What's on

Festival Event

Henry Gee - A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth

Join the 2022 Royal Society Science Book Prize winner Henry Gee at the Northern Ireland Science Festival.

Friday 17 February 2023

02/17/2023

02/17/2023

In A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth, winner of the Royal Society Science Book Prize, Dr Henry Gee zips through the last 4.6 billion years with infectious enthusiasm and intellectual rigour. Drawing on the very latest scientific understanding and writing in a clear, accessible style, he tells an enlightening tale of survival and persistence that illuminates the delicate balance within which life has always existed. This event is in partnership with The Royal Society and hosted by the Northern Ireland Science Festival.  Attending the event This is a ticketed event. Please purchase a ticket . For all enquiries, please contact info@nisciencefestival.com.

Free Event

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Transforming Our Future

Machine learning and AI in biological science, drug discovery and medicine

Wednesday 01 March 2023

03/01/2023

03/01/2023

This Royal Society conference will bring together stakeholders from industry and academia to explore advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence for biological research, drug discovery and medicine. Whilst these computational technologies are already transforming biological, clinical and pharmaceutical research, significant obstacles remain, in particular around skills, financing, and accessibility. Concerted industry/academia collaboration will be required to address these challenges. Following a keynote address from Dr Demis Hassabis CBE FREng FRS (DeepMind), three sessions around biology, chemistry and medicine will include talks on machine learning for target discovery and 'omic technologies, AI-based chemoinformatics, and computational clinical trial design, as well as the classical prediction of protein folding. The conference will conclude with a panel discussion to address how to reintegrate data from specialised biological subdisciplines, reflect on the barriers faced by researchers when accessing and using machine learning technologies, and consider strategies to drive continued interdisciplinary innovation. About the conference series Supported by AstraZeneca, the meeting forms part of the Royal Society’s Transforming our future series in the life sciences. These meetings are unique, high-level events that address the scientific and technical challenges of the next decade. Each conference features cutting-edge science from industry and academia and brings together leading experts from the scientific community, including regulatory, charity and funding bodies. Attending this event This will be a hybrid event In-person attendance is invitation only Please register to attend online For the programme, scroll down and click on the arrows to see the speakers and abstracts for their talks The Royal Society has an acceptable use policy for all online events, and we expect our users to abide by these guidelines For any queries or accessibility requirements, please email the Industry Team.

Free

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History Of Science

Royal Society lates: fakes, forgeries and misinformation

Thursday 02 March 2023

03/02/2023

03/02/2023

Fake news is not a recent phenomenon. Throughout history, scientific information has been shared inaccurately – either unintentionally or maliciously. Join us at the Royal Society for an evening exploring scientific fakes, forgeries and misinformation. Discover remarkable scientific stories and artefacts housed in our extensive, world-class archives, including the story of the first Fellow ejected from the Royal Society for ‘diverse frauds’ and a more recent perpetual motion machine. Get up close and personal with AI-generated art and speak to experts on cryptocurrencies, false memories and faking it in the natural world.  Attending this event In-person event  Over-18s only Free to attend No registration required Doors will open at 6.30pm and admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis This event may be popular and entry cannot be guaranteed Food and drink available to purchase View our travel and accessibility information Certain talks will be recorded and available online after the event Events and activities More talks and workshops to be announced. Some events may be busy and seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Challenging misinformation (7.30pm) Bringing the discussion up to date, Professor Frank Kelly and misinformation experts Dr Alessandro Siani and Dr Bnar Talabani talk to journalist Julie Gould to explore the challenge of misinformation in the online age, and how to tackle it.  Piltdown - the man that wasn't (6.40pm) In 1912, the sensational ‘discovery’ of ‘Piltdown Man’ was announced to the world. Join the Natural History Museum’s Professor Chris Stringer CBE FRS as he reviews the greatest scientific hoax in history and current thinking about "whodunnit". The frauds and marvels of Rudolph Raspe (7.00pm, 7.30pm, 8.00pm, 8.30pm) The extraordinary fabulist, Rudolf Erich Raspe, became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1769 but was rapidly ejected for ‘diverse frauds’. Join Keith Moore from our library team as he retells the shady career of Raspe as a con-man, thief and accidental literary great. Cryptocurrency scams and frauds: a cautionary tale (7.10pm, 8.40pm) Cryptocurrency scams and fraud have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, with victims losing millions of pounds. UCL PhD researcher, Arianna Trozze, explores current research on these crimes as well as what may lie in the future for cryptocurrencies. How brain diseases affect our memories? (8.10pm, 9.10pm) Join Professor Paresh Malhotra from Imperial College London as he delves into the diseases that cause impaired memory, and current controversies affecting this critically area of medicine. Create your own mythical creature (6.30pm, 8.20pm) Published in 1587, naturalist Conrad Gessner wrote the first animal encyclopedia which featured dragons amongst its menagerie. Travel back in time to this era of exploration and discovery to create your own fantastical creature with the help of artist, Tim Pond. Give a name for your cryptid and place it on the map.  Adam Savage vs The "Perpetual Motion" Machine (6.30pm, 8.20pm) Among the artefacts housed at the Royal Society is a curious device purporting to be a perpetual motion machine. Watch this video where Tested host, Adam Savage, and our own archivist, Virginia Mills, explore the backstory of this mysterious object and try to uncover how it works, before checking out the machine yourself. Fake or Fortune (all-evening) Join the Bank of England Museum in a test of your skills - can you spot the fakes? See forged banknotes of the past up close and explore the methods used to protect our currency. From social history to science and technology, come and see items from our collection which are not normally on display.

The Royal Society

Free

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Conference

Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing

06 - 08 March 2023

03/06/2023

03/08/2023

The Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing will take place on 6-8 March 2023 at the Francis Crick Institute, London UK. Building on previous events held in Washington, DC (2015) and Hong Kong (2018), the London meeting will continue the global dialogue on somatic and germline human genome editing. Major themes for discussion include developments in clinical trials and genome editing tools such as CRISPR/Cas9, as well as social, ethical and accessibility considerations these scientific developments entail. The three-day Summit is being organised by the Royal Society, the UK Academy of Medical Sciences, the US National Academies of Sciences and Medicine and The World Academy of Sciences. Find out more about the Summit’s Planning Committee, chaired by Professor Robin Lovell-Badge FMedSci FRS. In preparation for the Summit, a three-part series of online events was held in 2022 'Looking Ahead to the Third Human Genome Editing Summit', which focused on scientific developments, equity and access, and governance of human genome editing. Recordings of all the presentations are available to watch. Further information about the Summit agenda will be released soon, and registration to attend the event is now open.

London

Free

scientificareas healthandhumansciences organismalbiologyevolutionandecology microbiologyimmunologyanddevelopmentalbiology london conference freeevents liveevents upcomming

Prize Lecture

Astronomy by Microscope

Join us for the Michael Faraday Prize Lecture given by 2022 winner Professor Monica M Grady.

Monday 06 March 2023

03/06/2023

03/06/2023

Traditionally, astronomers study stars and planets by telescope. However, we can also learn about them by using a microscope, through studying meteorites.   Meteorites are fragments of ancient material, natural objects that survive their fall to Earth from space. Some are metallic, but most are made of stone. They are the oldest objects that we have for study. Almost all meteorites are fragments from asteroids, and were formed at the birth of the Solar System, approximately 4567 million years ago. They show a compositional variation that spans a whole range of planetary materials, from completely unmelted and unfractionated stony chondrites to highly fractionated and differentiated iron meteorites. Meteorites, and components within them, carry records of all stages of Solar System history. From meteorites, we can learn about the processes and materials that shaped the Solar System and our planet. Tiny grains within meteorites have come from other stars, giving information about the stellar neighbourhood in which the Sun was born. Some meteorites contain organic compounds – materials which might have helped life on Earth to get started. There are also meteorites from the Moon and from Mars that give us insights to how these bodies have formed and evolved. In her lecture, Monica will describe how the microscope is another tool that can be employed to trace stellar and planetary processes.  Professor Monica M Grady CBE was awarded the 2022 prize for her significant contributions to the field of planetary science, and her dedication and enthusiasm for public engagement, particularly in raising the profile of STEM subjects for young women.  The Royal Society Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture is awarded annually to the scientist or engineer whose expertise in communicating scientific ideas in lay terms is exemplary. The award is named after Michael Faraday FRS, the influential inventor and electrical pioneer who was prominent in the public communication of science and founded the Christmas lectures at the Royal Institution. Attending the event The event is free to join and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available in-person and virtually Attending in person This lecture can be attended in person at the Royal Society Doors will open to the public at 6.40pm GMT. Entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and cannot be guaranteed Travel and accessibility information Attending live online The lecture will also be livestreamed here and on the Royal Society YouTube channel You can take part in the live Q&A (details to follow) This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event  For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org

The Royal Society

Free

scientificareas theroyalsociety prizelecture freeevents liveevents upcomming

Online

Young People's Book Prize 2022 Award Ceremony

How do you build a skyscraper? Or say hello in Japanese? Can we farm insects, or eat microbes? What is rewilding? And what is Rosalind Franklin famous for?

Tuesday 07 March 2023

03/07/2023

03/07/2023

The six books shortlisted for the Young People’s Book Prize 2022 have launched children across the UK on a quest to meet scientists and engineers in past and present history, find answers to the world's most pressing challenges and discover the wide range of life forms on Earth, from the incredible world of microbes to the wolves of Yellowstone Park. This year, a record-breaking 720 UK schools, science clubs and youth groups have taken up the challenge of judging this year’s prize. Over 14,000 young judges have poured over the pages full of bridges, beakers and beetles and have now declared their winner.  This year's award ceremony will again be hosted by BAFTA-winning TV presenter Lindsey Russell and is an excellent occasion to meet the authors and discover this year’s winner. Don’t forget to grab a pen and paper as your knowledge of the shortlisted books will also be put to test in our Young People’s Book Prize Big Quiz! The Young People’s Book Prize is made possible thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor. Discover more about the Prize here.  The authors and illustrators joining us live during the event are Madeleine Finlay, Beetles for Breakfast… and Other Weird and Wonderful Ways to Save The Planet Kate Pankhurst, Fantastically Great Women Scientists and Their Stories Catherine Barr, Fourteen Wolves Jenni Desmond, Fourteen Wolves Roma Agrawal, How Was That Built? Katie Hickey, How Was That Built? Jackie McCann, If the World Were 100 People Aaron Cushley, If the World Were 100 People Gill Arbuthnott, Microbe Wars Marianna Madriz, Microbe Wars   Attending the event The event is free to join and there is no registration required Live captioning will be available The event will be livestreamed here and on the Royal Society YouTube channel You can send your questions to the authors and illustrators in advance (details to follow) This event will be recorded and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event For all enquiries, please contact education@royalsociety.org.

Online

Free

online online freeevents liveevents upcomming

Transforming Our Future

Sustainability in the research and innovation endeavour

This conference will explore possibilities for enhancing the environmental sustainability of research and innovation activities in both wet and dry laboratory environments.

16 - 17 May 2023

05/16/2023

05/17/2023

  This hybrid Royal Society conference, developed in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry, will offer a forum to connect a broad range of individuals working within both wet and dry laboratory environments who have an interest in enhancing the environmental sustainability of research and innovation activities. These will include senior leaders from industry and academia as well as scientists, technicians, and students. It will take a discursive approach to highlight and explore this topic, consider trade-offs and myths, examine examples of good practice and promising innovations, explore current and future challenges, discuss how progress might be measured, and foster opportunities for collaboration. The conference will contain a number of elements, including: a series of roundtable discussions reflections from the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Academy of Medical Sciences on recent publications and workshops future direction of travel for the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework case studies from industry discussion about metrics, data collection, and lifecycle assessments Scope 3 emissions a discussion for laboratory scientists, technicians and data scientists discussion with funding bodies There will also be unstructured time during refreshment breaks for networking and discussion.  About the conference series Supported by Rolls Royce, this meeting forms part of the Royal Society’s Transforming our future series. These meetings are unique, high-level events that address the scientific and technical challenges of the next decade. Each conference features cutting-edge science from industry and academia and brings together leading experts from the scientific community, including regulatory, charity and funding bodies. A written report will be published within three months of the conference. Attending this event This will be a hybrid event In-person attendance is invitation only Please register to attend online For the programme, scroll down and click on the arrows to see the speakers and abstracts for their talks The Royal Society has an acceptable use policy for all online events, and we expect our users to abide by these guidelines For any queries or accessibility requirements, please email the Industry Team.

Free

chemistry chemistry chemistry chemistry chemistry engineering engineering engineering engineering engineering engineering engineering engineering engineering engineering healthandhumansciences healthandhumansciences healthandhumansciences healthandhumansciences healthandhumansciences organismalbiologyevolutionandecology transformingourfuture freeevents liveevents upcomming

Places Of Science

Geometry is a number in space, music is a number in time

Leighton House brings back their Saturday Family Fun series with an exciting journey of practical discovery exploring music, art, geometry and sound.

Saturday 21 January 2023

01/21/2023

01/21/2023

The programme is supported by the Royal Society's Places of science grant scheme.  Explore the beauty to be found in pattern and repetition as you create and colour Islamic geometric patterns, using a compass and ruler, with Samira Mian. Attending the event This workshop will take place at Leighton House on 21 January at 2pm This workshop is suitable for children aged 5 to 11 years £5 per child, with free entry for an accompanying adult Please note that children should be accompanied by an adult at all times  All materials to be provided Accompanying adults come for free and admission to the historic house is included About Places of science Through the Places of science grant scheme this year, 36 small museums across the United Kingdom have received up to £3,500 to run projects that tell stories of science to their local community. From family days at the museum, through community-led creation and curation, to workshops for schools and documentary film-making, each project offers an exciting way for people to engage with science in the local area and beyond. Explore the projects that we have funded.

London

£5

london placesofscience pastevents

Places Of Science

Geometry is a number in space, music is a number in time

Leighton House brings back their Saturday Family Fun series with an exciting journey of practical discovery exploring music, art, geometry and sound.

Saturday 14 January 2023

01/14/2023

01/14/2023

The programme is supported by the Royal Society's Places of science grant scheme.  Explore the beauty to be found in pattern and repetition as you create and colour Islamic geometric patterns, on grids and templates with Samira Mian. Attending the event This workshop will take place at Leighton House on 14 January at 2pm This workshop is suitable for children aged 5 to 11 years £5 per child, with free entry for an accompanying adult Please note that children should be accompanied by an adult at all times  All materials to be provided Accompanying adults come for free and admission to the historic house is included About Places of science Through the Places of science grant scheme this year, 36 small museums across the United Kingdom have received up to £3,500 to run projects that tell stories of science to their local community. From family days at the museum, through community-led creation and curation, to workshops for schools and documentary film-making, each project offers an exciting way for people to engage with science in the local area and beyond. Explore the projects that we have funded.

London

£5

london placesofscience pastevents

Prize Lecture

DNA graffiti: Mutation patterns in human cancer and how to use them in medicine

The Francis Crick Lecture 2022 given by Professor Serena Nik-Zainal.

Thursday 12 January 2023

01/12/2023

01/12/2023

Professor Serena Nik-Zainal developed expertise in cancer whole genome sequence (WGS) analysis and interpretation just as next-generation sequencing approaches were coming to the fore. With only 21 breast cancer WGS samples available in 2012, it became clear that human cancers were highly individual. Each cancer is profoundly marked by an extensive amount of mutagenesis, all previously hidden, prior to the advent of WGS. Etched into the DNA of cancers are graffiti-like mutation patterns, which could be informative of underlying biological abnormalities, unique to each person’s cancer, with potential for application in precision medicine.  In this lecture, Professor Nik-Zainal will describe how her team have explored the extraordinary DNA graffiti that has been seen in human cancers, using a combination of big data computational approaches and systematic experimental methods. She will provide an account of how they have designed algorithms that could be used to interpret cancer genomes for clinical purposes and how they have taken steps towards clinical validation studies for her algorithms. Professor Nik-Zainal will touch on her team’s recent endeavour, reporting the largest cohort of WGS cancers worldwide of nearly 20,000 patients recruited via the NHS. She will end by bringing the audience through a selection of real cancer WGS patient stories. Attending the event The event is free to join Registration is recommended to attend in person otherwise availability cannot be guaranteed Live subtitles will be available in person and online. Attending in person  This lecture can be attended in person at the Royal Society Doors will open to the public at 6pm Registration is recommended if attending in person, otherwise availability cannot be guaranteed Travel and accessibility information Attending live online The lecture will also be livestreamed here and on the Royal Society YouTube channel You can take part in the live Q&A which will be available on this page This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event The Royal Society has an acceptable use policy for all online events, and we expect our users to abide by these guidelines. The award The Francis Crick Medal and Lecture is awarded annually in any field in the biological sciences. Preference is given to genetics, molecular biology and neurobiology, the general areas in which Francis Crick worked, and to fundamental theoretical work, which was the hallmark of Crick’s science. The lectureship was endowed by Sydney Brenner FRS in memory of Francis Crick FRS, the co-discoverer of the structure of the DNA molecule. The first lecture was given in 2003. The medal is of bronze, is awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £2,000. Enquiries: contact the Events team.

The Royal Society

Free

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Places Of Science

Family fun: exploring music and creating sound at Leighton House

Leighton House brings back their Saturday Family Fun series with an exciting journey of practical discovery exploring music, art, geometry and sound. 

07 - 21 January 2023

01/07/2023

01/21/2023

The programme is supported by the Royal Society's Places of science grant scheme.  7 January, 2pm - 3.30pm: Making Instruments, Pitch and Volume - Join science specialist Karen Hodgetts in a hands-on workshop making instruments and exploring the science of pitch and volume. 14 January, 2pm - 3.30pm: Geometry is a Number in Space, Music is a Number in Time - Explore the beauty to be found in pattern and repetition as you create and colour Islamic geometric patterns, on grids and templates, with Samira Mian. 21 January, 2pm - 3.30pm: Geometry is a Number in Space, Music is a Number in Time - Explore the beauty to be found in pattern and repetition as you create and colour Islamic geometric patterns, using a compass and ruler, with Samira Mian. Attending the workshops This workshops will take place at Leighton House  This workshops are suitable for children aged 5 to 11 years £5 per child, with free entry for an accompanying adult Please note that children should be accompanied by an adult at all times  All materials to be provided Accompanying adults come for free and admission to the historic house is included   About Places of science Through the Places of science grant scheme this year, 36 small museums across the United Kingdom have received up to £3,500 to run projects that tell stories of science to their local community. From family days at the museum, through community-led creation and curation, to workshops for schools and documentary film-making, each project offers an exciting way for people to engage with science in the local area and beyond. Explore the projects that we have funded.

London

£5

london placesofscience pastevents

Places Of Science

Making instruments, pitch and volume

Leighton House brings back their Saturday Family Fun series with an exciting journey of practical discovery exploring music, art, geometry and sound.

Saturday 07 January 2023

01/07/2023

01/07/2023

The programme is supported by the Royal Society's Places of science grant scheme.  Join science specialist Karen Hodgetts in a hands-on workshop making instruments and exploring the science of pitch and volume. Attending the event This workshop will take place at Leighton House on 7 January at 2pm This workshop is suitable for children aged 5 to 11 years £5 per child, with free entry for an accompanying adult Please note that children should be accompanied by an adult at all times  All materials to be provided Accompanying adults come for free and admission to the historic house is included About Places of science Through the Places of science grant scheme this year, 36 small museums across the United Kingdom have received up to £3,500 to run projects that tell stories of science to their local community. From family days at the museum, through community-led creation and curation, to workshops for schools and documentary film-making, each project offers an exciting way for people to engage with science in the local area and beyond. Explore the projects that we have funded.

London

£5

london placesofscience pastevents

Online

Royal Society Science Book Prize award ceremony

Tuesday 29 November 2022

11/29/2022

11/29/2022

Join Professor Jim Al-Khalili for a panel discussion with this year’s shortlisted authors, followed by the announcement of the winner of the 2022 Royal Society Science Book Prize, sponsored by Insight Investment. This year’s shortlisted authors Henry Gee, Professor Rose Anne Kenny, Peter Stott, Frans de Waal, Nick Davidson, Jeremy Farrar and Anjana Ahuja, will join our host to discuss the unifying themes explored within their books and the integral role that science plays in society and our everyday lives. The books championed by the Royal Society Science Book Prize embody compelling science communication and provide an opportunity for readers to engage more deeply with science in an uncertain world. The five-strong judging panel for 2022 is chaired by neuroscientist, Professor Maria Fitzgerald FRS. She is joined on the panel by representatives from across the worlds of science and culture: television presenter, Kate Humble; physicist and Royal Society University Research Fellow, Dr Josh McFayden; novelist, Mike Gayle, and journalist, writer and technology consultant, Rory Cellan-Jones. Attending this event The event will be livestreamed on the Royal Society YouTube channel on 29 November at 6.30pm The event is free to join, and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available For all enquiries please contact events@royalsociety.org

Online

Free

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Online

Philanthropy and leadership in a changing world - Science and Civilisation lecture 2022

The Science and Civilisation series has brought together a range of leading academics, writers, philosophers and other renowned public figures to discuss important questions relating to academic freedom.

