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October 2015
Ann Veronica Janssens: yellowbluepink
This new installation by Ann Veronica Janssens explores light and colour as she invades the gallery with coloured mist. Colour is caught in a state of suspension, obscuring any detail of surface or depth. Instead, attention is focussed on the process of perception itself. Janssens’s work is both disorienting and uplifting as the daily wonder of conscious experience is given renewed emphasis.
Find out more »November 2015
Hamilton, Boole and their Algebras
William Rowan Hamilton (1805-1865) revolutionized algebra with his discovery of quaternions, a non-commutative algebraic system, as well as his earlier work on complex numbers. George Boole (1815-1864) contributed to probability and differential equations, but his greatest achievement was to create an algebra of logic 'Boolean algebra'. These new algebras were not only important to the development of algebra but remain of current use.
Find out more »December 2015
Glass Delusions
How do minerals become living things? In this exhibition of prints, drawings, videos and objects, Artist in Residence Eleanor Morganexplores the slippery boundary between living and non-living materials. Her work is inspired by the Grant Museum's collection of intricate glass sponges – animals that naturally build themselves out of glass – they are formed of 90% silica. Over the last year, Eleanor Morgan has been the Leverhulme Trust funded Artist in Residence at the Grant Museum of Zoology. Investigating the collection…
Find out more »Galactic Archaeology
The history of our galaxy will be addressed by a local approach that is in essence the search for fossils. To probe back in time, one can look in our vicinity for the oldest stars. This motivates exploration of the field of galactic archaeology where one effectively digs into the past. Stars that formed long before our Sun are different; they are deprived of most heavy elements. Their orbits and their chemical signatures trace the evolution of the galaxy. We will…
Find out more »The Lord Treasurer of Botany
Founder's Day 18:00 Wednesday 2nd December 2015 In 1784, James Edward Smith, an unknown medical student from Norwich, outbid and outwitted the scientific community of Europe in the race to possess the natural history collections of Carl Linnaeus. Using the collections as his calling card, Smith forged a highly successful career in natural history at a time when there were few such opportunities. In addition to founding the Linnean Society of London, Smith became a popular lecturer, a tutor to…
Find out more »Genome regulation and the epigenome
Our DNA contains tens of thousands of individual genes that encode vital information responsible for the biological activities necessary for life. Most tissues in our body carry out very specialized processes which ultimately require that specific subsets of genes are used in the right place and at the right time. Join Professor Klose to learn more about his research focussed on understanding how chromatin based and epigenetic mechanisms are exploited to ensure proper gene regulation. The Francis Crick Lecture is…
Find out more »Art and Culture: Imaging Space Travel
The cosmos has fascinated the creative mind for centuries. In the early 20th century the artistic and the creative, the spiritual and the philosophical paved the way for engineers and scientists in their quest to achieve space travel. Cosmist Nikolay Fedorov’s ‘Philosophy of the Common Task’ inspired generations of scientists and artists alike. From the drawings of space visionary Konstantin Tsiolkovsky to early sci-fi films like ‘Cosmic Voyage’ and the propaganda posters of the space age, depictions of space have gone far beyond…
Find out more »Imperial Fringe: It is rocket science
Kicking off celebrations to mark British astronaut Tim Peake's launch into space, this evening provides a unique opportunity to discover how Imperial researchers and some of its Exhibition Road neighbours are uncovering the secrets beyond Earth's orbit. Come and talk to Imperial's space scientists and get hands-on with research from across the College, with opportunities to: Journey through the solar system without even leaving South Kensington in an inflatable planetarium Create your own meteorite crashes, search for fragments in the desert, and get up close and personal with real life rocky visitors from outer space with…
