The college is hosting a range of events in November – keep an eye on our social media feeds for daily updates – and there are two where demand is likely to be particularly high so booking is recommended.
On Wednesday 8 November at 6pm we will be the venue for the first of the Vice-Chancellor’s Dialogues. It will focus on the question of whether assisted dying is compassionate or dangerous for society. This important discussion will happen at a time when a Bill to enable terminally ill adults to be provided with assistance to end their own life is being debated by Parliament. There have been a number of attempts to legislate in this area, all of which so far have failed, although opinion polls suggest public support for the idea.
Speakers for this inaugural Dialogue will be:
- Dr Jonathan Romain was appointed Chair of Dignity in Dying, the UK’s leading campaign for a change in the law on assisted dying, in June 2023.
- Dr Amy Proffitt speaks for Living and Dying Well, the group promoting access to excellent care at the end of life and standing against the legalisation of assisted suicide.
- Dr Zoë Fritz, a Wellcome fellow in Society and Ethics at the University of Cambridge, and a Consultant Physician in Acute Medicine at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. She works with colleagues in the Faculties of Law and Philosophy to ensure solutions are philosophically grounded and legally robust, as well as clinically practical and acceptable to all stakeholders.
The event is public and open to all, but attendees should register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/is-assisted-dying-compassionate-or-dangerous-for-society-tickets-744028438087
Then on Friday 17 November at 6.30pm we will be asking: “Should we believe the News?” - In Conversation with Ros Atkins
Millions of people in the UK, and countless more around the world, are now deeply sceptical about the news presented by established broadcasters and newspapers. The rise of social media has eroded trust in traditional journalism, and there is a daily battle for credibility between our old concept of the truth and what can, at worst, be deliberate disinformation.
Ros Atkins is the newly-created analysis editor for the BBC, and his role is part of the corporation’s argument that factual reporting is needed more than ever. But can it succeed, and still meet the needs of increasingly polarised audiences?
Ros will be in conversation with the master Roger Mosey, a former editorial director of the BBC. We will be inviting questions from the audience. Ros Atkins has written a book “The Art of Explanation”, which will feature in the conversation, and there will be a limited number for sale after the event.
Please book your tickets on this page: https://www.sel.cam.ac.uk/events/should-we-believe-news
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