Cockcroft Rutherford Lecture with Hon. Julia Gillard AC, 27th Prime Minister of Australia

12 Jun 2026

At this year’s annual Cockcroft Rutherford Lecture, Hon. Julia Gillard AC, Chair of Wellcome Trust and 27th Prime Minister of Australia, will address and consider what political division means for research leaders, universities and policymakers - and how we might strengthen society's commitment to evidence at a time of major global challenges.

Image of Julia next to the event title and date

The University’s Challenge Accepted campaign is centered around the ambition to confront the world’s most urgent social, environmental, and health challenges through the power of research, discovery and collaboration. This Cockcroft Rutherford Lecture will examine how political divisions influence science, how power and identity affect whose knowledge is heard, and why misinformation spreads so easily. Scientific discovery does not happen in a vacuum: it reflects the choices and values of its time. From the politics of pandemics to debates over gender, climate and AI, Julia will highlight how today's research unfolds within an increasingly polarised public sphere.

Registration: This year's lecture has been popular, and alumni tickets have now sold out. Staff places are allocated on a first come, first served basis, so please book early using the instructions on the PDF here to avoid disappointment.

The lecture will also be livestreamed for those unable to attend on the day. Please find the livestream link here.

Please direct any questions to alumnievents@manchester.ac.uk