Find out more »Children’s Christmas Lecture
The Universe and the idea that we’re not alone has captivated our imaginations for centuries. And while we’ve yet to discover life beyond Earth, this doesn’t stop us trying! With several space missions to look for alien life planned for the near future, Astrobiologist Dr Zita Martins will take us on an exciting journey to help us get to know our Universe a little better. This whistle stop tour through space and time will include a close look at different planets and moons across…
Find out more »Sunspots: Spoken Word at Kings Place
Is the Sun a god, a man, a woman, or simply a giant ball of hydrogen? Why does it tell fibs about its favourite painters? Is the Sun afraid of dying? Does it get depressed? And what does it really think about us? Sunspots is a poetic, musical, and visual journey from the birth of the Sun, through its longand eventful life, towards its ultimate death. Simon Barraclough(Poet in Residence at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory) is your guide to the Sun…
Find out more »Festival of the Spoken Nerd: Just for Graphs
The science comedy phenomenon returns, and this time they're off the chart. Join acclaimed stand-up mathematician Matt Parker, experiments maestro Steve ‘Danger’ Mould and geek songstress Helen Arney for graph-a-minute fun on an unprecedented linear scale. Last year’s smash hit ‘Full Frontal Nerdity’ was "great, funny, clever… even the heckles at this terrific show are smart" **** (The Scotsman). Since then, the Nerds have appeared across TV and Radio, at the Hammersmith Apollo and in their own peer-reviewed DVD -…
Find out more »Lunch Hour Lectures: Cannabis: pleasure, madness and medicine
Cannabis has been used throughout history for medicinal as well as pleasurable effects. Its 100 unique ingredients vary widely in different types of cannabis, posing a range of questions in terms of medicalisation and legalisation. This lecture will look at its effects, but also its potential.
Find out more »What is the future for beavers in Britain?
Could beavers be successfully re-established in Britain and what affect would they have on local biodiversity? Beavers are ecosystem engineers which, by building dams and channels, create and maintain wetlands. Through these activities, beavers have the potential to increase local biodiversity, reduce downstream flooding, and improve water quality. In Britain, beavers were hunted to extinction hundreds of years ago. Recent interest in rewilding has led to a number of small-scale beaver restoration projects. The outcomes of these projects, combined with…
Find out more »Teaching excellence: Can one size fit all?
In its newly-published green paper (Fulfilling our Potential: Teaching Excellence, Social Mobility and Student Choice), the Government has outlined its plans to boost teaching standards, increase participation in higher education by people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and ensure students get value for money from higher education. At the heart of these plans is a new Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), which will use measures such as student satisfaction, retention rates and job prospects to identify universities offering excellent teaching. The TEF has…
Find out more »Festival of the Spoken Nerd: Just for Graphs
The science comedy phenomenon returns, and this time they're off the chart. Join acclaimed stand-up mathematician Matt Parker, experiments maestro Steve ‘Danger’ Mould and geek songstress Helen Arney for graph-a-minute fun on an unprecedented linear scale. Last year’s smash hit ‘Full Frontal Nerdity’ was "great, funny, clever… even the heckles at this terrific show are smart" **** (The Scotsman). Since then, the Nerds have appeared across TV and Radio, at the Hammersmith Apollo and in their own peer-reviewed DVD -…
Find out more »Lunch Hour Lectures: Truth and lies: medicine in the media
There has never been a more confusing time to consume health information, as scientists and doctors struggle to agree and big questions are continuously debated. Dr Chris van Tulleken attempts to find a way through the confusion.
