Cambridge makes Hay

2013 is the fifth year that the University has run the Cambridge Series at the Hay Festival, one of the most prestigious literary events in the world. It runs from 23 May to 2 June. 

This year for the first time speakers include alumni such as Chris Blackhurst, editor of The Independent, who will speak with Simon Blackburn, professor of philosophy, on the notion of trust, its cultivation and its loss in the light of recent scandals in the press, the police and parliament. 

Writer and alumna Gaby Hinsliff, author of Half a Wife, and sociologist Professor Jacqueline Scott will discuss whether women can ever achieve workplace equality if there is no domestic equality. 

Also for the first time this year there will be talks and interactive sessions aimed at school-aged students. Charlie Gilderdale of the NRICH mathematics project will lead a series of Thinking Mathematically workshops, Renaissance expert Abigail Brundin will talk about the writing of 17th-century girls who were forced into a life of seclusion in convents and Tim Minshall, senior lecturer in technology management, will describe why engineering is exciting, important and fun. 

Other speakers in the series include Lord Martin Rees, who will speculate on a post-human future; Professor Sir Mark Welland who will discuss the future of nanotechnology; and Alex Jeffrey who will debate justice and recovery in Bosnia with Guardian journalist Ed Vulliamy. 

Professor Barbara Sahakian will talk about her new book Bad moves: when decision-making goes wrong, and how the process of normal decision-making compares to those patterns found in patients with conditions such as severe depression, Alzheimer's and accidental brain damage.  Professor Jonathan Haslam will discuss his forthcoming book on the history of the Russian secret service. It is the only book on the subject to include all the Soviet intelligence organisations, from the Special Service to the GRU [military intelligence] as well as the KGB. 

Other speakers are Professor Sadaf Farooqi on the science of obesity; Professor James Jackson on why vulnerability to earthquakes is so variable; Dame Fiona Reynolds, Master of Emmanuel College, on the role landscape, history and nature play in our sense of Britishness; historian Lucy Delap on the myths of domestic services as portrayed in programmes like Downton Abbey and its modern forms; and Professor Tony Badger, Master of Clare College, on whether President Obama has learnt the right lessons from FDR's New Deal.  Also at Hay this year, Rachel Polonsky from the department of Slavonic Studies will speak in a panel debate about the first Pushkin House Russian Book Prize which aims to promote public understanding of the Russian-speaking world by encouraging and rewarding the very best non-fiction writing on Russia. Dr Polonsky is one of the judges of the Award. 

Other University of Cambridge speakers at the Festival are Professor Jaideep Prabhu from Judge Business School, Dr Brendan Simms, Dr Robert Macfarlane, Rowan Williams, master of Magdalene College, and the astronomer Simon Mitton.  For full details of talks and times, go to the website. To book tickets, go to www.hayfestival.com.