About us
We are an active group of humanists gathering at least once a month in Bristol.
Our regular meetings are on the first Monday of each month (though check website and Meet Up as occasionally it changes, due to bank holidays etc); we hold a talk/lecture/discussion forum on topics broadly related to humanism and now regularly hold get-to-know-you socials. We are now also running a regular film group and book group, which are not listed on Meet Up - if you are interested in joining these then email us at bristolhumanists@gmail.com
Please note that 'joining' on Meet Up is not the same as actually joining Bristol Humanists. You can become a member here https://www.bristolhumanists.com/membership
Our meetings are open to anyone, in the spirit of engagement and public debate. They are FREE if you are a member of Bristol Humanists, or we ask for a £5/£2 (low income rate) donation if not.
If you're not religious and would like to meet like minded people, if you are curious about what humanism is or simply if the theme of the activity of the event is appealing to you, please join us.
We also run the annual Bristol Darwin Day lecture, which happens on/near February 12th (Darwin's birthday). And we now hold another annual lecture in the autumn, the Emma Martin Lecture, to celebrate Bristol's most amazing freethinker, humanist & women's rights campaigner.
Full details of all our activities and how to join are posted on our website http://bristolhumanists.com and Facebook pages https://en-gb.facebook.com/BristolHumanists/
Upcoming events
3
Neuromyths - classrooms, culture & climate change. with Paul Howard-Jones
The Grain Store, YHA Bristol, 14 Narrow Quay, Bristol, BS1 4QA, Bristol, GBNeuromyths - classrooms, culture & climate change
Recent breakthroughs in our understanding of the human brain offer an exciting prospect for education. The idea that we can draw on scientific insights to improve what happens in the classroom is an alluring one – but it is also a double-edged sword. While neuroscience can inform better teaching practices, its appeal has also given rise to a host of pervasive and persistent ‘neuromyths’ that can undermine learning.
Paul Howard-Jones will explore these compelling but misleading ideas about the brain. Where do neuromyths come from, and why do they proliferate? Paul will unpack the cultural forces and emotional biases that shape them, revealing the 'folk neuroscience’ embedded in our everyday language.Far from being a harmless curiosity, these myths can have a serious impact. Paul will consider how common misunderstandings about the emotional brain may be jeopardising efforts to provide effective sustainability education – a key tool in addressing the global challenge of climate change. For anyone interested in education, psychology, and how we can empower young people to become active agents of change, this lecture is an essential guide to navigating the myths and opportunities of modern neuroscience for education
Paul Howard-Jones is Professor of Neuroscience and Education at the School of Education, University of Bristol, with degrees in engineering and psychology, and a PhD in medical physics. He was a teacher before becoming a trainer of primary and secondary school teachers and an inspector of schools. His research has focused on issues at the interface of cognitive neuroscience and educational theory, practice, and policy.
He is particularly interested in addressing neuromyths, understanding the creative brain and how games and learning games engage their players, and exploring how insights from the science of learning can inform climate change education.
He was a member of the Royal Society’s working group on Neuroscience and Education. His broadcasting work includes Channel 4’s BAFTA-nominated series The Secret Life of Four Year Olds, and the podcast Mind, Brain and Planet, which draws on psychology and neuroscience to understand our relationship with sustainability and the environment. He was the recipient of the Humanists UK Blackham Medal in 2025.Everyone welcome. The event is FREE for Bristol Humanists members. Others we request a contribution of £5/£2
13 attendees
Past events
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