Phoenix Society

“The Changing International System and the Superpower: Opportunities and Challenges for U.S. Diplomacy” – Wednesday 17 November, 6pm

President — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:31:16 +0000

As the only remaining superpower in the post Cold War period, the United States today faces the challenge of leading within a changing international system shaped by global competition.

In this talk, Christian Cali, Economic Officer at the U.S. Embassy in London, will share his views on the future of geopolitics in the 21^st century, and how the U.S. and Western nations more widely will likely adapt to changing conditions over the coming years.

Fellows and students are warmly invited to dine with the speaker following this event by signing up to join the Phoenix Society’s dining group in the normal fashion.

“The Economic Consequences of the Euro” – Tuesday 2 November 2010, 6pm

President — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 19:30:05 +0000

In 1925 the economist John Maynard Keynes wrote a pamphlet entitled ‘The Economic Consequences of Mr Churchill’, in which he argued that it would be a disaster for the British economy to re-establish the gold standard at the pre-war parity. In this timely talk, Prof. Jesper Jespersen will discuss how the world’s economic condition today is similar to that of the early 20th century, particularly in relation to the Southern European members of the Economic and Monetary Union.

Prof. Jespersen will also discuss the likely future of the Eurozone over the coming years, both politically and economically.

Please note that this talk will take place in the Club Room at Churchill College rather than the normal location.

Entrance and refreshments are free for members and Cambridge University members.

“Three Days in May 1940″ – Tuesday 26 October, 6pm

President — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 19:21:46 +0000

The Phoenix Society Presents: The Rt. Hon. Lord Howard of Lympne QC

In early May 1940, Winston Churchill stepped through the door of Number 10 Downing Street facing a set of challenges unprecedented and since unmatched in modern British politics.

The Rt. Hon. Lord Howard of Lympne served as Home Secretary from 1993 to 1997 and as leader of the Conservative Party from 2003 to 2005. In 2010 he was elevated to the House of Lords.

In the Phoenix Society’s debut talk of the 2010-2011 year, Lord Howard will use his unique perspective to examine the first days of Winston Churchill’s wartime leadership, considering the qualities that made him a great leader in a time of upheaval and crisis.

Entry, refreshments and wine are free of charge for College and University members.

“Science & Freedom of Speech” – Thursday 25th February, 6pm

President — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:00:25 +0000

The Phoenix Society Presents: Dr Simon Singh & Science Writer & Journalist

Simon Singh, who is currently being sued for libel by the British Chiropractic Association, will argue that English libel laws crush free speech and block scientific progress. He will explain how our libel laws are notoriously friendly towards claimants and hostile towards defendants, which means that international libel cases are brought to London. Singh will also give his views on how libel laws could be reformed to bring them in line with other democratic countries, and will explain why he is backing a national campaign for libel reform.

Simon Singh is the author of several bestselling science books, including ‘Fermat’s Last Theorem’ & ‘Big Bang’. Most recently he co-authored ‘Trick or Treatment? Alternative Medicine on Trial’ with Professor Edzard Ernst. His Radio 4 programmes include ‘Five Numbers’, ‘Five Particles’ & ‘The Serendipity of Science’. Recently there have been a series of high profile libel cases brought against scientists, science writers and medical researchers.

Simon Studied Physics at Imperial College London, followed by a PhD at Emmanuel and CERN, Switzerland. In 2003 he received an MBE for services to Science, Technology and Engineering in Education and Science Communication.

Entry, refreshments and wine are free of charge for University members.

“Visualising Uncertainty” – Thursday 4th February, 6pm

President — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:00:01 +0000

The Phoenix Society Presents: Professor David Spiegelhalter, Churchill Fellow

The mathematical language of uncertainty is probability, but there is also a visual language that tries to represent what may turn out to be the case. David will look at different ways that people have tried to illustrate their uncertainty, including some recent work in the presentation of possible futures.

David is currently the Winton Professor of the Public Understanding of Risk and a fellow of Churchill College. Much of his research surrounds the use of statistics in understanding risk for individuals and society and he has used this in both academic and educational publications. David is a Fellow of the Royal Society and was awarded an OBE in 2006.

