You can watch all the talks and discussions from the first St Davids Festival of Ideas here. If you are interested in being kept up to date with developments and to be the first to hear of next year’s Festival, please let us know here.
Welcome to the Festival by the Dean of St Davids Cathedral followed by Self Sustaining Communities — the work of Solva Care
Mollie Roach, Chair of Solva Care and Sue Denman, Together for Change lead.
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A Radical Defence of the Human Being
Writer, journalist and author of Clear Bright Future – A Radical Defence of the Human Being, Paul will discuss his latest book in conversation with political editor-at-large at the Western Mail, Martin Shipton
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Seven Revolutions and the Challenge of Climate Change
Professor Emeritus of plant biology and bioscience at Bangor University, Gareth Wyn Jones, discusses Seven Revolutions and the Challenge of Climate Change. Introduced by John Osmond, co-founder of the St Davids Festival of Ideas
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The Future of Farming
Dr. Sarah Beynon discusses The Future of Farming. She is an entomologist, ecologist and presenter in the UK, as well as a senior research associate at the University of Oxford and is founder of St Davids The Bug Farm. Introduced by Ifor Thomas, co founder of the St Davids Festival of Ideas.
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Mental Health in Rural communities
A discussion on the challenge of mental health in rural communities between Eluned Morgan, Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and Welsh Language in the Welsh Government, Jerome Flynn, actor and singer, Teddy Woolnough and Dean of St Davids, Sarah Rowland-Jones
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Small steps in minute cities: tiny actions that can change the world
Founder of TYF Group, Andy is a pioneering social entrepreneur. He will discuss Small Steps in Minute Cities – Tiny Actions that can Change the World with Hunter Lovins, author and champion of sustainable development and Michelle Holliday, consultant, facilitator, author and researcher whose work centres around “thrivability.” Introduced by Ifor Thomas, co-founder of the St Davids Festival of Ideas.
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The Strength of Spirituality/Willing Wellbeing
Poetry, language, spirituality and wellbeing merge together in this discussion between Eisteddfod-chaired poet, Mererid Hopwood and Dean of St Davids, Sarah Rowland-Jones. Introduced by Amanda Stone, co-organiser of the St Davids Festival of Ideas.
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The future of the United Kingdom
With the future of the UK becoming a top political issue, author and journalist Sir Simon Jenkins hosts a fascinating discussion between three senior Welsh politicians, David Melding from the Welsh Conservatives, Alun Davies from Welsh Labour and Adam Price, Leader of Plaid Cymru.
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Psychogeography, Wales and Preseli
Poet, writer and founder of the Real Wales series of books, Peter Finch, in dialogue with his old friend John Osmond, co-founder of the St Davids Festival of Ideas. A beautiful and lyrical end to our Festival.
Followed by the close of the Festival by Eluned Morgan