Events to Watch This Week (19th – 26th March)

Another week and another list for you to feast your eyes ( and your minds! ) over. We have a whole host of our very own Imperial events for you to support especially around the UN’s International Day of Forests, and the Imperial Lates themed on the brain.

If you’re looking for something a little different, then try life drawing from scientific specimens, books launches, a science comedy show or play, take a tour of an underground urban farm in Clapham… or if you’re feeling a little wound up, why not go for a spot of forest bathing?

As always, enjoy your time, look after your minds, and check back in next week for more eclectic events!

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20th March: Planet Earth II, Live in Concert | Tickets from £100

“The City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra will perform music featuring breathtaking, specially-selected footage from Planet Earth II.

The spectacular live concert will be hosted by science and natural history TV presenter Liz Bonnin, with behind the scenes insights from Mike Gunton, the executive producer of the BAFTA and EMMY® award-winning BBC television series.

Featuring breathtaking, specially-selected footage shown in 4K ultra high-definition on a gigantic LED screen, the City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Matthew Freeman, will perform the remarkable music by Oscar winner Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea & Jasha Klebe for Bleeding Fingers Music.”

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20th March: Forest Bathing & Mindfulness in Nature | £45.86

“Join us and learn about the latest science and experience for yourself the health benefits of spending time in woodland and being immersed in nature, in the picturesque grounds of the Burrows Lea Country House and Harry Edwards Healing Sanctuary in the Surrey Hills.

TFBI founders Gary and Olga, have been leading forest bathing sessions for over 10 years and have led hundreds of sessions for thousands of people. They know it works from the transformations they have witnessed, but they also initiated a UK university scientific research programme which has already confirmed numerous health benefits.

Although you’ll learn about science and our latest research, this isn’t an intellectual exercise, you will also experience how to relax deeply in nature. Think of Forest Bathing as mindful time spent amongst trees.”

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21st March: How far will the UK go to align aid with the Paris Agreement by the International Institute for Environment and Development | Free

“The UK has made a strong commitment to align its aid spending with the Paris Agreement’s long-term goals. As the devastating consequences of climate change increase worldwide, so does the urgent need to turn this commitment into action.

Join us to examine the UK’s progress towards aligning aid with the Paris Agreement and learn from the experience of a Multilateral Development Bank working on this agenda. Together we will unpack the potential of the UK’s forthcoming International Development Strategy and the implications for developing countries’ climate finance planning.”

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21st March: Sex Ecologies Book Launch: conversation and film screening | Free

“Join artist Anne Duk Hee Jordan and curator Stefanie Hessler for a conversation and film screening of Jordan’s video Ziggy and the Starfish to celebrate the book launch of Sex Ecologies.

The publication is the result of a collaborative project between Kunsthall Trondheim and The Seed Box, co-published with The MIT Press. Accompanying an eponymous exhibition and public programs, and with contributions by 36 artists and scholars, the book explores the power of the erotic in human and more-than-human worlds. It presents newly commissioned texts and artworks alongside selected visionary essays exploring the intersections of queer theory and ecology.

Spanning diverse geographies and disciplines including art, environmental humanities, gender studies, science and technology studies, and Indigenous studies, the contributors deconstruct Eurocentric erotophobia and heterosexist and speciesist notions of nature, proposing nothing short of a reconceptualization of human relationships with nature. Sex Ecologies invokes ecological erotics for greater social and environmental justice.”

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22nd March: International Day of Forests – Sustainable Forestry in South-East Asia by Imperial’s Global Development Hub | Free

“Forests are home to about 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, and around 1.6 billion people depend directly on forests for food, shelter, energy, medicines and income. The importance of forests for development, whether in combating climate change or contributing to the well-being of people who depend on its resources, underscores a need to manage forests in a sustainable manner for current and future generations.

In commemoration of International Day of Forests this month, we bring together an expert panel to share about efforts and developments in forest policy and sustainable forestry in Southeast Asia, and how different initiatives and research come together to protect and manage the rainforests of the region and beyond.

Speakers

Dr Thu Thuy Pham – Team Leader, Climate Change, Energy & Low-Carbon Development, Centre for International Forestry Research

Dr Glen Reynolds – Director, Southeast Asia Rainforest Research Partnership

Dr Puay Yok Tan – Dean’s Chair Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Chief Science and Technology Officer, National Parks Board, and Group Director, Singapore Botanic Gardens

Chair

Dr Morena Mills – Reader in Environmental Policy and Practice, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London”

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22nd March: Reviving UK Waterways by Environmental Law Foundation and Imperial College London | Free

“On Tuesday 22nd March 2022, World Water Day, ELF and Imperial College London will be holding an all-day in-person/online event built around the communities ELF works with and driven by the water pollution problems that they are experiencing. We have a wonderful array of speakers lined up from across the UK and are delighted that Philip Dunne MP, Chair of the UK Parliament Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) will be providing an Opening Address.