Thursday 24 November 2022

11/24/2022

11/24/2022

Sir Jeremy Farrar OBE FMedSci FRS is the director of the Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation which supports science to solve urgent health challenges. His lecture will be the ninth in the ‘Science and Civilisation’ series, which was launched by Cara (the Council for At-Risk Academics) in 2013 and has been hosted from the outset by the Royal Society. Jeremy’s whole career has been dedicated to protecting and improving global health. As a researcher he specialised in infectious diseases, and he has published more than 600 papers. As well as sharing his expertise, he champions rapid investment in research on Covid-19 testing, treatments and vaccines, and argues that everyone (not only people who live in rich countries) should benefit equally from the discoveries that result. The ‘Science and Civilisation’ lecture series takes its name from the title of the lecture given by Albert Einstein in October 1933 at the Royal Albert Hall, at a major fundraising event on behalf of Cara and three other organisations who had come together as the Refugee Assistance Fund, to help those being expelled from Germany by the Nazis. Cara’s Founding Statement was issued from the ‘Rooms of the Royal Society’ in Burlington House on 22 May 1933, and the two organisations have worked closely together ever since then. The lecture will be livestreamed here and on YouTube. .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }

Online

Free

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Prize Lecture

How to outsmart a cereal killer

Join us for the Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Lecture 2022 given by Professor Diane Saunders.

Tuesday 22 November 2022

11/22/2022

11/22/2022

Imagine a world without wheat… No bread, no cakes, no pasta and no beer. With wheat providing over 20% of the calories and protein consumed globally each day, a wheat-free future may seem inconceivable, but today, the world’s wheat supplies are being ravaged by a dangerous epidemic. Professor Diane Saunders will introduce you to the notorious “polio of agriculture”, the wheat rusts, that throughout history has endangered the production of one of our oldest and most precious food crops. Despite long-standing efforts by a global community to wrestle the wheat rusts into submission, new strains are constantly evolving that can overcome the barriers we create to inhibit infection, and once again leave the world’s wheat crops vulnerable. Professor Saunders will discuss how phenomenal recent scientific advances have created the tools and resources in our arsenal that now have the real potential to finally outsmart these cereal killers and safeguard a sustainable food supply for generations to come. Professor Diane Saunders is a Group Leader at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK. Her research focuses on (re-)emerging plant pathogens that pose a significant threat to agriculture. The award The Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award and Lecture is made to an individual for an outstanding contribution to any area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and to support the promotion of women in STEM. The award is supported by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and is named in honour of the biophysicist Rosalind Franklin, who made critical contributions to the understanding of the fine molecular structures of DNA. The first award was made in 2003. The lectureship is accompanied by a medal of silver gilt, a grant of £40,000 and a gift of £1,000. The recipient of the award is expected to spend a proportion of the grant on implementing a project to raise the profile of women in STEM. Attending the event The event is free to join and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available in-person and virtually Attending in person This lecture can be attended in person at the Royal Society Doors will open to the public at 6.10pm BST. Entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and cannot be guaranteed Travel and accessibility information Attending live online The lecture will also be livestreamed here and on the Royal Society YouTube channel You can take part in the live Q&A This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event  For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org.

The Royal Society

Free

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Prize Lecture

Technologies to think with

The Royal Society Milner Award and Lecture 2022 given by Professor Yvonne Rogers FRS.

Wednesday 16 November 2022

11/16/2022

11/16/2022

Digital technologies have much potential for helping us think: enhancing how we perceive, attend to, notice, analyse and remember events, people, data and other information. But how do we make it happen - especially against the backdrop of AI which aims to do the thinking for us? Professor Rogers’ research is concerned with designing innovative interfaces that can extend how we think when we learn, work and play. Her approach is to make interfaces interactive and empowering; steering, scaffolding and challenging people to think differently and creatively. In Professor Rogers’ lecture, she will describe how we can open up people’s minds more through designing technology with them in mind. Attending the event The event is free to join Registration is recommended to attend in person otherwise availability cannot be guaranteed Live subtitles will be available in person and online. Attending in person  This lecture can be attended in person at the Royal Society Doors will open to the public at 6pm Registration is recommended if attending in person, otherwise availability cannot be guaranteed Travel and accessibility information Attending live online The lecture will also be livestreamed here and on the Royal Society YouTube channel You can take part in the live Q&A which will be available on this page This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event. The award The Royal Society Milner Award and Lecture, supported by Microsoft Research, is the premier European award for outstanding achievement in computer science. It is awarded to candidates at the peak of their career who have made a substantial contribution to computer science in Europe, with the strategic aim of supporting European researchers and institutes. The recipient is a European researcher or researcher who has been resident in Europe for 12 months or more, and is chosen by the Council of the Royal Society on the recommendation of the Milner Award Committee. The Committee is made up of Fellows of the Royal Society, Members of the Académie des sciences (France) and Members of Leopoldina (Germany). The award is named in honour of Professor Robin Milner FRS (1934-2010), a pioneer in computer science. The medal is of bronze, is awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £5,000.  Enquiries: contact the Events team.

The Royal Society

Free

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Prize Lecture

Data-driven materials discovery

Join us for the Clifford Paterson Lecture 2020 given by Professor Jacqui Cole.

Tuesday 01 November 2022

11/01/2022

11/01/2022

Professor Jacqueline Cole was awarded the Clifford Paterson Medal and Lecture 2020 for the development of photo-crystallography and the discovery of novel high-performance nonlinear optical materials and light-harvesting dyes using molecular design rules. After 2 years of delays due to the global pandemic, Professor Cole now has the opportunity to deliver the Prize Lecture. Professor Cole will describe how one can combine the predictive power of artificial intelligence with data science and algorithms to discover new materials for the energy sector. A ‘design-to-device’ pipeline for materials discovery will be demonstrated. Thereby, large-scale data-mining workflows are fashioned to predict successfully new chemicals that possess a targeted functionality. The success of such a data-driven materials discovery approach is nonetheless contingent upon having the right data source to mine. It also requires algorithms that suitably encode structure-function relationships into data-mining workflows that progressively short list data toward the prediction of a lead material for experimental validation. The talk shows how suitable data are sourced, algorithms are designed and fed into predictions, and how these predictions are borne out by experiments. The award The Clifford Paterson Medal and Lecture is given for outstanding contributions in the field of engineering. The lectureship was originally endowed by The General Electric Company in memory of Clifford Paterson FRS, who founded the GEC Research Laboratories in 1919. Originally the lectures were given on electrical science and technology but this was later broadened to any aspect of engineering. The first lecture was given in 1975. The medal is of bronze, is awarded biennially and is accompanied by a gift of £2,000. Attending the event the event is free to join registration is recommended to attend in person otherwise availability cannot be guaranteed live subtitles will be available in person and virtually Attending in person this lecture can be attended in person at the Royal Society doors will open to the public at 6.10pm BST registration is recommended if attending in person, otherwise availability cannot be guaranteed travel and accessibility information Attending live online The lecture will also be livestreamed here and on the Royal Society YouTube channel You can take part in the live Q&A This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event  For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org.

The Royal Society

Free

scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas theroyalsociety prizelecture pastevents

Scientific Meeting

A bicentenary tribute to Louis Pasteur, Foreign Member of the Royal Society

Friday 28 October 2022

10/28/2022

10/28/2022

The Institut Pasteur and the Académie des sciences celebrate Louis Pasteur’s bicentenary, with support from the Royal Society. This symposium will present cutting-edge research in Louis Pasteur’s own research areas and promote international cooperation in science and scientific outreach as he did throughout his life. This event is free to attend. Please register using Eventbrite. This event will be livestreamed on this webpage and on YouTube. The Royal Society has an acceptable use policy for all online events, and we expect our users to abide by these guidelines

The Royal Society

Free

theroyalsociety scientificmeeting pastevents

Places Of Science

Our health heroes at Headstone Manor and Museum

Find out more about a lost cottage hospital through first-hand stories and collections.

25 October - 29 January 2023

10/25/2022

01/29/2023

Celebrating 132 years of service at Harrow Cottage Hospital, this exhibition will share the fascinating history of a lost hospital in Harrow. Funded by the Royal Society's Places of science scheme, this will be a rare chance to view original archives, photographs and objects relating to Harrow Hospital. The exhibition will shine a light on nursing, medicine and patient care within the context of the beginnings of a national health service. A digital showcase complements the exhibition at the museum and can be viewed on the museum's website. Attending the workshops This exhibition free to visit and can be found at Headstone Manor and Museum  The museum is open from Thursdays to Sundays, from 11am to 3pm Travel and accessibility information can be found on the museum's website About Places of science Through the Places of science grant scheme this year, 36 small museums across the United Kingdom have received up to £3,500 to run projects that tell stories of science to their local community. From family days at the museum, through community-led creation and curation, to workshops for schools and documentary film-making, each project offers an exciting way for people to engage with science in the local area and beyond. Explore the projects that we have funded.

London

Free

london placesofscience pastevents

History Of Science

African scientists in colonial and postcolonial contexts, 1800-2000

The story of African scientists in the 19th and 20th centuries, and how European science was shaped by colonial and postcolonial contexts.

Friday 21 October 2022

10/21/2022

10/21/2022

The story of the historical relationship between science and empire is often told in brushstrokes, with scientists who originated from outside Europe being relegated to supporting roles. In recent years this approach has been challenged both inside and outside the academy, with scholars and journalists alike calling for more studies which seek to understand the proactive roles played by individual scientists who originated from indigenous colonial communities. This conference responds to this important concern within the history of science by highlighting the lives and careers of African scientists who lived during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The papers address how scientists from Africa who were Black, indigenous, or other people of colour defined 'science' and how they drew from local knowledge about the natural world and the human body. The overarching aim is to create new routes of historical enquiry that afford deeper insight into the personal and professional ways in which European science was shaped by colonial and postcolonial contexts. Conference organiser: Professor Matthew Daniel Eddy, Durham University. Attending this event This conference has taken place For all enquiries, please contact library@royalsociety.org Find travel and accessibility information If you missed this event, you can catch up by watching the recording below or on YouTube. .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }

The Royal Society

£40/£20 students

theroyalsociety historyofscience pastevents

Prize Lecture

Funny, peculiar? The Science of Laughter

Join us for the Michael Faraday Prize Lecture 2021 given by Professor Sophie Scott.

Tuesday 11 October 2022

10/11/2022

10/11/2022

Submit your questions via Slido In this prize lecture, Professor Sophie Scott will explore the science of laughter, how laughter has evolved, its functions in mammals, and the ways that humans use laughter. Professor Scott will show how laughter is used to communicate much more than humour, and the importance of laughter in our social interactions. We will also explore the neural basis of laughter, and the varying ways in which we process laughter. The Royal Society Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture is awarded annually to the scientist or engineer whose expertise in communicating scientific ideas in lay terms is exemplary. The award is named after Michael Faraday FRS, the influential inventor and electrical pioneer who was prominent in the public communication of science and founded the Christmas lectures at the Royal Institution. In 2021, the prize was awarded to Professor Sophie Scott CBE FBA FMedSci, for her work in engaging the public with neuroscience through events, talks, TV and radio, and exemplifying how science communication can enhance scientific excellence. Attending the event The event is free to join and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available in-person and virtually Attending in person This lecture can be attended in person at the Royal Society Doors will open to the public at 6.40pm BST. Entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and cannot be guaranteed Travel and accessibility information Attending live online The lecture will also be livestreamed here and on the Royal Society YouTube channel You can take part in the live Q&A This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event  For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org  

The Royal Society

Free

scientificareas theroyalsociety prizelecture pastevents

Party Conference

The Royal Society at the Conservative Party Conference 2022

The Royal Society, along with our national academy partners, the Academy of Medical Science, British Academy and Royal Academy of Engineering, will be hosting a stand in the exhibition hall at the Conservative Party…

02 - 05 October 2022

10/02/2022

10/05/2022

The national academies will be advocating for a strong and sustainable future for our research ecosystem. Our stand will feature a map of innovations demonstrating the UK's compelling history of incredible research in all of our nations and regions. All passholders attending the conference will be able to come and visit our stand in the Exhibition Hall in Birmingham ICC from Sunday 2 October until Wednesday 5 October. 

Free

partyconference pastevents

Party Conference

The Royal Society at the Labour Party Conference 2022

The Royal Society, along with our national academy partners, the Academy of Medical Science, British Academy and Royal Academy of Engineering, will be hosting a stand in the Exhibition Hall at Labour Party…

25 - 28 September 2022

09/25/2022

09/28/2022

The national academies will be advocating for a strong and sustainable future for our research ecosystem. Our stand will feature a map of innovations demonstrating the UK's compelling history of incredible research in all of our nations and regions. All passholders attending the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool will be able to come and visit our stand in the Exhibition Hall from Sunday 25 September until Wednesday 28 September.

Free

partyconference pastevents

Open House

POSTPONED - Open House 2022

With the news of the passing of Her Majesty the Queen, the Royal Society has taken the decision to postpone Open House 2022. Please do not arrive for the event as the building will not be open. 

17 - 18 September 2022

09/17/2022

09/18/2022

On 17 and 18 September 2022, Open House Festival, the largest annual festival of architecture and design, returns to the capital. Over the weekend, visitors are invited to discover the secrets of the Grade I listed, Nash-designed town houses that are currently home to the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence. Uncover countless treasures behind the doors of 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, including portraits of Royal Society Fellows dating back to the 1600s, an ornate mother-of-pearl inlay ceiling, and features from the building's time as the pre-WWII German Embassy. See this 19th century building by joining one of our free guided tours hosted by staff from the Royal Society’s library team or explore at your own pace with our free self-guided tour, available to collect on the day. Please note, places are limited for our free guided tours and you must book your spot at the building on the day of the tour. What is Open House? Open House is a simple but powerful concept: hundreds of great buildings of all types and periods open up their doors to all, completely without charge.  This unique opportunity to access and understand architecture is a chance to look at everyday buildings anew and communicates the value of a well-designed city to everybody who uses it. For more information visit the Open House website. For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org. Tours  There will be guided tours of the building given by a member of our library team every 30 minutes, with the first tour at 10.15am and the last at 4.15pm. Tours can only be booked in person on the day and are first come first serve. There are 15 spaces per group and the tour will last approximately 40 minutes. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Doors will open from 10am - 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. Last entry will be at 4.15pm Tours of the building can be booked free of charge upon arrival at the building on the day As this is a popular event, please be prepared to queue Travel and accessibility information Please note that national train strikes have been announced to take place on Saturday 17 September. Please plan your journey with this in consideration Accessibility We strive to make our events as accessible to everyone as possible. Below are some details to help you plan your visit, but if you have any questions please contact us directly on 020 7451 2696 or at events@royalsociety.org You can access the entrance to the building via five steps with a hand rail, or by using a lift which is operable by reception staff. If you need to use the lift please use the buzzer to the right of the entrance steps or inform a member of staff when you arrive Once inside the building, all areas can be reached without using steps. There is an accessible toilet on the basement floor There may be queues to enter the building at busy periods. If you are unable to queue please inform a member of staff when you arrive and we will make alternative arrangements Guided building tours can be made accessible and step-free. If you would like to attend a guided tour and have any accessibility requirements that you would like to discuss, please contact us in advance at events@royalsociety.org There will be filtered water available in the basement to refill your bottles Families We encourage families to come and explore the building. We have self-guided tours that can be taken at your own pace and will have a family friendly activity that can be done on your self-guided tour.   Baby changing facilities are located in both the male and female toilets. Buggy parking space is also available on the ground floor.  Building works Carlton House Terrace is currently being repaired, restored and given a fresh coat of paint so while Open House is happening, there will be scaffolding installed around the building's exterior which will stay up while the work is done. We apologise for this but once inside, the building is ready for you to explore and enjoy. 

The Royal Society

Free Event

theroyalsociety openhouse pastevents

Prize Lecture

The politics of DNA

Join us for the Royal Society David Attenborough Award Lecture 2021 given by Dr Adam Rutherford.

Monday 05 September 2022

09/05/2022

09/05/2022

Submit your questions on Slido All science is political. Though the scientific methods have been designed over the centuries to free our understanding of reality from the baggage of perceptive and psychological biases, and the grubby world of politics, it's an ideal we strive for, but have never achieved. All new discoveries exist in the culture in which they are born, and are always susceptible to abuse. In this talk, Dr Adam Rutherford will be exploring how the abuses in his own fields of evolution and genetics - by politicians, ideologues and by scientists themselves - were central to the most heinous crimes of modern history. Adam will be arguing that scientists must know their own histories, and how Darwin's phrase 'ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge' should be a mantra for our times.  The Royal Society David Attenborough Award and Lecture is awarded annually to an individual for outstanding public engagement with science. The award, open to everyone, recognises high quality public engagement activities. The award is named after the United Kingdom’s best-loved naturalist and broadcaster, and honorary Fellow of the Royal Society, David Attenborough. In 2021, this award was given to Dr Adam Rutherford for his contribution to strengthening public confidence in science through radio, TV, films, talks and books, and in particular, for challenging racist pseudoscience. Attending the event The event is free to join and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available in-person and virtually Attending in person This lecture can be attended in person at the Royal Society Doors will open to the public at 6.40pm BST. Entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and cannot be guaranteed Travel and accessibility information Attending live online The lecture will also be livestreamed here and on the Royal Society YouTube channel You can take part in the live Q&A This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org.  

The Royal Society

Free

theroyalsociety prizelecture pastevents

History Of Science

Wolfson Foundation History Prize 50th Anniversary

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Wolfson History Prize, join the Royal Society and the Wolfson Foundation for a discussion on history and science, in partnership with BBC History Magazine.

Thursday 14 July 2022

07/14/2022

07/14/2022

This panel will be chaired by Professor Alice Roberts, biological anthropologist, television presenter and author, and will include medical historian Lindsey Fitzharris (shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize 2018), early modern historian Sasha Handley (shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize 2017), and historian of science Sanjoy Bhattacharya.  The panel will discuss how history can contribute to contemporary science debates, drawing on their research on areas including Tudor approaches to sleep, Victorian surgery, and global health histories.  The event will be hosted in the Wolfson Rooms at the Royal Society at 6-9 Carlton House Terrace. Advance booking is required - tickets are free and can be booked via eventbrite. The conversation will be available as a HistoryExtra podcast after the event. Attending this event Free to attend Registration required Please contact us about specific travel or accessibility information and requirements, and all other enquiries at development@royalsociety.org

London

Free

london historyofscience pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Touch sensing in animals, humans and robots

This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2022. 

Sunday 10 July 2022

07/10/2022

07/10/2022

Join the Animal Motion and Sensing (AniMAS) Lab from Manchester Metropolitan University, to explore touch sensing in animals, humans and robots. You will also be able to try out tactile matching games, dress up and build your own whisker masks! Drop-in activity – these activities run continuously and you can drop in at any time. Please note if the venue is at capacity you may have to wait. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Suitable for ages 7+ Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.

London

Free

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Summer Science Exhibition

Street Science Busking

This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2022. 

Sunday 10 July 2022

07/10/2022

07/10/2022

  Street Scientists by name, street scientists by trade, meet the team from Newcastle University who have mastered the art of science busking. From mind warping optical illusions to getting jiggy to the sound of a slinky, their demonstrations are sure to amaze and excite. What does ketchup in a bottle of water have in common with a submarine? And, how can someone guess your birthday using only binary numbers? You’ll have to bump into the Street Scientists roaming around the exhibition to find out. Drop-in activity – these activities run continuously and you can drop in at any time. Please note if the venue is at capacity you may have to wait. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Suitable for ages 7+ Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.

London

Free

scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas london summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Kids' Zone

This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2022. 

Sunday 10 July 2022

07/10/2022

07/10/2022

How do humans affect the natural world and which places on Earth are free from human interference? What was life like before antibiotics? What is the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud? Visit the Little House of Science team where inquisitive young minds can find the answers to life’s biggest questions.  Drop-in activity – these activities run continuously and you can drop in at any time. Please note if the venue is at capacity you may have to wait. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Suitable for children under 10 Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.

London

Free

scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas london summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

A hard nut to crack: How diet shapes the squirrel skull

This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2022. 

Sunday 10 July 2022

07/10/2022

07/10/2022

Did you know that red squirrels adapt to the food they eat? Meet Dr Phil Cox and find out more about his research into how squirrel skulls have changed depending on their diets and why we should think about what we put out in our gardens for creatures. Drop-in activity – these activities run continuously and you can drop in at any time. Please note if the venue is at capacity you may have to wait. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Suitable for ages 7+ Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.

London

Free

scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas london summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Dr Zoo's Travelling Science Lab

This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2022. 

Sunday 10 July 2022

07/10/2022

07/10/2022

As one of Dr Zoo’s assistants, you will employ different scientific skills as virologists, vaccinologists, bio-matheticians, and biosafety experts to help evade the deadly disease in Pirbright Institute's new escape room. Working against the clock you will have to solve three different science-themed puzzles to crack the final code so you can escape the virus in under 5 minutes! Drop-in activity – these activities run continuously and you can drop in at any time. Please note if the venue is at capacity you may have to wait. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Suitable for ages 14+ Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.

London

Free

scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas london summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Stitch'n'stem

This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2022. 

Saturday 09 July 2022

07/09/2022

07/09/2022

Real research images from the Centre for Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine at King’s College London have been translated into beautiful embroidery templates. Embroider your own artwork whilst discovering the exciting research being done by the team. This activity is organised in collaboration with the NIHR Guy's and St Thomas' Biomedical Research Centre.  Drop-in activity – these activities run continuously and you can drop in at any time. Please note if the venue is at capacity you may have to wait. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Suitable for ages 7+ Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.

The Royal Society

Free

scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas theroyalsociety summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Summer Science Exhibition Live

This online event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2022. 

