Venue info: Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, Sandford, Montpellier, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, GL50 1QA, United Kingdom More venue info
Price info: £12
Duration: 60 minutes
Access info: BSL, Live Captions
More access info

About The Science of War

Is the human brain wired for conflict? Neuroscientist and adviser to the Pentagon Nicholas Wright and intelligence and security expert, former Director of GCHQ David Omand explore how our brains shape the way we perceive threats, trust allies and make high-stakes choices in moments of crisis in conversation with David Runciman.

How could leaders such as Winston Churchill see through the fog of conflict, make better decisions and communicate with those who must carry the decisions out? Why did France lose to the Nazis, despite its defenders having more tanks, troops and guns? Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience, intelligence experience and lessons from conflicts past and present, Nicholas and David reveal why smart leaders and nations can still make catastrophic mistakes and examine how we can all apply lessons from the battlefield to think more clearly and make better decisions under pressure.

There will be a book signing after this event.

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

Warhead: How the Brain Shapes War and War Shapes the Brain (Hardback)
by Nicholas Wright
Get the book
How to Survive a Crisis: Lessons in Resilience and Avoiding Disaster (Paperback)
by David Omand
Get the book
How Spies Think: Ten Lessons in Intelligence (Paperback)
by David Omand
Get the book
The History of Ideas: Equality, Justice and Revolution (Paperback)
by David Runciman
Get the book
The Handover: How We Gave Control of Our Lives to Corporations, States and AIs (Paperback)
by David Runciman
Get the book

Getting Here

Parking

The venue’s car park is private, but parking can be found throughout the town centre. The nearest car parks are Rodney Road (GL50 1HX), St Georges Road (GL50 3DT), Royal Well (GL50 3DS) and Regent Arcade (GL50 1HN). There is a regular bus service from Cheltenham Racecourse Park and Ride car park to the centre of Cheltenham.

Rail

The Town Hall is a 25-minute walk from Cheltenham Spa Railway Station. There is also taxi rank outside the station.

Bus

Stagecoach bus services stop nearby on the Promenade with the Town Hall a five-minute walk away. For further information on Cheltenham bus services, please visit stagecoach.com. National Express Coaches stop a short walk away from Cheltenham Town Hall at Royal Well Bus Station.

Bike

There are bike racks located near Imperial Gardens, behind the Town Hall, should you wish to visit the Festival on your bike. Please note that anyone wishing to secure their bike at one of the bike racks does so at their own risk.

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Access

Cheltenham Town Hall has both step access and an accessible ramp at the main entrance. There is a hearing loop in this venue operating on the ground floor stalls section of seating.

The venue does not have a lift and so the balcony and rear gallery seating located on the first floor are only accessible via stairs. Any accessible bookings should be made for ground floor stalls seating. We advise contacting our box office via email, by phoning us 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.

Guide dogs are welcome in the Town Hall and accessible toilets are located on the ground floor of the venue.

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