The EAC’s recent report on water quality in rivers highlights the ‘chemical cocktail’ of pollution in England’s rivers. Alongside this, Environment Agency figures show that only 14% of the country’s rivers met good ecological status and no river met good chemical status. The event will explore the impact of sewerage and industrial pollutants/outfalls along with diffuse pollution sources and agricultural nutrients. The aim of the day is to identify the key environmental issues affecting UK communities that are in close contact with rivers and waterways and to scope the barriers and opportunities to their resolution from the communities’ perspective.”

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22nd to the 24th March: Hot Topics on Climate Change by London School of Economics Student Union | Free

“In this event, we will bring in different experts to address the role of their fields in the fight against climate change. We will have panels about advocacy and civil society, arbitration and the private sector, as well as regulation and public policy.”

22nd: Regulation, Public Polity, and Climate Change

23rd: Arbitration and Climate Change

24th: Activism, Advocacy and Climate Change

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22nd March: Software-isation: Software Quality Challenges for ICT Intense Industries by BCS | Free

“With a focus on the convergence of telecoms networks and IT networks, the technology catalyst for the transformation is software.  Various industries see a pressing need for dependable, reliable software.  However, the pressures on costs of development and maintenance, and the time to market imperative are ever present and increasing. 

In this second event of the Joint Software Initiative, we will strengthen the key structural themes of the supply side ecosystem.  The first workshop discovered focal points for further exploration: 

•  Control of supply chain
•  The Human factor
•  Stage of the art software development methodologies

By application of creative problem-solving techniques, the workshop will critically review industry case studies that may point to symptoms or evidence of underlying causes where application of new software techniques or technologies may improve future mid to long term outcomes. “

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23rd March: A Changing Planet Seminar: Plastics, Climate and the Art of making Change by Imperial College London | Free

“The global plastics crisis is symptomatic of unsustainable production and consumption patterns on a global scale. 175 nations have recently endorsed a resolution to end plastic pollution, which will address the full lifecycle of plastics and generate a systemic shift to a circular plastics economy. This presentation will consider the links between plastics, climate and climate action. I will also present on Revolution Plastics’ research in the global south, and how creative and grassroots approaches are being utilised to enable sustainable transitions to end plastic pollution.”

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23rd March: Infections That Use Touch to Transmit with Christ Whitty by Gresham College | Free

“Some diseases are spread almost exclusively by touch or through the skin or mucus membranes. These include Ebola, several parasitic diseases such as hookworm, strongyloides and scabies and some bacterial and fungal infections. Other diseases like COVID-19 and influenza are mainly transmitted via other routes but use touch as a secondary method of spread. This has implications for controlling these diseases, including the role of isolation and sanitation.”

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23rd March: Emotional – the New Thinking around Feelings by The Royal Institution | Free

“We’re told we need to master our emotions and think rationally to succeed. But cutting-edge science shows that feelings are every bit as important to our success as thinking.

Join Leonard Mlodinow as he discusses extraordinary advances in psychology and neuroscience that have proven that emotions are as critical to our wellbeing as thinking.

In this conversation, Leonard explores the cutting-edge research and deep insights into our evolution, biology, and neuroscience to discuss how our emotions help, why they sometimes hurt, and what we can make of the difference.”

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23rd March: Firmament: The Hidden Science of Weather and Climate with Simon Clark by Stanfords | £5

“Join us for a fascinating evening with scientist Simon Clark in conversation with friend and Science video producer Emily Bates about his debut book Firmament.

A thin, invisible layer of air surrounds the Earth, sustaining all known life on the planet and creating the unique climates and weather patterns that make each part of the world different. In Firmament, atmospheric scientist and science communicator Simon Clark offers a rare and accessible tour of the ins and outs of the atmosphere and how we know what we know about it. From the workings of its different layers to why carbon dioxide is special, from pioneers like Pascal to the unsung heroes working in the field to help us understand climate change, Firmament introduces us to an oft-overlooked area of science and not only lays the ground work for us to better understand the debates surrounding the climate today, but also provides a glimpse of the future that is possible with this knowledge in hand.”

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23rd March: Imperial Lates – The Brain | Free

“Science on the mind? At this Imperial Lates we journey into the brain with an evening of thoughtful, head-bending science, from psychedelic medicine and mind-controlled technology, to the brain chemistry of addiction and the impact of our online lives on our mental health.

