Join some of the world’s leading thinkers at The Polymath Festival

Waqas Ahmed, a Visiting Fellow working with OUBS’ Executive Education, is the founder of the DaVinci Network and the organiser of The Polymath Festival. The OU is the headline sponsor for this two-week multi-session virtual experience which starts on Monday 1 February, aimed at those interested in the future of education, the future of work and in lifelong learning.

A polymath is an individual whose knowledge spans a substantial number of subjects and this is described as ‘the world’s first major festival of ideas dedicated to celebrating many-sided human potential and exploring interdisciplinary solutions to complex world problems’.

More than 60 of the world’s leading thinkers and polymaths will be involved in live streamed events, pre-recorded content and exclusive podcasts which will be premiered at different points during the two-week programme. These include an exclusive podcast with linguist, political scientist and activist Professor Noam Chomsky; a podcast with Heston Blumenthal, celebrity chef and Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry; and a live interview on the perils of silo culture in business with Dr Gillian Tett, Chair of the FT Editorial Board.

Emeritus Professor Peter Taylor, a former Director of the OU’s Open Degree Programme, will open the festival about how the OU has been producing polymaths for 50 years, sharing our proud history of supporting and promoting interdisciplinary study. Director of Executive Education Liz Moody and Waqas are the closing act, discussing the festival highlights and how themes relate to the world of work, business and the development of tomorrow’s leaders and managers.

Waqas was the author of an acclaimed book in 2019, The Polymath (published by Wiley), which sets out how multidisciplinary thinking has always defined the highest performers in world history, and how it is now desperately needed to address the complexity of 21^st century challenges.

Festival partners include the Victoria & Albert Museum, the RSA (The Royal Society for arts, manufactures and commerce) and The Royal Institution. Please visit The DaVinci Network website for more details and ticket information. All 40 sessions will be accessible for three months afterwards on the festival homepage to watch and listen at your convenience.