Anderson Lecture

Upcoming Events

Anderson Lecture Series: Francis Su
- Swasey Chapel - 1st Floor
The Anderson Lecture Series welcomes Francis Su.
Here are just a few notable speakers from past years:
  • Elizabeth Loftus, expert on the psychology of memory and eyewitness testimony from the University of California, Irvine
  • Peter Schultz, chemist & biomedicine scientist at the Scripps Research Institute
  • Tyrone B. Hayes, endocrinologist, National Geographic Society Explorer, and activist for environmental health from U.C. Berkeley
  • Steven Strogatz, math scholar & New York Times online columnist
  • Andrew Knoll, Harvard naturalist & author of “Life on a Young Planet: The First Three Billion Years of Evolution on Earth”
  • Steve Squyres, astronomer & recipient of the Carl Sagan Memorial Award

About the Series

Anderson Lecture

The Reid & Polly Anderson Lecture Series is an annual convocation featuring a top scientist in their field. The Andersons hoped that the speaker could reach a general audience, but the Anderson Lecture is regarded as the college’s major science lecture of the year and is meant for a broad science audience. The Anderson Lectureship rotates among departments within the Science Division.

Typically the Anderson Lecturer is on campus for 1-2 days, attends a pre-lecture dinner in his/her honor, gives the Anderson Lecture, and visits with a few classes or student groups as coordinated by the host department.

Lecture Schedule

  • 2024-2025: Mathematics
  • 2025-2026: Chemistry & Biochemistry
  • 2026-2027: Computer Science
  • 2027-2028: Biology
  • 2028-2029: Earth & Environmental Sciences
  • 2029-2030: Physics & Astronomy
  • 2030-2031: Psychology

Get In Touch

Series Archives

2023 - 2024

Anderson Lecture Series: Shinobu Kitayama

The Anderson Lecture Series welcomes Shinobu Kitayama for his lecture, "Exploring Beyond East and West."

2022 - 2023

Anderson Science Lecture: 'Knocking on Heaven’s Door'

The Anderson Lecture Series welcomes Lisa Randall presenting "Knocking on Heaven’s Door."

2021 - 2022

Katharine Hayhoe
'The Challenge of Stationarity in Quantifying Future Climate Impacts'

The Anderson Lecture Series welcomes Katharine Hayhoe presenting a lecture.

2019 - 2020

Elaine Hsiao
'Minding our microbial symbionts: interactions between the microbiome and nervous system in health and disease'

The Anderson Lecture Series welcomes Elaine Hsiao presenting a lecture.

2018 - 2019

Maria Klawe, president of Harvey Mudd
‘Broadening the Computer Science Community’

The Anderson Lecture series welcomes Maria Klawe, the president of Harvey Mudd College presenting "Broadening the Computer Science Community"

Anderson Lecture: ‘Where in the World Will Our Energy Come From?’

The Anderson Lecture Series welcomes Professor Nathan S. Lewis presenting, "Where in the World Will Our Energy Come From?"

2016 - 2017

Mahzarin Banaji
Anderson Lecture: Harvard psychologist Mahzarin Banaji

Mahzarin Banaji, co-author of "Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People," discusses her research on hidden biases in society.

2015 - 2016

‘Time, Einstein and the Coolest Stuff in the Universe’

Nobel Laureate William Phillips presents "Time, Einstein and the Coolest Stuff in the Universe"

2014 - 2015

Marcia McNutt, Editor-in-Chief of 'Science'

The Anderson Lecture Series welcomes Marcia McNutt, current Editor-in-Chief of "Science" journal.

2013 - 2014

Photo of biologist Tyrone B. Hayes
Emerging Explorer

The Anderson Lecture Series welcomes biologist Tyrone B. Hayes.

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