This is your chance to get to know your grey matter as you design your own brain-deceiving optical illusions, make neuron-inspired string art, and put your questions to our brainy experts.

Register for Imperial Lates: The Brain and join us in South Kensington for this event, plus we’ll share links to tune in for our live online events during the week.”

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23rd March: European climate diplomacy | £0 – £5.98

“We are delighted to invite you to a public panel event held by Bright Blue in partnership with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, entitled: European climate diplomacy.

Despite the UK’s departure from the EU, there is still a case to be made for close cooperation between the two on climate change, especially on climate security, climate migration and climate innovation. In a world where authoritarian actors such as Russia and China are becoming more assertive, the need for deeper cooperation between liberal democracies has never been greater. At this event, our high-profile panel will discuss how UK and European politicians and policymakers can work closer together to lead the world on climate mitigation and adaptation.

At this event, Bright Blue and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung will also discuss our latest essay collection Fast Track? European climate diplomacy after COP26, which brings together essays from UK politicians, members of the European Parliament, academics and thought leaders.”

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23rd March: Women on the Frontline of the Climate Crisis by King’s College London | Free

“With women bearing the brunt of the climate crisis globally – the need to step up action to save our planet and platform women’s voices could not be greater. Join us to learn more about the women on the frontline of the climate crisis and push for action.

The evening starts with a screening of The Migration Blanket – Climate Solidarity – a short animated film by award-winning artist and women’s rights activist, Salma Zulfiqar, refugee and marginalised women around the world. This will be followed by a panel discussion with special guests on the female experience of the climate crisis, the role of women in the climate movement, and what more needs to be done by governments around the world.”

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23rd March: The New Age of Catastrophe: with Professor Alex Callinicos by King’s College London | Free

“This farewell lecture develops some of the themes of Professor Alex Callinicos’s forthcoming book with Polity. The title reflects the main thesis of the book, that the world has entered a period comparable to that between 1914 and 1945, which Eric Hobsbawm called ‘the Age of Catastrophe’ and Arno Mayer ‘the Thirty Years War of the general crisis of the 20th century’.

The present global conjuncture involves a multidimensional crisis that is simultaneously

• Biological, arising from the increasing disruption of the relation between humans and nature caused above all by fossil capitalism: climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic are the obvious examples;
• Economic: what Michael Roberts calls the ‘Long Depression’ that developed after the global financial crisis and that has forced states increasingly to break with the neoliberal economic policy regime;
• Geopolitical: the increasingly intense competition between the US and its allies and Russia and China – the Ukraine War illustrates but doesn’t exhaust this;
• Political: the advance of the far right, which has succeeded far more than the radical left in exploiting the crisis of mainstream neoliberalism.”

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23rd March: Crick Night: Outwitting Cancer by the Francis Crick Institute | Free

“Start your night off with a twist and join us for Crick Nights a series of extraordinary evenings where curiosity takes centre stage. Grab your free drink and get behind the science – chat to world class scientists, get crafty with hands-on activities, and explore our immersive exhibition.

Join an exclusive evening, with personalised tours of our exhibition ‘Outwitting Cancer’ from the people who made it happen – top exhibition designers, our amazing patient panel and our world-class scientists who are at the forefront of cancer research.

You can also get creative with hands-on activities and design your own personal keepsake of the evening.”

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23rd March: Solving issues around air pollution: At Imperial and Beyond by Imperial College London | Free

“Join us for a panel discussion about with a panel of Imperial College London experts who will be discussing issues around air pollution. This discussion will focus on air pollution within the Imperial college campus and the wider London areas and what can be done about it.”

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23rd March: SCIENCE SHOWOFF SURVIVES | £9.21

“Eight hilarious science people. One chance to be incredible on stage.

The UK’s most ridiculous science comedy night is back!

Join your MC Steve Cross and eight perfect performers for silliness, facts, nonsense and EXTREME LEARNING.

Starring: Faz Alam, Quang Tran, Anna George, Noemi Gyori, Lucy Davies….AND MORE”

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24th March: Ancient DNA in the time of Stonehenge by the British Museum | Free

What can ancient DNA tell us about how people lived in the time of Stonehenge?

From diet to migration, the study of ancient DNA is providing new information about the lives of those in the Stonehenge landscape and beyond. In this event, chaired by Andrew Fitzpatrick, we hear from experts in this field

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24th March: Drawing Workshop at the Museum of Life Sciences | Free

Artist and model, May Prothero, will lead a drawing session of taxidermy/skeletons at the Museum of Live Sciences. All levels welcome.

