On Thursday 31st January, Sir Crispin Tickell GCMG, KCVO delivered the 2008 Kennedy Lecture at the University of York. The NGS Journal subsequently released three articles which constitute the “2008 Kennedy Series”. These articles look at themes introduced by Sir Crispin Tickell.

Challenges to the Human Future: Prospects and Hazards. The Kennedy Lecture Transcript “To look forward we first have to look back. I begin by reminding you, if you need reminding, that humans are only one species among the millions that exist or have existed since the beginning of life almost four billion years ago. We are a tiny part of a global environment which is limited, ephemeral, and precarious. It is just that the shortness of our lives and the narrowness of our perspective on Earth history mean that we are mostly unaware of change, and until now have scarcely noticed the human impact on the environment.” (more…)

An interview with Sir Crispin Tickell by Jennifer O’Mahony I interviewed Sir Crispin prior to his speech, and his thoughts seemed to centre more around the looming hazards than the diminishing prospects in our society. As a taster of what he believes the future holds, he casually mentioned that the current President of the Royal Society gives our civilization only a 50% chance of survival. From this startling introduction we proceeded to discuss issues like climate change, consumerism and overpopulation and what governments and citizens should be doing to limit their disastrous effects.(more…)

The NGS Journal Kennedy Series: Terminal Materialism by Sarah FosterSarah Foster is an English Literature undergraduate and member of the student newspaper Nouse at the University of York. In her response to Sir Crispin’s lecture she diverts our attention from the current obsession with global warming, and cites our terminal materialism as the primary problem facing our generation. (more…)

The NGS Journal Kennedy Series: Optimism and Action by Claire HazelgroveClaire Hazelgrove is a second year politics student at York University, she is also the Labour candidate for Skipton and Ripon. In her response to Sir Crispin’s lecture she discusses the need for optimism and political pressure, to combat the stark reality of the future facing us.(more…)

The NGS Journal Kennedy Series: Environmental Catastrophism by Ben Pile Ben Pile is a mature student studying politics and philosophy, and a member of NGS York. In his response to Sir Crispin’s lecture he compares the first Kennedy Lecture to its namesake, and calls for an analysis of the issues facing the New Generation on human grounds, as well as scientific (more…)