List of The last word Archive

Creature comforts

Blog

10 Dec 2013

Matthew Taylor

I've blogged about the wonderful Brene Brown before and I'm really delighted that her lecture on vulnerability here has been chosen as our next RSA Short.   We're really pleased with it - and gratifyingly Brene herself has given it an enthusiastic stamp of approval.

Brené Brown on Empathy

Video

10 Dec 2013

What is the best way to ease someone’s pain and suffering? In this beautifully animated RSA Short, Dr Brené Brown reminds us that we can only create a genuine empathic connection if we are brave enough to really get in touch with our own fragilities.

Global Fellowship in Action - Japan Fellows' Network

Blog

10 Dec 2013

Jamie Cooke

This is the first in a series of occasional blogs exploring the work of Fellows across the world, and is an interview with the team of Fellows leading activity in Japan.

Never mind 3D printing guns: let’s 3D print bullet-shaped cars!

Blog

06 Dec 2013

Walking around the 3D Print Show four weeks ago, I found that most of what was on show was either self-indulgent or pretty useless. I think we could all live without 3D printed statues of ourselves.  Do we need to 3D print imaginary insects? Do we need to print intricate chocolates using additive printing only for them to be gobbled down in an instant? I even went to a session titled “Building a 3D printed home” only to hear the designer had only printed a small part of the interior, which from the moment it was printed meant it was impossible to make any home improvements.

Chess and Education Conference in London this weekend!

Blog

06 Dec 2013

Jonathan Rowson

Earlier this year I played a small part in helping Chess in Schools and communities raise almost £700,000 from the Educational Endowment foundation for a randomised control trial on the impact of chess  on attainment in Maths and English (and a few other measures) in about 50 primary schools.  The scheme is being evaluated by the Institute of Education in London and represents a big breakthrough for chess, and potentially for educational research too.

What's Next For Foreign Aid?

Video

05 Dec 2013

Ben Ramalingam is a researcher and writer.

RSA/NSPCC event - How nurture alters nature

Video

05 Dec 2013

Moshe Szyf is professor of pharmacology and therapeutics, McGill University Medical School, Quebec.

Tragic hero?

Blog

04 Dec 2013

Matthew Taylor

In his e-book anti-hero, Richard Wilson describes the malign characteristics of the heroic leader as over-confidence, a lack of empathy, inflexibility and being unable to recognise uncertainty. Conversely, the benign characteristics of the anti-heroic leader are being empathic, humble, self-aware, flexible and comfortable with uncertainty.

Connecting space, place and democracy at the Library of Birmingham

Blog

03 Dec 2013

This is a guest blog from RSA Catalyst supported West Midlands Fellow John Blewitt.  He reflects on the impact of Catalyst and the new Library of Birmingham on his work to connect spaces and people with democratic actions.