The Museum of Life Sciences exists to celebrate and explain the diversity of animal and plant life in the context of the biological and health sciences. This little-known part of the heritage of King’s College London is the first new museum in the College for over 100 years. Opened in 2009, it brings together historic biological and pharmaceutical collections from the constituent colleges that make up the modern College.

Specimens date from the early 19th century to the present and include skeletal material, fluid-preserved items, taxidermy, dried material, fossils and fossil casts, microscope and 35mm slides as well as a herbarium of plant material. They come from a variety of habitats around the world from the arctic to the tropics, from the deep sea to the Russian steppes.

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24th March: Towards 2030: Realising the UK’s AI ambitions by Queen Mary University | Free

Over the next decade, artificial intelligence (AI) is set to transform business and society and the UK has recently outlined its goal to become a global AI superpower in its National AI Strategy.

As a leading research-intensive university with internationally recognised expertise in AI, Queen Mary University of London will support the UK’s plans through training the future AI workforce and delivering digital research innovations with impact for industry, government and society. Our new Digital Environment Research Institute (DERI) sits at the centre of these ambitions to foster multi-disciplinary research into AI and data science for the benefit of society.

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24th March: AI in Sport: An Overview by London School of Economics | Free

To make the best decisions, tell the best stories or make the best predictions in sport, teams, media and betting firms are looking to use more granular data to better reconstruct player and team performance.

In this talk, Patrick Lucey, PhD (Chief Scientist, Stats Perform) will cover these aspects by discussing:

1. The brief history of sports data and what AI can do (and cannot do)
2. Creating tracking data and deriving semantics and quality metrics from it
3. Utilising tracking data via interactive interfaces to answer questions on strategy, search and simulation
4. Prediction applications – i.e. player recruitment and match/season forecasting

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24th March: Growing Underground urban farm tour | £32 – £55

Feeling curious? Growing Underground operates 33 meters underneath the streets of Clapham, London in a former WWII air raid shelter.

Forget what you think a farm looks like and follow the pink glow…

• Explore the famous ‘pink’ futuristic farm
• Discover the fascinating history of the tunnels, how the farm came to be and it’s future role in a sustainable world
• Take home the freshest micro herb salad in town, picked straight off the farm. (This is not just any old salad, these beauties will knock your taste buds into check with the added bonus of zero food miles!)

Will you join us down the rabbit hole?

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25th March: What a Mouse Knows – Play by Maisie Tomlinson | Free

“We used to worship mice’s transgressions, their liminality between the worlds of life and death. But now we can’t bear contradiction. It makes our charts messy.”

Two scientists, bound and estranged by a family tragedy, and a mouse whose behaviour starts to baffle.

A play about the search for answers, from the laboratory benches of Britain’s animal welfare debates.

Directed by Ed Madden (Yellowfin, Southwark Playhouse), this is a workshop performance of a new play based on social research in an animal experimentation facility.

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26th March: ParkBathe Session 18 by Citizen Science Green Health | Free

A free 1 hr adult guided Forest Bathing session in Crystal Palace Park as part of a Citizen Science Green Health Project.

Funded by the National Lottery, this well received initiative is a citizen-science project to look at how Forest Bathing can improve the health and wellbeing of people who might not normally engage in mindful or wellbeing activities. Forest Bathing is simply walking slowly in nature whilst noticing our surroundings.

The 1 hr sessions are FREE and consist of walking in small groups (max 12 people) in Crystal Palace Park. We encourage you to BOOK MORE THAN ONE SESSION (3 is an ideal number) so you can gain the accumulative effects. This additional data will also help our health study to track the wellbeing benefits of continued forest bathing.

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26th March: Instant Expert: Frontiers of Cosmology by New Scientist | £129 – £149

A one-day masterclass for anyone interested in cosmology, whatever your age or background, to learn directly from the experts.

Albert Einstein’s space-and-time-warping theories of relativity have revolutionised our view of the cosmos over the past century.

At this event, six expert speakers will guide you on a 13.8-billion-year journey through the cosmos. On the way you’ll learn what happened at the big bang and the nature of the universe’s missing 95%. You’ll look at some of the mysteries still surrounding black holes, find out what gravitational waves tell us about the history of the universe, and understand why physicists see a need for a quantum theory of gravity.

Hosted by physicist and New Scientist Executive Editor Richard Webb, our one-day masterclass offers the chance to learn directly from the experts in the fascinating fields of cosmology and relativity.

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Sofia Hurst is the Deputy News Editor for I,Science and is studying an MSc in Science Communications at Imperial College London