Latest thinking

RSA Jobs Summit - initial reflections

Blog

24 Jan 2012

Matthew Taylor

I am writing immediately after the RSA Jobs Summit which I co-chaired with our Chair of Trustees Luke Johnson and former RSA Trustee, and respected independent economist, Vicky Pryce. We had an amazing line up of speakers ranging from senior politicians (David Miliband and David Willetts) to respected academics and policy analysts (Paul Gregg, Jonathan Portes, Paul Johnson) to incisive writers on the economy (John Kay and Diane Coyle) to people with front line experience of business (John Makinson, James Mawson, Elizabeth Varley) and many more.

Universities - it's about asking the hard questions

Blog

23 Jan 2012

Matthew Taylor

I am speaking on Wednesday about innovation in higher education. I thought I might lay out my speech outline today to see if I can grab some useful feedback from readers ahead of the event.

RSA / Google Interactivism Challenge - 4 days remaining

Blog

22 Jan 2012

Benedict Dellot

There are now only 4 days left to submit an idea for the Interactivism Challenge, led in partnership with Google, the RSA, FutureGov and Livity.

Spinners and bangers

Blog

20 Jan 2012

Matthew Taylor

‘Sell the sizzle not the sausage’ goes the old advertising phrase. Political strategists too have been creative in exploring the stretchable space between substance and message. As a former member of the New Labour junta I am hardly in a position to complain, but the Coalition publicity machine does seem to have gone into a super-fast spin cycle since the New Year.

Bobby Baker - an artist at the RSA

Blog

19 Jan 2012

If you have never come across Bobby Baker, I envy you. I envy you because you have ahead of you the delicious joy of discovering her work. She is one of the most widely acclaimed performance artists working today, and has a large and impressive back catalogue of work which, using the most fabulously inventive methods (plenty of cake), makes art out of the everyday.

Hot off the press! The first Fellows’ newsletter of 2012….

Blog

19 Jan 2012

So here we are in 2012. New Year, new news… Last year surpassed all our expectations with inspiring projects from Catalyst, Fellows’ networks and events creating a wealth of exciting discussions, lots of collaboration and a plethora of ideas – all captured in the Fellowship newsletter. [pullquote]Catalyst, Fellows’ networks and events created a wealth of exciting discussions, lots of collaboration and a plethora of ideas – all captured in the Fellowship newsletter.[/pullquote]

Changing the world, one network at a time

Blog

19 Jan 2012

Jamie Cooke

“I have a good idea every two years. Give me a topic, I will give you the idea!”  Fritz Zwicky

The Optimism Bias(1)

Blog

18 Jan 2012

Jonathan Rowson

I am very much looking forward to chairing tomorrow's event featuring neuroscientist Tali Sharot where she will be speaking about her book The Optimism Bias: Why We're Wired to Look on the Bright Side.

King for a day

Blog

17 Jan 2012

Matthew Taylor

Some childhood experiences never leave us. The experience of humiliation is particularly hard to forget. Back in the sixties, at the age of eight, I was the only southerner attending Park Grove Junior School in York. To add to my general discomfort I also had a pronounced lisp. Maybe this was why I had a relatively modest part in that year’s nativity play. I was a wise king and my script in its entirety consisted of the word ’myrrh’. I suspect my father knew this when, barely concealing a snigger, he offered to hear me read my lines.