Find out more »Lifting the lid: The Royal Society since 1960
The Royal Society may be one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious scientific bodies, but what has it done in the last 50 years? In post-war Britain science was growing and public interest was surging, but the Royal Society struggled to find a place for itself in this changing world. Its survival strategy was to look beyond itself: championing research excellence, providing the independent advice governments needed, fostering international scientific relations and inspiring public interest in science. But just…
Find out more »Brian Cox and Robin Ince’s Christmas Compendium of Reason
Brian Cox and Robin Ince's Christmas Compendium is a festive institution, stuffed with an explosive collision of science, music comedy and fascination, including charm quarks, strange quarks and confusion. All proceeds are going to great charities like Médecins Sans Frontières UK and the Sophie Lancaster Foundation. 2014’s show featured not only The Cure, and renowned American planetary scientist Carolyn Porco, but surprises for comedy lovers, music fans, and science diehards alike. Past guests include Hugh Grant, Astronaut Chris Hadfield, Ross…
Find out more »Brian Cox and Robin Ince’s Christmas Compendium of Reason
Brian Cox and Robin Ince's Christmas Compendium is a festive institution, stuffed with an explosive collision of science, music comedy and fascination, including charm quarks, strange quarks and confusion. All proceeds are going to great charities like Médecins Sans Frontières UK and the Sophie Lancaster Foundation. 2014’s show featured not only The Cure, and renowned American planetary scientist Carolyn Porco, but surprises for comedy lovers, music fans, and science diehards alike. Past guests include Hugh Grant, Astronaut Chris Hadfield, Ross…
Find out more »Science in the Media: Dodgy Science Reporting, Ghostbusting and Doctor Who
Hear about the science of Doctor Who from a scientist who is also a consultant to Doctor Who's scriptwriters, find out about the credibility (scientifically and otherwise) of ghosthunting TV programme from a former ghosthunter now turned ghostbuster, and discover just how much rubbish science reporting there really is in our national press.
Find out more »Fiction Lab
Jennifer Rohn of Lablit.com hosts the monthly book club dedicated to great fiction books with a science theme. If you're an interested reader who has something to say, then come along. The format of Fiction Lab is simple; read the book beforehand and then drop into the Ri to discuss it with other fiction lovers. Fiction Lab will be held in the Conversation Room this month. Admission is free and there is no need to book tickets in advance. This month's book…
Find out more »Science London: A bright Quizmas 3
‘All good things come in three,’ said some boffin once. And they were right. After two greedy years of full-on festive quizzing and comedy, Science London returns for a third helping. This one, however, promises to outdo its predecessors. Every last stop has been yanked right out; Brian Cox’s smile has been distilled into pure unadulterated Christmas smarm; a new concoction of bizarre ‘quiz rounds’ have been innovated; and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, spectacular prizes have been wrapped and – I have…
Find out more »London SciComm Social Christmas Quiz
On 16th December London SciComm Socials will be in The Bloomsbury Studio (underneath The Bloomsbury Theatre) for an AMAZING CHRISTMAS QUIZ! The doors will open at 7pm. Quiz starts at 7.30pm. They asked people who came to our first two events to set the questions, and we will be giving away incredible science prizes.* (*prizes may not be incredible) Questions will be set by: Charlotte Pike - Outreach and Impact Leader for UCL Earth Sciences, previously of GeoBus in Scotland. Dominic Galliano…
Find out more »Behind the Scenes Tour of the Christmas Lectures
This is your opportunity to get involved with the magic of the CHRISTMAS LECTURES. In this hour-long tour of the Royal Institution, find out how the Lectures shape; sneak into the rehearsals, take a peek in our workshop and see how the demonstrations come to life. Discover the history of the Lectures and delve into our archives to see props from your favourite year's Lectures.
Find out more »Behind the Scenes Tour of the Christmas Lectures
This is your opportunity to get involved with the magic of the CHRISTMAS LECTURES. In this hour-long tour of the Royal Institution, find out how the Lectures shape; sneak into the rehearsals, take a peek in our workshop and see how the demonstrations come to life. Discover the history of the Lectures and delve into our archives to see props from your favourite year's Lectures.
Find out more »Christmas Lectures 2015 Live Screening
You can still be a part of the fun by watching a live feed on the big screen of all the action in the adjacent theatre. Unlike the tickets for the theatre, there are no age restrictions and you don't have to be a member of the Royal Institution to book tickets so everyone can join in. Dr Kevin Fong opens a window onto today’s most exciting space missions, explores the future of space travel, and offers a unique insight…
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