The President’s Lecture Series brings to the Rice University campus a variety of stimulating speakers on a range of topics. Rice is pleased to offer the PLS as a means of enhancing the intellectual life not only of the Rice community, but of our neighbors throughout the city of Houston. The President's Lectures Series is sponsored by the Office of the President and supported by the J. Newton Rayzor Lecture Fund.
Admission to all lectures is free of charge.
The President's Lecture Series welcomes nominations for possible future speakers by emailing president@rice.edu. We aim to present lectures that represent varied fields and experiences and have historically presented exemplars in the fields of "letters, science and art." For example, winners of Oscar, Emmy and Grammy awards and the Nobel, Pulitzer and other major prizes; alumni achievers and other leaders; those at the vanguard of public service and social justice; entrepreneurs and engineers; authors and architects, actors and astronauts. You can watch some of our past speakers here. If you have a suggestion, please share it with us. Individuals with personal connections to proposed speakers are especially encouraged to submit nominations.
Dr. Robert Langer, a renowned scientist, engineer and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will give the keynote at the next President's Lecture Series at 11 a.m. May 5 at Brockman Hall for Opera. Often called the “Edison of Medicine,” Langer is one of the most cited engineers in history and has made pioneering contributions to drug delivery systems and tissue engineering, revolutionizing modern medicine. Beyond his groundbreaking research, he has co-founded numerous biotech companies, including Moderna, the company behind one of the first COVID-19 vaccines, translating scientific discoveries into life-changing therapies. To attend, please register here.
