Inaugural lectures

All new professors are given the opportunity to give an inaugural lecture.

The series provides an opportunity to celebrate these achievements with each lecture representing a significant milestone in an academic's career.

Lectures are open to all University staff and students as well as to members of the public. Please see below for upcoming lectures. All lectures will be livestreamed and links will be added closer to each event.

Forthcoming lectures

Oct 8

The leaders we need: Quiet influence and reflection in uncertain times

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Professor Baxter’s inaugural lecture will examine the powerful yet often unseen ways organisational and sociological cultures shape learning, leadership, meaning and occupational identity in today’s workplaces.

Previous lectures

Les Budd

From Urbanite to Astronaut: The Territorial Economics of Space

The Open University hosted Leslie Budd’s inaugural lecture on 10 May 2022.

11th May 2022
Sarah Crafter

Children of migration as brokers of 'care'

The Open University hosted Sarah Crafter’s inaugural lecture on 30 November 2021.

30th November 2021
Stephen Lewis

Dynamic climates: what can other planets tell us about the Earth?

The Open University opened its doors to welcome visitors to Stephen Lewis’ inaugural lecture on 9 November to mark the first 2021-22 lecture.

10th November 2021
David Rothery and Carole Haswell

Discovering new planets

Professor David Rothery and Professor Carole Haswell, delivered a joint inaugural lecture event on the theme of Discovering new planets.

14th November 2019
Paul Lawrence

What’s the point of criminal justice history?

As The Open University celebrates its 50th anniversary, Paul Lawrence, Asa Briggs Professor of History, delivered his inaugural lecture on how a historical approach to criminal justice contributes to contemporary understandings of crime and justice.

15th October 2019
Gordon Liu

Cause-related marketing

As The Open University celebrates its 50th anniversary, Gordon Liu, Professor of Marketing Strategy, delivered his inaugural lecture on how effective corporate social responsibility strategies enhance a firm’s reputation with its key stakeholders.

9th September 2019
Mark Brandon

The polar oceans and global climate

As The Open University celebrates its 50th anniversary, Mark Brandon, Professor in Polar Oceanography, delivered his inaugural lecture on the polar oceans and global climate and looked ahead to what could happen during the next 50 years.

15th July 2019
Peter Twining giving his lecture

If school is the problem, what is the solution?

As The Open University celebrates its 50th anniversary, Peter Twining, Professor of Education (Futures), delivered his inaugural lecture on what the future holds for schools.

25th June 2019
Theo Papaioannou

The idea of social justice in innovation

As The Open University celebrates its 50th anniversary, Theo Papaioannou, Professor of Politics, Innovation and Development, delivered his inaugural lecture to explore the idea of social justice in innovation.

5th June 2019
Jo Phoenix

Youth crime and justice: Does age matter?

As The Open University celebrates its 50th anniversary, Jo Phoenix, Professor of Criminology, delivered her inaugural lecture on youth crime and justice.

21st May 2019
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