Open conversations across arts, sciences and society
The Glasgow Open Salon for Arts and Sciences (GOSAS) is a series of open, informal gatherings that bring together University of Glasgow staff and students with members of the public to explore major social challenges. Inspired by the tradition of salons during the Scottish Enlightenment, GOSAS creates welcoming spaces for interdisciplinary conversation, curiosity, and exchange across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and STEM disciplines.
Upcoming events
We will post details of our next salons here. To hear about them first, email gosas@glasgow.ac.uk to join our mailing list or our Teams community.
Past events
Research culture and sector uncertainty: Perspectives across arts and sciences
Tuesday 28 July 2026, 12:30–2pm | Clarice Pears Building, Room 102
Financial and other uncertainty in higher education affects more than budgets. It changes how we work together, how much we value risk and creativity, and how colleagues at every career stage experience their work. Colleagues from different job families and from across the arts and sciences discussed how a growing focus on metrics affects their work, and what would give researchers the confidence to take intellectual risks.
Why Can't We Agree on Anything Anymore? Polarisation and hot politics (with Glasgow Skeptics)
Tuesday 21 July 2026, 7–9pm | Civic House, 26 Civic Street, Glasgow G4 9SH
Our first evening salon, co-hosted with Glasgow Skeptics, asked whether we are really as divided as we feel. A short talk from Fred Paxton set out different kinds of polarisation, and explained how "hot politics" around a few trigger issues fuels outrage and division. In table discussions, participants then proposed changes that politics, social media companies and each of us in our personal lives could make to reduce polarisation.
Are we taking enough risks? (at the Glasgow Crucible Seed Fund Showcase 2026)
Monday 15 June 2026, 1:25–2:15pm
We ran this salon as an interactive session for colleagues at the Glasgow Crucible Seed Fund Showcase. It started with an icebreaker: participants described a risk they had taken in their academic or professional life, and said what "risk" in research or work means to them. Small groups, across STEM and SHAPE disciplines, then held two rounds of discussion on one of three themes: study and careers, planning and discovery and blue-sky and applied research.
What is the future role of the university in society? Perspectives across arts and sciences
Wednesday 20 May 2026, 12:30–2pm | James McCune Smith Learning Hub, Room 639
In the University's 575th year, participants started with "speed dating" conversations across disciplines. They then discussed tensions in what universities are for: curiosity versus relevance, safe versus disruptive spaces, and academic enquiry versus ethics. Groups ended by sketching a shared vision for the university's future. Common ideas were more space for conversation across disciplines, a more open and public-facing university, and accountability to local communities.
The joy of research in the modern era
Wednesday 1 April 2026, 12:30–2pm | Clarice Pears Building, Room 103A
Participants reflected on why we enjoy research and on how changes in academic life affect that enjoyment. They discussed the pressures of the academic and social environment, remote versus on-site working, and how AI tools have changed our relationship to our work.
Bringing STEM and SHAPE together: Discussion salons for 21st century challenges
Thursday 22 January 2026, 1–3pm | ARC, Room 237B
Our launch salon combined informal conversations with Anna McGregor, Nai Rui Chng, Kat Fradera and Sarah Gambell with table discussions on curiosity and on global challenges that need collaboration across SHAPE and STEM. Participants also helped design future salons.
GOSAS leadership team
Background
During the Scottish Enlightenment, scholars, artists and scientists regularly gathered in informal salons to discuss ideas across disciplinary boundaries. These conversations played a key role in fostering intellectual exchange and innovation.
GOSAS draws inspiration from this tradition, while critically reimagining it for the challenges of the 21st century, by creating open and inclusive spaces for dialogue across disciplines and beyond the university.
The project is led by an interdisciplinary team whose expertise spans the health and life sciences, mathematics and computing, and the social sciences, reflecting the breadth of perspectives that the Open Salons seek to bring into conversation.
Why Open Salons?
Many of today’s most pressing challenges — from health inequalities and environmental sustainability to political polarisation and disruptive technologies — cannot be understood or addressed from a single disciplinary perspective.
GOSAS responds to this by creating open and informal spaces that encourage dialogue across SHAPE and STEM discipline and welcome participation beyond the university.
By foregrounding conversation, curiosity and community, Open Salons offer a different way of engaging with complex social questions. They are designed to support experimentation, learning and connection in ways that formal academic settings often cannot.
Who is GOSAS for?
GOSAS events are open to all:
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University of Glasgow staff and students, across all disciplines and career stages
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members of the public with an interest in social issues and ideas
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community organisations, creatives and practitioners
No specialist knowledge is required — only curiosity and a willingness to engage in conversation.