On October 1st Italy-based Cambridge Society members Salvatore La Spina (Pembroke, 1988) and Mark Walters (Pembroke, 1974) organised a talk on the topic: "Sicily in the 21st century: Challenges and Prospects".

The talk, given by Professor Antonio La Spina, a sociologist from Palermo University, outlined topical aspects of Sicily's special form of government, autonomy and federalism and how these can be seen against the background of the local economy and society.

It was followed by an extensive round of questions and dinner at a restaurant on the attractive waterfront at Mondello, one of Sicily's top seaside resorts.

The meeting formed part of a cultural programme for visiting scientists from the American Association for the Advancement of Science as well as members of the Commonwealth Club of California, a major political forum on America's West Coast.