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The University of Southampton
Sustainability Action

Environmental Sciences Soapbox Event

Time:
13:00 - 13:45
Date:
16 October 2013
Venue:
Building 7, Lecture Theatre A

For more information regarding this event, please email Prof. Ian Williams at idw@soton.ac.uk .

Event details

Long before television and Internet blogs, people used to engage in debate by speaking out in public places. A soapbox is an elevated platform on which a person stands to make a spontaneous speech, often on a controversial subject. The term originates from the days when speakers would raise themselves into public view by standing on a wooden crate originally used for shipment of soap (or other dry goods) from a manufacturer to a retail store. Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park (London) is still a famous location for unofficial public speaking, particularly on Sundays.

This is the launch of the "Environmental Sciences Soapbox" in the Centre for Environmental Sciences Research Seminar Series. Speakers will be invited to stand on a (real) soapbox to give a 5 minute speech on an environmental subject of their choice. The floor will then be opened to the public for 5 minutes of questions followed by a vote on the subject. We aim to get through 4-5 speakers in a session. 

Topical environmental subjects include the IPCC report, the badger cull in England, "wicked" opponents of GM rice, environmental threats from waste crime, energy bills and "wind farm gravy trains". 

If you wish  to "get on your soapbox" on Wednesday, please send Ian Williams (idw@soton.ac.uk) a title for your speech and be ready to be called on Wednesday! Don't be shy!

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