Saturday 09 July 2022

07/09/2022

07/09/2022

Can't make it to London for Summer Science this year? Simply set up a screen and watch us on YouTube for a special free live programme direct from the exhibition. Join award-winning engineer and communicator Anna Ploszajski for an afternoon of remarkable science. From finding out how llamas are fighting viruses to what extreme space weather is and why it's important, the Summer Science Exhibition will be streaming straight to you.  Whether you join us live and watch together with your friends and family, or catch-up afterwards on the Royal Society YouTube channel, don't miss this exclusive Summer Science experience.   Attending the event The event will be livestreamed Free to attend No registration required Suitable for all ages This event will also be recorded and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event. For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.

Online

Free

scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas online summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Street Science Busking

This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2022. 

Saturday 09 July 2022

07/09/2022

07/09/2022

Street Scientists by name, street scientists by trade, meet the team from Newcastle University who have mastered the art of science busking. From mind warping optical illusions to getting jiggy to the sound of a slinky, their demonstrations are sure to amaze and excite. What does ketchup in a bottle of water have in common with a submarine? And, how can someone guess your birthday using only binary numbers? You’ll have to bump into the Street Scientists roaming around the exhibition to find out. Drop-in activity – these activities run continuously and you can drop in at any time. Please note if the venue is at capacity you may have to wait. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Suitable for ages 7+ Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.

London

Free

scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas london summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Cyanotype making workshop

This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2022. 

Saturday 09 July 2022

07/09/2022

07/09/2022

In October 1843 a package of blue and white photographs was delivered to the Royal Society by botanist Mrs Anna Atkins. Anna’s cyanotype images, combining botany with photochemistry, became one of the most treasured items in the Royal Society Library and Archives collection and led to her being considered the first female photographer. Now you have a chance to create them too! Drop-in activity – these activities run continuously and you can drop in at any time. Please note if the venue is at capacity you may have to wait. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Suitable for children under 10 Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.

London

Free

scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas london summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Meet the plant scientists

This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2022. 

Saturday 09 July 2022

07/09/2022

07/09/2022

Experience what it is like to be a plant scientist at the Sci-Seedlets station. Explore fascinating facts about plants, discover the cutting edge of plant science research or play plant-inspired games. Drop-in activity – these activities run continuously and you can drop in at any time. Please note if the venue is at capacity you may have to wait. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Suitable for ages 7+ Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.

London

Free

scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas london summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Guided Walk: Discover the hidden wildlife of St James’s Park

This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2022. 

Saturday 09 July 2022

07/09/2022

07/09/2022

Join biologists from The Royal Parks for a free guided walk to learn about the wildlife found in St James’s Park. The walk will take place every hour and last for 30 minutes. This activity is suitable for both kids and adults. Drop-in activity – these activities run continuously and you can drop in at any time. Please note if the venue is at capacity you may have to wait. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Suitable for all ages Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.

London

Free

scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas london summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Friends and foes in our ponds

This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2022. 

Saturday 09 July 2022

07/09/2022

07/09/2022

Ponds are full of diverse and wonderfully complex microbes. Discover some of those microbes and why how they interact with each other is so important and what it means for tadpoles in this drop-in station where you can also prepare pond water samples, image microbes or become a citizen scientist.  Drop-in activity – these activities run continuously and you can drop in at any time. Please note if the venue is at capacity you may have to wait. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Suitable for ages 7+ Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.

London

Free

scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas london summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Kids' Zone

This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2022. 

Saturday 09 July 2022

07/09/2022

07/09/2022

How do humans affect the natural world and which places on Earth are free from human interference? What was life like before antibiotics? What is the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud? Visit the Little House of Science team where inquisitive young minds can find the answers to life’s biggest questions.  Drop-in activity – these activities run continuously and you can drop in at any time. Please note if the venue is at capacity you may have to wait. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Suitable for children under 10 Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.

London

Free

scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas london summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Dr Zoo's Travelling Science Lab

This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2022. 

Saturday 09 July 2022

07/09/2022

07/09/2022

  As one of Dr Zoo’s assistants, you will employ different scientific skills as virologists, vaccinologists, bio-matheticians, and biosafety experts to help evade the deadly disease in Pirbright Institute's new escape room. Working against the clock you will have to solve three different science-themed puzzles to crack the final code so you can escape the virus in under 5 minutes! Drop-in activity – these activities run continuously and you can drop in at any time. Please note if the venue is at capacity you may have to wait. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Suitable for ages 14+ Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.

London

Free

scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas london summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Summer Science Exhibition 2022

The Summer Science Exhibition returns to central London!

06 - 10 July 2022

07/06/2022

07/10/2022

The Summer Science Exhibition returns to central London this July to highlight exciting research from across the UK. For the first time in three years, the annual exhibition will offer in person exhibits as well as digital content for 5 days: Wednesday 6 July   10:00 – 16:30 Thursday 7 July 10:00 – 16:30 Friday 8 July 10:00 – 18:00 Saturday 9 July 10:00 – 18:00 Sunday 10 July 10:00 – 18:00   Last entry time is 30 minutes before closing. The café finishes serving 30 minutes before close.  From remote controlled healing to the science behind chocolate, this free event offers everyone the opportunity to come and meet the scientists behind the research. Sixteen research groups from across the UK will demonstrate their cutting-edge research through innovative experiences, from 3D printed displays, interactive models and digital games. And if you are not able to come to London for the event, there will be a full digital programme for you to experience the exhibition from your own homes.  For schools and colleges: UK school groups are invited to attend the exhibition, as members of the public, although we suggest that you notify us in advance by emailing education@royalsociey.org to inform us of date, time of arrival and school party number to reduce potential waiting time. This year, the Schools Engagement team will be running specific career-focused talks, with the research teams, for students who are aged 14+. These sessions are for school groups of 25 max (students and teachers) and must be booked in advance to guarantee admittance – please email education@royalsociety.org for more information on how to book these sessions. Why not sign up to our newsletter and be the first to know all about this year’s event, or explore the 2021 digital version of the exhibition. Catch up on our YouTube playlist, or follow us on Twitter @royalsociety or Facebook @theroyalsociety. For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org

London

Free

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Panel Discussion

Lessons from modelling the pandemic

Join the Royal Society as we reflect on the scientific and policy implications of modelling the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Monday 13 June 2022

06/13/2022

06/13/2022

Submit your questions on Slido Modelling played a key role in understanding the scientific evidence surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic as well as informing policy decisions.  This session of talks by our guest speakers will explain the basics of epidemiological modelling, the experience of modelling the pandemic, the environmental factors involved in virus transmission and the path from basic science through to policy, drawing on lessons from Covid-19. The talks will be followed by a Q&A session and discussion. Speakers Professor Adam Kucharski, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Professor Chris Budd OBE, Professor of Applied Mathematics, University of Bath Dr Louise Dyson, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, University of Warwick   Attendee information This session will take place in front of a live audience at the Royal Society on 13 June at 7.30pm BST.  The event is free to join. Advance registration is essential for in-person attendance due to limited seating availability. Currently numbers for in-person attendance are limited so we are operating a waitlist however we expect to release batches of tickets in the run-up to the event. If after registering you are not able to attend, please cancel your ticket so others can attend. The event will also be livestreamed onto this webpage, this does not require any registration. If you wish to receive a reminder for the stream please book an online-only ticket and you will be sent a link to view the lecture. This page will update with a livestream on the day as well as a link to participate in the live Q&A. This event will also be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event.    This event is organised by the Royal Society whose Rapid Assistance in Modelling the Pandemic (RAMP) initiative has drawn on a diverse range of disciplines to support the modelling community working on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Latterly this has been through the organization of a series scientific meetings, of which this event forms a part. RAMP is funded by UKRI through grant number EP/V053507/1.  

The Royal Society

Free

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Prize Lecture

“A sex so little made to brave the thorns of science”: The historical representation of women in mathematics

From medieval times to the modern day, female mathematicians, real and fictional, have been represented in a variety of ways, both in pictures and in words. These depictions allow us to learn about the women…

Monday 06 June 2022

06/06/2022

06/06/2022

Professor June Barrow-Green, winner of the 2021 Wilkins-Bernal Medawar Medal, joined us to explore this as well as the deeper questions, like what effect do these moments captured in time have on modern-day viewers and readers? How did these representations shape the types of mathematical knowledge women were able to claim? Do they continue to marginalise the mathematical expertise of women? And how can they be used to encourage the participation of women in the mathematical community today?   This event was the 2021 Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Prize Lecture, which was awarded to recognise excellence in a subject relating to the history of science, philosophy of science or the social function of science. Professor June Barrow-Green was given the award for her research in 19th and 20th century mathematics, notably on historical roots of modern computing, dynamical systems and the three-body problem. Her work places special emphasis on the under-representation of women in historical narratives and in contemporary mathematics. Her recent work includes diversifying the mathematical curriculum.   For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org

The Royal Society

Free

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Festival Event

Imagine...Science: Thinking better - the art of the shortcut

Professor Marcus du Sautoy FRS talks to Dr Hannah Critchlow

Sunday 05 June 2022

06/05/2022

06/05/2022

How do you remember more and forget less? How can you earn more and become more creative just by moving house? And how do you pack a car boot most efficiently? Thinking Better offers clever strategies for daily complex problems via shortcuts. Shortcuts have enabled much of human progress, whether in constructing the first cities around the Euphrates 5,000 years ago, using calculus to determine the scale of the universe or in writing today's algorithms that help us find a new life partner. The Oxford mathematician shares his shortcut to the art of the shortcut with neuroscientist Dr Hannah Critchlow. Hay Festival is back in-person for its 35th spring edition, bringing writers and readers together for inspiring conversations, debates, workshops and performances 26 May–5 June 2022. Over 11 days, this year’s programme promises a thrilling line-up of over 500 events, launching the best new fiction and nonfiction, while offering insights and debate around some of the biggest issues of our times in a programme of conversations featuring more than 600 award-winning writers, policy makers, pioneers, innovators and performers. Festivalgoers can explore the programme and book tickets at hayfestival.org/wales. Attending this event  This event will be held at Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye, Wales Tickets can be purchased here

£10

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Festival Event

Imagine...Science: Control - the dark history and troubling present of eugenics

Dr Adam Rutherford talks to Professor Veronica van Heyningen FRS

Thursday 02 June 2022

06/02/2022

06/02/2022

People have always sought to reduce suffering, eliminate disease or enhance desirable qualities in their children. But this goes hand-in-hand with the urge to impose control over who can procreate and ultimately who is permitted to live. In the Victorian era, in the shadow of Darwin’s ideas about evolution, a new full-blooded attempt to impose control over unruly biology developed and was enshrined in a political movement that bastardised science: eugenics. It was a cornerstone of the policies of the Third Reich and led directly to the gates of Auschwitz. Adam Rutherford’s Control tells the story of attempts by the powerful throughout history to dictate and dominate reproduction and regulate the interface of breeding and society. He talks to geneticist Professor Veronica van Heyningen FRS. Hay Festival is back in-person for its 35th spring edition, bringing writers and readers together for inspiring conversations, debates, workshops and performances 26 May–5 June 2022. Over 11 days, this year’s programme promises a thrilling line-up of over 500 events, launching the best new fiction and nonfiction, while offering insights and debate around some of the biggest issues of our times in a programme of conversations featuring more than 600 award-winning writers, policy makers, pioneers, innovators and performers. Festivalgoers can explore the programme and book tickets at hayfestival.org/wales. Attending this event  This event will be held at Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye, Wales Tickets can be purchased here

£12

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Festival Event

Imagine...Science: I Am a Book. I Am a Portal to the Universe.

Miriam Quick talks to Sharna Jackson 

Tuesday 31 May 2022

05/31/2022

05/31/2022

The winner of this year’s prize is a book like no other, where data can not only be visualised but also heard and touched. Join Young People’s Book Prize shortlist panel member and children’s author Sharna Jackson and data journalist and winning author Miriam Quick as they explore the wonders of our world through this year’s winner, I Am a Book. I Am a Portal to the Universe. The Royal Society Young People's Book Prize aims to promote literacy in young people and to inspire them to read about science. Each year, the winner is selected by judging panels made up of thousands of young people at schools across the country. Hay Festival is back in-person for its 35th spring edition, bringing writers and readers together for inspiring conversations, debates, workshops and performances 26 May–5 June 2022. Over 11 days, this year’s programme promises a thrilling line-up of over 500 events, launching the best new fiction and nonfiction, while offering insights and debate around some of the biggest issues of our times in a programme of conversations featuring more than 600 award-winning writers, policy makers, pioneers, innovators and performers. Festivalgoers can explore the programme and book tickets at hayfestival.org/wales. Attending this event  This event will be held at Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye, Wales Tickets can be purchased here

£6

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Festival Event

Imagine...Science: Are astronauts extinct?

Lord Martin Rees FRS talks to Professor Catherine Heymans

Sunday 29 May 2022

05/29/2022

05/29/2022

Human journeys into space fill us with wonder. But the thrill of space travel for astronauts comes at enormous expense and is fraught with peril. As our robot explorers grow more competent, governments and corporations must ask, does our desire to send astronauts to the Moon and Mars justify the cost and danger? Lord Martin Rees FRS believes that beyond low-Earth orbit, space exploration should proceed without humans. The United Kingdom’s Astronomer Royal, Martin Rees was previously Professor of Astronomy and Director of the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge. His latest book, co-written with Donald Goldsmith, is The End of Astronauts. Professor Catherine Heymans is Astronomer Royal for Scotland. Hay Festival is back in-person for its 35th spring edition, bringing writers and readers together for inspiring conversations, debates, workshops and performances 26 May–5 June 2022. Over 11 days, this year’s programme promises a thrilling line-up of over 500 events, launching the best new fiction and nonfiction, while offering insights and debate around some of the biggest issues of our times in a programme of conversations featuring more than 600 award-winning writers, policy makers, pioneers, innovators and performers. Festivalgoers can explore the programme and book tickets at hayfestival.org/wales. Attending this event  This event will be held at Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye, Wales Tickets can be purchased here

£10

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Prize Lecture

GREENBAT meets GREENCAT: towards delivering truly sustainable energy storage and conversion technologies

Kavli Medal and Lecture 2022 given by Professor Magda Titirici.

Thursday 05 May 2022

05/05/2022

05/05/2022

Submit your questions on Slido It is imperative we mitigate and then reverse carbon emissions. COP26 recently took place with the goal of a global commitment to keep a maximum of 1.5 C warming within reach. A green industrial revolution powered by many sustainable innovations evolving in parallel is essential.  Yet we need to make sure that this new revolution happens sustainably and does not create more damage. We must learn from past mistakes and learn how to see the bigger picture rather than immediate goals.  Batteries and catalytic processes are key for delivering the green industrial revolution by storing the intermittent renewable energy and releasing it when is needed most to decarbonise our economy across various sectors. Yet, battery materials and catalysts for various sustainable technologies (such as green H2 generation and conversion) are facing real challenges as they are based on critical and expensive metals.  Professor Titirici’s research group and collaborators are working towards addressing this important challenge of creating sustainable materials based on widely available resources while creating a circular economy of recycling biowaste into advanced materials and implementing them in sustainable energy technologies, from new battery chemistries to important catalytic processes using renewable electricity for H2 production and use.  Attending the event This lecture will take place at the Royal Society (this is an in-person event) on 5 May at 6.30pm BST. This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event The event is free to join. Advance registration is essential due to seating availability Live subtitles will be available If after registering you are not able to attend, please cancel your ticket so others can attend The lecture will be livestreamed onto this webpage, this does not require any registration. If you wish to receive a reminder for the stream please book an online-only ticket and you will be sent a link to view the lecture. This page will update with a livestream on the day as well as a link to participate in the live Q&A The award The Kavli Medal and Lecture is now awarded annually for excellence in all fields of science and engineering relevant to the environment. The medal is of bronze gilt and is accompanied by a gift of £1,000. Enquiries: contact the Events team.

Free

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Prize Lecture

Visualising the molecules of life

The Leeuwenhoek Medal and Lecture 2022 given by Dr Sjors Scheres FRS.

Tuesday 26 April 2022

04/26/2022

04/26/2022

Submit questions via Slido We are intrigued by how proteins work. Our genetic code determines the amino acid sequence of proteins, which in turn determines their 3D structure. The precise 3D arrangement of thousands of atoms inside individual protein molecules allows them to perform the complicated tasks that are needed to keep us alive. Therefore, visualising the 3D atomic structures of proteins is a powerful way to find out more about how they work and what goes wrong in disease. Dr Scheres’ teams’ research focuses on the development and application of new methods for the study of protein structures by electron microscopy on frozen samples (cryo-EM). In this lecture, Dr Scheres will explain how recent developments in cryo-EM have led to an explosion of new protein structures, where we can now see details down to individual atoms. Dr Scheres will highlight how some of our developments in image processing algorithms, and their implementation in the open-source computer program RELION, are helping scientists around the world to learn more about how proteins work. As an illustration of what is possible nowadays, Dr Scheres will also describe how his team have applied their methods to study protein samples that they extract from human brain tissue, and how these experiments are leading to exciting new insights into what goes wrong in neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's disease and other conditions. Attending the event This lecture will take place at the Royal Society (this is an in-person event) on 26 April at 6.30pm BST. This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event.  The event is free to join. Advance registration is essential due to seating availability. Live subtitles will be available. If after registering you are not able to attend, please cancel your ticket so others can attend. The lecture will be livestreamed onto this webpage, this does not require any registration. If you wish to receive a reminder for the stream please book an online-only ticket and you will be sent a link to view the lecture. This page will update with a livestream on the day as well as a link to participate in the live Q&A.  The award The Leeuwenhoek Medal and Lecture. It was originally established to recognise excellence in the field of microbiology but now also includes excellence in bacteriology, virology, mycology and parasitology, and microscopy. The lectureship was named after the Dutch microscopist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek FRS, often referred to as the ‘Father of Microbiology’, and is supported by a bequest from George Gabb. Originally it was held annually, and from 2006 to 2018 it was awarded triennially, but it is now awarded biennially. The lecture was first given in 1950. The medal is of bronze, is awarded biennially and is accompanied by a gift of £2,000. Enquiries: contact the Events team.

The Royal Society

Free

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Conference

Aldabra Research Station 50th Anniversary Celebration Symposium at the Royal Society

A celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Aldabra research station, organised by the Royal Society and Seychelles Island Foundation.

Thursday 21 April 2022

04/21/2022

04/21/2022

In the 1960s, Aldabra had already seen the negative impact of man on its environment. In 1971, a Royal Society research station was established on Aldabra, a stepping stone not only to enhanced research but to enhanced protection. Subsequently, Aldabra has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, as an Important Endemic Bird Area in 2001 and as a Ramsar Wetland Site of International Importance in 2010. The Royal Society and Seychelles Island Foundation are working together to put on this programme to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the station – both to look back at research that has been done, but also to draw attention to the importance of the scientific work still going on there, and to demonstrate its relevance in terms of current global challenges on both biodiversity and climate change going forward. Attending the event This event will be livestreamed on 21 April 2022 from 9am BST. Full programme information and livestream access is available on the symposium website.

The Royal Society

Free Event

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Prize Lecture

Nutrient sensing by the brain in health and disease

The Croonian Medal and Lecture 2022 given by Sir Stephen O'Rahilly FMedSci FRS and Professor Sadaf Farooqi FMedSci FRS.

Thursday 14 April 2022

04/14/2022

04/14/2022

  Globally, over 1 billion people are overweight or obese. Obesity and its complications are associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer. While the widespread availability of high calorie, palatable food and physical inactivity are major environmental drivers of the rise in prevalence of obesity, heritable factors play a substantial role in influencing a person’s propensity to gain weight (or not), within an obesogenic environment.  In this lecture, Professors O’Rahilly and Farooqi will discuss how the identification of genes and the pathways they regulate has highlighted the fundamental role of the brain in modulating eating behaviour and body weight. They will discuss how studies of the leptin-melanocortin pathway have provided a mechanistic framework for understanding how body weight is regulated in humans, how energy status is coupled to reproduction and growth and how disruption of these neural mechanisms causes obesity. They will also discuss the impact of this work on societal perceptions of obesity and how targeting these mechanisms has provided new treatments for people with severe obesity. Attending the event This lecture will take place at The Royal Society (this is an in-person event) on 14 April at 6.30pm BST. This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event.  The event is free to join. Advance registration is essential due to seating availability. Live subtitles will be available. If after registering you are not able to attend, please cancel your ticket so others can attend. The lecture will be livestreamed onto this webpage, this does not require any registration. If you wish to receive a reminder for the stream please book an online-only ticket and you will be sent a link to view the lecture. This page will update with a livestream on the day as well as a link to participate in the live Q&A. The award The Croonian Medal and Lecture is the premier lecture in the biological sciences. The lectureship was conceived by William Croone FRS (PDF), one of the original Fellows of the Society. Among the papers left on his death in 1684 were plans to endow two lectureships, one at the Royal Society and the other at the Royal College of Physicians. His widow later bequeathed the means to carry out the scheme. The lecture series began in 1738. The medal is of silver gilt, is awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £10,000.  Enquiries: contact the Events team.

