Brunel Institute Talks Series 2024-25

This autumn and winter, the SS Great Britain Trust presents an exciting and thought-provoking series of talks featuring guest speakers and experts from the Brunel Institute team.

The talks will showcase amazing stories, including how ships like the SS Great Britain revolutionised transoceanic travel and shrank the world. Other topics include delving into the lives of the crews who worked and travelled on steamships like the SS Great Britain, and the pivotal role Bristol played in launching the career of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and his influence on the railway, maritime and architectural heritage of the city.

Click on the links below to find out more about our upcoming talks and speakers.

About this series

All talks will take place in the Viridor Suite at the Brunel Institute, which is located within Brunel’s SS Great Britain.

Doors open at 6pm and your ticket includes a welcome glass of wine or a soft drink.

Tickets must be booked online in advance.

Upcoming Talks

22 October 2024

Reaching the World Across the Oceans                                                                                    Dr James Boyd (Head of Research, Brunel Institute)

27 November 2024

Brunel and Bristol                                                                                                                                   Tim Bryan (Director of Brunel Institute)

10 December 2024

The Crew of the SS Great Britain – How Steamships Changed Maritime Labour in the 19th Century                                                                                                                      Joanna Mathers (Head of Collections & Maritime Curator, Brunel Institute)

19 February 2025

SS Great Britain and British Emigration                                                                            Robert Fletcher (Professor of History and Kinder Professor of British History, University of Missouri)