Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institution

📷 Worlds Apart at #BRLSI explores early #photography in #Bath & #China. See 170-year-old calotypes, historic prints, and objects that bring scenes to life. 🏛️Free exhibition, 28 Mar–26 Sep. www.brlsi.org/whatson/worl... #PhotographyHistory #Bath #BRLSI #ArtAndHistory

Soft Power & Economic Growth: the UK in a changing world – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution In a more fragmented world, economic growth requires astute positioning of a country in order to navigate a world that is riven by geo-politics and economic tensions. The UK has an opportunity to highlight its role as a trusted convenor through its use of soft power. Whereas hard power is military might and coercion, soft power is based on influence and persuasion. Foreign policy requires both. In today’s changing world, an economic growth strategy will also need to include soft power. Dr Linda Yueh CBE, Adjunct Professor , London Business School

✨How can the UK use influence instead of force to thrive in a changing world? ✨
Join Dr Linda Yueh on Tue 17 March to learn why combining soft and hard power is key to driving economic growth and shaping the nation’s role on the global stage

Shakespeare, Bath & the plague – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution While there is no definitive historical record confirming that William Shakespeare visited Bath, this talk explores the cultural and symbolic connections between the Bard and the city.  Bath, with its Roman heritage and healing waters, served as a metaphorical backdrop for themes of renewal, desire, and transformation—motifs that echo through Shakespeare’s later sonnets. The focus turns to Sonnets 153 and 154, often referred to as the “Bath Sonnets” due to their imagery of healing baths and love’s fire. These sonnets are mythological in tone, drawing on classical references to Cupid and nymphs. The talk highlights how these poems may reflect Shakespeare’s philosophical preoccupation with desire, mortality and the limits of reason and explains how these sonnets were nearly forgotten after their 1609 publication, then rediscovered in the 18th century. Duncan McGibbon, BRLSI Poetry Convenor

Shakespeare, Bath & the Plague 🏛️📜
Mon 16 mar, 7:30–9pm with Duncan McGibbon
Sonnets 153 & 154, Roman Baths, cupid, and the bard’s obsession with desire & mortality. For those who love a deep dive
www.brlsi.org/whatso...


#shakespeare #bathsonnets #renaissance #brlsi #poetry

Renaissance Maps: Myths & Memories – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution The American Museum & Gardens in Bath is home to a remarkable world-class collection of printed Renaissance maps. It was amassed by American Museum founder, Dallas Pratt, and includes rare and unique examples, rivalling those held by major libraries and museums around the world. Pratt began collecting printed maps of the world as a student and quickly developed a passion for acquiring examples that illustrated Europeans understanding of the world around them. Chief Curator, Kate Hebert, tells the story of the creation of this outstanding collection and shares some of the star pieces, exploring how they shaped our understanding of the world.

It was once not uncommon for maps to be populated by sea monsters 🐉 and imaginary islands 🏝️

🗺️Come along to BRLSI to find out what the world looked like in the Renaissance, with Kate Herbert, Chief Curator of the #AmericanMuseumandGardens🏛️

🔗

Who belongs? Britain & the small boats debate – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution Part of the Curious Minds Festival

Who belongs? Shining a light on the small boat crisis, revealing the human stories and global pressures shaping one of the defining issues of our moment.
Horatio Clare & Nicola Kelly
Sat 14 March at 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm GMT
#CuriousMindsFestival

The Unfragile Mind: what does it mean to be well? – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution Part of the Curious MInds Festival

What does it mean to be well in an age of soaring diagnoses, rigid labels and fragile understandings of mental health?

With Dr Gavin Francis www.brlsi.org/whatso... #curiousmindsfestival

How can we raise resilient teens in a digital world? – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution Part of the Curious Minds Festival

How can we raise resilient teens in a digital world? 📱💛 Join Nicola Macdonald for practical, compassionate guidance on parenting with confidence and calm. Sat 14 March, 11–12. #CuriousMindsFestival ✨

Songs from beyond: the guitar genius of John Duarte – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution A concert lecture by Francisco Correa explores John Duarte’s innovative jazz standard arrangements for classical guitar, highlighting his artistry and unique contributions to blending jazz and classical traditions. John William Duarte (1919–2004) was an English guitarist, composer, and educator. A trained chemist, he transitioned to music, gaining global recognition for his compositions, transcriptions, and teaching. He collaborated with legends like Segovia and John Williams, authored numerous articles, and inspired generations of musicians through summer schools, masterclasses, and groundbreaking works. Praised by Gramophone for his eloquence and by Soundboard Magazine for his beautiful and expressive playing, Colombian guitarist Francisco Correa has captivated audiences with his virtuosic and nuanced performances. In 2024, he was honoured as an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, London, in recognition of his significant contribution to the music profession.

