In our monthly talk for February we will meet at the Old Fire Station Cafe, joined by the indomitable Zion Lights to discuss "Energy is Life: A Rational Optimist’s Case for Human Progress".

Please note the later start time of 19:30. 

The topic: Energy is Life: A Rational Optimist’s Case for Human Progress

What does energy really mean for ordinary lives — for safety, dignity, education, and opportunity? In this thought-provoking talk, science communicator and Humanists UK Patron Zion Lights reveals the human story behind one of the most misunderstood forces in our world. Drawing from her new book Energy Is Life, she explores how access to energy has lifted billions from hardship, empowered communities, and opened the door to human flourishing.

Blending personal insight with scientific clarity, Zion challenges assumptions, demystifies modern technologies, and offers a hopeful, humane vision of our shared future. She examines why our intuitions about risk often mislead us, how cognitive biases shape public debates, and what we can do to think more clearly in an age of misinformation.

Sharing her own journey from anti-technology activism to evidence-based advocacy, Zion makes a compelling, grounded case that science, reason, and abundant clean energy are essential to human progress and human flourishing.

Please join this community discussion. We hope to have Zion Light's latest book available to purchase on the night. 

About our Speaker: As the former Editor of Extinction Rebellion's print newspaper, The Hourglass, Zion Lights played a pivotal role in elevating climate discourse in the UK, achieving remarkable distribution figures and media reviews. As a spokesperson for the group, she highlighted the need for action on climate change on major outlets such as BBC Politics Live, Good Morning Britain, Byline TV, Sky News, The Andrew Neil Show, France 24, Debatten in Denmark, and Arirang News in South Korea. She has also appeared in several documentaries.

Zion is particularly notable for her advocacy of nuclear energy following a highly public shift in her own views. With over 10 years of experience in communications, journalism, public engagement, and speaking, she has leveraged her expertise to make complex science accessible and compelling, helping to shift public understanding and shape the global conversation around nuclear energy. She founded Emergency Reactor, the UK’s first pro-nuclear environmental campaign group, and her advocacy contributed to government proposals for new nuclear projects as well as shifts in public perception. As part of her public engagement strategy, Zion was the first person to publish a pro-nuclear article in two of Britain’s most widely read newspapers.

Zion is the author of the evidence-based book The Ultimate Guide to Green Parenting and recently contributed to humanitarian Rob Greenfield's Zero Waste Kids and the French book Lumières sur le Nucléaire. 

Zion has been referred to as “Britain’s greenest mother” by The Daily Telegraph and “an eco-pragmatist, happily heavy on science” by The Guardian. Recognised for her impactful contributions, Zion was selected by the British Science Association to deliver a Presidential Address at the British Science Festival in 2023, receiving accolades for her dedication to education. As a Patron of Humanists UK, Zion actively supports causes aligned with humanist values. Her work was further recognised when she was awarded the Holyoake Lecture Medal in 2023.

Beyond her environmental advocacy, Zion's passion for astronomy shines through her TED talk on stargazing, where she underscores the profound connection between humanity, nature, and the cosmos.

We are thrilled to host Zion Lights in Oxford in February and we hope you'll register to join us for what promises to be an informative presentation and discussion.

This event is free to join, but we do ask that you register to help us manage numbers and, as always, any donations you are able to contribute will support our running costs.

Not sure if this is for you or have questions about the event? Please get in touch with Andrew, our Events Manager; we'd love to hear from you at events-oxford@humanistbranches.uk.  

We hope to see you there!