Week In Geek: 3-9 December 2012

M@
By M@ Last edited 135 months ago
Week In Geek: 3-9 December 2012


London events for people with curious minds.

Monday 3 December

SPACE: Only the European Commission could make space exploration sound a bit mundane, the impression given on the business-like website of the European Space Expo, which comes to Horseguards Parade from today until 9 December. Still, should be a good opportunity to learn about European activities in space. Free, just turn up, 10-6pm

QUIZ: London Skeptics in the Pub hosts a Christmas quiz at the Monarch in Camden Town. £3, just turn up, 7.30pm

Tuesday 4 December

ROMANTIC CHEMISTRY: This apparent contradiction was a reality in the early 19th Century, when figures like Humphry Davy was as happy writing poetry as discovering chemical elements. A new exhibition at the Royal Society, running until 14 June 2013, explores this fascinating era. Free, just turn up, Tue (2-4pm) or Thur (10am-noon).

FILM: Catch a screening of the 1931 version of Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde at UCL's JZ Young theatre, followed by a wine-enhanced tour of the Grant Museum. Free, just turn up, 6.30pm

SCIENCE SHOWOFF: The comedy-meets-science-communication evening returns to the Wilmington Arms with a vague Christmassy theme. £5 (suggested donation), just turn up, 7pm

ONLINE PHOTOGRAPHY: The Photographers' Gallery holds a talk that goes by the alluring name of All Your Cat Memes Are Belong To Us, examining the use of images online. £7, prebook, 7pm

Wednesday 5 December

LIGHT: Carolin Crawford speaks at the Museum of London, in a Gresham Lecture, about the many atmospheric effects we can enjoy when light from the sun and moon interacts with constituents of the atmosphere. Free, just turn up, 1pm

AGEING: How does what we eat affect how we age? Bring your sandwiches to Wellcome Collection's lunchtime talk. Free, just turn up, 1pm

ALCHEMY: The Royal Institution's Christmas Lectures are fully booked with kids, but a preview show by this year's lecturer Peter Wothers runs tonight on the theme of alchemy. £10, prebook, 6pm

CLIMATE CHANGE: Visit the Dana Centre in South Kensington for an update on climate change and the possible ways to mitigate its effects. Free, prebook, 7pm

BELIEF: A 5x15 event at Wellcome Collection sees five commentators with views on belief take it in turns to interview each other. Good panel, too. Free, prebook, 7.30pm

Thursday 6 December

QI: Listen to QI creator John Lloyd discuss his love of knowledge and the many things he doesn't know, at an RSA talk. Free, prebook, 1pm and live stream. #RSALloyd

DOOM: UCL's lunchtime lecture looks at different ways the world might end, in advance of the silly Mayan apocalypse nonsense some people are peddling. Free, just turn up, 1.15pm

MEDICINE: Wellcome Collection presents a talk by Frances Ashcroft, who was instrumental in uncovering the links between blood sugar, insulin and diabetes. Free, prebook, 7pm

Saturday 8 December

COMICS: Full Stage Splash is a stage production featuring four actors in 65 roles, offering a “comic look at the comic book“. It’s on at Hen & Chickens Theatre. £8, 9.30pm

Booking ahead

Helen Keen’s Spacetacular!, in partnership with Londonist and supported by the UK Space Agency, takes place at the Leicester Square Theatre on 27 January. Space scientists, comedians, musicians and others share an enthusiasm for space exploration, with the audience dressed in tin foil. Earlybird tickets are now on sale for £7.50 — use promotional code LONDONIST. Book now. Follow Spacetacular! on Facebook.

Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments, or email matt@londonist.com to tip us off about upcoming events.

Last Updated 03 December 2012