The Royal Society

Free

scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas scientificareas theroyalsociety prizelecture pastevents

Conference

Climate change: science, responses and research needs

Watch the Royal Society conference on the implications of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report for the UK and urgent policy and research needs. Day 1: www.youtube.com/2l9QPWWk_zQ Day 2: www.youtube.com/JVxWlVp5TzY

11 - 12 April 2022

04/11/2022

04/12/2022

Read the post conference reflections from the organisers on where next for UK climate policy and research  Download the conference programme (PDF) The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) delivers the starkest warning yet on the risks of climate change. The Royal Society brought together leading scientists, policy professionals and representatives from the energy and land use sectors to discuss the findings and implications of the IPCC AR6 reports.  What is the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report? The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report provides the most comprehensive analyses of the latest climate science, impacts and vulnerabilities related to climate change. It highlights that immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are needed, alongside urgent actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. IPCC reports underpin major international climate agreements, including the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. The three Working Groups of the IPCC presented the latest knowledge on: The physical science of climate change  Climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability  Mitigation of climate change: methods of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere Working Group I reported on the most up-to-date physical science knowledge on climate change in August 2021. It highlighted that climate change is widespread, rapid and intensifying. Working Group II published its report on impacts, adaptation and vulnerabilities at the end of February 2022 and Working Group III published a report on climate change mitigation at the beginning of April 2022.  Structure of the Conference We heard from IPCC lead authors, working group chairs, policy professionals and representatives from the land-use and energy sectors as they reflected on the findings of the reports and explored the implications for policy and evidence-based action. Day 1 considered the key findings of AR6, outcomes of COP26 and the implications for policy, land-use and the energy sector, and future IPCC activity. Day 2 aimed to identify the scientific research and collaborations needed to progress our knowledge of climate change and contribute to global climate policy and responses. The conference took place at the Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG, and online.  For enquiries contact the Resilient Futures team

The Royal Society

Free

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Online

Can we bring animals back from extinction?

This panel brought together scientists from across the world to discuss the topic of de-extinction and how far the field of genetics has grown.

Wednesday 16 March 2022

03/16/2022

03/16/2022

From dinosaurs to dodos, woolly mammoths to Tasmanian tigers, many species have become extinct with more likely to follow this path in the near future. Conservation efforts around the world are working hard to stop more species from joining this fate, but what about those that we have already lost? Has science progressed far enough that as well as preventing more from becoming extinct, we could bring these creatures back? Or perhaps more importantly, should we bring them back?    Speakers The event was hosted by author, documentary filmmaker, broadcaster and National Geographic explorer Lucy Cooke, who was joined by: Professor Beth Shapiro, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz Professor George Church, Professor of Genetics and Health Sciences, Harvard University Professor Mike Benton OBE FRS, Professor of Vertebrate Paleontology, University of Bristol   About British Science Week British Science Week, run by the British Science Association is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths, featuring entertaining and engaging events and activities across the UK for people of all ages.

Online

Free

microbiologyimmunologyanddevelopmentalbiology microbiologyimmunologyanddevelopmentalbiology organismalbiologyevolutionandecology organismalbiologyevolutionandecology organismalbiologyevolutionandecology online online pastevents

Online

Young People's Book Prize 2021 Awards Ceremony

Who invented vaccines? How do you read Morse code? Can we stop climate change? How big are a spider’s eyes? And an anteater’s tongue?

Tuesday 08 March 2022

03/08/2022

03/08/2022

The shortlist for Young People’s Book Prize 2021 has launched children across the UK on a quest to meet inventors in past and present history, find answers to science’s hardest questions and discover new forms of life, from the incredible world of plants to the wonders of the night sky. This year, a record-breaking 537 UK schools, science clubs and groups have taken up the challenge of judging this year’s prize. Over 11,500 young judges have poured over the pages full of action, adventure and atoms and have now declared their winner.  This year's award ceremony hosted by BAFTA-winning TV presenter Lindsey Russell is an excellent occasion to meet the authors and discover this year’s winner. Don’t forget to grab a pen and paper as your knowledge of the shortlisted books will also be put to test in our brand-new Young People’s Book Prize Big Quiz! The Young People’s Book Prize is made possible thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor. Discover more about the Prize here.  The authors and illustrators joining the event were: Rose Hall, 100 Things to Know About Saving the Planet  Ruth Brocklehurst, 100 Things to Know About Saving the Planet  Sophie Deen, Agent Asha: Mission Shark Bytes  Stefanie Posavec, I Am a Book. I Am a Portal to the Universe. Miriam Quick, I Am a Book. I Am a Portal to the Universe. Michael Holland, I Ate Sunshine for Breakfast  Philip Giordano, I Ate Sunshine for Breakfast  Robert Winston, Inventors  Lisa Harvey-Smith, Under the Stars Mel Matthews, Under the Stars

Free

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Online

Looking Ahead to the Third Human Genome Editing Summit

In partnership with the UK Academy of Medical Sciences, the US National Academies of Sciences and Medicine and The World Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society hosted a three-part series of online events looking…

07 - 09 March 2022

03/07/2022

03/09/2022

A year out from the Summit, the events focused on the key topics of the Summit’s agenda, including discussion of the recent reports from the International Commission on the Clinical use of Heritable Human Genome Editing and the WHO Expert Advisory Committee on Developing Global Standards for Governance and Oversight of Human Genome Editing. Presentations were followed by panel discussions, with some presentations having been pre-recorded.  Recordings of the event are available to watch. You do not need to register. Event details 7 March : Looking Ahead to the Science Speakers: Yujia Cai, Shanghai JiaoTong University Amander Clark, University of California, Los Angeles Jennifer Doudna, University of California, Berkeley Julian Gillmore, University College London Chair: Robin Lovell-Badge, The Francis Crick Institute Presentations discussed the state of the science and recent developments in somatic editing, including delivery mechanisms for genome editing in vivo, and germline editing, particularly developments in producing edited gametes. The following panel session discussed scientific barriers to securing the benefits of genome editing. 8 March : Looking Ahead to the Equity & Access Speakers: Tania Bubela, Simon Fraser University Arafa Salim Said, Sickle Cell Disease Patients Community of Tanzania Adrian Towse, UK Office of Health Economics Ambroise Wonkam, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Chairs: Javier Guzman, Center for Global Development & Chris McCabe, Institute of Health Economics This event discussed the health system and price barriers that must be addressed to ensure future access to innovative gene-editing therapies, including potential policy options for governments, industry, multilaterals, and other global health stakeholders. The first half of this session focused on health system barriers to access new somatic genome editing technologies, particularly in low- and middle- income countries. Revolutionary gene-editing therapies for the treatment of sickle cell disease have achieved exciting results in clinical trials and can potentially cure this chronic condition that affects around 6 million people worldwide, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for three quarters of these cases. However, unless policy action is taken, these new technologies are likely to be unavailable, unaffordable, inaccessible and unacceptable for patients living in low-resource settings. The second half of this session focused on different ways to address price as a barrier to access in higher-income countries, both within the current research and development framework and beyond. 9 March : Looking Ahead to the Governance  Speakers: Daima Bukini, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences Alena Buyx, German Ethics Council & Technical University of Munich Andy Greenfield, University of Oxford Katie Hasson, Center for Genetics and Society Katherine Littler, World Health Organization Laurence Lwoff, Council of Europe Piers Millett, iGEM Foundation, Biosecure & University of Oxford Leigh Turner, University of California, Irvine Chairs: Françoise Baylis, Dalhousie University & Alta Charo, University of Wisconsin-Madison Presentations included research on current regulatory frameworks and challenges for governance of somatic and heritable editing – if heritable genome editing is deemed safe and acceptable. The session also focused on the governance recommendations from the International Commission on the Clinical Use of Human Germline Genome Editing and the WHO Expert Advisory Committee on Developing Global Standards for Governance and Oversight of Human Genome Editing reports, and how these could be operationalised within nations and internationally.

Online

Free

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Prize Lecture

Quantum processors: making machines at the atomic-limit

The Bakerian Medal and Lecture 2022 given by Professor Michelle Simmons FRS.

Tuesday 01 March 2022

03/01/2022

03/01/2022

Sixty years ago, the great American physicist Richard Feynman delivered a famous lecture in which he urged experimentalists to push for the creation of new materials with features designed at the atomic limit. He called this the "final question": whether ultimately "we can arrange the atoms the way we want: the very atoms all the way down!" Professor Simmons will describe how scientists are now finally delivering on Feynman’s dream. She will explain how to manufacture materials and devices whose properties are determined by the placement of individual atoms, and will highlight the creative explosion in new devices that has followed and the many new insights into the quantum world that this revolution has made possible. Watch the event .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Ask questions Attending the event This lecture will take place at The Royal Society on 1 March at 6.30pm GMT. This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event and will be streamed live online. The event is free to join. Advance registration is essential due to seating availability. Live subtitles will be available. If after registering you are not able to attend, please cancel your ticket so others can attend.  The award The Bakerian Medal and Lecture is the premier lecture in physical sciences. The lectureship was established through a bequest by Henry Baker FRS (PDF) of £100 for 'an oration or discourse on such part of natural history or experimental philosophy, at such time and in such manner as the President and Council of the Society for the time being shall please to order and appoint'. The lecture series began in 1775. The medal is of silver gilt, is awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £10,000.  Enquiries: contact the Events team.

Free

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Prize Lecture

Space weather and implications for life on other worlds

Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award and Lecture 2021 given by Dr Suzanne Imber.

Wednesday 09 February 2022

02/09/2022

02/09/2022

Dr Imber will discuss the role of space weather on planetary dynamics, with particular reference to the Earth and Mercury, extending to Venus, Mars and the giant planets.  In particular Dr Imber will consider how our understanding of space weather has changed over recent years, look forward to some exciting missions being planned for the next few decades, and discuss the extent to which we can apply our current knowledge to the study of the habitability of extra-solar planets.  Attending the event This lecture will take place online as a Zoom webinar on 9 February at 6.30pm GMT. This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event. The event is free to join. Advance registration is essential. Live subtitles will be available. The award The Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award and Lecture is made to an individual for an outstanding contribution to any area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and to support the promotion of women in STEM. The award is supported by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and is named in honour of the biophysicist Rosalind Franklin, who made critical contributions to the understanding of the fine molecular structures of DNA. The first award was made in 2003. The lectureship is accompanied by a medal of silver gilt, a grant of £40,000 and a gift of £1,000. The recipient of the award is expected to spend a proportion of the grant on implementing a project to raise the profile of women in STEM. Enquiries: contact the Events team.

Free

scientificareas scientificareas prizelecture pastevents

Exhibition

Stormy weather - from lore to science

This exhibition is a partnership between the Royal Society collections and the National Meteorological Library and Archive.

31 January - 30 April 2022

01/31/2022

04/30/2022

Stormy weather – from lore to science, is a partnership between the Royal Society collections and the National Meteorological Library and Archive. The exhibition showcases instruments, books and manuscripts from both collections which tell of the evolution of weather and climate science in Britain. Visiting the exhibition This exhibition is open to visitors until 30 April 2022.  Discover the digital stories which relate to this exhibition, as they launch during Summer Science Online.

The Royal Society

Free

theroyalsociety exhibition pastevents

Online

You and the planet: Tomorrow's Earth

Submit your questions for the panel or go to slido.com and enter code #T271. What is your vision for Tomorrow’s Earth? Whether you imagine flying cars, robot companions or materials that think for themselves, we can…

Thursday 27 January 2022

01/27/2022

01/27/2022

Across the world, scientists have developed potential solutions to the crisis, from renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture to biodegradable plastics and net-zero computing but the innovation alone isn’t enough. Climate change is a global challenge that will need scientists, policy makers, individuals, industry and more to come together to take action.  So how do we make sure all voices are heard and who will take responsibility to ensure everyone does their part in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss? Speakers This event will be hosted by Justin Rowlatt, Climate Editor at the BBC, who will be joined by: Professor David J Beerling FRS, founder and Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Dr Miatta Fahnbulleh, Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation Professor Jim Hall FREng, Professor of Climate and Environmental Risks in the University of Oxford and Director of Research in the School of Geography and the Environment Vanessa Nakate, climate activist from Uganda and founder of the Africa-based Rise Up Movement Attending the event The event will be livestreamed on the Royal Society YouTube channel on 27 January 2022 at 6pm GMT The event is free to join, and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available For all enquiries please contact events@royalsociety.org

Free

earthandenvironmentalsciences online pastevents

Online

The Online Information Environment: Professor Melissa Terras in conversation with Dr Vint Cerf ForMemRS

Wednesday 19 January 2022

01/19/2022

01/19/2022

The internet has transformed the way people consume, produce, and disseminate information about the world. This transformation has democratised access to knowledge and driven societal progress. The COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies this, with global researchers collaborating virtually across borders to mitigate harms of the disease and vaccine populations. At the same time, however, it has enabled the low-cost production and proliferation of harmful scientific misinformation. Scientific discussions on issues related to vaccines, 5G, and climate change have all been affected, with some describing the challenge as an ‘infodemic’ and a contributory factor to vaccine hesitancy and physical violence. In this online information environment, how can we ensure that people are provided with the best quality content to guide important decisions? How has the internet changed the way we consume and produce information? How might discussions about scientific topics be affected? The UK's national academy of science, the Royal Society, explored this question with leading scientists, major technology companies, prominent fact-checkers, and others. The findings and recommendations of this work were published in its report entitled ‘The online information environment: understanding how the internet shapes people’s engagement with scientific information.’ This online discussion brought together two members of the report to discuss its findings: Professor Melissa Terras (Professor of Digital Cultural Heritage, University of Edinburgh) and Dr Vint Cerf ForMemRS (Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist, Google). Opening remarks were made by the project’s chair, Professor Frank Kelly FRS (Emeritus Professor of Mathematics of Systems, University of Cambridge). The event outlined the key findings and recommendations of the report and delved into the complex challenges which exist in the online information environment. About the speakers Professor Melissa Terras is the Director of the Centre for Data, Culture & Society, and Professor of Digital Cultural Heritage at the University of Edinburgh. Dr Vint Cerf ForMemRS is Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist at Google and, as the co-designer of the TCP/IP protocols, is widely known as one of the ‘Fathers of the Internet’. Professor Frank Kelly is the Chair of the Royal Society’s Digital Technology and Information project and Emeritus Professor of Mathematics of Systems at the University of Cambridge.

Free

online pastevents

Prize Lecture

Nanoengineered seaweed for scarless skin regeneration

The Royal Society Rising Star Africa Prize 2021 given by Dr Nowsheen Goonoo.

Thursday 06 January 2022

01/06/2022

01/06/2022

Type 2 diabetes is a worldwide issue leading to major complications such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). The lifetime risk of developing diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is 15% and patients have a 75% mortality rate if DFU is combined with nephropathy. In Africa, approximately 2.4 million diabetics suffer from DFUs. The main common forms of DFU treatment is surgical debridement, dressings and antibiotics therapy. DFUs add significantly to the economic burden of a country due to ulcer management, slow healing which leads to prolonged admissions and surgical interventions. As a result, there is an urgent need to reduce the healing time of DFUs, thereby reducing the number of hospital admissions and amputation rates.  Difficulties in repairing wounds related to DFUs are mainly due to wound infection, lack of extracellular matrix (ECM), and insufficient blood supply in the affected area. Current commercial products for the treatment of DFUs are very expensive and find limited applications on the African continent. In her lecture, Dr Goonoo will share her experiences on the transformation of seaweeds into affordable nanofiber-based wound dressings to promote scarless and accelerated wound healing. Attending the event This lecture will take place online as a Zoom webinar on 6 January at 6.30pm GMT. This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event.  The event is free to join. Advance registration is essential. Live subtitles will be available. The award The Royal Society Rising Star Africa Prize is to recognise early-career research scientists based in Africa who are making an innovative contribution to the physical, mathematical and engineering sciences. The prize was established in memory of Paul O’Brien FRS and his work encouraging excellence in science and education in Africa. Winners will receive a grant of £14,000 to support their research and a personal gift of £1,000. Enquiries: contact the Events team.  

Free

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Online

Voices from the Syrian Academic Community

06 - 10 December 2021

12/06/2021

12/10/2021

Full programme (PDF) Objectives Syrian academics to share their research findings and recommendations with an audience from the academic and humanitarian sectors. Highlight the importance of their unique insights, given local knowledge, expertise and connections. Prompt discussion on issues raises, what needs to be done next and by whom. Prompt new partners and engage funders in follow-up work. Get Syrian higher education and its tertiary educators back on the international agenda. Partners This event is supported by The Royal Society and The British Academy. Collaborators: Universities of Edinburgh and Sussex. UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) Framework Each day is themed, with a number of sub-themes under which over 50 Cara Syria Programme supported studies have been clustered, allied to a number of UNSDGs. Day 1. ‘Reconstructing Syrian Society: The role of higher education.’ Day 2. ‘Inequality & Displacement.’ Day 3. ‘Operationalising Research to Help Rebuild Syria’s Infrastructure .’ Day 4. ‘Syrian Food Futures: Agriculture & food security.’ Day 5. ‘Syria: Partnership for the goal of quality higher education.’ Welcome and Keynote speakers Professor Simon Goldhill FBA, British Academy Foreign Secretary Professor Sir Malcolm Grant CBE, Cara President Professor Robin Grimes FRS FREng, incoming Royal Society Foreign Secretary Dr Flavia Schlegel, International Science Council Special Envoy for Science in Global Policy Professor Jim Al-Khalili CBE FRS, theoretical physicist, author and broadcaster Session chairs Day 1. Professor Sir Malcom Grant CBE/Cara President; Professor Elaine Unterhalter FBA/UCL IOE; Professor Christine Chinkin FBA/LSE; Dr Bahriye Kemal/Kent; Dr Maggie Grant/Stirling. Day 2. Professor Dawn Chatty FBA/Oxford; Professor Ann Phoenix FBA/UCL IOE; Professor Tom Shakespeare FBA/LSHTM; Professor Jen Baird/Birbeck; Dr Kristen Hopper/Durham. Day 3. Professor Michael Worton CBE/UCL; Professor Mark Pelling/KCL; Professor Robin Perutz FRS/York; Dr Bahriye Kemal/Kent; Dr Maggie Grant/Stirling. Day 4. Professor Joanna Haigh CBE FRS/Imperial; Professor Lisa Boden/Edinburgh; Professor Colleen McLaughlin/Cambridge. Day 5. Professor Michael Worton CBE/UCL; Professor Colleen McLaughlin/Cambridge; Dr Juliet Millican/IDS & Dr Fateh Shaban/FAU. "This symposium offers a chance to close the gender gap that has always existed. The evening cultural events pave the way to explore the new roles that women have played since the Syrian revolution, as novelists and writers." Hiba Al Haji Evening cultural events (6pm GMT) 6/12/21 'Women Writing Syria: Resilience, Solidarity, Movement', with readings from Samar Yazbek and other Syrian authors and activists 7/12/21 'Syrian Cultural Heritage: Global North/South Collaboration' 8/12/21 'Documenting Syria: Health, Space, Activism' Q&A with BAFTA award-winning director of 'For Sama', Waad al-Kateab 9/12/21 'Syrian Humming Project' Dr Suk-Jun Kim, Korean composer & sound artist View the full programme here (PDF) Attending this event The event will begin on Monday 6 December at 10.00 GMT Once you have booked your free ticket, you will be sent a link by email that will allow you to join the event.

Free

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Prize Lecture

Fighting diseases with cross-species vaccination

Thursday 02 December 2021

12/02/2021

12/02/2021

The Royal Society Africa Prize 2021 seminar given by Professor George Warimwe. The development and deployment of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases is a priority for global health security. More than 70% of these infectious diseases are zoonotic, meaning they are acquired from animals, with some causing serious illness and death in humans as well as the respective animal host. Despite this, the study of host-pathogen interactions that underlie disease pathogenesis and the mechanisms through which immunity is acquired are often done in medical and veterinary ‘silos’, with little interaction between the two. A ‘one health’ approach that integrates the scientific insights from veterinary and human studies may accelerate progress in the design and development of countermeasures against zoonotic diseases. Rift Valley Fever, a zoonotic disease that causes epidemics in Africa, is among a shortlist of diseases prioritised by the World Health Organization for urgent development of vaccines. In this talk, Professor Warimwe will discuss his ‘one health vaccinology’ approach to developing a single Rift Valley Fever vaccine suitable for human and livestock use. Professor Warimwe's talk will be followed by a Q&A chaired by Sir Jeremy James Farrar OBE FRS FMedSci. Attending the event This lecture will take place online as a Zoom webinar on 2 December at 6.30pm GMT. This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event.  The event is free to join. Advance registration is essential. Live subtitles will be available. The award The Royal Society Africa Prize is to recognise research scientists based in Africa who are making an innovative contribution to the sciences. The medal is of bronze, awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £2,000. The prize was previously the Royal Society Pfizer Award which was last awarded in 2016. Enquiries: contact the Events team.

Free

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Online

Stories from Science City

Join curators and other experts as they share stories of the people, places, objects and ideas that reveal how science shaped London, and London shaped science.

