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The Rustat Conferences



Overview

The Rustat Conferences are an initiative of Jesus College, Cambridge and provide an opportunity for decision-makers from the frontlines of politics, the civil service, business, the media, and education to exchange views on the vital issues of the day with leading academics. They were founded in 2009 by Jesus College, Cambridge where they are based.

In 2009-2011 the Rustat Conferences series will address the following themes: The Future of Democracy; Infrastructure and the Future of Society: Energy, Water, and Cities; Cyber-security; Pressures on Philanthropy; Food Security. The theme of the inaugural Rustat Conference in May 2009 was The Economic Crisis.

The Rustat Conferences format is a round-table discussion: academic speakers set the framework for each session by a brief exposition of points followed by a moderated discussion among all invited participants. The meetings are limited to fifty participants. The Rustat Conferences are directed by John Cornwell and chaired by the Master of Jesus College, Professor Robert Mair CBE FREng FRS.

In addition to acting as a forum for the exchange of views on a range of major and global concerns, the Rustat Conferences provide outreach to a wider professional, academic and student audience through the publication of reports of the meetings in a variety of media. If you are interested in participating in a Rustat Conference or would like to receive proceedings please contact us.

The conferences are held at Jesus College, Cambridge, one of the colleges of the University of Cambridge, and are named after Tobias Rustat (d.1694), an important benefactor of the college and the University. He is best remembered for creating the first fund for the purchase of books for the Cambridge University Library.


Upcoming Events

Infrastructure and the Future of Society - Energy, Water and Cities
10 June, 2010

Cyber-Security
28 September, 2010



Past Programme

The Future of Democracy
13 October 2009 Jesus College, Cambridge.
This Rustat Conference brought together some of the world's leading political theorists, historians and leaders from the worlds of politics, the media, industry and public sector to tackle the key issues at stake in the debate over the Future of Democracy.

The proceedings of this conference are published as a pdf here.

Videos of the conference sessions are available in the Media Resources section .

The proceedings are also available as an ebook by clicking on the title page below:

Future of Democracy - Proceedings of the second Rustat Conference
Future of Democracy - Proceedings of the second Rustat Conference



The Economic Crisis
9 May 2009 Jesus College, Cambridge
Leading academics from the fields of economics, politics, business and history discussed the key issues of the Economic Crisis with leaders from the worlds of politics, finance, industry, the public sector and the media.






Rustat Conferences Panel

Professor Robert Mair, FRS
Master, Jesus College, Cambridge
Professor Arnoud de Meyer
Director, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
Professor Lord Eatwell
President of Queens’ College, and Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
Professor Peter Nolan
Jesus College and Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
Professor Geoffrey Harcourt
Jesus College, Cambridge
Dr Shailaja Fennell
Jesus College and Development Studies, University of Cambridge
Professor Martin Daunton
Master of Trinity Hall and Professor of Economic History, University of Cambridge
Professor John Thompson
Department of Politics, University of Cambridge
Sir Samuel Brittan
Financial Times, and Honorary Fellow, Jesus College, Cambridge
Tomás Carruthers
CEO Interactive Investor International
Professor Barry Ryder
Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and Jesus College, Cambridge
Professor Andrew Gamble
Head of Department of Politics, University of Cambridge
John Cornwell
Director Rustat Conferences, Jesus College, Cambridge

Dr Christopher Catherwood and Prof Jean Seaton
The Future of Democracy Conference, October 2009
Matthew Taylor
Prof Ali Ansari
Matthew Taylor,CEO RSA, and Ali Ansari, Director of the Institute of Iranian Studies, St Andrews
Ed Husain
Dr John Jenkins, HM Ambassador to Iraq
Ed Husain, Director Quilliam Foundation and John Jenkins, HM Ambassador to Iraq
The Economic Crisis Conference
Lunchtime discussions in the Master's Lodge gardens

Prof Lord Eatwell
Patricia Hewitt MP
Economic Crisis Conference: Lord Eatwell, Professor of Financial Policy, Cambridge University and Patricia Hewitt MP
Sir Terry Leahy
Sir Samuel Brittan
Sir Terry Leahy, CEO Tesco, and Sir Samuel Brittan, Financial Times

David Runciman
George Brock
David Runciman, Senior Lecturer in Politics, Cambridge University and George Brock, Professor of Journalism, City University

Michael Banner
Veronique Mottier
Dr Michael Banner, Dean Trinity College, Cambridge and Prof Veronique Mottier, Jesus College, Cambridge
Peter Horrocks
Peter Nolan
Peter Horrocks, Director BBC World Service and Peter Nolan, Sinyi Professor of Chinese Management, Cambridge University