Stephen Gray Lectures

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.

About Stephen Gray

Stephen Gray (1666-1736) was a dyer and amateur scientist from Canterbury. He made contributions to various fields including astronomy, palaeontology, biology and optics but is best known for his discovery, in the 1720’s, that some materials can conduct electricity while others act as insulators. In 1729 he managed for the first time to transmit electricity over long distances working with his friend the Reverend Granville Wheler (at the latter’s estate Otterden Place, near Lenham). He is also credited with the discovery of electrostatic induction as well as advances in solar astronomy and microscopy, among others. He experienced many difficulties, not least ill health due to his physically demanding job and poverty – a great handicap at a time when scientific research was mostly a sophisticated pastime for the rich. In spite of his great contributions to Science, Gray’s recognition only came late in his life: he was the first recipient of the Copley Medal in 1731 and became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1733.

The Stephen Gray Lectures were instituted by the School of Physical Sciences on the University Kent’s main campus, in Canterbury to celebrate one of the region’s most prominent Physical Scientists. They were originally proposed by Jorge Quintanilla, who has been the organiser of the series, and have continued to be supported by the University of Kent and, since 2025/26, by the Institute of Physics London & South East Branch.