Researchers from Northumbria University are helping to celebrate 200 years since the opening of a Newcastle building that has witnessed extraordinary scientific displays, lectures and discussions – including Sir Joseph Swan’s demonstration of the incandescent light bulb in 1880.
July 2025 marks the bicentenary of the opening of Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society’s home on Westgate Road in the city. The historic library building, known as the Lit & Phil, is now integral to Newcastle’s cultural and creative heritage and will play host to a series of free public lectures by today’s scientists, exploring enduring themes.
Subjects of 19th century lectures that took place at the Lit & Phil include The Arctic Regions, Recent Astronomical Discoveries, The Curiosities of Natural History, and Changes in the Appearance of the Planet Saturn. These topics, and many more, will now be revisited for a contemporary audience by Northumbria University experts, who will share their latest research insights.
Organised by Professor Martyn Amos from Northumbria University’s Department of Computer and Information Sciences, the Inspired
By series is the latest programme of public talks involving Northumbria
speakers at the Lit & Phil. Professor Amos also organises the NU Ideas series, which is still running.
“It’s fantastic that we’ve been able to curate open and accessible lectures to provide a link between past and present and bring the latest knowledge to audiences on areas of research that have always fascinated the public,” he explained.
Inspired by is made up of 11 events, running throughout 2025. The series got under way on 27 January with a talk by polar scientist, Dr Sammie Buzzard, covering the past 200 years of advances in polar research.
Dr Buzzard, who is part of the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling based within the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Northumbria University, said: “It was a privilege to be part of the Inspired by lecture series to celebrate this 200 year milestone in the history of such an important North East institution and to have the opportunity to show the audience how far my own discipline of polar science has come during this time.”
Kay Easson, Head Librarian at the Lit & Phil added: “The appetite for lectures continues to this day and this new series is part of bicentenary celebrations planned to continue throughout the year. Although the texts of most of the original lectures haven’t survived, we do have the original titles, so it’s exciting to see them reimagined by everyone involved at Northumbria University and brought to life for audiences today.”
The Inspired by lecture series includes:
17 February
25 March
17 April
27 May
30 June
24 July
24 September
23 October
17 November
9 December
Directions to the Lit and Phil can be found here and tickets to each event can be booked online.
Northumbria’s Solar and Space researchers work to understand the physics of the Sun and all aspects of the solar-terrestrial connection to improve space weather forecasting.
Northumbria's academics are studying the future of ice sheets and glaciers worldwide in a warming world. This involves understanding the causes of ongoing changes in Antarctica, Greenland and alpine areas, as well as assessing future changes and resulting impacts on human environments globally.
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Our academics working in microbial biotechnology explore and exploit microbial systems to develop transformative solutions for a more economically and environmentally sustainable society.
Our energy materials and systems research uses fundamental physics, chemistry and engineering to develop new ways to generate and store renewable energy - to help deliver a cleaner and greener future.
The Cultural and Creative Industries are among the fastest growing and most innovative sectors in the UK. Our research in this area focuses on the opportunities and challenges this creates for education and skills, health and wellbeing, the environment, civic identity and pride in place.
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