Sir Patrick Geddes Commemorative Lecture

05-Mar-08

The Sir Patrick Geddes Commemorative Lecture is held annually by RTPI in Scotland and the Saltire Society. Geddes is widely regarded as the founder of modern town planning. Born in 1854, his interest in the natural sciences led him to a professorship in botany at the University of Dundee, after which he developed his interest in sociology and town planning.

He lived most of his life in Edinburgh during which he established the Edinburgh Social Union; promoted a wide range of sympathetic redevelopment and conservation schemes the length of the Royal Mile, largely for university residential accommodation; founded a publishing company; founded the Franco-Scottish Society; became a major sponsor of the arts; developed summer schools; promoted international festivals; published seminal texts such as Cities in Evolution. He also spent time in India as Chair in Sociology at Bombay University and planned the Hebrew University at Jerusalem.

He finally retired to France where he founded the College des Ecossais in Montpellier. He was knighted in the year of his death in 1932.

The first lecture was held in 2004 to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Geddes' birth.

2008 lecture

The fifth annual Sir Patrick Geddes Commemorative Lecture 2008 will be given by Dr Harry Burns, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland on Wednesday 4th June 2008 at 17.45pm at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, George Street, Edinburgh.

Dr Burns’ lecture is titled The Biological Consequences of Living in Adverse Circumstances. For booking and further information view here.