About the Sustainability Salons
Historical salons
In the 1600s, those in unique positions in society in Italy and France who were friends with the rich, the influential, the philosophers, artists, personalities, aristocracy, governments, and scientists realised that the intelligentsia in their world needed the opportunity to mix, influence, and share ideas with each other. The best way they could do this was as hosts, tailoring guest lists to include those with challenging opinions and ideas and inspiring a great exchange of knowledge and creating a relaxed atmosphere of openness and learning. This tradition lasted hundreds of years throughout Europe and helped create the Age of Enlightenment and modern thinking.
The hosts of salons were women like Sophie de Condorcet, a salonnière who hosted our own Adam Smith in the late 1700s. With the mostly male equivalent being cercles and cafes which were more exclusively for certain social levels and excluded women generally, salons grew into places where social hierarchy, gender, and origin were not barriers to learning and expressing views and ideas.
Salons at the University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow in the modern world holds a unique position too, being a hub of research and original ideas, and can host other thinkers in industry, government, social enterprise and community leaders. We strive to be inclusive and bring together relevant, knowledgeable people, with diverse backgrounds, professions, and opinions in order to generate open conversation on topics we feel need to be addressed. We intend to build conversations into relationships and actions to help address the issues facing society today.
These are our Sustainability Salons, themed on pertinent topics and peopled by invited academics, industrial, third sector, and government representatives. Kept relatively small and informal, the purpose is to have attendees exchange ideas, viewpoints, and experience and begin partnerships which could lead to positive change.
Join the conversation
If you would like to attend future Sustainability Salons, please register your interest. We look forward to welcoming you.
Back to the Sustainability Salons home page.