Order and Disorder: Life, Imagination, and the Search for Meaning
In Conversation with:
Professor Mo Yan - Nobel Laureate in Literature, 2012
Sir Paul Nurse - Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, 2001; President of the Royal Society
Join us for a landmark conversation between two Nobel Laureates — Professor Mo Yan (Nobel Prize in Literature, 2012) and Sir Paul Nurse (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 2001) — as they explore how scientific inquiry and literary imagination together shape our understanding of human existence.
This rare dialogue across the sciences and humanities asks a question fundamental to our time: how do we find meaning in a world of order and disorder? The evening promises an exceptional gathering of some of the world’s most distinguished minds.
The event is co-hosted by the Oxford Prospects and Global Development Institute (OPGDI) and the Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH), and will be opened by Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford.
Event Details
Date: Thursday 22 May 2026, 4.30pm - 6.00pm
Venue: Concert Hall, Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, Oxford
Dress Code: Smart casual
Book your place here
Please note:
Due to expected large number of audiences, please arrive by 4.15pm to allow time for registration. Seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you were unable to secure a ticket, you are welcome to come. We will do our best to accommodate any unattended seats on the night.
