These listings appear every Wednesday. If you want to let us know about any upcoming science or technology events, you can contact us on [email protected]
Event of the Week
Francis Crick’s Place in History at the Royal College of Surgeons, Monday
Did you know that the co-discoverer of the DNA helix didn’t become a biologist until he was 31? And he didn’t even have a PhD when he received his Nobel Prize? There’s hope for us all.
By all accounts, Crick was one of the most colourful characters in science. So it’s fitting that he should be the subject of the first in a new series of Eminent Lives biographies from HarperCollins. Authored by the always-eloquent Matt Ridley, the book traces Crick from his birth in 1916 near Northampton, to his death a few years ago. Ridley will be appearing at the Royal College of Surgeons (in association with the Royal Institution) on Monday to discuss this fascinating man.
Can’t wait? Many of Crick’s papers and notebook entries have been made available online by the Wellcome Trust.
Elsewhere
Bundles of stuff going on this week, so without further ado…
The Dana Centre hosts another of its popular Dinners tonight, in association with Café Scientifique. This time, a special buffet (with lots of veggie options) has been prepared to aid discussion about the science of flavours. Enjoy the wine while you can, for the following evening the Dana turns its attentions to drugs (both legal and illegal). The discussion will feature a number of experts and will focus particularly on the brain chemistry of drug addiction. The Dana’s third event of the week comes next Tuesday, when Lifting the Lid examines the uses and abuses of radiation.
While you’re doing the rounds on Open House weekend, you might consider popping into the British Library. As a bit of fun, the Wellcome’s ‘travelling apothecary’ show will be dishing out balms and tonics for all manner of modern ailments, including 'network addiction', 'litter guilt', 'fantasy flings' and 'home makeovers'. Bonkers. Utterly bonkers.
Finally, London Zoo are putting on another Gay Sunday. A big jolly with ‘sophisticated cabaret’ (how?) and a champagne ‘n’ jazz VIP lounge. Oh, and the opportunity to visit ‘more than 650 animal species’.
Future London, the big environmental installation currently running in the Truman Brewery (Brick Lane), is also worth a reminder. We visited at the weekend and would certainly recommend that you pop along before Friday when it closes. The show will be rebooting in the Science Museum from 25 September, but is sure to be more crowded in its second incarnation.
When and Where?
Dinner@Dana: Gastro thrills, 6.30 tonight, Dana Centre, £13
Drug Users and Abusers, 7pm Thursday, Dana Centre, FREE
Travelling Apothecary, 10-6 Saturday, British Library, FREE
Gay Sunday at the Zoo, 12-8, Sunday, London Zoo, £14.90
Francis Crick’s place in history, 7pm Monday, Royal College of Surgeons, £8
Lifting the Lid on Radiation Risks, 7pm Tuesday, Dana Centre, FREE