Wednesday 01 December 2021

12/01/2021

12/01/2021

Science City 1550–1800: The Linbury Gallery explores how London transformed from a modest commercial hub into a powerful metropolis and one of the world’s leading centres of science.   In collaboration with the Science Museum, the Royal Society has assembled a panel of experts for this free virtual event. Science City curator Alexandra Rose will highlight some of the gallery’s key objects, which reveal how the careers of figures such as Isaac Newton, Robert Boyle and Robert Hooke were embedded in London’s commercial life. Keeper of Science Collections Alison Boyle at the Science Museum will be joined by a number of experts to explore some of the stories attached to the objects in the collection.   Join us for a glimpse inside this wonderful gallery and a closer look at an unprecedented age of innovation.   This event is part of our series in partnership with the Science Museum that celebrates Science City 1550 – 1800: The Linbury Gallery.   This event is free to join, but to attend you must book at ticket using the button above Speakers  Alexandra Rose — Curator of Earth Sciences and Curator of Science City 1550–1800: The Linbury Gallery, Science Museum   Dr Alison Boyle — Keeper of Science Collections, Science Museum   Keith Moore — Head of Library and Information Services at The Royal Society  Professor Simon Schaffer — Professor of History of Science, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge University Further speakers to be announced. Attending the event The event will be broadcast online on Wednesday 1 December at 7pm GMT Once you have booked your free ticket, you will be sent a link by email that will allow you to join the event on one device along with other members of your household Live subtitles will be available

Free Event

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Online

Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize award ceremony

Monday 29 November 2021

11/29/2021

11/29/2021

Join Professor Brian Cox for a panel discussion with this year’s shortlisted authors, followed by the announcement of the winner of the 2021 Royal Society Science Book Prize, sponsored by Insight Investment. This year’s six shortlisted authors Emily Levesque, James Nestor, Jessica Nordell, Suzanne O’Sullivan, Stuart Ritchie and Merlin Sheldrake, will join Brian to discuss the unifying themes explored within their books and the integral role that science plays in society and our everyday lives. The books championed by the Royal Society Science Book Prize embody compelling science communication and provide an opportunity for readers to engage more deeply with science in an uncertain world. The five-strong judging panel for 2021 is chaired by world-leading immunologist, presenter and writer, Professor Luke O’Neill FRS. He is joined on the panel by representatives from across the worlds of science and culture: television presenter, Ortis Deley; mathematician and Dorothy Hodgkin Royal Society Fellow, Dr Anastasia Kisil; author and creative writing lecturer, Christy Lefteri, and journalist, writer and film maker, Clive Myrie. Attending this event The event will be livestreamed on the Royal Society YouTube channel on 29 November at 6.30pm The event is free to join, and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available For all enquiries please contact events@royalsociety.org

Free

online pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Hubble's legacy: A journey into the Universe

Wednesday 24 November 2021

11/24/2021

11/24/2021

This event was part of the Royal Society's post Summer Science series of events. To explore more of the Summer Science on demand programme explore the interactive hub, catch up on the Royal Society's YouTube channel or visit the Hubble's legacy  Summer Science content to create a space image, try out the telescope simulator and understand how Hubble has transformed our view of the Universe. Over the past thirty years, the Hubble Space Telescope has provided the research community with an unprecedented access to the workings of the Universe. As a result of the observations made with this telescope, researchers have gathered new data about the age of the Universe, discovered new moons in the Solar System and determined the rate at which the Universe is expanding. In December 2021, a joint venture between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency will launch the James Webb Space Telescope, a new orbiting telescope that will complement the discoveries of Hubble. Providing researchers with a new infra-red vision of the Universe, the James Webb Space Telescope will enable us to image exoplanets, see through dust into star-nurseries and look back in time to the very first stars and galaxies. Researchers hope that the telescope will provide new information on the formation of the Universe as well as data on how galaxies currently form.  Astronaut Jeff Hoffman and a panel of expert speakers delved into Hubble’s legacy and discussed the exciting launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. The event explored what we currently know about the Universe and looked backwards into how it was formed with contributions from experts in astrophysics, astronomy and exoplanetary science.  Speakers included: Professor Catherine Heymans, Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh and Astronomer Royal for Scotland (Host) Professor James Dunlop FRS, Professor of Extragalactic Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh Professor Jeffrey Hoffman, Hubble astronaut and Professor of the Practice of Aerospace Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Gillian Wright, Director of the UK Astronomy Technology Centre and European Principal Investigator for the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) for James Webb Space Telescope Dr Stephen Wilkins, Head of Astronomy, Director of Outreach and Public Engagement, Reader in Astronomy at the University of Sussex

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Online

Celebrating the quatercentenary of the birth of Thomas Willis

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Thursday 18 November 2021

11/18/2021

11/18/2021

Catch up on the full playlist of videos on our YouTube channel. This online conference celebrates the quatercentenary of the birth of Thomas Willis in 1621. It is held on the same day as Willis was elected to Fellowship of the Royal Society in 1663. As a physician in Oxford, Willis’s work in the 1650s provides an example of rural medical practice in early modern England. As a member of the Oxford Philosophical Club that met from the 1640s, he was central to the move from classical scholasticism to accounts of anatomy and physiology based on observation and experiment. As Sedleian Professor of Natural Philosophy in Oxford, the surviving records of his lectures from the 1660s provide an example of pedagogy in medicine at that time. And, after moving to London in 1667, Willis continued to interact with a community of scientists and physicians who transformed ideas on respiration, muscular movement, and the nervous system. Led by four moderators, the twelve speakers will consider the status and developments in natural philosophy in early modern England; the cultural and scientific influences on emerging ideas relating to the vitality of ‘humane bodies’; how this knowledge was set down and communicated through printed books and their illustrations; and the legacy of Willis’s work, and that of some contemporaries, for subsequent developments in medical science. There will be an opportunity for attendees to place questions during the online presentations, for discussion by speakers at the end of each session.

Free Event

online pastevents

Prize Lecture

Probabilistic Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

Wednesday 10 November 2021

11/10/2021

11/10/2021

Royal Society Milner Prize Lecture 2021 given by Professor Zoubin Ghahramani FRS. Modern artificial intelligence (AI) is heavily based on systems that learn from data. Such machine learning systems have led to breakthroughs in the sciences and underlie many modern technologies such as automatic translation, autonomous vehicles, and recommender systems. Probability theory provides a foundation for understanding machine learning and how to build rational decision-making systems. Professor Ghahramani will review the foundations of probabilistic AI and how it relates to deep learning. He will then discuss some topics at the frontier of probabilistic machine learning and some of the societal challenges and opportunities for AI. Attending the event This lecture will take place online as a Zoom webinar on 10 November at 6.30pm GMT. This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event.  The event is free to join. Advance registration is essential. Live subtitles will be available. The award The Royal Society Milner Award and Lecture, supported by Microsoft Research, is the premier European award for outstanding achievement in computer science. It is awarded to candidates at the peak of their career who have made a substantial contribution to computer science in Europe, with the strategic aim of supporting European researchers and institutes. The recipient is a European researcher or researcher who has been resident in Europe for 12 months or more, and is chosen by the Council of the Royal Society on the recommendation of the Milner Award Committee. The Committee is made up of Fellows of the Royal Society, Members of the Académie des sciences (France) and Members of Leopoldina (Germany). The award is named in honour of Professor Robin Milner FRS (1934-2010), a pioneer in computer science. The medal is of bronze, is awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £5,000.  Professor Zoubin Ghahramani FRS  was awarded the Royal Society Milner Award and Lecture in 2021 for his fundamental contributions to probabilistic machine learning. Enquiries: contact the Events team.

Free

prizelecture pastevents

Cop26

Climate change and health at COP26

Climate action to protect and promote health: sharing knowledge among regions to focus on solutions

Wednesday 10 November 2021

11/10/2021

11/10/2021

Climate change poses serious, and potentially catastrophic, threats to human health and natural systems with increasing impacts witnessed on a global scale in recent years. Major efforts are needed both to mitigate and adapt to climate change in the near term without which consequences could increasingly be dangerous. However, if the drivers and impacts of climate change are effectively addressed, there are substantial opportunities for climate action to benefit human health. This event will cover perspectives from Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe on how climate change affects human health, and the health co-benefits and trade-offs of climate adaptation and mitigation policies. It is jointly organised by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), and the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS), together with regional networks in Africa (NASAC), Asia (AASSA), the Americas (IANAS) and Europe (EASAC).  More information on the Royal Society's key work around climate change in the run up to COP26 can be found here, including the recently published report on climate change action and health.  Speakers Professor Sir Andy Haines FMedSci, Co-Chair of IAP Project on Climate Change and Health London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK  Professor Volker ter Meulen, Co-Chair of IAP Project on Climate Change and Health The InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) Dr Deoraj Caussy, Working Group Chair of African CCH Working Group (NASAC) Epidemiologist, Mauritius  Dr Robin Fears, Biosciences Programme Director European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC)  Professor Sherilee Harper, Associate Professor University of Alberta, Canada  Professor Ho Kim, Professor of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics Seoul National University, Korea  Dr Himla Soodyall, Executive Officer Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)  About COP26 COP26 is the 2021 United Nations annual climate change conference. COP stands for Conference of the Parties. Parties are the signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - a treaty agreed in 1994 which has 197 Parties (196 countries and the EU). The 2021 conference, hosted by the UK, together with our partners Italy, in Glasgow, will be the 26th meeting of the Parties, which is why it's called COP26. United Nations climate change conferences are among the largest international meetings in the world. The negotiations between governments are complex and involve officials from every country in the world as well as representatives from civil society and the global news media.  Attending this event The Blue Zone is for registered COP26 participants only The event will be livestreamed publicly on the UNFCCC COP26 YouTube Channel   

Free Event

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Cop26

Ask big questions about climate change at COP26

Drop into the Royal Society’s exhibit at Glasgow Science Centre and join live virtual Q&As with some of the leading scientists on the frontline in the battle against climate change and biodiversity loss.

Saturday 06 November 2021

11/06/2021

11/06/2021

Explore how science and technology could help save our planet by answering questions like what is a bee’s favourite flower? How do we mine a sustainable future? And how can we track and trace carbon from space? The Royal Society’s exhibit will be located in the Clyde Suite at Glasgow Science Centre and is part of a larger programme of events and exhibitions in the Green (public) Zone at COP26. See the full programme.  Jump to information about attending the event. About Summer Science The research being shown in the Green Zone has previously formed part of the Society’s Summer Science Exhibition, an annual interactive showcase for the public. The exhibition showcases the cutting edge science shaping our future and features 21 exhibits from teams of researchers from across the UK.  Enjoy digital highlights from our 2021 Summer Science programme and discover a selection of free online games, fun digital activities and immersive content suitable for all the family, all created by our research groups.  About COP26 COP26 is the 2021 United Nations annual climate change conference. COP stands for Conference of the Parties. Parties are the signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - a treaty agreed in 1994 which has 197 Parties (196 countries and the EU). The 2021 conference, hosted by the UK, together with our partners Italy, in Glasgow, will be the 26th meeting of the Parties, which is why it's called COP26. United Nations climate change conferences are among the largest international meetings in the world. The negotiations between governments are complex and involve officials from every country in the world as well as representatives from civil society and the global news media.  Attending this event The Green Zone is free to attend, but a ticket is required Book your ticket by visiting the COP26 Green Zone ticketing website Drop in anytime from 9am – 5pm   Family friendly, all ages welcome 

Free

cop26 pastevents

Cop26

Meet the climate scientists of tomorrow at COP26

Drop into the Royal Society’s exhibit at Glasgow Science Centre and join live Q&As with some of the inspirational young people that are taking action to save our planet through science. 

Friday 05 November 2021

11/05/2021

11/05/2021

With students dialling in virtually from classrooms across the UK, you will find out more about the real-life research projects relating to climate and biodiversity issues that they are undertaking through our Tomorrow’s climate scientists programme. You will also get a chance to discover more about our other opportunities and resources that support teachers and engage students in the important discussions around climate change and biodiversity.  The Royal Society’s exhibit will be located in the Clyde Suite at Glasgow Science Centre and is part of a larger programme of events and exhibitions in the Green (public) Zone at COP26. See the full programme.  Jump to information about attending the event. About Tomorrow’s climate scientists Tomorrow’s climate scientists aims to give students the opportunity to take action against issues surrounding climate change and biodiversity loss, by empowering them to undertake their own real-life research into these and the possible solutions. The programme is an extension to the Society’s Partnership Grants scheme, which funds schools to run investigate STEM research projects in partnership with a STEM professional from academia or industry.   About COP26 COP26 is the 2021 United Nations annual climate change conference. COP stands for Conference of the Parties. Parties are the signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - a treaty agreed in 1994 which has 197 Parties (196 countries and the EU). The 2021 conference, hosted by the UK, together with our partners Italy, in Glasgow, will be the 26th meeting of the Parties, which is why it's called COP26. United Nations climate change conferences are among the largest international meetings in the world. The negotiations between governments are complex and involve officials from every country in the world as well as representatives from civil society and the global news media.  Attending this event  The Green Zone is free to attend, but a ticket is required Book your ticket by visiting the COP26 Green Zone ticketing website Drop in anytime from 9am – 5pm   Family friendly, all ages welcome 

Free

cop26 pastevents

Panel Discussion

Living with COVID-19: When a pandemic becomes endemic

When does a pandemic become endemic? 

Wednesday 03 November 2021

11/03/2021

11/03/2021

It’s been nearly two years since the first recorded COVID-19 case, and we all wonder when the virus will disappear and whether we will finally be able to return to our previous lives. The rapid and successful development of a vaccine, building on years of research and vaccine knowledge, has offered hope to the world.  However, according to the World Health Organisation, only two diseases affecting humans and animals have ever been totally eradicated. Experts suggest that while the pandemic will end, COVID-19 will stay with us and become a circulating virus. What does this mean for the new highly transmissible variants appearing? Are vaccines still effective? And how does the virus evolve when faced with our strengthened immune response? Professor Brian Cox and our panel of expert speakers discussed the future of the COVID-19 pandemic as we learn to live with the virus. Explore what we currently know about new COVID-19 variants and look forward into how a fully vaccinated society will learn to live with the virus, with contributions from experts from the fields of epidemiology, history and public health.  This event was part of a series of Royal Society events discussing the scientific response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Catch up with previous events on the Royal Society’s YouTube channel. Panel speakers included: Christl Donnelly CBE FMedSci FRS, Professor of Applied Statistics, University of Oxford and Professor of Statistical Epidemiology, Imperial College London Kyle Harper, Professor of Classics and Letters and Provost Emeritus at The University of Oklahoma Marc Lipsitch, Professor of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health Beate Kampmann, Professor of Paediatric Infection & Immunity and Director of the Vaccine Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Free

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Prize Lecture

Mathematics, Pandemics and Us

Tuesday 26 October 2021

10/26/2021

10/26/2021

Rosalind Franklin Lecture 2020 given by Professor Julia Gog OBE. This year, the topic of pandemics needs no introduction. In this pandemic, the role of mathematical modelling has been a central part of the emergency response. Epidemiological concepts such as the R number and herd immunity are no longer confined to academic discussion, but are now firmly in a wider public understanding of the science. But, what does all this mean for us, as people living through the pandemic? In this talk, Julia Gog discussed some of the COVID-19 research, but also how mathematical ideas can help all of us in understanding what is going on with a pandemic. Models are useful for everyone to build up insights into the inner workings of an epidemic. She argued that models can help all of us make sense of what has happened, and to see what the prospects are for the future with COVID-19.  Julia Gog is Professor of Mathematical Biology at the University of Cambridge and the David N. Moore Fellow and Director of Studies in Mathematics at Queens’ College, Cambridge. Julia and her research group in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics specialise in modelling the spread and evolution of infectious diseases, particularly influenza.  In 2018, she and her team were behind the UK’s largest citizen science experiment in collaboration with the BBC, using data contributed by users of a smartphone app to understand better how pandemic influenza might spread across the UK. The massive dataset that resulted from the experiment, the largest and most detailed of its kind, has been put into action to assist with model development for the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Gog has been providing advice to the Government through SPI-M, the specialist pandemic modelling group that feeds into SAGE, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, as well as through Cambridge’s Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP). Julia is a keen communicator of science and mathematics to public audiences, and as the LMS popular lecturer in 2014. She has teamed up with the Millennium Mathematics Project throughout her time as a Royal Society University Research Fellow (2004-2012) and beyond to work with schools. She has collaborated with Plus magazine during the coronavirus pandemic to share updates on the mathematical modelling approaches to the pandemic. Julia won the London Mathematical Society’s Whitehead prize in 2017.  The award The Rosalind Franklin Award and Lecture is awarded annually and is made to support the promotion of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Professor Julia Gog was awarded the Rosalind Franklin Award and Lecture 2020 for her achievements in the field of mathematics and her impactful project proposal with its potential for a long-term legacy. Enquiries: contact the Events team.

Free

prizelecture pastevents

Online

Academic freedom: right or privilege? - Science and Civilisation lecture 2021

Monday 25 October 2021

10/25/2021

10/25/2021

Professor Ignatieff has been at the forefront of issues relating to academic freedom in recent years, having served as President and Rector of the Central European University (CEU) between 2016 and 2021, which saw CEU's expulsion from Budapest and its re-establishment in Vienna.  He has written and spoken widely on democracy, human rights, governance and the history of Central and Eastern Europe. Professor Ignatieff’s ‘Science and Civilisation’ Lecture will be the eighth in the series, which takes its name from the title of the lecture given by Albert Einstein in October 1933 at the Royal Albert Hall, at a major fundraising event on behalf of Cara and three other organisations who had come together as the ‘Refugee Assistance Fund’ to help those being expelled from Germany by the Nazis. The Science and Civilisation series has brought together a range of leading academics, writers, philosophers and other renowned public figures to discuss important questions relating to academic freedom.

Free

online pastevents

Prize Lecture

Poxvirus research after smallpox eradication: new findings with an old vaccine

Thursday 07 October 2021

10/07/2021

10/07/2021

Leeuwenhoek Lecture 2020 given by Professor Geoffrey L. Smith FRS. In 1980 smallpox was declared eradicated after a global vaccination campaign. Today, only two labs in the world retain variola virus, the cause of smallpox, one in the USA and one in Russia – and the World Health Assembly has recommended these virus stocks be destroyed when essential research with variola virus is complete. In this lecture, Professor Geoffrey L. Smith FRS, winner of the 2020 Leeuwenhoek Medal, described how smallpox was eradicated and what happened afterwards. Despite eradication, research with vaccinia virus, the smallpox vaccine, has endured. This research has provided new ways to make vaccines, and revealed how our cells respond to virus infection and how the virus escapes these defenses.   The award The Leeuwenhoek Medal and Lecture was originally established to recognise excellence in the field of microbiology but now also includes excellence in bacteriology, virology, mycology and parasitology, and microscopy. The lectureship was named after the Dutch microscopist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek FRS, often referred to as the ‘Father of Microbiology’, and is supported by a bequest from George Gabb. Originally it was held annually, and from 2006 to 2018 it was awarded triennially, but it is now awarded biennially. The lecture was first given in 1950. The medal is of bronze, is awarded biennially and is accompanied by a gift of £2,000. Enquiries: contact the Events team.

Free Event

prizelecture pastevents

Party Conference

Conservative Party Conference: Becoming a “science superpower”: will the UK be fit to tackle the next global crisis?

Tuesday 05 October 2021

10/05/2021

10/05/2021

This event is jointly hosted by the UK National Academies: the Royal Society, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medical Sciences. The UK government has committed to secure our status as a "Science and Tech Superpower by 2030". The past year has demonstrated the UK’s potential to realise this, but now UK research and innovation faces its kryptonite: uncertainty. What will the next few years of R&I investment look like? How will the UK take a lead internationally? How can we be ready for the next global crisis? Join us and a panel of research and innovation "superstars" to discuss how the UK should approach the future, build resilience to future crises, and lock-in our superpower status. Panel Tom Whipple, Science Editor at the Times and Sunday Times (Chair) The Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Chair of the Science and Technology Select Committee Dame Nancy Rothwell DBE DL FRS FMedSci FRSB FBPhS MAE  Professor Susan Gourvenec BEng FIEAust FICE Professor Dominic Abrams FBA FAcSS FBPsS Professor Jennifer Logue The event is a fringe meeting of the Conservative Party Conference. For more information on the Conference or to sign up, click here.

Free Event

partyconference pastevents

Party Conference

Conservative Party Conference: Preparing for future challenges: how can Government best use science?

Tuesday 05 October 2021

10/05/2021

10/05/2021

This event is jointly hosted by the Royal Society, Institute for Government and Imperial College London. UK science and scientific advice have played a key role in the response to COVID-19. The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the way government accesses and uses scientific expertise and data, and how this is communicated to the public and open to public debate. Efforts to improve resilience to future challenges will depend on strategic investment in research and innovation and strengthening the role of science in government. This panel will discuss the lessons learnt from COVID-19 on how the UK can use science effectively going forward to achieve its aim to be a "science superpower". Panel Tom Sasse, IfG Associate Director (Chair) The Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Chair of the Science and Technology Committee Sir Mark Walport FRS FRCP FRCPath FMedSci FRSE Professor Ian Walmsley FRS, Provost, Imperial College London Polly Toynbee, Columnist at The Guardian The event is a fringe meeting of the Conservative Party Conference and will take place within the secure zone. For more information on the Conference or to sign up, click here.

Free Event

partyconference pastevents

Party Conference

Labour Party Conference: Becoming a “science superpower”: will the UK be fit to tackle the next global crisis?