Enjoy a night of guitar magic 🎸✨

Francisco Correa brings John Duarte to life in Songs from Beyond the Guitar Genius of John Duarte. Expect stunning arrangements, smooth classical vibes and jazz twists...

Fri 13 March 7.30 pm

Upcoming Talks, Exhibitions & Events – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution

🌻Coming up at Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution

From the Spring Open Art Exhibition (with New Bath Arts Club) to #Stonehenge, #Shakespeare, science, music, global economics & the #CuriousMindsFestival - it’s a month already packed with ideas.

www.brlsi.org/whats-on-eve...

Renaissance Maps: Myths & Memories – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution The American Museum & Gardens in Bath is home to a remarkable world-class collection of printed Renaissance maps. It was amassed by American Museum founder, Dallas Pratt, and includes rare and unique examples, rivalling those held by major libraries and museums around the world. Pratt began collecting printed maps of the world as a student and quickly developed a passion for acquiring examples that illustrated Europeans understanding of the world around them. Chief Curator, Kate Hebert, tells the story of the creation of this outstanding collection and shares some of the star pieces, exploring how they shaped our understanding of the world.

What if the world you knew was still being drawn for the first time? 🌍✨

Join Kate Hebert for Renaissance Maps Myths and Memories and explore the extraordinary collection at the #AmericanMuseum&Gardens.

Part of the Renaissance Journeys of Discovery series at #BRLSI

Sighting the sun – and moon? – at Stonehenge – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution The connection between Stonehenge and summer solstice sunrise is well known, but over-speculation, by both astronomers and archaeologists, concerning its use for observations of the sky have led many to steer well clear of the subject. This talk will describe what we can sensibly say about the relationship of Stonehenge to the sun, how this relates to more conventional archaeological evidence that has been uncovered in recent years, and what it might have meant to the people who built and used Stonehenge. But what about the moon? We have just passed a major lunar standstill, which occurs every 18.6 years when the moon can be seen at fortnightly intervals exceptionally far to the north and south. Was this - as some say - known to our prehistoric forebears and was it marked and celebrated, at Stonehenge and elsewhere? Professor Clive Ruggles will present the challenges in exploring these questions and what we can reasonably conclude about the cultural significance of the sun and moon to those who built and used Stonehenge.  As Emeritus Professor of Archaeoastronomy at the University of Leicester, Clive Ruggles has spent a lifetime investigating ancient people’s knowledge of the sky and the uses they make of what they perceive there. A lot of this involves studying the astronomical orientation of prehistoric monuments in Britain, Ireland and Europe — Stonehenge being a prime example. But Clive has also worked extensively on Hawaiian and Pacific star knowledge and in Peru, where in 2005 he co-discovered the 2200-year-old monumental solar observatory at Chankillo, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. In 2017 he was awarded the Royal Astronomical Society’s Agnes Mary Clerke Medal for a “lifetime of distinguished work in the overlapping areas of archaeology, astronomy and the history of science".

☀️🪨Why is summer solstice celebrated at Stonehenge?

Join Professor Clive Ruggles, Emeritus Professor of #Archaeoastronomy, as he explores the relationship of Stonehenge to the sun and moon🌙
🔗 www.brlsi.org/whatso...

#archaeology #astronomy #stonehenge #brlsi #bath #talks #science

🤖Join us at BRLSI on Saturday for Brilliantly Engineered 2026!

A free, fun festival for anyone interested in how things work.

📅 Open to all on Sat 28 Feb & Sun 1 March.
No ticket required – just come along!
www.brlsi.org/whatson/be20...
#brilliantlyengineered2026 #stem #engineering #creativity

🔬Microscopes play a vital role in disease diagnosis, so how can they be made more accessible for at-risk areas? 🦠

🔗 lhttps://www.brlsi.org/whatso...

Vietnam on the Big Screen with organiser of the BRLSI Military History programme, Joe Houlihan. – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution

Award-winning journalist and BRLSI Military History organiser Joe Houlihan explores how films like Apocalypse Now, Platoon and Full Metal Jacket reshaped Hollywood and America’s view of Vietnam in his new book, Vietnam on the Big Screen.
www.brlsi.org/vietnam-on-t...

What is evolutionary psychology? – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution Darwin’s theory of evolution transformed biology. It is now considered the foundation of all life sciences. However, its application to psychology has not been so universally accepted. This talk will explore why and consider whether psychology should be treated as a branch of the life sciences. Dr Ed Morrison, Senior Lecturer Portsmouth University

🧠 💌Could evolution explain your love life?

Join Dr Ed Morrison, Senior Lecturer at @portsmouthuni, as he explores how Darwin’s theory applies to human behavior.

🗓 Tue 3 March
🕢 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm GMT
www.brlsi.org/whatso...

#evolutionarypsychology #darwin #psychology

🤔 Ever wondered how the world’s quirkiest knight came to life?

