What role do the humanities play in our scientific world?

The 17 October 2018 Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences distinguished lecture at the University of Birmingham was presented by Professor Martin Willis (Cardiff University).

Professor Willis is Chair of the British Society for Literature and Science and Editor of the Journal for Literature and Science.

The relationship between the humanities and the sciences often has the hallmarks of melodrama: one is forever falling out of love with the other, or entering into a crisis of faith about their ongoing suitability. In this lecture Professor Willis examines the long history of this relationship, highlighting those key moments where the disciplines have successfully combined as well as moments of disruption and conflict. Looking backwards, across 200 years, enables him to consider their present interdisciplinary relationship and ask what the future holds for collaborative success. This is a story that takes us from Frankenstein to Futurology, during which we encounter the key protagonists in what might be described as a battle to define truth and evidence.
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/lans