Join Nuala McGovern and the BBC World Service for a weekend of special broadcasts during the Oxford Literary Festival. The BBC will return to Worcester’s Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre to record four episodes of Forward Thinking, asking some of the biggest questions facing today’s society. Free tickets are available to all but must be booked in advance through the Oxford Literary Festival box office for each individual programme.

Why We Need More Diversity in Space: Jocelyn Bell Burnell talks to Nuala McGovern

Saturday 23 March at 10.45am

Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell was overlooked for a Nobel Prize for a discovery she made – instead it went to her male boss. She has been a campaigner for greater access and recognition for women in science for 50 years. For us she will also consider ways of increasing global participation on prestige space science projects.

Image credit: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

Book free tickets for Jocelyn Bell Burnell

Can Veganism Feed the World? (and Save the Planet in the Process): Gary Francione & Ron Weiss talk to Nuala McGovern

Saturday 23 March at 1.45pm

Professor Gary Francione is a lawyer and advocate of animal rights and veganism. Dr Ron Weiss is a doctor and nutritionist. They consider whether veganism is a way to feed to world. While it might make sense from an ethical and climate change perspective, it’s a massive cultural leap for many, and there are also downsides like the growth of the unhealthy processed vegan food industry. However, low and no-meat diets are generally better for us and people have lived on them around the world for centuries.

Book free tickets for Gary Francione & Ron Weiss

BBC World Service on Sunday 24 March