Science & Society: Who owns the future of science?
6:00pm - 7:00pm /
Thursday 26th February 2026
/ Venue: Victoria Gallery & Museum
- Amelia Dessington
- Suitable for: This event is open to everyone
- Admission: Free
- Event website
- Book now
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The Science & Society lecture series returns for 2026 with another exciting line up of speakers
Join us the first Science and Society lecture series of 2026, with John-Arne Røttingen MD PhD MSc MPA, Chief Executive Officer of Wellcome, UK.
Science is one of our most powerful tools to improve health, grow the economy and build a better future. But history tells us that science fails when it moves forward without society's support. In this lecture, John-Arne explores how in an age of mistrust, misinformation and geopolitical upheaval, how can we secure science for the next generation?
John-Arne has served as Ambassador for Global Health at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway, been Adjunct Scientific Director at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and Visiting Fellow of Practice at Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University.
He was the founding Chief Executive Officer of CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and has been the Chief Executive of the Research Council of Norway; Executive Director of Infection Control and Environmental Health at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health; Professor of Health Policy at the Department of Health Management and Health Economics, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo; and Adjunct Professor at the Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
He has been the founding Chief Executive of the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services; Oxford Scholar at Wadham College; Fulbright Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School; Chair of the Board of the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research; board member of Gavi, PATH, Medicines Patent Pool and GARDP; Chair of the Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development: Financing and Coordination (CEWG), WHO, co-chair of the steering group of the Future of the Global Health Initiatives, chair of the ACT-Accelerator Facilitation Council’s Financing and Resource Mobilization Working Group, and member of the G20 High Level Independent Panel on Financing the Global Commons for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
He is member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and international member of the US National Academy of Medicine. He received his MD and PhD from the University of Oslo, an MSc from Oxford University and an MPA from Harvard University and was awarded H.M. the King’s Gold Medal for his doctoral dissertation.
Following the lecture there will be a drinks reception for all.
Join us the first Science and Society lecture series of 2026, with John-Arne Røttingen MD PhD MSc MPA, Chief Executive Officer of Wellcome, UK.
Science is one of our most powerful tools to improve health, grow the economy and build a better future. But history tells us that science fails when it moves forward without society's support. In this lecture, John-Arne explores how in an age of mistrust, misinformation and geopolitical upheaval, how can we secure science for the next generation?
John-Arne has served as Ambassador for Global Health at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway, been Adjunct Scientific Director at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and Visiting Fellow of Practice at Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University.
He was the founding Chief Executive Officer of CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and has been the Chief Executive of the Research Council of Norway; Executive Director of Infection Control and Environmental Health at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health; Professor of Health Policy at the Department of Health Management and Health Economics, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo; and Adjunct Professor at the Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
He has been the founding Chief Executive of the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services; Oxford Scholar at Wadham College; Fulbright Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School; Chair of the Board of the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research; board member of Gavi, PATH, Medicines Patent Pool and GARDP; Chair of the Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development: Financing and Coordination (CEWG), WHO, co-chair of the steering group of the Future of the Global Health Initiatives, chair of the ACT-Accelerator Facilitation Council’s Financing and Resource Mobilization Working Group, and member of the G20 High Level Independent Panel on Financing the Global Commons for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
He is member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and international member of the US National Academy of Medicine. He received his MD and PhD from the University of Oslo, an MSc from Oxford University and an MPA from Harvard University and was awarded H.M. the King’s Gold Medal for his doctoral dissertation.
Following the lecture there will be a drinks reception for all.