The Festival of Debate is the largest annual non-partisan politics festival in the UK. This year’s festival will take place at multiple venues between the 22nd April and 30th May.
The Grantham Centre will be hosting a series of events covering topics such as reimaging plastics, alternative economies and the dark art of greenwashing. Our Grantham Scholars have also produced a series of online panel discussions exploring solutions to the global polycrisis.
Take a look at our events below and reserve your spot.
Programme of Events
Below is a list of our current Festival Of Debate 2025 events. We will be announcing more in the next couple of weeks, so watch this space.
Bugs on the menu! Insects as a sustainable protein source
Tuesday 6 May, 1:00 – 2:30pm
With a growing global population and increasing pressure on traditional food systems, could insects be the key to a more sustainable and resilient protein source? Insects have been consumed by humans for centuries in many parts of the world but remain a niche food in Western diets. This panel brings together industry and academic experts to explore the future of edible insects, discussing the practicalities of farming insects, the environmental benefits compared to traditional livestock rearing and the cultural & psychological barriers to eating insects in our society.
Hosted by Grantham Scholars: Chris Noroozi, Mirsu Tekin, Shriya Bajaj, Virginia Longo, Mustafa Onur Onen, Steph Glendinning
Systems over straws – the role of individual action in resource management
Wednesday 7 May, 3:00 – 4:30pm
We’re constantly told to reduce our carbon footprint, cycle instead of drive, and cut down on waste. But are these individual actions truly making a difference—or are they a distraction from the systemic changes we actually need?
This panel will explore the tension between personal responsibility and large-scale transformation, questioning whether the focus on individual behaviour shifts attention away from the corporations and policies that drive climate change. Using resource management, specifically the 3Rs strategies – reduce, reuse, recycle – as a case study, we’ll examine whether such initiatives are a step in the right direction or merely a convenient way to offload responsibility onto individuals.
Hosted by Grantham Scholars: Tom Hughes, Ioana Andreea Jelea, Anda-Bianca Ciocirlan, Caleb Morgan
The Home of the Future: An Energising Debate
Thursday 8 May, 2:00 – 3:30pm
An energetic discussion of emerging science and technology that will shape energy generation, storage and use in the “home of the future,” and the lives of people who live in them.
Grounded in day-to-day experiences of energy in the home, we explore what the next 25–50 years look like: Where will our energy come from? And how will we use it? How might this science and technology address – and exacerbate – issues like climate breakdown and inequality? And will people willingly accept and interact with these technologies in the “home of the future”?
Hosted by Grantham Scholars: Gareth Williams, Matthew Wigglesworth, Novelita W. Mondamina, Rehmat Goodwin, Brenda K Mogeni, Catherine Malpass
Eco-Friendly or Eco-Fraud? Let’s talk about Greenwashing
Thursday 8 May, 3:00 – 4:30pm
“Greenwashing – When a company misleads the public about a product or service’s environmental impact.” Friendly or fraudulent, how bad actually is it?
Join various experts for a discussion regarding the truth around greenwashing, where we will aim to separate fact from fiction and deliberate the issues around sustainability rhetoric. We will explore key questions, including: Why does greenwashing occur? How does it happen in practice? What potential solutions exist to prevent it?
Hosted by Grantham Scholars: Will McMahon, Max Allen, Jack Gower, Aidan Miller, Babar Ali, Jacob Wylie
Adapt or Collapse? The Radical Overhaul Our Living World Needs
Monday 12 May, 2:00 – 3:30pm
Climate change is Here — disrupting ecosystems, intensifying disasters, and threatening our way of life. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions alone won’t save us — we must adapt and act now.
Our event challenges old narratives and dives into bold, beyond-carbon, science-driven solutions to build climate resilience:
Will exotic plant species still be the devil of ecosystem fragility?
Why is soilless farming essential to secure our food supply?
How can cities be more friendly to our children during the climate crisis?
Adaptation is our lifeline. Join us to explore groundbreaking strategies and be part of the movement shaping a liveable future!
Hosted by Grantham Scholars: Jing Chen, Rong Zheng, Omar Diaz Fragoso, Nitkamon Iamprasertkun, Yuxuan Liu, Sophie Tucker