Emily Mayhew speaks at the Chelsea History Festival this September

Emily Mayhew explores the history of the four horsemen - War, Pestilence, Famine and Death - and how the modern world is coming together to combat them. The four horsemen of the apocalypse have long symbolised the combined threats faced by humanity. War, Pestilence, Famine and Death have posed a threat to people throughout history and continue to evolve alongside the ingenious solutions that humans have developed to thwart them. However, as Emily Mayhew will reveal in this fascinating talk, the horsemen are being forced to a halt by a determined and varied group of human beings. A new pragmatic kind of humanitarianism is taking on the biggest threats to human existence. Emily will introduce us to these pioneers working across the globe to create a new and more hopeful reality. From scientists and peace negotiators to app developers, architects and bee-keepers, meet the people coming together to defeat the apocalypse.