Dr Fiona Cuthill, Edinburgh University, considers the ways that people seeking asylum in the UK can either survive and thrive, or end up living in destitution. The UK has a proud history of supporting human rights but cracks remain.

Prof Janice McLaughlin, Newcastle University discusses ongoing work with young people, exploring what they think citizenship means and whether they consider themselves to be citizens.

In his talk, Prof Julian Elliott, Durham University, will outline the conclusions from his book The Dyslexia Debate. Describing the sometimes outraged responses to this work, he will consider why the dyslexia label evokes powerful emotions.

Monsters reflect the cultural anxieties of their times, raising important questions about what is most fearful to us. Alison Younger, Sunderland University, argues that while they must be tamed or annihilated, they are essential to society’s well-being.

Richard Thompson, Newcastle University, explores how important decisions about our health are shared between patients & clinicians, analysing evidence on the benefits from a range of areas & draws upon local work on implementing shared decision making.

Peter Stark, one of the authors of the RoCC report on London's dominance of arts funding, reflects on the report's evidence and how to address the mismatch in funding between London and the rest of England.

Dr Richard Stephens, Keele University, researches the psychobiology of swearing and specifically why people swear in response to pain. His writing on this matter has reached a large audience comprising national and international media coverage.

Everyone believes the value of ‘justice’ but we often disagree about what makes a community just or unjust. Derek Bell, Newcastle University will consider whether the social, environmental and political inequalities that we find in Newcastle are unjust.

Following a Laing Art Gallery show this summer, artist Lyn Hagan discusses a variety of cultural genres she has used to portray the human side of death row. Lyn talks about her friendship with Tony, a prisoner facing the death sentence.

Mike Jenkins is puzzled by people who persist with ideas that are shown by experience to be flawed. He will look at economic boom and bust; apocalyptic prophecy from revelation to eco-catastrophe; religious and atheistic fundamentalism.