Week In Geek: 10-16 October 2011

M@
By M@ Last edited 149 months ago
Week In Geek: 10-16 October 2011


Events for Londoners with curious minds.

Monday 10 October
SKEPTICISM: Despite his apposite surname, Dr Edward Presswood thinks there's too much superstition in the NHS. He calls for a completely rational health service tonight at Skeptics in the Pub, in the Monarch, Camden. £2, 7.30pm

Tuesday 11 October
SPOOKINESS: Bangs, flashes, a bit of eeriness, a few doughnuts and a lot of science. It's Spooklights, a UCL event fronted by Dr Andrea Sella. FREE, 6pm

Wednesday 12 October
INNOVATION: How did Silicon Valley get to dominate the tech industry? How can successful tech hubs be nurtured in other regions? Head to the Book Club in London's own 'Silicon Roundabout' area to find out more, at this month's Future Human debate. £10, 7pm

BRAINS: Visit Shoreditch Town Hall to learn about the importance of brain donation for dementia research. Mind over Matter is an exhibition of photographic portraits of elderly people who've signed up to have their thinking matter investigated after death. Funded by the Wellcome Trust, it runs from today until 23 October. FREE, 10-6pm (weekdays), 12-6pm (weekends)

TECH: Has Google become too big for its boots? Martin Cave is at LSE to discuss recent episodes in the company's history that challenge Google's 'don't be evil' mantra. FREE, 6.30pm

INTELLIGENCE: Last year, New Scientist ran the biggest IQ test of all time, with around 100,000 participants. Editor Roger Highfield is at the Royal Institution tonight to discuss the results. £10, 7pm

WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!: Here's an oddball combo: author AS Byatt and geneticist Steve Jones. They're at the Dana Centre tonight to mull over the end of the world in fiction, and whether we're heading towards it in fact. FREE, 7pm

Thursday 13 October
NAUTICAL GAMES: The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich stays open late for an evening of (non-saucy) adults-only games with a nautical twist. 'Sip tea over parlour games, wander the galleries trading herbs and spices with rival merchants, or run around dodging the enforcers of the East India Company.' £5, 6.30-9.30pm

FAKE SPERM: Artificial sperm and eggs are on the menu (for discussion) tonight at the Dana Centre, where a panel of experts probe the future of fertility. FREE, 7pm

FAKE BUILDINGS: Are London's historic buildings all that they seem? Philip Venning, of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, presides over this Hendrick's Lecture at the Last Tuesday Society, in Mare Street. Assuming he's not an impostor...and assuming you're clever enough to navigate your way through their challenging ticket-booking site. £4-£12, 7pm

NANOTUBES: An update on the field of carbon electronics and the promise of nanotubes and fullerenes, at the Royal Society. FREE, 6.30pm

MATERIALS: Sticking with the theme, Dr Hywel Jones is at the Royal Society of Chemistry (Burlington House) to discuss the finite chemical resources so important for the electronics industry. FREE, 6.30pm

ASTRONOMY: What is a supermassive black hole, and why do rock band Muse seem to like them so much? Dr Omar Almaini is at the Royal Observatory to answer at least one of those questions in a SpaceTalk event. £5, 6.30pm

Saturday 15 October
SCI-FI: Ian Visits tells us that David Prowse (Darth Vader) will be signing his autobiography at Waterstones, Croydon, from 11am till 2pm. The sales force is strong in this one. FREE

Sunday 16 October
FILM: Clapham Picturehouse continues its season of sci-fi classics with a screening of Forbidden Planet, the 1956 reworking of Shakespeare's The Tempest with robots and spaceships. The film will be followed by a Q&A with science writer and Londonist friend Simon Frantz. £10, 2.30pm

Book Ahead
INTERNET: 7-11 November is Internet Week, with around 200 London events exploring online themes. If you work in an industry that's heavily reliant on the internet, you'll probably want to look through the programme now, and snap up places at relevant events. We'll have a digest of the best stuff nearer the time.

INTELLECTUAL DEBATE: Annual cerebrofest the Battle of Ideas is back at the end of this month (29-30 October). 350 speakers in 75 sessions, each confronting a pressing issue for society. Best book your ticket now, as these are always popular. £90 (full weekend), £55 (one day), concessions available

London Science Festival: Is 19-26 October...expect a dedicated article about it real soon...

Let us know in the comments if we've missed anything, or tip us off about upcoming geeky events by emailing matt@londonist.com

Image via the National Maritime Museum.

Last Updated 10 October 2011