In a wide ranging discussion organised by the University of London and the British Council, and chaired by Adrian Smith, vice chancellor of University of London that comprised Richard Dearlove, chair of the university’s board of trustees, Mary Stiasny, its pro-vice-chancellor, Bob O’Keefe, vice principal of the affiliated Royal Holloway University and Emmanuel Daniel, chairman of The Asian Banker, the panel discussed the role of experts, the academia and the definition of truth in an environment where access to any form of information is being increasingly democraticised.