When we are children we learn to be afraid of the dark, perhaps through fairy tales, and this apprehension can stay with us into adulthood.

This is a discussion exploring our attitude to the dark, and how this has shaped our cities, and the environment in which live. Nick will also read from his recently published book, Dark Futures.

Nick Dunn is a writer, educator, and performer. He is Executive Director of Imagination, the design-led research lab at Lancaster University where he is also Professor of Urban Design. Nick is the author of Dark Matters (2016) and recently published Dark Futures (2025). Born in Salford, he lives in Manchester. He regularly nightwalks across both cities and beyond.