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The 10 Best Spring talks

On a new year fitness drive? Get your mind into shape as well with these great talks and lecture series around the UK...

Sarah Ann Harris
Wednesday 09 January 2013 21:00 GMT
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1. Café Scientifique, Royal Society

Free, royalsociety.org

Join scientists and other specialists in discussion of current scientific issues over a drink at these free events at the Royal Society. Upcoming questions to grapple with include "is growing old an illness?"

2. Archaeology Lunchtime Talks, Museum Wales

Free, museumwales.ac.uk

It's not all bits of pots! In these lunchtime talks in Cardiff, archaeologists and other experts reveal their dig findings and explain how they help us to build a picture of the past.

3. Packed Lunch, Wellcome Collection

Free, wellcomecollection.org

Feed your curiosity as you eat your lunch at this series of free talks. Listen to scientists discussing their work and its implications. Previous topics include pain, deep-sea vision, influenza and bubbles.

4. Gifford Lectures, University of Edinburgh

Free online, ed.ac.uk

Held since 1888, the Gifford Lectures have been given by many notable scholars. This year's include Harvard's Stephen Pinker talking about his work on the decline of violence in the world.

5. Barbirolli Lectures, Royal Academy of Music

Free, ram.ac.uk

For those who want to know more about the people behind the music, the Royal Academy of Music hosts monthly talks with distinguished musicians, composers and conductors.

6. Arts Talks, Royal Academy

Prices vary, royalacademy.org.uk

The Royal Academy hosts lunchtime and evening talks on art. A must-see are the lectures on architectural history and also the Academy's current exhibition, Manet: Portraying Life, has a programme of talks between February and April.

7. Culture Now, ICA

£5, ica.org.uk

Priding itself as a home for the radical and the experimental, the ICA boasts several big names for its Culture series of talks. They include lunchtime lectures with sculptor Antony Gormley and Independent columnist Owen Jones.

8. Ideas to Change British Architecture, RIBA

Prices vary, architecture.com

RIBA will be holding a series of talks held to accompany its Venice Takeaway exhibition, which looks at architecture in Britain today. Issues trilled over include overseas inspiration and red tape.

9. Ulster Lecture Series, Open University in Ireland

Free, proni.gov.uk

History buffs interested in the Belfast's past will love this lecture series delivered in the city's new Titanic Quarter. Features timely talks on issues such as violence, law and order and public health.

10. Talks at the Photographers' Gallery

Prices vary, thephotographersgallery.org.uk

Further your understanding of the exhibitions at the Soho home of British photography with talks from the artists featured, as well as the gallery's curators.

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