Avenue Winter 2022–23

Tercentenary of Adam Smith’s birth

We’re marking the 300th anniversary of pioneering Scot Adam Smith with a year-long celebration of his life, work and influence.

The tercentenary commemoration of the ‘father of modern economics’ includes a host of events in Scotland and around the world, designed to inspire renewed discussion about Adam Smith’s ideas.

Smith’s work has had a lasting impact on the way the world considers economics, politics and society more broadly. The planned programme of events aims to consider how his ideas from 300 years ago can help answer some of the biggest challenges we face today.

Throughout 2023 UofG has a raft of programmes and events that will give academics, students and the public new insights into his life and work. Highlights include:

• Tercentenary Week – a week-long series of activities, including talks and exhibitions in June 2023 at Glasgow featuring scholars from the London School of Economics, and the universities of Princeton, Harvard and Cambridge.
• An on-campus and virtual exhibition of significant and rare Smith-related artifacts, including letters, first-edition books and material from the University’s archives.
• The Adam Smith Tercentenary Global Lecture Series, featuring internationally renowned speakers from academia, business and public policy.
• New research into Smith’s life and writings.
• The Royal Economic Society and Scottish Economic Society Joint Conference in April, featuring global academics reflecting upon Smith’s legacy.

Other activities involve a national student competition to redesign the front cover of The Wealth of Nations, online courses for adult learners and new programmes to introduce high school pupils to Adam Smith and his ideas. Universities from across the world will be joining in the commemorations with their own events to mark the tercentenary.

Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli is Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UofG and a renowned economist: “Adam Smith is one of our most famous alumni and he left an indelible impact on the University of Glasgow, on the fields of economics and moral philosophy, and on the wider world. His studies and writings introduced new ideas, insights and concepts that shaped our understanding of economics today but were revolutionary in their day.

“To mark the tercentenary of his birth we will see academics, students and the public discuss his continued relevance at a series of events taking place in Glasgow and across the world.

“I look forward to taking part in the University’s commemoration of Adam Smith as we evaluate his legacy and consider how his thoughts and ideas from 300 years ago can still help us answer the greatest challenges of today.”

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