About the Stephen Gray Lecture

The Stephen Gray Lectures are free, public events held in Canterbury and named after the local scientist who was the first Copley Medallist, best known for his pioneering investigations of electrical conduction. They act as a focal point for the local public to engage with science. Each Lecture is delivered by a notable scientist, but in a language that the general public can understand and relate to. The Stephen Gray Lecture also brings together a broad swathe of the university community, from undergraduates to retired professors, from across the wide range of disciplines represented at Kent.

The Lecture was instituted by the University of Kent in the academic year 2016/17 and, since 2025/26, it is also kindly sponsored by the Institute of Physics London & South East Branch. The organiser of the Stephen Gray Lecture is Jorge Quintanilla.