Monday 27 September 2021

09/27/2021

09/27/2021

This event is jointly hosted by the UK National Academies: the Royal Society, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medical Sciences. The UK government has committed to secure our status as a "Science and Tech Superpower by 2030". The past year has demonstrated the UK’s potential to realise this, but now UK research and innovation faces its kryptonite: uncertainty. What will the next few years of R&I investment look like? How will the UK take a lead internationally? How can we be ready for the next global crisis? Join us and a panel of research and innovation "superstars" to discuss how the UK should approach the future, build resilience to future crises, and lock-in our superpower status. Panel Anjana Ahuja, Science Journalist at the FT (Chair) Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister for Science, Research and Digital Dr Rupert Lewis, Chief Science Policy Officer at the Royal Society Professor Susan Gourvenec BEng FIEAust FICE Professor Dominic Abrams FBA FAcSS FBPsS Professor Azra Ghani MBE FMedSci The event is a fringe meeting of the Labour Party Conference. For more information on the Conference or to sign up, click here.

Free

partyconference pastevents

Party Conference

Labour Party Conference: Preparing for future challenges: how can Government best use science?

Monday 27 September 2021

09/27/2021

09/27/2021

This event is jointly hosted by the Royal Society, Institute for Government and Imperial College London. UK science and scientific advice have played a key role in the response to COVID-19. The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the way government accesses and uses scientific expertise and data, and how this is communicated to the public and open to public debate. Efforts to improve resilience to future challenges will depend on strategic investment in research and innovation and strengthening the role of science in government. This panel will discuss the lessons learnt from COVID-19 on how the UK can use science effectively going forward. Panel Tom Sasse, IfG Associate Director (Chair) Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister for Science, Research and Innovation Lord Layard FBA Sir Mark Walport FRS FRCP FRCPath FMedSci FRSE Professor Mary Ryan FREng, Interim Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise), Imperial College London Ayesha Hazarika MBE, Journalist and Former Labour Party Adviser The event is a fringe meeting of the Labour Party Conference held within the secure zone. For more information on the Conference or to sign up, click here.

Free Event

partyconference pastevents

Online

A.C. Grayling: Learning from the Age of Genius

The Age of Genius explores the intertwining of outward event and inner intellectual life to tell the story of the 17th century in Europe. Its author, Professor A.C. Grayling, joins us to discuss that story.  

Wednesday 22 September 2021

09/22/2021

09/22/2021

In collaboration with the Science Museum, the Royal Society presents a very special free virtual event in which the acclaimed philosopher, historian and author Professor A.C. Grayling joins science historian Dr Patricia Fara in conversation. The Age of Genius is a vivid reconstruction of the seventeenth century in which figures that span science, art and philosophy — from Newton, Locke and Hobbes to Shakespeare, Rembrandt and Descartes — took centre stage in sparking a paradigm shift that would define Western thought for centuries to come.  Together, Professor Grayling and Dr Fara will discuss The Age of Genius in detail, bringing to life a critical era in human thought. This event is part of our series in partnership with the Science Museum that celebrates Science City 1550 – 1800: The Linbury Gallery.   This event is free to join, but to attend you must book a ticket using the button above Speakers Professor A.C. Grayling CBE MA DPhil (Oxon) FRSA FRSL is the Founder and Principal of New College of the Humanities at Northeastern University, and its Professor of Philosophy. He is also a Supernumerary Fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford. He is the author of over thirty books of philosophy, biography, history of ideas, and essays. He was for a number of years a columnist on the Guardian, the Times, and Prospect magazine. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, a Vice President of Humanists UK, Patron of the Defence Humanists, Honorary Associate of the Secular Society, and a Patron of Dignity in Dying. Dr Patricia Fara is an Emeritus Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, where she was formerly Senior Tutor. She was the President of the British Society for the History of Science from 2016–2018, and is the author of numerous books on the history of science including Newton: the Making of Genius, A Lab of One’s Own: Science and Suffrage in the First World War and Science: A Four Thousand Year History. Her most recent book is Life after Gravity: Isaac Newton’s London Career. 

Free Event

online pastevents

Party Conference

Liberal Democrat Party Conference: Becoming a “science superpower”: will the UK be fit to tackle the next global crisis?

Friday 17 September 2021

09/17/2021

09/17/2021

This event is jointly hosted by the UK National Academies: the Royal Society, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medical Sciences. The UK government has committed to secure our status as a "Science and Tech Superpower by 2030". The past year has demonstrated the UK's potential to realise this, but now UK research and innovation faces its kryptonite: uncertainty. What will the next few years of R&I investment look like? How will the UK take a lead internationally? How can we be ready for the next global crisis? Join us and a panel of research and innovation "superstars" to discuss how the UK should approach the future, build resilience to future crises, and lock-in our superpower status. Panel Tom Whipple, Science Editor at the Times and Sunday Times (Chair) The Baroness Randerson, Lords Spokesperson for Transport Professor Alison Noble FRS FREng FIET Professor Dominic Abrams FBA FAcSS FBPsS Professor Sir Rory Collins FMedSci FRS The event is a fringe meeting of the Liberal Democrat Party Conference and only accessible to registered attendees. For more information on the Conference or to sign up, click here.

Free

partyconference pastevents

Online

Has there ever been life on Mars?

This event was part of the Royal Society's post Summer Science series of events. To explore more of the Summer Science on demand programme explore the interactive hub, catch up on the Royal Society's YouTube…

Wednesday 15 September 2021

09/15/2021

09/15/2021

From the idea of the Martian Canals in the 1800s to the recent interest in NASA’s Rover Perseverance, humans have long been fascinated by the idea of life on Mars. As our nearest planet and with confirmation that it once had an ‘Earth-like’ climate, Mars has been the focus of many scientific missions. In a bid to better understand the Red Planet, there are currently six missions at Mars and space agencies NASA and ESA are joining forces for a planned sample return. The UK is heavily involved with the joint Russian-European mission ExoMars 2022 and a Fetch rover to bring back rock cores drilled by Mars2020.  But were the conditions on Mars ever right for life? Did the ancient lakes, deltas and rivers that have been discovered in the last 20 years once harbour primitive organisms? Our panel of experts explored the evidence that has been gathered from previous missions demonstrating why there may have been life on Mars and how, through continued missions and advanced instruments, researchers hope to answer the most fundamental question of humankind – are we alone in the Universe? Panel speakers included:  Dr Natalie Starkey, Cosmochemist, writer and science communicator (Host) Dr Ashwin Vasavada, MSL Project Scientist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Dr Suzie Imber, Associate Professor in Space Physics, University of Leicester and winner of the 2021 Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award  Professor Charles Cockell, Professor of Astrobiology, University of Edinburgh and Co-Director of the UK Centre for Astrobiology  Professor John Bridges, Professor of Planetary Science, University of Leicester

Free

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Open House

Open House

The Royal Society opens its doors online with an exciting range of digital content over Open House Festival 2021.

04 - 12 September 2021

09/04/2021

09/12/2021

You’ll not only be able to explore the architectural highlights of the homes of the Royal Society, both past and present, but you’ll also be invited to journey with us across London to marvel at the magnificence of other historic buildings designed by the Society and its Fellows.  For the Open House Festival only, explore our curated collection of digital resources and take a virtual tour around the building. All Open House content will be available here from 4 - 12 September. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @royalsociety, Instagram @theroyalsociety or Facebook @theroyalsociety for updates and to be notified when content is live.  What is Open House? Open House is a simple but powerful concept: hundreds of great buildings of all types and periods open up their doors to all, completely without charge. Open House London looks a little different this year, with many online only and hybrid programmes. For more information about other Open House programming visit the Open House website. For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org.

Free Event

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Online

London: Science City 2021

Science City 1550 - 1800: The Linbury Gallery tells the story of how London grew to become a global hub for scientific and technological innovation, but where does it stand in 2021?

Wednesday 25 August 2021

08/25/2021

08/25/2021

In collaboration with the Science Museum, the Royal Society has assembled a panel of experts to examine that question in this free virtual event. Together they will explore how London’s role as a “Science City” has evolved to adapt to a world in which global collaboration is so much more prevalent than in the days of the likes of Newton, Hooke and Wren.  The panel will also look to identify some of the challenges and opportunities presented by such seismic issues as Brexit, a green recovery from the pandemic and advances in Artificial Intelligence and engineering.   Speakers Alexandra Rose — Curator of Earth Sciences and Curator of Science City 1550 – 1800: The Linbury Gallery, Science Museum   Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE— CEO, Royal Academy of Engineering, CEO, Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation   Professor Sir Mark Walport FRS — Chair, Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre Strategic Partnership Board, Government Chief Scientific Advisor 2013 – 2017, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) 2017 – 2020   Dr Roger Highfield — Science Director, Science Museum Group Theo Blackwell MBE — Chief Digital Officer, The Mayor of London's Office Ritula Shah (Chair) — Journalist and news presenter on BBC Radio, and the main presenter of The World Tonight on BBC Radio 4 This event is part of our series in partnership with the Science Museum that celebrates Science City 1550 – 1800: The Linbury Gallery.  

Free Event

online pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Engineering ExoMars

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase. 

Sunday 11 July 2021

07/11/2021

07/11/2021

The ExoMars rover is due to launch in 2022 and will travel across Oxia Planum on Mars drilling for signs of life. Join Professor John Bridges of the University of Leicester and colleagues to explore the advanced engineering and UK led science behind this exciting mission, and how researchers hope to prove there was once ancient life on Mars. Speaker Professor John Bridges, Professor of Planetary Science, University of Leicester Attending this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org 

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Going wild: Why do captive animals need their wild behaviours?

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Sunday 11 July 2021

07/11/2021

07/11/2021

Zoos can provide us with wonderful opportunities to come up close and personal with some fascinating, and often endangered animals. They also act as 'arks' preserving the species in their care and helping researchers to understand how best to conserve the same species in the wild. However, zoos need to preserve not just the genetics of the animals they care for, but also their specialised behaviours. Behaviour is one of the main ways in which animals adapt to their surroundings and their physical environment can shape their behaviour as well as altering the development of bones and muscles. But it is difficult for zoos to replicate challenging wild environments in a captive setting, both in terms of safety and practicality. Enter Dr Jackie Chappell, who in partnership with Drayton Manor Zoo, is developing a handy tool that will help them to evaluate the behaviours of their animals and alter their enclosures to create more ‘wild-type’ environments. Discover how this can lead to improved animal welfare and conservation and find out how this encourages animals to express more of their natural behaviours like they would in the wild. Speaker Dr Jackie Chappell, Reader in Animal Behaviour, University of Birmingham Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Weirdology

This event is part of the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Sunday 11 July 2021

07/11/2021

07/11/2021

Explore the strange chemistry, materials science, physics and biology lurking in everyday things… this is a show for people who think they hate science. Join Gastronaut Stefan Gates and his long-suffering daughter Poppy for an unforgettable adventure through strange and wonderful chemistry, biology and physics as they tackle questions such as Why can’t you melt a Flake? What are bogies for? Can you make screaming hot plasma in a microwave? Full of ridiculous and shocking demos, hacks, myth busting and self-experimentation, this is an action-packed family science show that will light the touchpaper of fascination in anyone.   BBC Gastronaut Stefan Gates is renowned for his world-class science and food shows.  This event is suitable for ages 5+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

BO and beyond

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Sunday 11 July 2021

07/11/2021

07/11/2021

Everybody can recognise the unmistakable aroma of body odour, but did you know that it is caused by bacteria living in our armpits? These bacteria break down molecules in sweat, causing the smelly by-product we know. Hear from Dr Julia Humes and the team of researchers who are looking at how and why the bacteria do this, and how this knowledge might help us develop better deodorants. Speaker Dr Julia Humes, Research Associate, University of Oxford  Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org 

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Extinction: Evolution's Partner in Crime?

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Saturday 10 July 2021

07/10/2021

07/10/2021

The mass-extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, along with multiple other life forms, ended the 165-million-year reign of these magnificent prehistoric creatures and now icons of extinction.    Join Professor Phillip Manning to explore if extinction plays a critical role in the ebb and flow of life and whether we should view this spectre of doom as evolutions partner in crime, allowing new life forms to develop and emerge from its shadow. Speakers Professor Phillip Manning FGS FRGS, Professor of Natural History, University of Manchester Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+  Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience  For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Would you trust a robot surgeon?

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Saturday 10 July 2021

07/10/2021

07/10/2021

Robots in surgery offer so much more than the ability to mirror a surgeon's hand movements, but there are many legal, ethical and technical challenges to overcome before they replace surgeons. Join Dr George Mylonas to discover the ways that researchers are developing the safe use of robots in surgery, and how they are working to avoid ethical dilemmas by keeping them under the total control of the surgeon at all times.  Speaker Dr George Mylonas, Lecturer in Robotics and Technology in Cancer, Imperial College London  Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org 

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Monte-Carlo simulation and The Pirates of the Caribbean

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Saturday 10 July 2021

07/10/2021

07/10/2021

Have you ever wanted to determine the chances of a snow day in winter or the probability of an opponent’s next move in a gripping game of chess? There are some calculations too complicated for even established mathematicians to solve. In these cases, scientists and mathematicians turn to a simple but powerful technique called the Monte-Carlo Simulation, a method first invented by scientists working on the atomic bomb in the 1940s. So, what exactly is Monte-Carlo Simulation? And how does this simple yet refined concept help to resolve such complex problems? Join mathematician Dr Nira Chamberlain as he enlists the help of Captain Jack Sparrow to explain the mathematical modelling of the Pirates of the Caribbean and how this creative solution can be applied to the real world. Speaker Dr Nira Chamberlain CMath CSci FIMA FORS, President, Institute of Mathematics and its Applications Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Maddie and Greg take over Summer Science

This event is part of the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Saturday 10 July 2021

07/10/2021

07/10/2021

Join YouTubers and TV presenters Maddie Moate and Greg Foot for a special Summer Science live show.   In this exclusive takeover, Maddie and Greg will be bringing us some of their favourite try-at-home science experiments from their hugely popular online family science show "Let’s Go Live".   Get ready to discover how to create gooey chocolate mug cakes, perform a step-by-step flower dissection and craft a solar system that could fit right in your pocket.   Watching this event online Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Mining for a sustainable future

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Saturday 10 July 2021

07/10/2021

07/10/2021

Modern life would be unrecognisable without the rare minerals and metals mined from the Earth. From mobile phones to electric cars, we rely on unusual elements such as cobalt in our devices, and they play a significant role in the green technologies the world needs to adopt. But how can these 'Energy Critical Elements' be part of the sustainable world they will power? Hear from researchers from iCRAG and the Natural History Museum as they explore how we can find these minerals and metals, and how we can produce them sustainably.     Speakers Researchers from iCRAG and NHM  Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+  Part of Summer Science 2021  Share on social media using #SummerScience  For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org 

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Weekend workshops

10 - 11 July 2021

07/10/2021

07/11/2021

Our range of free weekend workshops with our 2021 researchers are now fully booked. We are currently operating a waiting list so please click on the links below to register your place and you will be notified if a ticket becomes available.         Family workshops - suitable for 7+ Saturday 10 July Sunday 11 July Working with dinosaurs (sold out) 10am - 11am Make your own bee hotel (sold out) 10am - 11am Flowing words (sold out) 1pm - 2pm Exploring the Universe’s rainbow and beyond (sold out) 1pm - 2pm Minecrafting a sustainable future (sold out)  2pm - 3pm Carbon in your garden (sold out) 2pm - 2.45pm Cardboard tumours (sold out) 3pm - 4pm Mars detectives (sold out) 2pm - 3pm Create your own universe (sold out) 4pm - 4.45pm Build your own metal detector (sold out) 3pm - 4.30pm Why are humans smelly? (sold out) 3pm - 3.45pm How do birds fly? (sold out) 4pm - 4.45pm Adult workshops - suitable for 14+ Saturday 10 July Sunday 11 July Breaking into tumours (sold out) 10am - 11am How can nature inspire engineering? (sold out)  10am - 10.45am Create your own universe (sold out) 1pm - 1.45pm Stitch ‘n’ stem (sold out) 4pm - 5pm Impacts, volcanoes and mass-extinction (sold out) 2pm - 3pm Help us breathe fresh air again: the virtual escape room (sold out)  3pm - 4pm Attending these workshops online: These events are free to join Registration is required, book using the Eventbrite links provided The event will be run on Zoom  Zoom details will be sent out at least 24 hours in advance Tickets for the workshops are extremely limited. If you can no longer attend, please cancel your booking so we can offer the place to the waiting list If you have any accessibility requirements, please get in touch with us at least a week before the event Part of Summer Science 2021  Share on social media using #SummerScience For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org These are free events hosted by the Royal Society and do not require credit card or bank details. Please ensure that you only follow official Royal Society links (www.royalsociety.org)  Numbers for the workshops are limited, therefore in order to ensure as many as possible can take part in these interactions with the researchers, please only book one workshop.  For family workshops, parental supervision is required for those attending with younger participants.   

Free

astronomyandphysics astronomyandphysics astronomyandphysics chemistry chemistry chemistry microbiologyimmunologyanddevelopmentalbiology earthandenvironmentalsciences earthandenvironmentalsciences earthandenvironmentalsciences organismalbiologyevolutionandecology organismalbiologyevolutionandecology organismalbiologyevolutionandecology healthandhumansciences summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

In and under the skin

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Friday 09 July 2021

07/09/2021

07/09/2021

In a special double feature, meet two researchers working at the cusp of stem cell research.  Making stem cells move  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease that affects the nervous system, resulting in damage and degradation to the nerve and brain cells which causes loss of muscle control.   Meet Peter Harley, who is developing a method to grow nerves and muscles that function together in the lab as they would in the body to try to find new treatments for this condition.   Stem cells and wound healing  All of us will get a scar during our lifetime, but how do they form?   Dr Christina Philippeos will talk all about how stem cells are involved in the crucial process of wound healing, and whether there are ways to use them to treat scarring.  Speakers Peter Harley, King's College London  Dr Christina Philippeos, King's College London Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+  Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience  For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org 

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Detecting landmines for a safer world

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society's 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Friday 09 July 2021

07/09/2021

07/09/2021

An estimated 60 million people worldwide still live with the daily risk of unexploded landmines and bombs.   Join Professor Tony Peyton to discover how research and new technologies are helping to improve the speed and accuracy of landmine clearance. Speaker Professor Tony Peyton, Professor of Electromagnetic Tomography, University of Manchester  Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+  Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience  For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org 

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Inspiring intergenerational connections post COVID-19

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Friday 09 July 2021

07/09/2021

07/09/2021

There are often stark differences in the way different generations experience the world around them but have you ever wondered how connecting old people and young people could be mutually beneficial? When different generations share time and space together, the unexpected can happen. Intergenerational connections are a sustaining force of support and motivation and have been proven to reduce isolation, heighten wellbeing and challenge ageist perceptions.  However, these bonds have been challenged by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. In its wake, poor mental health and loneliness have been two of the devastating consequences. Could building and rediscovering bonds between different generations help? COVID-19 has triggered new ways of thinking so how can we establish different and more sustainable intergenerational connections?  To answer some of these questions, Dr Melrose Stewart joins us to explain the benefits that can occur when we close the generational gap and uncovers inspirational ways we can all learn to stay connected.  Speaker Dr Melrose Stewart MBE, Honorary Lecturer, University of Birmingham Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

What happens when there's too much water?

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Friday 09 July 2021

07/09/2021

07/09/2021

Flooding events happen across the world every year and unpredictable weather is becoming increasingly more frequent as a result of climate change. Join Professor Hannah Cloke as she explores why floods happen and how the latest advances in weather prediction and forecasting can give us valuable insight into the locations most at risk from adverse weather. She'll answer what happens when there is too much water as well as examining the effect that climate change is having on all of us.  Speaker Professor Hannah Cloke OBE, Professor of Hydrology, University of Reading  Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+  Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience  For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org 

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Stories from the frontier of Earth observation

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Friday 09 July 2021

07/09/2021

07/09/2021

Tracking and tracing the sources, sinks and stores of carbon on Earth is crucial in our ongoing fight against climate change. Being able to do this is challenging but with more data from satellites all across the globe, we are now able to do this with increasing accuracy and ease.   Join Paul Palmer, Mat Disney and Gemma Kulk as they take you on a journey through the land, air and sea to explore how satellites are used at the cutting edge of climate science.  Speakers: Professor Mat Disney, Professor of Remote Sensing, University College London Dr Gemma Kulk, Researcher, Plymouth Marine Laboratory Professor Paul Palmer, Professor of Quantitative Earth Observation, University of Edinburgh Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience  For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org 

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Mapping tumours

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Thursday 08 July 2021

07/08/2021

07/08/2021

Tumours are not just solid lumps but are made up of many different cell types and components. Join researcher Dr Joanna Kelly to find out more about these ‘tumour landscapes’ and why understanding the details of their composition could be the key to developing the cancer treatments of the future.   Speaker Dr Joanna Kelly, Postdoctoral Researcher, CRUK Manchester  Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+  Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience  For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org 

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Ancestors with Professor Alice Roberts

Join author, academic and broadcaster Professor Alice Roberts as she journeys through time to uncover the lost stories of our prehistoric ancestors - written in stone, pottery, metal and bone.

