GLOBAL security will be under the spotlight in York, in a series of expert talks at the Minster and one of the city's universities.

The Ebor Lectures will return to York once again for 2015-2016, with another series of guest speakers sharing their ideas and expertise.

The lectures have been jointly organised by York St John University, York Minster, The Methodist Church and Carmelite, with the topic of this year’s lectures focussing on global security and the United Nations.

York Press:

Clockwise from top left are speakers Natalie Samarasinghe, Lyse Doucet, Bob Stewart, Myriam Francois-Cerrah, Olav Tveit and Nigel Biggar

On October 24 this year it will be 70 years since the founding of the United Nations, therefore the Ebor Lectures aim to discuss the successes and shortcomings of the United Nations, and examine its contribution to global security.

The lectures commence at 7pm and will be hosted at York Minster and York St John University, with six established speakers sharing their expertise across the series.

The first lecture will be held on September 9 at York Minster as Natalie Samarasinghe kicks off proceedings. She is the first woman to hold the position of Executive Director of the United Nations Association UK and has a highly respectable role within the organisation, providing advice and research in to UN issues.

The next will be on October 21 at York Minster featuring guest speaker Lyse Doucet OBE, the BBC’s award winning Chief International Correspondent. She has more than 20 years experience of covering major topics in the Middle East and another 15 years spent as a BBC foreign correspondent.

The series will continue across the New Year too, with colonel Bob Stewart DSO, MP for Beckenham and former British Army Officer starting the year with his lecture at York St John University on February 17, 2016.

This will be followed by Professor Nigel Biggar, the Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology at the University of Oxford, whose discussion will take place at the same venue on March 16.

On April 6 Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches will speak at York Minster, whilst writer, journalist and broadcaster, then Myriam Francois-Cerrah will conclude the series on May 4 at York St John University.

Admission to the lectures are free, but only through booking online at www.yorksj.ac.uk/eborlectures.