A roundup of the intellectual, quirky, sciencey, techy and generally geeky happenings around town.
Monday
PUBLISHING: The hottest debate of the age (at least in media circles), is how to make online publishing pay, especially quality journalism. An all-star (at least in media circles) panel, including Evening Standard editor Geordie Greig, will assemble at City University's Northampton Square home to chew over the options. 6.30pm, FREE.
BOOKS: Jennifer Rohn's lablit bookclub (science in fiction rather than science fiction) returns to the Royal Institution. This month's novel is The Cloud Chamber by Clare George. The author will be in attendance to discuss her work. 7pm, FREE, just turn up.
BOOKS: As though trapped in the same temporal anomaly as the above event, the Science Fiction Book Club meets to discuss A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge. You'll have to join to find the location. FREE.
Tuesday
REPUTATION: The SameAs meetups might have a puzzling name, but they've got a growing reputation for nerdy fun. This month's topic is 'reputation', exploring 'the way we measure, reward and incentivise modern day research in the digital world'. It's upstairs at the Driver pub in King's Cross from 7pm, FREE. Sign up here. @same_as, #SameAs
LIFE: The splendid Grant Museum have a new series of events based on the origins of life. Tonight, Nick Lane speculates on whether life was a complete fluke or all-but-inevitable given the laws of thermodynamics. 6.30pm, FREE, and you get a glass of wine and tour of the museum afterwards.
GOD: Seems to be the night for discussing the point of it all. At Conway Hall in Holborn, philosophers Herman Philipse and Richard Swinburne argue whether the latest findings from the realms of science can be used to infer the presence of a guiding hand. Surely not, but might be an interesting listen. 7pm, £3 on the door.
Wednesday
NEUROSCIENCE: This month's Skeptics in the Pub welcomes Dr Ginger Campbell, host of the Brain Science podcast, to the Monarch in Camden Town. She'll discuss why neuroscience matters to us all. Starts 7.30pm, £2. @sitp
ASTRONOMY: The Dana Centre's back in action after a bit of an events pause. This adults-only science venue (it's got a bar...and free wifi) turns its attention to extrasolar planets and the search for other Earths. Ray Jayawardhana and Lewis Dartnell are your experts for the evening. 7pm, FREE (but prebook).
Thursday
MUSEUM TECH: The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology recently installed a bevy of gadgets to help visitors understand the exhibits. A special geek night lets you play with the assorted iPads and QR labels to learn how the ancient and modern can sit side by side. FREE, 5-8pm.
Friday
TRANSPORT: As part of Museums at Night, London Transport Museum is opening up for free. Among various diversions, there's a chance to view the 'new Routemaster' bus for London. FREE
Saturday
SITE-SPECIFIC FILM: At the Petrie again, where a screening of The Gorgon and The Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb will take place among the sarcophagi and relics. Creepier than George Osbourne lurking naked in some bushes. FREE, 6pm.
SCI-FI: The London Sci-Fi/Fantasy Meetup Group hold their regular pub meeting in the Mad Hatter, Stamford Street. As a special treat, the gang will be watching a new Neil Gaiman-penned episode of Doctor Who. FREE, 6pm.
Sunday
TUBE GEEKERY: A rare chance to ride in a vintage Tube train around the network. £30 for whole day.
Booking Ahead
The British Library's major science fiction exhibition opens on 20 May. The supporting programme of events are sure to be popular (for example, there's a conversation between Alan Moore and Stewart Lee!), so take a look at the listings now, and book early.
