An audience listens to a speaker at a David Elder lecture in the Planetarium

David Elder Lectures

Glasgow Science Centre is proud to host the David Elder Lectures in partnership with the University of Strathclyde's Department of Physics. The David Elder lecture series presents a line-up of fascinating talks by expert astronomers, spaceflight pioneers, award-winning science writers and broadcasters. This lecture series continues the tradition of monthly astronomy lectures in Glasgow which began with the first David Elder Lecture in 1905!

This regular monthly programme of talks in The Planetarium runs over the winter months each year. Each lecture lasts approx. 1 hour and is best suited to older teenagers (aged 16 years+) and adults.

  • Month: Monthly from September to March
  • Time: 19:00 GMT
  • Duration: 1 hour

2025-26 Lecture Series

Tickets for the first three lectures in the 2025-26 series are now on sale. The first speakers are confirmed as follows:

 

Dr. Christopher Berry, University of Glasgow

Celebrating 10 years of discovery with gravitational waves

Wednesday, 17 September 2025

More Info & Tickets

 


Prof. Moira Jardine, University of St Andrews

Growing up in a rowdy household: a star’s role in shaping the lives of its exoplanets

Wednesday, 29 October 2025

More Info & Tickets

 


Dr. Jinglang Feng, University of Strathclyde

Asteroids: from scientific exploration to planetary defence

Wednesday, 26 November 2025

More Info & Tickets

 


Please note that our summer event, The Science of Star Trek with Dr. Erin Macdonald, is now fully SOLD OUT and no further tickets are available.

 


The University of Strathclyde - Department of Physics

 

 

 

Past lectures

Explore previous talks and speakers

Learn more

The David Elder Memorial Bequest

Read about the 'father of marine engineering on the Clyde'

Learn more

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