Series 1 Episode 6 – Fostering good debate
The first event to be funded by the University’s Scotland’s Future Series brought staff, students and members of the wider community together to discuss how we can listen better and debate more collaboratively.
Organised by the RSE Young Academy of Scotland (YAS) and the University’s Ethics Cup team, the event in Lower College Hall on Wednesday 1 June focussed on the importance of responsible debate in an increasingly polarised world.
At the event, Dr Alice König, Senior Lecturer in the School of Classics and YAS member, introduced the YAS Charter for Responsible Debate before handing over to panel chair Ben Sachs, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy and organiser of the Ethics Cup.
Dundee West MP and St Andrews alumnus Chris Law, the University’s Head of Mediation and Wellbeing, Ruth Unsworth, Professor Stephen Gethins from the School of International Relations, and YAS member and Senior Associate of the Consultation Institute, Peter McColl, responded to a series of questions from the chair and the floor, with each speaking from their own experiences of being involved in public debate or in situations requiring negotiation. Read the full event report and watch a recording of the event on the University news web pages.
Pictured (from left) are Dundee West MP and St Andrews alumnus Chris Law; the University’s Head of Mediation and Wellbeing, Ruth Unsworth; Scotland’s Future Series host, Professor Stephen Gethins from the School of International Relations and host of the Scotland’s Future Series podcasts; YAS member and Senior Associate of the Consultation Institute, Peter McColl; and Panel Chair Ben Sachs, Senior lecturer in Philosophy and organiser of the Ethics Cup.
Part of the event is available as a podcast and a video on YouTube.