Professor Sharon Abrahams, Personal Chair in Neuropsychology, delivers her inaugural lecture entitled Mind Matters in Motor Neurone Disease. In this lecture, Prof. Abrahams discusses her work with people living with a degenerative disease and in particular motor neurone disease. This disease was commonly thought to affect the system controlling movement exclusively, but Prof. Abrahams' work has contributed to demonstrating that the mind matters in motor neurone disease and that a large number of people will experience changes in cognition and behaviour in addition to progressive physical disability. Recorded on 28 October 2015 at the University of Edinburgh's 50 George Square.

Inaugural lectures (audio)

Prof. Sharon Abrahams - Mind Matters in Motor Neurone Disease

Professor Andrew Morris, Chair of Medicine, delivers his inaugural lecture entitled, Medicine in the Information Age. Recorded on 22 June 2015 at the University of Edinburgh's Chancellor's Building.

Prof. Andrew Morris - Medicine in the Information Age

Professor Martin Chick, Chair of Economic History, delivers his inaugural lecture entitled, "The Times They Are A-Changin': Time, Economics and a Political Economy of Britain since 1945". This lecture considers the changing use made of the concept of time in economics and economic policy-making in Britain since 1945. Recorded on 5 May 2015 at the University of Edinburgh's Medical School.

Prof. Martin Chick - The Times They Are A-Changin': Time, Economics and a Political Economy of Britain since 1945

Professor Paolo Quattrone, Chair in Accounting Governance & Social Innovation, delivers his inaugural lecture entitled, "Accounting, Governance and Social Innovation: Establishing the Links". In this lecture, Professor Quattrone will present the idea that accounting creates specific forms of ‘socie-ties’, where the ties amongst members of a community are represented in economic terms and ruled accordingly. It will also suggest that only by re-thinking these ties that new forms of governing social and economic relationships can become forms of social innovation. Recorded on 15 April 2015 at the University of Edinburgh's Business School Auditorium.

Prof. Paolo Quattrone - Accounting, Governance and Social Innovation: Establishing the Links

Professor Mark Dorrian, Forbes Chair in Architecture, delivers his inaugural lecture, entitled What's Interesting? On the Ascendency of an Evaluative Term. This lecture will consider the rise of 'interesting' as a critical category, and examine the sort of judgement-in-suspension that it seems to enact, addressing what kinds of issues might be at stake in it, and what it means in relation to our broader cultural expectations of architecture. Recorded on 1 April 2015, at the University of Edinburgh's Edinburgh College of Art Main Lecture Theatre.

Prof. Mark Dorrian - What's Interesting? On the Ascendency of an Evaluative Term

Professor Chris Speed, Chair in Design Informatics, delivers his inaugural lecture entitled, The Random Lift and Other Algorithmic Stories. This talk draws connections between a series of projects that explores the emerging conditions of living with algorithms. The playful presentation unpacks Professor Speed's growing neurosis about the uncertainty of what things are doing, a condition that he attributes to having been born during Apollo 13's loss of communication with planet Earth. Recorded on 24 February 2015 at the University of Edinburgh's ECA Lecture Theatre.

Prof. Chris Speed - The Random Lift and Other Algorithmic Stories

Professor Nicola McEwen, Personal Chair of Territorial Politics, delivers her inaugural lecture entitled, "Independence and Interdependence: The Dynamics of Scottish Self-Government". The Scottish independence referendum may have resulted in a No vote, but it has reignited debates over Scottish self-government. Professor McEwen explores the meaning of independence and interdependence, examining the interdependencies that would remain irrespective of the constitutional settlement, and considering the implications of the on going process of constitutional reform for Scotland and the UK. Recorded on 11 February 2015, at the University of Edinburgh's Business School.

Prof. Nicola McEwen - Independence and Interdependence: The Dynamics of Scottish Self-Government

Professor Richard Freeman, Personal Chair of Social Science and Public Policy, delivers his inaugural lecture entitled, Doing Politics. How does politics happen? When we do politics, what are we doing? In this lecture, Professor Freeman will show how we might understand politics as action, as a mode of doing. Recorded on 4 February 2015 at the University of Edinburgh.

Prof. Richard Freeman - Doing Politics

Each year the University hosts a series of inaugural lectures given by Professors or Chairs newly appointed by the University. The speakers give an illuminating overview of their contribution to their field. Audio version.

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Inaugural lectures (audio)

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