Science, Imagination and Wonder: The Ordered Universe Host International Conference at Pembroke College

Speakers and delegates from across the world visited Pembroke between 3rd – 6th April 2018 for the Ordered Universe Conference, ‘Science, Imagination and Wonder: Robert Grosseteste and his Legacy’.

The Ordered Universe is a research collaboration based at the Universities of Oxford and Durham dedicated to fresh and original examinations of medieval science, with a focus on interdisciplinary readings of the scientific works of the remarkable English thinker Robert Grosseteste (c.1170-1253).

The project started in 2010 and has since expanded through collaborative reading symposia (twenty so far) which are the life-blood of the project; occasions where diverse disciplinary perspectives focus on Grosseteste’s work.

At the conference, across nine sessions, delegates heard from speakers from the UK, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Australia. Keynote speakers covered areas of science, medieval studies and theology and formed the core of the conference. These speakers included Professor Jim Al-Khalili (University of Surrey), Professor Simon Oliver (Durham University) and Professor Suzanne Akbari (University of Toronto). The talks were accompanied by sessions that linked the broad interests of participants; ranging from Aristotle to contemporary glass making.  To browse the full programme visit their website.

Pembroke Stipendiary Lecturer in Psychology and conference co-organiser, Dr Rebekah White commented on the diversity of subjects covered:

‘Over four days, we marvelled at the breadth of Grosseteste's impact on topics as diverse as Reports of Medieval Comet Sightings, Rainbows, Canon Law, Glass and Sculpture, Photography, and Approaches to Teaching. I think it is fair to say that the Conference exceeded the expectations of its organisers! Our keynote speakers and conference delegates embraced our interdisciplinary vision, and made it a week that was replete with stimulation, learning, enthusiasm, passion, and collegiality.’

‘Light Embodied’ an exhibition of glass and ceramic work by artists from the National Glass Centre at the University of Sunderland ran alongside the conference. The work stemmed from a collaboration with the Ordered Universe Project which enabled artists to engage with and respond to Grosseteste’s writings on light and colour. Many of the exhibiting artists delivered papers at the exhibition, elaborating further on their practice.

The exhibition will be open to the public throughout Trinity term in the JCR Art Gallery on Wednesdays and Fridays 12-2pm, 25th April – 13th June. More information can be found on their website.