Ed Conway | Material World: A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future

Sat 26 Apr 2025 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Ed Conway
Ed Conway book

Join Ed Conway for an eye-opening journey through the history of human civilization, told from the ground up. In his compelling new book, Conway explores the tiny but powerful materials that have shaped empires, demolished civilizations, and fuelled both our greed and ingenuity for thousands of years. From salt and iron to oil, sand, and lithium, the struggle for these essential resources has never ceased—and it’s only intensifying.

Contrary to the common belief that we now live in a “weightless world” of information, Conway reveals that in 2017, we extracted more materials from the earth than in all human history before 1950. As our demand for resources grows, so does the environmental and geopolitical impact.

Join Conway as he delves into this hidden battle for the resources that power our modern world, from the materials that build our homes and devices to those that shape our future. Don’t miss the chance to hear about the forces that will determine the world we live in tomorrow.

Venue: Palmerston Room

Duration: 1 hour

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In-person tickets:
Palmerston Room
  Ed Conway | Material World: A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future Full Price
6pm | 26 April | Palmerston Room at St John's
£17
This ticket is only on sale to members at the moment
  Ed Conway | Material World: A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future Concession (U25s, unwaged and those feeling the pinch)
6pm | 26 April | Palmerston Room at St John's
£10
This ticket is only on sale to members at the moment
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Author Biography

Ed Conway is the Economics and Data Editor of Sky News and has been a regular columnist for The Times and The Sunday Times. He has won numerous awards for his television and newspaper journalism, among them the 2018 Wincott Foundation Journalist of the Year Award. He is the author of the critically acclaimed book on Bretton Woods, The Summit: The Biggest Battle of the Second World War – Fought Behind Closed Doors and the bestselling 50 Economics Ideas You Really Need to Know. Ed studied at Pembroke College, Oxford and the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, where he was a Fulbright scholar and a Shorenstein Scholar.