Futures in Common: Kellogg Conversations explored resilience, trust and community

How do we build resilience in a changing world? Who do we trust when evidence is contested? And how can communities work together to create meaningful change? These questions – on resilience, trust, and collective action – formed the heart of Kellogg Conversations: Futures in Common, the College’s Trinity Term 2026 public engagement series, which brought together leading academics, practitioners and policymakers to examine pressing challenges facing society.

Through three interconnected events, the series explored the foundations needed for lasting progress, reflecting Kellogg College’s commitment to lifelong learning, interdisciplinary exchange and knowledge sharing beyond academia.

• Lessons in resilience examined how natural and human systems adapt to uncertainty and change, drawing on perspectives from ecology, conservation and cultural heritage. Chaired by Dr Gavin Svenson, Kellogg Fellow and Director of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, the discussion considered what nature and heritage teach us about building a sustainable future.
• Who do we trust? addressed the growing importance of trusted evidence in climate action. Chaired by Professor Jim Davies, Kellogg Fellow and Professor of Software Engineering, panellists explored how data is gathered, interpreted and communicated, and why public confidence is essential to achieving sustainability goals.
• Community and co-operation examined how collective action emerges and what effective leadership looks like in an increasingly interconnected world. Chaired by Professor Marya Besharov, Kellogg Fellow and Professor of Organisations and Impact, the discussion considered how local initiatives can scale to create major impacts.

Across the series, Kellogg Fellows Dr Joanna Bagniewska and Professor Matthew Amengual, along with Kellogg Visiting Fellow Ben Bolgar, contributed their expertise as panellists.

Together, the events demonstrated the value of bringing different disciplines, sectors and perspectives into conversation. From environmental resilience and climate accountability to civic participation and social change, each discussion highlighted the importance of evidence, collaboration and open dialogue in addressing complex global challenges.

In Michaelmas Term, our Kellogg Conversations will continue on the theme of leadership. With sessions chaired by Kellogg Honorary Fellow Professor Frances Corner OBE, Official Fellow Professor Marya Besharov, and Dr Susanna Kislenko, Director of the Founder Leadership Project at Kellogg, we’ll be asking whether the fashion industry can lead the way to a greener future, how leaders retain trust in an era of misinformation, and when it’s time to hand over the reins to someone else.

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