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The British Academy Lectures

Since 1908

Delivered by the most outstanding academics in the UK and beyond, the British Academy’s flagship lecture programme showcases the very best scholarship in the humanities and social sciences. Held at the British Academy and across the UK, these landmark occasions offer students, scholars and specialists a chance to expand their networks and learn about the latest developments in their field.

Around 10-12 British Academy Lectures take place each year. Information on future lectures is available. A record of most past lectures, including recordings and published texts, is also available. Many are given in named series – usually associated with endowments received by the Academy.

Lecture partners for 2023-25:

  1. Cardiff University
  2. Coventry University
  3. London School of Economics
  4. Newcastle University
  5. Queen’s University Belfast
  6. Royal Holloway Centre for the GeoHumanities and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
  7. University of Bristol
  8. University of East Anglia
  9. University of Edinburgh
  10. University of Leeds
  11. University of Leicester
  12. University of Manchester

Listings of lectures

Details of the British Academy's lecture series, including links to text, audio and video records of past lectures.

25 Apr 2024 - Newcastle

The Sign Language Myth

Could there be one common sign language that everyone could understand?

30 Apr 2024 - Edinburgh

Loss and Recovery of Diversity in the Anthropocene: A Perspective from Biosemiotics

At a time when alternative ways of living and relating to other people and species are most needed, this lecture explores resistance to ecological and cultural reduction or extinction.

9 May 2024 - Leicester

The Place of Theory in Babylonian Astral Science

This lecture explores how ancient Babylonian scholars observed the night sky to construct theories of the behaviour of the sun, moon, and planets, and considers why their endeavours have been judged as as falling short of being true science.

10 May 2024 - London

What Social Media Can Tell Us About Dialect Variation and Change

This talk will look at some of the challenges and discoveries associated with using social media (Twitter/X) as a source for examining dialect variation and change.

28 May 2024 - London

Planting Resistance: Botanical Legacies of the African Diaspora

In the 21st century, the expansion of large-scale industrial agriculture across tropical landscapes in the Americas is threatening an Afrodescendant food system that has long prioritized agrobiodiversity and agroecological practices.

13 Jun 2024 - Bristol

Reflections on UK science-policy relationships after COVID-19

Reflecting on her time as a member of the UK's Scientific Advisory Group in Emergencies (SAGE) during the H1N1 and Covid-19 pandemics, Prof Susan Michie will consider the UK's science-policy relationship and how lessons learnt can inform preparedness for future crises.

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