Thursday 08 July 2021

07/08/2021

07/08/2021

Burials are like time capsules - each one, a physical biography, written into the skeleton. Objects placed into graves provide us with some of our clearest evidence of ancient cultures - and the science of genomics is now revolutionising our perception of the deep past. From the colonisation of the globe in the Palaeolithic to the prehistory of Britain, Alice reflects on what archaeological discoveries tell us about our ancestors and the human experience that binds us all together.  Professor Alice Roberts was the first recipient of the Royal Society’s David Attenborough award for Public Engagement in 2020. An anatomist and biological anthropologist, Alice made her television debut in the UK in 2001 and since then has written and presented a number of popular TV programmes and series. Alice has been the Professor of Public Engagement at the University of Birmingham since 2012. She has also written eleven books ranging across anatomy, evolutionary anthropology and archaeology. Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org

Free

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Summer Science Exhibition

Eagle inspired engineering

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Thursday 08 July 2021

07/08/2021

07/08/2021

From producing lift with their tails to allowing their wings to be buffeted by the wind to provide suspension, birds have adapted incredible ways of remaining stable during flying.  Now scientists such as Professor Jim Usherwood are using tiny helium-filled soap bubbles to track how birds such as owls, hawks and eagles make gliding seem so effortless. By studying nature in this way, it may be possible to inspire the next generation of human-made aircrafts and flying machines. Speaker: Professor Jim Usherwood, Professor of Locomotor Biomechanics, Royal Veterinary College Watching this event online:  This event is suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience  For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org 

Free

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Summer Science Exhibition

The life and death of galaxies

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Thursday 08 July 2021

07/08/2021

07/08/2021

When two hearts collide, they beat as one. When two galaxies collide, the result is very different.  Hear from Dr Annagrazia Puglisi who has been observing this very event, known as a galaxy merger. Discover how and why galaxy mergers play a role in the number of stars that form, or don’t, within a galaxy and how this may lead to the death of both galaxies. Speaker: Dr Annagrazia Puglisi, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Durham   Attending this event online:  This event is suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021  Share on social media using #SummerScience  For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org 

Free

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Summer Science Exhibition

What a waste

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase. 

Thursday 08 July 2021

07/08/2021

07/08/2021

One person's trash is another person's treasure. And never was this old cliché more apt than when talking about the process of creating biogas energy from organic waste. Meet Professor James Chong and Dr Caroline Orr, as well as the microbes that are crucial to this process called anaerobic digestion. Discover why a greater understanding of these microbes can help us to maximise the efficiency of anaerobic digestion, and, in turn, produce a clean and renewable energy source. Speakers Professor James Chong, Royal Society Industry Fellow, University of York Dr Caroline Orr, Principal Lecturer, Teesside University Watching this event online:  This event is suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience  For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org 

Free

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Summer Science Exhibition

The rapidly changing world of neural interfaces

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Thursday 08 July 2021

07/08/2021

07/08/2021

As global technology advances at a rapid rate, the race is on to develop new and commercially available neural, or brain-computer, interfaces. Allowing direct communication between a brain and an external device, companies such as Neuralink, Kernel and NIRX have all thrown their hats into the ring. From devices that can read thoughts for hands free typing and computer control to interfaces that can evaluate emotions, these developments could have a huge impact on how we interact with technology and also each other. Dr Adrien Rapeaux explores the current landscape by looking at recent advances in these technologies as well as the potential impact they could have on our future. Speaker Dr Adrien Rapeaux, Research Associate, Imperial College London  Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience  For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org

Free

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Summer Science Exhibition

Beauty quarks behaving badly

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Thursday 08 July 2021

07/08/2021

07/08/2021

It’s no secret that the universe is a vast space, made up of various fundamental particles, all of which help us to understand what the universe is, how it works and how it can change over time. The Standard Model, a highly reliable, well-tested description of fundamental particles and their interactions, predicts that particles known as beauty quarks should decay in the final states involving either muons or electrons at equal rates.   However, new research suggests this may not be happening and the reason why remains a mystery.  Leading physicist, Dr Mitesh Patel joins us to explain the puzzling behaviour of the beauty quark and how these findings could point to the existence of new particles and forces of nature not yet known to science. Speaker Dr Mitesh Patel, Reader in Particle Physics, Imperial College London Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org

Free

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Summer Science Exhibition

Air pollution: can you catch a gas?

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Thursday 08 July 2021

07/08/2021

07/08/2021

Is it possible to catch a gas? And how can you remove gaseous pollutants from the air?   Join Professor Martin Schröder to find out how researchers at the University of Manchester are using chemistry and new materials design to tackle air pollution.  Speakers Professor Martin Schröder FRSE FRSC, Vice President and Dean, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Professor of Chemistry, University of Manchester Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org

Free

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Summer Science Exhibition

How has Hubble transformed our view of the distant Universe?

This event is part of a series of lightning lectures for the Royal Society’s 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Thursday 08 July 2021

07/08/2021

07/08/2021

As we look out into the Universe, we see it as it appeared in the past, making telescopes like Hubble effectively time machines. Through iconic images, like Hubble's Ultra Deep Field, astronomers have now observed galaxies across much of the Universe’s history transforming our understanding of its evolution.  Join Dr Stephen Wilkins on an interstellar journey through time and space as he explores some of the ground-breaking discoveries made possible by the Hubble Telescope.    Speakers Dr Stephen Wilkins, Head of Astronomy, University of Sussex Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+ This event is free to join and there is no registration required Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org

Free

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Summer Science Exhibition

Summer Science on demand

08 July - 31 August 2021

07/08/2021

08/31/2021

Summer Science returns for 2021 with a digital showcase of cutting-edge UK science. With a packed programme of inspiring talks, fascinating interactive workshops, fun science from home activities and exciting digital content, there is something for all ages. Has there ever been life on Mars? Would you trust a robot surgeon? What's a bee's favourite flower? Join us on the 8 - 11 July to explore the research that is shaping our future and discover the people looking to answer some of life’s big questions. Sign up to our public newsletter to be the first to find out the latest news about this year’s programme or follow us on Twitter @royalsociety or Facebook @theroyalsociety. For general enquiries, please contact exhibition@royalsociety.org.

Free

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Summer Science Exhibition

History of Science’s Summer Science Showcase

Taking mother nature as our inspiration for Summer Science this year, join us straight from the Royal Society’s archives as we journey through the microscopic discoveries of both sea and land to the giants of the…

08 July - 31 August 2021

07/08/2021

08/31/2021

Peer inside the pages of the first photo book in history capturing the blue depths of algae (made by a female botanist and photographer), explore the unexpected science of the great Victorian artist and critic John Ruskin through our Google Arts & Culture Exhibition, and discover the glamorous history of the Summer Science Exhibition itself whilst having a go at capturing images of science yourself with our live Doodle of the Day.  Suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org

Free

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Summer Science Exhibition

How to print your ‘wonder pill’?

This event is part of our Summer Science 2021 launch on Wednesday 7 July. A special evening featuring the return of our family friendly Big Summer Science quiz and lightning lecture sessions with some of our…

Wednesday 07 July 2021

07/07/2021

07/07/2021

In medicine, 3D printing has already been used to create prosthetic limbs, implants and other devices. But could this technology be used to print personalised pills? Join Dr Laura Ruiz Cantu and Dr Yinfeng He as they administer an exciting dose of the future of medication. Explore the work that they are doing to print a so-called "wonder pill" that can deliver multiple medications to the body, at the correct dose and time. Speakers Dr Laura Ruiz Cantu, Transitional Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham and Dr Yinfeng He, Transitional Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org

Free

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Summer Science Exhibition

Big Summer Science quiz

This event is part of the Royal Society's 2021 Summer Science digital showcase.

Wednesday 07 July 2021

07/07/2021

07/07/2021

Our big, family-friendly online quiz returns for its second year. Get your team together and go for quiz glory, as comedian and science presenter Helen Arney is joined by special guests and Fellows of the Royal Society including Brian Cox and Martyn Poliakoff. The quiz will also include children’s author Izzi Howell, doctor and television presenter Kevin Fong and Francis Crick Institute scientist and Great British Bake-Off contestant Yan Tsou for quiz rounds on their favourite topics. The Society's very own Head Librarian, Keith Moore will also join the quiz to bring you a selection of treasures from the Royal Society archives.  Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 7+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

What is a bee’s favourite flower, and why should we care?

This event is part of our Summer Science 2021 launch on Wednesday 7 July. A special evening featuring the return of our family friendly Big Summer Science quiz and lightning lecture sessions with some of our…

Wednesday 07 July 2021

07/07/2021

07/07/2021

Calling all bee saviours, our pollinators are in danger. Factors such as loss of natural habitat and climate change have dramatically decreased our bee population over recent years and the knock-on effects could be huge to both the UK’s food production and local ecosystems.   Join researchers from across the country as they explore this seemingly innocuous question, which might well save our wildlife and our food.   Speakers  Dr Peter Bickerton, Earlham Institute Dr Richard Leggett, Earlham Institute Dr Lynn Dicks, University of Cambridge Elie Kent, University of East Anglia Dr Will Nash, Earlham Institute Dr Darren Heavens, Earlham Institute Dr Calum Raine, Earlham Institute Dan Harris, Bee Saviour Behaviour John Everett, Applebee Orchard and Apiary Watching this event online This event is suitable for ages 14+ Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience  For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Summer Science launch evening

Our Summer Science 2021 will be launching this July with a special evening on Wednesday 7 July featuring the return of our family friendly Big Summer Science quiz and lightning lecture sessions with some of our…

Wednesday 07 July 2021

07/07/2021

07/07/2021

Explore what a bees favourite flower is, or take a look at the future of medication as our researchers show you how they are using 3D printing to revolutionise the manufacturing of medicine.  You can also take part in our family quiz night, hosted by writer, science presenter and geek songstress Helen Arney from 6.30pm BST. She’ll be joined by a range of special guests to bring you their favourite science questions direct to your screen.  Find out more about each of the events below. Attending these events online: These events will be livestreamed from 6pm BST on the Royal Society YouTube channel These events will also be available afterwards on our YouTube channel  The events are free to join and there is no registration required  Live subtitles will be available  Part of Summer Science 2021 Share on social media using #SummerScience  For all enquiries contact exhibition@royalsociety.org

free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Online

The role of African scientists in feeding the continent

Royal Society Africa Prize Lecture 2020 with Dr Steven Runo

Monday 05 July 2021

07/05/2021

07/05/2021

A large number of Africans live in rural households and are dependent on small farms for food and other essential needs. Most of these farms (80%) are less than 2ha in size and therefore any further constraints, such as pests and diseases that reduce yields have immediate and far-reaching impact on the wellbeing of resource poor farmers. This situation is made worse by the well documented effects of climate change – such as prolonged drought, floods and increase in pest infestation. It is therefore no surprise that whereas in most other parts of the world hunger and malnutrition has been on the decline, in Africa it has been on the rise exposing millions to starvation and undernourishment. Alleviating hunger from Africa will require concerted efforts that greatly harness science, technology, and innovation. However, despite great technological advancement in science technology and innovation elsewhere, most of sub-Saharan Africa still lags behind. Therefore, to fully harness science, technology and innovation, strategic alliances that leverage scientific advancement in other African countries and beyond are critical. Such alliances will expand our capacity to translate upstream science into applications that appropriately meet the needs of small holder farmers. Gradually, this will build capacity in a critical number of African scientists that can then develop homegrown innovations to improve food production. In this lecture, Dr Runo shared his experiences on the gains his group have made towards managing one of the most noxious parasites of African agriculture – the parasitic weed Striga – as well as his vision for a food secure Africa bolstered by scientific innovations.  Attending this event This event has taken place. The award The Royal Society Africa Prize is to recognise research scientists based in Africa who are making an innovative contribution to the sciences. Winners will receive a grant of £15,000 to support their research. The medal is of bronze, awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £2,000. The Royal Society Africa Prize 2020 is awarded to Dr Steven Runo for elucidating pathways for long distance RNA trafficking between parasitic plants and their hosts and identifying and developing transgenic protocol for characterizing and validating candidate host and parasite genes. For all enquiries, please contact the Events team.

Free Event

biochemistryandmolecularcellbiology biochemistryandmolecularcellbiology biochemistryandmolecularcellbiology microbiologyimmunologyanddevelopmentalbiology organismalbiologyevolutionandecology organismalbiologyevolutionandecology organismalbiologyevolutionandecology online pastevents

Transforming Our Future

Sustainable packaging: protecting products and the planet

This Royal Society symposium brought together key stakeholders from across the packaging industry to highlight the cutting-edge technologies that are making packaging more sustainable. 

Friday 02 July 2021

07/02/2021

07/02/2021

This Royal Society symposium highlighted new approaches to replace, reuse, or remove plastic from packaging and discussed how green materials are not so clear cut. Recordings of the discussion are available online: Compostable plastics: unlocking existing barriers to system change Influencing consumer attitude and behaviour towards packaging A report on the event is available to read (PDF). Background Packaging has transformed the manner and extent to which we can safely transport and store goods, but our current system is failing. Studies suggest that only 14% of plastic packaging used globally is collected for recycling and only 10% of all plastic recycled has been so more than once. Around 40% currently ends its useful life in landfill. Tackling waste and establishing a circular plastics economy will play a vital role in making the packaging industry sustainable. From designing effective and affordable materials to mining discarded plastic, this event showcased global disruptors and policymakers who are working to reduce, reuse or revolutionise plastic at every level of the packaging life cycle. About the conference series This scientific meeting was part of the Royal Society’s Transforming our Future conference series generously supported by AstraZeneca. These meetings are unique, high-level events that address the scientific and technical challenges of the next decade. Each conference features cutting edge science from industry and academia and brings together leading experts from the scientific community, including regulatory, charity and funding bodies.

Free

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Online

Everything in motion: How our brains learn to control our bodies

Ferrier Lecture 2021 given by Professor Daniel Wolpert FMedSci FRS

Thursday 17 June 2021

06/17/2021

06/17/2021

The effortless ease with which we move our arms, our eyes, even our lips when we speak masks the true complexity of the control processes involved. This is evident when we try to build machines to perform human control tasks.  What sets us apart is our ability to learn new motor skills. Daniel Wolpert’s group has studied the computations involved in human motor learning and described the incredible computations our brains perform that allow us to acquire our extensive motor repertoire.  Attending this event This event has taken place. The recording of the lecture will be available soon.   The award The Ferrier Medal and Lecture is for distinguished contributions on the structure and function of the nervous system. The medal is of bronze gilt and is accompanied by a gift of £2,000. The Ferrier Medal and Lecture 2021 is awarded to Professor Daniel Wolpert FMedSci FRS for groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of how the brain controls movement. Using theoretical and experimental approaches he has elucidated the computational principles underlying skilled motor behaviour. For all enquiries, please contact the Events team

Free Event

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Online

The Art of Data

Fact-based data are powerful tools to combat fake news and misinformation. But how many of us really understand the significance of voter polls, probability or the COVID dashboard? 

Sunday 13 June 2021

06/13/2021

06/13/2021

Professor David Spiegelhalter is the 2020 winner of the Royal Society's Michael Faraday Prize for his work in making statistics and probability entertaining and accessible to key decision-makers and the public. He is joined by data artist  Stefanie Posavec who  finds playful and friendly ways to communicate data visually. Together they will explain how an understanding of numbers can help us make informed decisions about our lives. This is a partner event hosted as part of the Cheltenham Science Festival. Speakers Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, Chair of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication in the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge Stefanie Posavec, Designer, data artist and author Attending the event The event will be live streamed on the Cheltenham Science Festival YouTube channel on Sunday 13 June at 9.15pm BST Full joining instructions can be found on the Cheltenham Science Festival website For any enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org

Free

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Online

Gaia Vince, Jim Al-Khalili and Camilla Pang in conversation at Hay Festival

Understanding ourselves and the world around us are arguably the biggest tasks of being human. Science writers can demystify who we are, where we have come from, and where we might be heading.

Saturday 05 June 2021

06/05/2021

06/05/2021

Join three extraordinary authors shortlisted for the 2020 Royal Society Science Book Prize, sponsored by Insight Investment, in conversation with Rachael Garside: Gaia Vince, Transcendence: How Humans Evolved through Fire, Language, Beauty, and Time Jim Al-Khalili, The World According to Physics Camilla Pang, Explaining Humans: What Science Can Teach Us about Life, Love and Relationships (winner). Royal Society Science Book Prize, sponsored by Insight Investment: For more than three decades the Royal Society has been celebrating outstanding popular science writing and authors. The Royal Society Science Book Prize, sponsored by Insight Investment, is awarded annually by a panel of expert judges, comprising of eminent scientists, authors, journalists and broadcasters. From hundreds of entries only six books, which make popular science writing compelling and accessible to the public, are shortlisted. Previous winners of the prize include Stephen Hawking (2002), Bill Bryson (2004), Cordelia Fine (2017), Mark Miodownik (2014), Caroline Criado Perez (2019) and most recently, Camilla Pang (2020). The 2021 shortlist will be announced later this summer. Attending this event Register for a free ticket on the Hay Festival webpage. Scroll down to event 124 and select 'register for this event' All enquiries to Hay Festival

Free

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Prize Lecture

Brain mechanisms of addictive behaviour

The Croonian Lecture 2021 delivered by Professor Barry Everitt FMedSci FRS.

Thursday 27 May 2021

05/27/2021

05/27/2021

The use and abuse of psychoactive substances, including cocaine, heroin, alcohol, cannabis and tobacco (nicotine) have been an enduring feature of human societies. In the UK alone, ‘the total cost to society of illegal drugs is around £20 billion per year, but only £600 million is spent on treatment and prevention’. There are now many studies of addiction in human populations, including sophisticated imaging studies that have provided rich information about the structure, metabolic activity and neurochemical status of the brains of individuals with a drug addiction. However, such investigations do not easily allow us to understand the progression from initial, recreational use of addictive drugs through abuse to the addicted state when behaviour directed at obtaining and using drugs becomes compulsive. This lecture reviewed some of Professor Everitt and his group’s research on the behavioural neuroscience of addiction in experimental animals that seeks to understand the neural and psychological mechanisms of addictive behaviour, including the nature of vulnerability as well as the possibility of developing new treatments. Attending this event This event has taken place.  The Award The Croonian Medal and Lecture has been awarded since 1738 and is the premier lecture in the biological sciences.  Professor Barry Everitt FMedSci FRS will be awarded the Croonian Medal and Lecture 2021 for elucidating brain mechanisms of motivation and applying them to important societal issues such as drug addiction. Enquiries: contact the Events team

Free Event

scientificareas biochemistryandmolecularcellbiology biochemistryandmolecularcellbiology anatomyphysiologyandneurosciences scientificareas prizelecture pastevents

Online

What is (Quantum) Life?

In this ‘in-conversation’ style event, Professor Jim Al-Khalili speaks to geneticist, author, and BBC presenter Dr Adam Rutherford, about his work into the origins of quantum biology as a 21st century science and…

Thursday 20 May 2021

05/20/2021

05/20/2021

Attending this event The event will be livestreamed on the Royal Society YouTube channel on Thursday 20 May at 6pm BST This event is free to join and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org

Free Event

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Online

Vaccines: a double dose

Join Professor Brian Cox and our panel of experts as they revisit the landscape of vaccines and what matters now as the world continues to face COVID-19.

Thursday 06 May 2021

05/06/2021

05/06/2021

  Crossing international boundaries, this event takes a global perspective to the roll-out of the vaccine programme, looking at issues of equitable access and the challenges that we face, the effectiveness of the vaccine against mutations and new variants, and how vaccinations will affect any possible future waves. This event is part of a series of Royal Society events discussing the scientific response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Catch up with the rest of the series on the Royal Society’s YouTube channel.   Speakers The event will be hosted by Professor Brian Cox, the Royal Society’s Professor for Public Engagement in Science, who will be joined by:  Professor Salim Abdool Karim, Director of Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) Dr Katrina Lythgoe, Sir Henry Dale Fellow at the Big Data Institute, University of Oxford Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England and the UK government’s Chief Medical Adviser Professor Wendy Barclay, Action Medical Research Chair of Virology, Imperial College London Attending the event The event will be livestreamed on the Royal Society YouTube channel on Thursday 6 May at 6pm BST This event is free to join and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org

Free Event

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Online

You and the planet: oceans

There are plenty of fish in the sea, or so the saying goes. But for how much longer? With increasing overfishing, growing amounts of pollution and global temperatures rising, our ocean and its ecosystems are under…

Thursday 29 April 2021

04/29/2021

04/29/2021

We heard from National Geographic Explorers and other experts at the helm of the fight to save our seas. And, as we enter the UN Decade of Ocean Science, we explored how science and technology can help us to turn the tide and take us towards living sustainably and in harmony with the ocean.  The event was hosted by wildlife biologist and presenter, Lizzie Daly, who was joined by: Diva Amon, Deep-sea biologist, 2020 National Geographic Emerging Explorer and Director of SpeSeas Jahawi Bertolli, 2019 National Geographic Explorer, CBBC Planet Defender, professional underwater and wildlife film maker and photographer Angela Hatton, Director of Science and Technology at the National Oceanography Centre Richard Thompson, Professor of Marine Biology and Director of the Marine Institute at the University of Plymouth

Free Event

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Online

Fast Radio Bursts

Bakerian Lecture 2021 delivered by Professor Victoria Kaspi CC FRS

Tuesday 27 April 2021

04/27/2021

04/27/2021

Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are short (few millisecond) bursts of radio waves observed from cosmological distances. Their origin is presently unknown, yet their rate is many hundreds per sky per day, indicating a not-uncommon phenomenon in the Universe. In this talk, Professor Kaspi reviewed the FRB field and presented new results on FRBs from a new digital transit radio telescope, the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME). Attending this event This event has taken place.  The award The Bakerian Lecture series began in 1775 and is the premier lecture in physical sciences. Professor Victoria Kaspi CC FRS was awarded the Bakerian Medal and Lecture 2021 for her research focused on neutron stars and their utility for constraining basic physics. More recently, she has also made fundamental discoveries on Fast Radio Bursts.

