Native Aberdonian and University of Aberdeen graduate Professor Sir Stewart Sutherland will examine the importance of education in Scotland at a lecture in Aberdeen next week (Tuesday, February 15th).
Sir Stewart’s lecture, Democracies & Intellects: Education in the New Millennium, is the second in a major series, Talking Scots, organised by the University of Aberdeen to mark the new Millennium.
Sir Stewart, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, will discuss the key questions that education faces today in Scotland, and the importance of education in a Scottish sense.
“My key question will be - Does education simply reflect the shape of society, or does it change it?” he said.
“I will discuss the importance of education for society - and therefore Scottish society - economically, culturally, socially, and politically – with an emphasis on democracy. The health of education in society reflects the health of the system in all respects. I believe the purpose of education is to promote the coherence and development of a healthy society.”
Sir Stewart’s lecture will be the second in the six-part series, which includes lectures by some of Scotland’s most distinguished thinkers, who will share their views on Scotland’s future. They are: the Very Rev Gilleasbuig Macmillan, Minister of St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh; The Rt Hon Lord Rodger of Earlsferry, Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General of Scotland; Sir Ian Wood, Chairman of Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Arts Council chairman Magnus Linklater.
The leading Scottish historian Professor Tom Devine delivered the first lecture in the series to a capacity audience of more than 240 people on February 1st.
The lecture will take place on Tuesday, February 15, at 7pm in King’s Conference Centre. It will be followed by a wine reception. Admission is free, but tickets must be obtained from the Public Relations Office on (01224) 272014, or by e-mail on talkingscots@abdn.ac.uk
A special website carries full details of the series on www.abdn.ac.uk/talkingscots