Happy 2022 to you and welcome if you are a new subscriber to this newsletter. This week we have news about an upcoming event with the Pari Center entitled The Future Scientist, news about the replenishment of stocks for The Matter with Things, as well as some exciting new additions for members of Channel McGilchrist we would like to share with you.
Pari Center Event: The Future Scientist – A Conversation Series
Wednesday 19th January 2022 via Zoom
5pm GMT
A Conversation between Dr. Iain McGilchrist and Dr. Àlex Gómez-Marín
Science as we know it is a relatively recent human invention.
After the ‘scientific revolution’ of the seventeenth century, science and philosophy remained entangled as ‘natural philosophy’ until they started to separate in the nineteenth century (the very word ‘scientist’ was coined in 1834). Subsequently, science morphed from an activity carried out by wealthy people as a hobby (the ‘amateur,’ in the etymological sense of the word) into a paid job within an institutionalized system (the ‘professional’). Paradoxically or not, great ideas come more easily from people who are not paid to have them—it’s like forcing someone to be free, or compelling creativity by an act of will.
In the last decades, a series of technological and societal changes have further accelerated mutations of what it means to be a scientist; from the selection forces cast by neoliberalism on ‘scientific careers,’ to the kind of ‘science in the age of selfies’ that social media promotes. Scientists too are prey to the perverse dynamics of nowadays ‘attention economy’. To understand what scientists do and why they do it, one must also understand the political and social contexts in which they live. To read more and to register for this event click here.
The Matter with Things – stocks replenishing soon!
We have been (delightfully!) swept off our feet with the demand for The Matter with Things hardback, so much so, that we couldn’t get enough reprinted in time before stocks ran out. A new batch will be arriving around mid to late January. Thank you for all your support – and patience. You can still order through Channel McGilchrist if you are in the UK and your order will be fulfilled as soon as stocks are replenished.
Becoming a Member of Channel McGilchrist
This year we are launching two exciting new benefits for members of Channel McGilchrist as well as having recently introduced two additional membership options; Concession and Patron, which you can also see here.
When you become a member, you will benefit from the following, all of which are exclusive to members of Channel McGilchrist and not available elsewhere:
- discussions about Iain’s new book The Matter With Things;
- recordings of Iain reading from The Matter with Things;
- exclusive access to new live online Q & As with Iain (quarterly);
- discount on new live online events hosted by Channel McGilchrist;
- interviews not available elsewhere;
- exclusive lectures;
- a community discussion forum;
- articles written by Iain;
- unseen film footage from The Divided Brain and other documentaries;
- the chance to join a community and engage with other enthusiasts of Iain McGilchrist’s work.
If you would like to find out more about becoming a member click here.
Member’s First Live Q&A with Iain on 3rd February 2022, 6.00 – 7.30pm (UK time)
We are pleased to be launching our first live Q&A via Zoom with Iain on Thursday 3rd Feb 2022 which is open to members only. Members of the Channel will be able to submit their questions through the ‘Ask Iain’ form in the membership area or put a question to Iain in the chat during the session. Please be aware that it will not be possible to answer all questions. We will provide members with a Zoom link closer to the time. If you would like to find out more about becoming a member click here.
Thank you for reading,
The Team at Channel McGilchrist