Gresham College has been delivering public lectures since 1597 through times of great social, political and technological change. Its commitment to deliver lectures for free to the general public has led to intermittent financial challenges to its generous sponsors. The arrival of the internet, mobile devices and social media have offered both opportunity and further challenge. In an era supposedly characterised by shorter attention spans, and greater competition for that attention, what space is left for the public lecture and what is its purpose? Why do people still want to deliver them? What makes a great lecture? What is the relative importance of an in-person v an online audience? Is audience size an indication of the value of lecture content? Can the public lecture survive? This lecture will address these and other questions from a personal, but hopefully informed, perspective.
Gresham College
