particle physics is sexy
•	And The battle over ethics and regulation (Battle of Ideas 
satellite event, 26th October)

Bigger than ever before, there are 70 debates, featuring 200 speakers 
debating the key issues of our time with over 1,000 expected attendees, 
forming what Professor Sir Bernard Crick calls “the most interesting, 
diverse, serious and argumentative audience imaginable”. 

The Battle of Ideas is a space where ideas can be argued for and fought 
over without constraint. Free speech allowed!

Speakers include: Professor Mike Hulme (professor of climate change, UEA); 
Professor Chris Rapley (director, Science Museum); Professor Hans von 
Storch (director, Institute for Coastal Research, GKSS Research Centre; 
professor at Meteorological Institute, University of Hamburg); Professor 
Jeffery Rosen (professor of law, George Washington University; legal 
affairs editor, The New Republic; author, The Unwanted Gaze); Professor 
Raymond Tallis (emeritus professor of geriatric medicine, University of 
Manchester; poet; author, The Hand: A Philosophical Inquiry into Human 
Being); Professor Pierre Magistretti (vice-chairman, European Dana 
Alliance for the Brain); Professor Steve Yearly (director, ESRC Genomics 
Policy and Research Forum); Dr Evan Harris (MP, Oxford West and Abingdon; 
Liberal Democrat science spokesperson); Professor Monica Grady (Planetary 
and Space Sciences Research Institute, Open University) and many more.

Other highlights include: 
The resurrection of religion, Friendship or networking? Should art change 
the world? Are we a nation of sporting losers? ‘Ethical foreign policy’ 
after Blair, The new heresies, What is education for? Age of the 
metropolis and Whatever happened to serious TV? 

This year’s strands examine cutting-edge debates around Africa, Science, 
Music and New Technologies.  

As the festival has sold out for two years running, we urge you to get 
tickets as soon as possible. The event is held at the Royal College of 
Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU and is organised by the Institute of 
Ideas in conjunction with BT, The Times, ESRC and Pfizer, alongside many 
other partners and sponsors. 
I very much hope you and your colleagues will be able to come and join the 
debate.
Best wishes
Tony Gilland
Science and Society Director
Institute of Ideas
Signet House 
49-51 Farringdon Road 
London EC1M 3JP 
020 7269 9220

Join the Institute of Ideas & get a discounted Battle of Ideas 2007 ticket.

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