Skip to main content

Minerva Series of Lectures

A public lecture series run by the University, looking at the latest insights into the big issues of today and those that will shape the world in the future.

How airborne diseases spread and how we can stop them


Sign up to attend the next Minerva Series Lecture on Wednesday 6 December, 6-7pm 2023 online through Zoom.

Airborne respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis, Covid and flu are all transmitted the same way: the disease is carried in tiny particles called aerosols, which we breathe out constantly – especially when speaking loudly or singing. The particles are small enough to float in the air like smoke, and if someone has the disease, their exhaled aerosols contain the pathogen, and can infect someone who breathes them in. We stop the disease spreading by stopping people inhaling infected aerosols.

In this talk, we will discuss how aerosols behave, how we can reduce the spread of diseases indoors, and how ventilation, filtration, distancing, masking and other technologies can play a role.

Register to attend
A busy street full of people walking and cycling wearing face masks. A Covid-19 information banner hangs above the street.

Learn something new

Join one of our free lectures to broaden your knowledge of a subject or learn about something new.


In our age of information, the world is changing more rapidly than ever before. Societal shifts, coupled with great leaps in science and technology, are shaping the future for us all.

The Minerva Series of Lectures is your opportunity to hear our experts share their insights on a range of topics, including science, politics, health, and sustainability.


Register for our upcoming lectures

Find out about our lectures and register to attend online. All lectures in the Minerva Series start at 6.00pm and are free to attend.


Find out about our lectures and register to attend. All lectures in the Minerva Series start at 6.00pm and are free to attend. The next lecture is How airborne diseases spread and how we can stop them on Wednesday 6 December.

The Minerva Lecture Series is back for its 2023 programme and now features a mix of online and in person events, hosted both at the University and in community venues in Bath and the surrounding area.

To be informed of future lectures you can join our Public Lectures Mailing list.

Where possible previous events were recorded and are available to watch back on our Vimeo channel. Please see below for more information.

Catch up on previous lectures


Video recordings

You can watch full recordings of past lectures to catch up on any that you've missed. You can also watch our Mini Minerva videos for a short overview of each of our lectures and a taste of what to expect.

Watch videos of the Minerva Series of Lectures on our Vimeo channel.

Podcast episodes

You can also listen to recordings of the full lectures on our Soundcloud podcast channel.

Join our mailing list


Get the latest information about upcoming lectures in the Minerva Series and plans for the Series by signing up for email updates.

Join our mailing list
A lecturer giving a talk at a Minerva lecture.

Contact us

If you have any questions about the Minerva Series of Lectures, get in touch with our team.