Latest thinking

A (not very) funny thing happened on the way to John Adam Street...

Blog

31 Jan 2008

Matthew Taylor

Are jokes pro-social acts? I guess it depends on their content and the context of their telling. It is as hard to make up jokes as design pro-social experiments. Although I love hearing and telling jokes I have only ever made up three, and one of those was this morning. Here they are:

Fellowship this week

Blog

30 Jan 2008

Matthew Taylor

Going greener

RSA Academy - full steam ahead

Blog

30 Jan 2008

Matthew Taylor

First some good news. We have agreement from DCSF to the funding agreement for the RSA Academy so it’s full steam ahead for the new school to open in September, and be in the new building early in 2010. We have recruited some really good people to the Academy – many drawn from the existing staff at what is a fast improving school. One job we still have vacant is a Director of Business and Strategy so is anyone out there up for being part of this exciting initiative (you don’t need to be a trained teacher, details on the RSA website)?

Rowlands links

Blog

25 Jan 2008

Matthew Taylor

The RSA has been carefully following the upsurge in political interest in happiness. David Willets and Paul Ormerod debated Happiness, Economics and Public Policy last year. Richard Layard is a regular visitor.

Drinking with Dave

Blog

25 Jan 2008

Matthew Taylor

It's been a really busy week here with an event happening every day, so we are only just now trying to draw breath.  Monday evening's RSA Screens event with Dave Gorman went down really well - he's such an interesting guy although he was telling us in the bar afterwards that he’s trying to leave behind his wacky comic persona, and carve out a reputation as a serious documentary-maker making “proper grown-up telly”.

Punch and Judy politics

Blog

23 Jan 2008

Matthew Taylor

As Rosie writes last night’s event with Simon Duffy was fantastic. We have breathed new life into the Albert Medal, hopefully we will do the same later in the year with the Benjamin Franklin. Over the years I believe we can build a strong public awareness of the medals and the particular virtues and achievements they celebrate.

The Albert Medal

Blog

22 Jan 2008

Matthew Taylor

I am really looking forward to tonight’s RSA event. We are awarding Simon Duffy of In Control with the Albert Medal.

Rowlands links

Blog

18 Jan 2008

Apropos of Matthew's post on brains and behaviour:

A call for ideas

Blog

18 Jan 2008

Matthew Taylor

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this conversation about social experiments based on small kindnesses. There are now several ideas in this thread but I’m sure we can generate more.