Bookings open for the eighth Cambridge Festival of Ideas

Immigration, the future of Europe, and what age is best to have a baby are part of a packed Cambridge Festival of Ideas, which opens for bookings today [21st September].

The Festival, which celebrates new and original thinking on some of the most pressing issues of the day, runs from 19th October to 1st November and most of the over 250 events are free.

Speakers include some of the world’s leading thinkers in their fields, including the astronomer Lord Martin Rees; John Macnicol, one of Europe’s leading academic analysts of old age and ageing; philosopher Professor Rae Langton; Professor Christopher Andrew, the Official Historian of MI5; Russian historian Professor Dominic Lieven; and Classics Professor Paul Cartledge. Other speakers include writer and journalist Peter Hitchens; author Bidisha; BBC religious affairs correspondent Caroline Wyatt; CEO of Index on Censorship Jodie Ginsberg; and Professor Alan Sked, Founder and former member of UKIP and now one of its fiercest critics.

The Festival will focus on a huge range of issues, from the ethics of artificial intelligence and the role of technology in revolutions to whether Europe can live up to its founding ideals and keep the peace. Writers Bidisha and Emily Dugan will be in conversation about their new books, which focus on the experiences of immigrants and refugees in the UK. A panel of experts – three historians, a fertility expert and a writer – will answer the question should we be having babies at 20? and will consider the ways in which individuals have approached questions of fertility, family, lineage, social stability and health in reproductive practices.

There are events for all ages, including workshops on what makes superheroes tick, angels and the science of flowers.

The aim of the Festival is to promote new ideas and critical thought and there is an emphasis on public interaction. Question Everything is an afternoon of disruptive thinking, featuring some of the most innovative and dissenting voices, from Brett Scott, author of The Heretic's Guide to Global Finance; gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell; political sociologist Jeff Miley; writer and academic Dr Priyamvada Gopal; and banned Uzbek writer Hamid Ismailov. The event is a partnership between the University of Cambridge, The Junction and Index on Censorship and will be compered by Jodie Ginsberg. The speakers will each have to answer a question and will speak in relay. Audience members will be able to interact with the speakers directly after they have spoken.

The Festival is also inviting the public to collaborate on future events. The Women of the World (WOW) think-in extends an open invitation to ‘like-minded men and women’ to brainstorm ideas on what they would like to see in the next WOW Cambridge Festival.

Other events include:
- Artificial Un-intelligence– researchers from the Psychometrics Centre will discuss the ethics of technological innovation, such as computers that can predict our personalities and interact with us intelligently.
- The Kick – following a screening of Andres Veiel’s award-winning film Der Kick, a panel of experts discuss themes explored in the film, particularly right-wing violence in Europe.
- e-Luminate Light Lab– an exhibition showcasing ground-breaking, light-based technologies organised by e-Luminate Cambridge and celebrating the UNESCO International Year of Light.
- Greek democracy: ancient and modern – Paul Cartledge, Professor of Ancient Greek History, and political journalist Maria Margaronis discuss ancient and modern conceptions of democracy and the myths surrounding them both.
- Data Shadow– Collusion’s Real Time Commission 2015, delivered by artist Mark Farid, explores issues around mobile phone security, such as how easy it is to access the personal information on our phones and what that information reveals.
- Rapping our way to Islam– spoken word artist Tommy Evans' insight into his personal journey to faith and Islam via his love of hip hop. The event will showcase The Centre of Islamic Studies’ major research project ‘Narratives of Conversion to Islam in Britain - Male Perspectives’, whose findings are published in October.
- Art Language Location – an art festival taking place in locations throughout Cambridge, featuring innovative and experimental contemporary artists from across the UK and beyond who use text in their work.

Established in 2008, Cambridge Festival of Ideas explores some of the most essential and thought-provoking ideas of our time. Hundreds of mostly free events, ranging from talks, debates and film screenings to exhibitions and comedy nights, are held in lecture halls, theatres, museums and galleries around Cambridge.

The Festival sponsors and partners are Cambridge University Press, St John’s College, Anglia Ruskin University, RAND Europe, Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Cambridge Live, University of Cambridge Museums and Botanic Garden, Arts Council England, Cambridge Junction, British Science Association, Heritage Lottery Fund, Heffers, WOW Festival, Southbank Centre, Collusion, TTP Group, Goethe Institut, Index on Censorship and BBC Cambridgeshire.

Full programme available http://www.cam.ac.uk/festivalofideas here.