Venue info: The Parabola Arts Centre Cheltenham Ladies' College, Bayshill Road, Sandford, Montpellier, Cheltenham, GL50 3EP, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom More venue info
Price info: £16
Duration: 60 minutes

About The Politics of Trust: Lessons from Wikipedia

What can we learn from Wikipedia's example about democracy, trust and knowledge? David Runciman talks to Wikipedia's founder Jimmy Wales in a special Science Festival episode of Past Present Future, the history of ideas podcast.

Once dismissed as a failed experiment, Wikipedia is now a global utility, viewed billions of times each month. How did strangers on the internet learn to trust one another and build the largest collection of knowledge in history? At a time when public trust is at an all-time low, Jimmy and David explore what Wikipedia reveals about what's missing and what's possible in contemporary society and how it might offer a blueprint for building things that last.

There will be a book signing after this event.

This event is being recorded. Latecomers may not be admitted.

Get ahead of your Festival reading and visit the Waterstones Cheltenham Science Festival bookshop and support Cheltenham Festivals with every purchase.

The Seven Rules of Trust: From the Founder of Wikipedia (Hardback)
by Jimmy Wales
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The History of Ideas: Equality, Justice and Revolution (Paperback)
by David Runciman
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The Handover: How We Gave Control of Our Lives to Corporations, States and AIs (Paperback)
by David Runciman
Get the book

Getting Here

Parking

Pay at machine on-road parking can be found around the venue and the nearest main car park is located on St George’s Road (GL50 3DT).

Walk

The venue is a six minute walk from Montpelier Gardens and a seven min walk by foot from the town centre.

Bus & Train

Stagecoach bus services stop nearby on Montpellier and in town centre on the Promenade. The town centre is a 25-minute walk from the Cheltenham Spa Railway Station, with a taxi rank located outside the station as well as local bus services. For further information on Cheltenham bus services, please visit the Stagecoach website.

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Access

The venue’s front entrance has step access, but there is a no-step entrance on the Parabola Road side of the building with push-pad access. Guide dogs are welcome and the venue is equipped with hearing enhancers.

Accessible toilets can be found by the main toilets in the venue, by the circle bar, and the dance studio – all areas can be accessed via a lift.

There is no hearing loop or assistance system in Parabola Arts Centre.

If you are uncertain about your booking we advise contacting our box office via email, by phone on 01242 850 270 during on-sale periods, or by using our Access Booking Form so that we can ensure you seating is suitable for the event you wish to attend. Our booking information page will have the most up to date box office phone opening hours.

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