Intelligence Squared’s Because it’s there Mountain Festival will take place on 15 June 2010 at the Royal Geographical Society in London. It will be a one evening-only exploration of what mountains represent to humanity. From mountains’ place in literature to how they shape history, from providing sublime nourishment for the soul to fuelling mountaineers’ addiction to vertigo, the festival will combine the IQ2 tradition of debate and discussion with film, photography and literature. (Our thanks to speaker Doug Scott for the picture)
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 18:30 – 19:15 |
Short Film by Alexandre Buisse, ‘Pecha Kucha’ style presentations by mountaineers, explorers, film-makers and photographers. Confirmed speakers: Ed Douglas, Peter Baily, Louise Thomas, Alexandre Buisse |
| 19:15 – 19:40 |
Keynote address Speaker: Stephen Venables |
| 20:00 – 21:15 |
IQ2 style Discussion Has Everest killed the true spirit of adventure? Speakers: Rebecca Stephens, Doug Scott, George Band, Kenton CoolModerator: Stephen Venables |
Topics of discussion to include:
- Walking off the map – what’s still yet to be explored
- The pursuit of fear – mountaineers’ stories of survival
- Blending terror and pleasure – mountains and the birth of the sublime
- Women & Mountaineering
- Is true adventure still possible in the mountains?
