World-class lecturers at Pembroke-King’s Programme
Each summer, Pembroke collaborates with King's College to run an eight-week summer programme known as the Pembroke-King's Programme (PKP).
One of the highlights of the programme is a series of guest lectures by a range of world-class academics and public figures. These lectures are open to all PKP students and are held in the famous Debating Chamber at the Cambridge Union Society.
This year, eminent scholars such as Professor Eamon Duffy and renowned professionals like Sir Alan Ward contributed lectures on a vast array of subjects, including drugs, assisted dying, secret justice and religious art. Each lecture was followed by a question and answer session and a drinks reception, in which students had the rare opportunity to ask the speakers their questions in an informal setting.
Programme Assistant Mary says: 'I really enjoyed hearing masters in their field coming in to talk about the things that really interest them. I've definitely learnt some new things! Professor Andrew Blake's lecture on artificial intelligence was particularly exciting because we got to see the developments that are getting us closer to I, Robot territory. It was absolutely fascinating.'
You can watch a clip of Professor Blake's lecture below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHDamFxx1-8
You can find further clips from the lectures on the International Programmes YouTube channel.
The full list of 2014 guest lectures is as follows:
Professor John Steinberg, Why is Cambridge Unique? [Audio clip, SoundCloud, 2013]
Dr Rob Wallach, Treasures of Cambridge: things to enjoy whilst you are here [Video clip]
Sir Alan Ward, To Die or Not to Die [Video clip]
Professor Valerie Curran, Cannabis: Pleasure, Madness, Medicine [Video clip]
Lord Macdonald of River Glaven, Secret Justice - Can it ever be fair? [Video clip]
Professor Andrew Blake, Artificial Intelligence: will it overwhelm us? [Video clip]
Professor Eamon Duffy, Art, faith and religious war: the genius of Poussin [Video clip]