“Climate Change After Copenhagen” – Thursday 14 January, 6pm

President — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:00:52 +0000

The Phoenix Society Presents: Nigel Lawson, Politican & Journalist

The Copenhagen Summit was the world’s opportunity to take action on the climate for our future. Without legally binding targets, where does this leave us?

As an ardent sceptic of mainstream attitudes towards climate change, Lord Lawson wrote recently “Copenhagen will fail – and quite right too”. In his controversial view, the science is still unreliable and the need to reduce carbon emissions is questionable.

Having been Chancellor of the Exchequer under Margaret Thatcher, Lord Lawson recently announced the launch of the ‘Global Warming Policy Foundation’ which aims to challenge government policies and attitudes towards climate change.

Though undoubtedly controversial, the talk will certainly provide an insight into the views of one of our most prominent and articulate global warming sceptics.

Entry, refreshments and wine are free of charge for University members.

“Playing History – The Quest for Authenticity in Band of Brothers” – Thursday 26 November, 6pm

President — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:00:21 +0000

The Phoenix Society Presents: Rick Warden, Actor

How has a Churchill history undergraduate been able to use his degree in a career in acting?

‘Rick Warden studied History at Churchill in between his University acting commitments, and was President of the Mummers and Marlowe Societies whilst at Cambridge. He has since acted for the National Theatre and at the Royal Court, and has a successful career in television and film.
As well as the award winning “Band of Brothers” he has acted in numerous historical series, including “Shackleton”, “Rome”, and “Dunkirk”.
In his first public talk he will be exploring the lengths that are taken to ensure that some of TV’s historical dramas are truly authentic.’

Entry, refreshments and wine are free of charge for University members.

Facebook: bit.ly/playing-history

“Building the Corpus Clock” – Thursday 5 November, 6pm

President — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:00:34 +0000

The Phoenix Society Presents: John Taylor, Inventor

Fellows Dining Room, Churchill College

The new Corpus Christi College Clock was inaugurated by Professor Stephen Hawkins in September 2008 as the first clock in the world that sets out to show time as relative.

The Clock’s design is unique, taking over 5 years and £1m to make, having been a personal project for Dr Taylor, who will explain some of the concepts involved in its design.
Formerly an Undergraduate at Corpus, Dr Taylor created a highly successful thermostat design used in many kettles and similar products.

Entry, refreshments and wine are free of charge for University members.

Facebook: bit.ly/corpus-clock

“The Road to Afghanistan” – Thursday 29 October, 6pm

President — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:00:22 +0000

The Phoenix Society Presents: Major General Jamie Balfour

A military perspective on how we have found ourselves in the current strategic situation’

As Churchill said: “Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy.”
How has it been so difficult to resolve the war in Afghanistan? The talk will give a historical context to the current conflict in following developments since the Cold War, which have played a significant role in the situation today.
Jamie has had a long career in the Army, serving in the Falklands, West Germany, Northern Ireland and Bosnia as well as positions in the MoD and UN Mission HQ in Kosovo. He is now Director General of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, which provides grants for overseas projects.

Entry, refreshments and wine are free of charge for University members.

College members are also encouraged to sign up for dinner with the guest at: bit.ly/churchill-formal

“Rethinking Churchill and the Second World War” – Thursday 15 October, 6pm

President — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:17:51 +0000

The Phoenix Society Presents: Sir Max Hastings, Author & Journalist

The impression in the public mind of Winston Churchill is tied closely to the Second World War. In the first talk of Michelmas, Max Hastings revisits our view of Churchill’s personality and its role in his relationship with the British people, the US and Russia.

“Max Hastings studied at Charterhouse and Oxford and became a foreign correspondent, reporting from more than sixty countries and eleven wars for BBC TV and the London Evening Standard. He has won many awards for his journalism. Among his bestselling books ‘Bomber Command’ won the Somerset Maugham Prize, and both ‘Overlord’ and ‘Battle for the Falklands’ won the Yorkshire Post Book of the Year Prize. After ten years as editor and then editor-in-chief of the Daily Telegraph, he became editor of the Evening Standard in 1996. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, he was knighted in 2002.”

Entry, refreshments and wine are free of charge for University members.

College guests are encouraged to sign up for common table at formal dinner after the talk.

Facebook: bit.ly/max-hastings