📖 Join Jonathan Thacker, as he uncovers the challenges Cervantes faced while creating Spain’s most celebrated (& occasionally confused) hero, Don Quijote de la Mancha. Mon 2 March

www.brlsi.org/whatso...

📜 Fake news in 1655? Oliver Cromwell sent a fleet to the Americas. London pamphlets claimed victories that never happened...
🗓 23 Feb
🔗https://www.brlsi.org/whatson/fake-news-1655-fantasies-of-british-military-conquests-in-the-americas/

#history #olivercromwell #17thcentury #carlaardinapestana

🐞 Last few days to visit – we’re open this Saturday! 🐝

Entographica: Insect-inspired Art from The Entographic Collective
Open Mon-Sat 10am-4pm
Last day: Wed 25 February
🎟 Free entry

Delicate fabric flies, etched moths and other striking artworks celebrating the beauty and importance of insects.

Science in the Global Renaissance – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution Modern science is typically understood as a product of the European Renaissance, but this view is far too narrow. Other cultures across the world - from Ming China to Ottoman Egypt - also experienced ...

🌍✨ Science in the Global Renaissance ✨🌍
with Dr James Poskett

📅 Thu 19 February
In person or watch online tickets available

www.brlsi.org/whatson/scie...

Was the Renaissance and the birth of modern science really just a European story?

#Renaissance #HistoryOfScience #GlobalHistory #BRLSI

Serious Play: The Academies of Renaissance Italy – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution Was theatre in the Renaissance academy just a form of learned fun, or were more serious issues at stake?

🎭✨ Serious Play: The Academies of Renaissance Italy
with Lisa Sampson

This Evening – In Person or Online!

This talk examines how Italian academies used theatre and performance to shape social and political identity during the rise of commedia dell’arte

www.brlsi.org/whatson/seri...

🤖 Brilliantly Engineered 2026 opens Sat 28 Feb!

A free, hands-on festival for curious minds of all ages.
www.brlsi.org/whatso...
Plus: Share and Repair Bath’s Little Fixers workshop-explore how everyday items work & learn simple fixing skills.

Free to drop in
Sat 28 Feb & Sun 1 March.

Nearly four years on, is lasting peace in Ukraine possible?

Join Professors Rajan Menon and Paul D’Anieri (live from the United States) in conversation with Andreas Wasmuht, for a discussion on the ongoing war in Ukraine and the prospects for its resolution.

www.brlsi.org/whatso...

NeverEnding Stories – free children’s activities – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution Half term BRLSI February 2026

Neverending Stories starts today at 10am!
Half term Fun with Academy of Imagination at BRLSI 📚✨
Build mythical LEGO kingdoms, create stories, play word games, or find a cosy reading corner📖
www.brlsi.org/.../neverend...

💌 Our annual Valentine’s highlight: a heart-shaped #Micraster, a Cretaceous sea urchin from England. 🏛️Collected by William Lonsdale, in the 1820s, it reveals ancient seas 🌊 and echinoid evolution.

#fossils #valentine #love #brlsi #bath

What’s coming up in Feb–Mar 2026? Embroidery, microscopy, Renaissance maps, fake news in 1655, live German Lieder with Maria Danishvar & Nicholas Stuart, and ...Brilliantly Engineered 2026 - a free, hands-on #STEM festival for all ages. www.brlsi.org/whats-on/

So delighted to share such an enjoyable morning and lunch with #BRLSI members at the @rwabristol today and thanks to @ioneparkin for being such a great tour guide to #COSMOSTheArtofObservingSpace

🎶 The radical voice who inspired Dylan and Springsteen.

Join Dr Dave Merrick to explore the life and legacy of Woody Guthrie, with stories, rare recordings and live music from Clive Mills. 🎸

📅 Friday 13 February 2026, 7.30pm
Watch in person or online
www.brlsi.org/whatson/this...

📜Tonight! Helena Sanson, (Professor of #Italian, #History of #Linguistics and #Womensstudies at #UniversityofCambridge, will tell the stories of women and writing in early modern Italy. In person or online tickets available🌟
www.brlsi.org/whatso...

🔧✨ CURIOUS MINDS WANTED ✨🔧

👀 Exhibits, demos & interactive fun from:
#JamesDysonFoundation
@bathcollege.bsky.social @uniofbath.bsky.social
#Share&RepairBath #BMT & more.

📍 BRLSI
🗓 Sat 28 Feb & Sun 1 March 10am–4pm
🎟 No ticket needed just turn up!

#BrilliantlyEngineered #STEM

Giant wasp sculptures in a museum display.

Insects exhibition.

Arty insects in a display case.

Entographica exhibition poster in an a- board. Outside.

I love the giant wasps @brlsi.bsky.social 🐝🐝 Great exhibition.