Luke Donnellan, Director of Understanding Humanism at Humanists UK, will speak on ‘A Piece of Chalk’ at Humanists UK Convention 2025, taking place from 13–15 June at the Octagon Centre in Sheffield. In 1868 renowned biologist T H Huxley (also known as ‘Darwin’s bulldog’) gave a celebrated lecture in which he reconstructed the geology of Britain and the evolutionary history of life on Earth from a simple piece of chalk. In this presentation, Luke will attempt to go one step further and reveal how the chalk can help to illustrate even more about a humanist understanding of knowledge, and our capacity to lead fulfilling and flourishing lives.
Tickets for Humanists UK Convention 2025 are on sale now – and running very low.
Tickets for Humanists UK Convention 2025 are on sale now – and running very low.
At Humanists UK, Luke is responsible for promoting the understanding of humanism, especially in formal education settings. He manages Humanists UK’s school speakers programme, teacher training and CPD, and the production of educational resources, and speaks about humanism to a variety of audiences. He is the co-author of Understanding Humanism (Routledge, 2023), editor of two online courses (Introducing humanism and Humanist lives), and has contributed articles to RE Today and Teach Primary magazines.
Not only a scientist, Huxley was a keen educator, passionate about sharing his understanding of human beings and the world around us, and able to take complicated ideas and find ways to bring them to life in an accessible manner for a general audience. That goal is just as important today and lies behind much of the work of Understanding Humanism – finding creative ways to illustrate the humanist approach to life. How much can a humble piece of chalk tell us about not only who we are and where we come from, but also how we ought to live?
Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson said:
‘Huxley’s ability to convey complex ideas with clarity – famously, he coined the term ‘agnostic’ – and his commitment to reason resonate strongly with humanist values. As Director of Understanding Humanism at Humanists UK, Luke’s exploration of the themes of Huxley’s ‘Piece of Chalk’ will bring the talk right up to the present day, inspiring thoughtful discussions and furthering our understanding of the world in which we live.’
Humanists UK Convention 2025 will bring together humanists from across the country for a weekend of science, politics, culture, and comedy. The event will be held at the Octagon Centre in Sheffield from 13–15 June 2025. Luke joins a diverse line-up of speakers, including physicist Dr Helen Czerski; journalist Ian Dunt; author of Money, Lies, and God, Katherine Stewart; tech entrepreneur Sara Wahedi; happiness economist Professor Lord Richard Layard; anthropologist and author of The Evolutionary Origins of the Modern World, Professor Harvey Whitehouse; historian and editor of The Free Speech Wars, Dr Charlotte Lydia Riley; philosopher and author of What Is Humanism For?, Professor Richard Norman; Authoritarian Century author Dr Azeem Ibrahim OBE; folklorist and cultural anthropologist Deborah Hyde; AI, Faith & Civil Society Commissioner Professor Kate Devlin; and many more.
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For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 0203 675 0959.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 130,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.