Free Event

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Online

Long Covid: an unfolding story

Thursday 08 April 2021

04/08/2021

04/08/2021

With vaccination programmes underway across the globe, attention is turning to the longer-term impact of COVID-19 and in particular the condition termed 'long Covid'. Very little is known about the condition at the moment, despite some studies estimating that 1 in 20 are affected. Large-scale research projects and population studies are now looking at the reported symptoms to understand what long Covid is, why some people are affected for months, and how we can treat it. Join Professor Brian Cox as he talks to scientists working at the forefront of research into long Covid, and campaigners with personal experience of the devastating effect it can have on lives. This event is part of a series of Royal Society events discussing the scientific response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Catch up with the first event on the Royal Society’s YouTube channel. Speakers The event will be hosted by Professor Brian Cox, the Royal Society’s Professor for Public Engagement in Science, who will be joined by:  Dr Nisreen Alwan, Associate Professor in Public Health, University of Southampton Professor Nishi Chaturvedi, MRC Unit for Lifelong Health & Ageing, University College London Professor Paul Elliott, Director of the REACT programme, and Chair in Epidemiology and Public Health Medicine, Imperial College London Dr Adam Rutherford, geneticist, author, and presenter of BBC’s Radio 4’s Inside Science Attending the event The event will be livestreamed on the Royal Society YouTube channel on Thursday 8 April at 6pm BST This event is free to join and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org We cannot give medical advice or respond to individuals. If you are concerned or need advice about long Covid, please visit the NHS COVID recovery website.

Free

healthandhumansciences microbiologyimmunologyanddevelopmentalbiology healthandhumansciences online pastevents

No series available.

Computers and Computer People, 1950s-1990s

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Tuesday 16 March 2021

03/16/2021

03/16/2021

Catch up on the full playlist of videos on our YouTube channel. This workshop brings together experts in computing and the history of computing for a wide-ranging series of talks on the IT industry in the UK, 1950-2000. Divided into four sections (hardware, AI, people and software), and featuring contributions from Royal Society Fellows Alan Bundy, Steve Furber and David May, the talks cover topics as diverse as the Manchester Baby, LEO, transputers and the history of IBM software. With over three hours of content, the workshop videos provide a rich source of information for anyone interested in the highs – and lows – of the development of the computer industry in the UK. Computer workshop programme (PDF) Computer workshop abstract (PDF) Computer workshop speaker biographies (PDF)

Free Event

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Online

Celebrating science with the Young People's Book Prize

Why is the world round? Who discovered antibiotics by accident? What makes my tummy gurgle? Where does my favourite chocolate come from? 

Friday 12 March 2021

03/12/2021

03/12/2021

The shortlist for Young People’s Book Prize 2020 has been inspiring children across the UK to discover and search for the answers to these questions, and many more. And now, after much deliberation, the votes from over 13,000 children from 530 schools and groups have been compiled to select the winner. In a family-friendly virtual award ceremony hosted by Blue Peter’s Lindsey Russell, meet the authors and put your questions to them before one of their books is crowned the winner of the Young People’s Book Prize 2020. The authors joining us live for the Q&A are: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry Izzi Howell, Cats React to Science Facts Stella Gurney (Libby Deutsch) and Valpuri Kerttula, The Everyday Journeys of Ordinary Things Katie Brosnan, Gut Garden Aimee Lucido, In the Key of Code The Young People’s Book Prize is made possible thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor. Discover more about the Prize. You can submit your questions for our authors ahead of time here.  Attending the event The event will be livestreamed on the Royal Society YouTube channel on Friday 12 March at 12.30pm GMT This event is free to join and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org

Free Event

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Online

Building the future: animate materials

What could a future with animate materials look like? Imagine a future where roads can self-heal, tiny robotic molecules can assemble themselves into household objects, and living buildings can harvest carbon…

Wednesday 10 March 2021

03/10/2021

03/10/2021

Animate materials are human-made materials that are able to grow and adapt to their environment. Behaving like living systems, these materials have the potential to deliver major changes in our lives from infrastructure to medicine and clothing. Led by your ideas, join our panellists as they discuss what animate materials are, how they could be used to shape our future lives, and the challenges that may lie ahead. This event is a part of British Science Week 2021. Read the animate materials report.  Have your say We are asking you to help create a “library of future materials”. What animate materials do you think could exist in the future? Are there any materials with lifelike properties that you think could have a positive impact on society? Do you think there are any down sides to this technology and, if so, what are they? Find out more on how to submit your ideas.  Speakers Professor Mark Miodownik MBE, FREng, Professor of Materials and Society, University College London Professor Russell Morris FRS, Professor of Structural and Materials Chemistry, University of St Andrews Professor Molly Stevens FREng FRS, Professor of Biomedical Materials and Regenerative Medicine, Imperial College London Professor Rebecca Earley, Professor of Sustainable Fashion Textile Design, Centre for Circular Design, University of the Arts London. Resources for teachers The Royal Society has created animate materials resources for teachers and a new cross-curricular challenge for students of all ages: The future of stuff. Find out more about our teacher resources. 

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Day 4 highlights - 2021 Commonwealth Science Conference: Science for a resilient future

Friday 26 February 2021

02/26/2021

02/26/2021

The third Commonwealth Science Conference will take place virtually from 22-26 February 2021, co-organised by the Royal Society and the African Academy of Sciences. The conference is funded via the UK government’s Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). The theme of the conference will be “Science for a resilient future”, with three main sub-themes: Developing resilient energy systems – climate resilient infrastructure; decarbonising energy systems; and a circular economy for the Commonwealth  Nurturing resilient ecosystems – challenges and opportunities for the blue economy; trajectories, challenges and solutions for biodiversity; and adaptation and mitigation challenges for coastal states in the era of climate change Building resilient societal systems – pandemic preparedness before and after Covid-19; climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction; and a ‘just transition’ to a sustainable Commonwealth Day 4 highlights include keynote talks and panel discussions:  Panel discussion on Towards a sustainable recovery from Covid-19  Chair: Professor Dame Anne Johnson, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, University College London. UK  Speakers:  Paul Dickinson, Executive Chair, CDP, UK  Dr Tolullah Oni, Clinical Senior Research Fellow, Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, UK  Professor Salim Abdool Karim, CAPRISA Professor for Global Health in the Department of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University  Dr Agnes Kalibata, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) on Building resilient food systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals Professor Richard Leakey, Professor of Anthropology at Stony Brook University’s Turkana Basin Institute on Science and Africa Watch Baroness Scotland, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth’s, closing remarks For all enquiries, please contact csc@royalsociety.org Abstracts Building resilient food systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals Dr Agnes Kalibata, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Rwanda With less than 10 years remaining, the world is not on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets of the 2015 Paris Declaration, and in some cases like hunger and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs0, the world is moving in the wrong direction. The COVID-19 pandemic has meanwhile exposed dangerous deficiencies in our food systems, actively threatening the lives and livelihoods of people around the world, particularly the most vulnerable and those in fragile contexts. Millions more are at risk of hunger and losing their jobs.  Building more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems is an imperative for all communities and countries in the world. Even before the onset of the current crisis, the evidence for transformation had never been clearer. Food systems are in many cases part of the problem, but there is scientific consensus that transforming food systems also offers one of the best opportunities we have to change course and realize the vision of the 2030 Agenda, in support of the UN Secretary-General’s call to “build back better” from COVID-19. Over the past year, the pandemic has also highlighted the connectedness of countries around the world and the need to bring the best of our collective science, innovation and technology to bear in our search for solutions. If these are harnessed properly, then we can change the trajectory of the decade and scale up food systems approaches that work for all people, the planet, and prosperity.  As Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Food Systems Summit, Dr Agnes Kalibata is working day-to-day with Member States and constituencies all around the world to accelerate transformative change in the way the world produces, processes, consumes, and disposes of food. Her remarks will speak to not only the need for more resilient food systems to achieve the SDGs, but even more importantly, how actors across the world and the scientific community need to contribute to his process to make it a reality for all people in their own unique country and community contexts. Science and Africa  Professor Richard Leakey, Chairman, Turkana Basin Institute LTD, Kenya The fate of the natural world is of great concern and requires solutions. This talk outlines the action and commitment required by governments, individuals, and the global scientific community to enable societies to live sustainably and in balance with nature. This talk will be followed by a live Q&A session with Professor Richard Leakey. Towards a sustainable recovery from Covid-19 This panel discussion will bring together several of the conference’s keynote speakers, who include some of the Commonwealth’s leading experts on health and other global challenges. In the run-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali in June 2021, they will consider how scientists and policymakers can help their societies, and the Commonwealth as a whole, emerge from the COVID-19 crisis in as sustainable and inclusive a manner as possible, whilst also addressing other critical challenges such as climate change and biodiversity. Speakers confirmed for this panel discussion include Paul Dickinson, Executive Chair, CDP; Dr Tolullah Oni, Clinical Senior Research Fellow, Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge; and Professor Salim Abdool Karim, CAPRISA Professor for Global Health in the Department of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.

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Day 3 highlights - 2021 Commonwealth Science Conference: Science for a resilient future

Thursday 25 February 2021

02/25/2021

02/25/2021

The third Commonwealth Science Conference will take place virtually from 22-26 February 2021, co-organised by the Royal Society and the African Academy of Sciences. The conference is funded via the UK government’s Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). The theme of the conference will be “Science for a resilient future”, with three main sub-themes: Developing resilient energy systems – climate resilient infrastructure; decarbonising energy systems; and a circular economy for the Commonwealth  Nurturing resilient ecosystems – challenges and opportunities for the blue economy; trajectories, challenges and solutions for biodiversity; and adaptation and mitigation challenges for coastal states in the era of climate change Building resilient societal systems – pandemic preparedness before and after Covid-19; climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction; and a ‘just transition’ to a sustainable Commonwealth Day 3 highlights include keynote talks and panel discussions:  Dr Tollullah Oni, Clinical Senior Research Fellow, Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge on Health-proofing our future; Future-proofing our planet Panel discussion: Science and policy - lessons from the pandemic and its impact  Chair: Peter Gluckman, Chair, International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA); co-chair, Commonwealth Science Advice Network (CSAN); President-elect, International Science Council Speakers:  Sir Patrick Vallance, UK government Chief Scientific Adviser and co-chair CSAN, UK Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, Director-General of Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC)  Associate Professor Vernon Lee, Deputy Director for Communicable Diseases in the Singapore Ministry of Health, Singapore  Professor Mona Nemer, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada, Canada  Professor Krishnaswamy VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, India  Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies on Science for a sustainable future Panel discussion: Developing and strengthening networks of ECRs to address global development challenges  Chair: Chai Lay Ching - Chair, Young Scientists Network-Academy of Sciences Malaysia  Speakers: Lucy Stewart, Chair, Royal Society Te Apārangi ECR Forum, New Zealand Dr Karly Kehoe, President – College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists, Royal Society of Canada Joanes Atela, Convener, Africa Research & Impact Network, Nairobi Stuart Minchin, Director General, Pacific Community Attending this event The event will be livestreamed on the Royal Society YouTube channel on Thursday 25 February 2021 at 6pm GMT The event is free to join, and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available For all enquiries, please contact csc@royalsociety.org Abstracts Health-proofing our future; Future-proofing our planet Dr Tolullah Oni, Public Health Physician Scientist and Urban Epidemiologist, and Clinical Senior Research Fellow, Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, UK Between 2000 and 2050 it is anticipated that there will be an increase in growth of urban communities globally, particularly on the African and Asian continents. This presentation outlines the link between urban growth, disease trends and health inequalities, and sets out the importance of reimagining the urban. Dr Oni introduces the notion of health and resilience foresight as an important approach to bringing the future into the present and thinking more long term about human and planetary health, as well as approaches from her own research that she uses to bring the future into the present. Science for a sustainable future  Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor, University of the West Indies, Jamaica The creation of an interdisciplinary dynamic discourse around resilience and sustainability and an interface between historical and medical sciences is required to decolonise the sciences. This presentation discusses the concepts of resilience and sustainability and considers the link between colonisation, racial inequality and injustice in how climate change and Covid-19 are experienced by citizens of small island states in the Caribbean. Science and policy - lessons from the pandemic and its impact Chair: Peter Gluckman, Chair, International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA); co-chair, Commonwealth Science Advice Network (CSAN); President-elect, International Science Council As the Covid-19 pandemic spread across the world in the last year, discussions around the politics of science advice gained an unprecedented level of prominence. Many national and international debates on combatting the virus centred around issues such as levels of uncertainty, the accuracy of modelling, policy trade-offs, and the need to synthesise and act on a wide range of input across disciplines in the natural and social sciences. While these debates played out in the context of the pandemic, and the varying national and regional responses to it, their implications are much wider. As the world considers the prospects for a sustainable recovery from the pandemic, and the need to take urgent action on a number of other critical global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity, a robust and effective science-policy interface has never been more important. This debate will bring together leading science advisers and decision makers from across the Commonwealth to discuss the key lessons from the pandemic for the relationship between science and policy, and how early career researchers can ensure the translation of their research into science advice to policy makers to best effect. Developing and strengthening networks of ECRs to address global development challenges Chair: Chai Lay Ching - Chair, Young Scientists Network-Academy of Sciences Malaysia  As the growing and interlinked crises of climate change, biodiversity and sustainability become ever more urgent, the pressures on the next generation of scientists to keep track of these impacts, identify and refine solutions, and influence policymakers to take coordinated action, are growing. Developing new, and strengthening existing, international networks of early career researchers from a wide range of perspectives and across a growing range of disciplines will therefore be essential. In this discussion, leading early career researchers from across the Commonwealth, with input from at least one senior policymaker, will consider what the next generation of researchers need most in order to address these challenges in as effective, coordinated and equitable way as possible.

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Day 2 highlights - 2021 Commonwealth Science Conference: Science for a resilient future

Wednesday 24 February 2021

02/24/2021

02/24/2021

The third Commonwealth Science Conference will take place virtually from 22-26 February 2021, co-organised by the Royal Society and the African Academy of Sciences. The conference is funded via the UK government’s Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). The theme of the conference will be “Science for a resilient future”, with three main sub-themes: Developing resilient energy systems – climate resilient infrastructure; decarbonising energy systems; and a circular economy for the Commonwealth  Nurturing resilient ecosystems – challenges and opportunities for the blue economy; trajectories, challenges and solutions for biodiversity; and adaptation and mitigation challenges for coastal states in the era of climate change Building resilient societal systems – pandemic preparedness before and after Covid-19; climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction; and a ‘just transition’ to a sustainable Commonwealth Day 2 highlights include keynote talks and panel discussions:  Paul Dickinson, Executive Chair at the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) on Looking at climate change from a Social Science perspective Dr Kelly Chibale, Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Cape Town on the H3D Story: Entrepreneurship in science while addressing unmet medical needs in Africa Professor Julie Makani, Fellow, Tanzania Academy of Sciences and Royal Society Africa Award 2011 on Can Genomics Improve Health in Africa? Establishing Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease in Tanzania Laureate Professor Peter Doherty at the University of Melbourne on The impact of the pandemic on science Attending this event The event will be livestreamed on the Royal Society YouTube channel on Wednesday 24 February 2021 at 6pm GMT The event is free to join, and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available For all enquiries, please contact csc@royalsociety.org Abstracts Looking at climate change from a Social Science perspective Paul Dickinson, Executive Chair, Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), UK For over thirty years scientists have issued ever more grave warnings regarding the risks presented by accelerating climate change driven by greenhouse gas emissions from human industry. This talk explains that resolution of these problems will require attention to social science issues as well as atmospheric science. This talk encourages the audience to consider the global business system, both large corporations and investors, as political actors in society. The talk explains how corporations can be supported to evolve rational action in response to global risk.  The H3D Story: Entrepreneurship in science while addressing unmet medical needs in Africa Professor Kelly Chibale, Neville Isdell Chair in African-centric Drug Discovery and Development, University of Cape Town, South Africa Gaps in scientific infrastructure, enabling technology platforms and a critical mass of skilled scientists have hampered African-led health innovation. Unless these gaps are addressed, Africa will not be able to build resilient societal health systems and will always be reliant on external partners to address the continent’s health challenges. This will in turn also make it extremely challenging to effectively respond to new pandemics. On the other hand, entrepreneurship in science is rarely encouraged and incentivized in Africa. While there are large numbers of African scientists graduating, as well as a large number that forms part of the African diaspora, supporting scientific entrepreneurship can help move the continent forward in terms of using science for development, including creating jobs. Therefore, there is a strong need to find sustainable solutions that embed entrepreneurship in African-led health innovation strategies.   This lecture will describe the journey of H3D, the University of Cape Town Drug Discovery and Development Centre, in the development of world-class scientific infrastructure and enabling technology platforms for health innovation. Entrepreneurship in science and initiatives aimed at building a critical mass of skilled scientists across the continent of Africa in a sustainable manner will also be described.   Can Genomics Improve Health in Africa? Establishing Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease in Tanzania Professor Julie Makani, Fellow, Tanzania Academy of Sciences; Royal Society Africa Award 2011), Tanzania Sickle cell disease (SCD) is considered a model disease for genomic research, as it is a single-gene disorder, causing high morbidity and mortality, with limited interventions. The first report of gene therapy to cure SCD was from France in 2017, demonstrating the clinical applicability of genomics to cure disease. The highest public health burden of SCD in the world is in Africa (80% of 300,000 annual births) and there is concern that individuals in Africa not only do not have access to existing public health interventions,but will not likely have access to these new gene-based curative therapies. Therefore, countries in Africa have to develop a strategy to achieve two goals; the first goal is the establishment of health programmes that will provide universal access to effective evidence-based health interventions to all individuals with SCD whilst simultaneously pursuing the second goal; which is to conduct research that will lead to curative interventions using genomics. Tanzania is establishing a national public health programme for SCD and has established a genomic programme, which has successfully conducted one of the first genome-wide association studies in SCD in Africa. Using these two platforms, Tanzania aims to conduct gene therapy trials to cure SCD in Tanzania and use the public health system to make these interventions accessible.   Interview with Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty  Laureate Professor Peter Doherty, The University of Melbourne, Australia Julie Maxton, Executive Director of the Royal Society, interviews Laureate Professor Peter Doherty, winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physiology of Medicine, on the response of the global scientific community to the Covid-19 pandemic. The interview focuses on the impact of the pandemic on science, what lessons can be drawn from the pandemic, and how early career researchers can most effectively contribute to the fight against Covid.

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Day 1 highlights - 2021 Commonwealth Science Conference: Science for a resilient future

Tuesday 23 February 2021

02/23/2021

02/23/2021

The third Commonwealth Science Conference will take place virtually from 22-26 February 2021, co-organised by the Royal Society and the African Academy of Sciences. The conference is funded via the UK government’s Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). The theme of the conference will be “Science for a resilient future”, with three main sub-themes: Developing resilient energy systems – climate resilient infrastructure; decarbonising energy systems; and a circular economy for the Commonwealth  Nurturing resilient ecosystems – challenges and opportunities for the blue economy; trajectories, challenges and solutions for biodiversity; and adaptation and mitigation challenges for coastal states in the era of climate change Building resilient societal systems – pandemic preparedness before and after Covid-19; climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction; and a ‘just transition’ to a sustainable Commonwealth Day 1 highlights include keynote talks from:  Professor Gagandeep Kang, Professor of Microbiology, Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences at Christian Medical College (CMC) on What is our ‘new normal’?: Vaccines and resilience in the time of SARS-CoV2 Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Professor of Materials Science in the Faculty of Science at the University of New South Wales on Aligning recycling and manufacturing  Professor Salim Abdool Karim, CAPRISA Professor for Global Health at Columbia University on A tale of two pandemics: AIDS and Covid-19  His Excellency Anote Tong, Former President of Kiribati on The impact of sea level rise on small island states Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg on The Fourth Industrial Society, and the Economy   Attending this event The event will be livestreamed on the Royal Society YouTube channel on Tuesday 23 February 2021 at 6pm GMT The event is free to join, and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available For all enquiries, please contact csc@royalsociety.org Abstracts Interview with His Excellency Anote Tong His Excellency, Anote Tong, Former President of Kiribati Elaine Sadler, Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Sydney, interviews Anote Tong, former President of Kiribati and advocate for ocean conservation. 24 of the Commonwealth’s 54 member states are small island developing states. The interview focuses on the impact of sea level rise on small island states, the importance of ocean and marine conservation, and the role of the Commonwealth and the global scientific community in addressing the impact of climate change on the oceans. Aligning recycling and manufacturing Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Australian Research Council (ARC) Laureate Professor, The University of New South Wales, Australia We need to look at waste, recycling and manufacturing in a new way and to acknowledge the valuable materials contained in waste. Virgin resources are finite and rather than sending waste items to landfill or other unsustainable disposal methods, we need to reuse those materials over and over to support the new products and materials needed by societies. Waste therefore is a type of new ‘renewable resource’ for us to mine and use as feedstock materials for manufacturing. By aligning manufacturing and recycling, communities can become more resilient and sustainable. This presentation explores and provides examples of how we can take so called “end of life” waste products and reform them into materials for remanufacturing. What is our ‘new normal’?: Vaccines and resilience in the time of SARS-CoV2 Professor Gagandeep Kang, Professor of Microbiology, Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College (CMC), India What is our new normal in thinking about vaccines, especially at a time of SARS CoV2? From AIDS to Zika, this presentation examines why there is an increase in epidemics and pandemics and the lessons that can be drawn from these outbreaks; the development of the CoV2 vaccine and what the future holds for the current pandemic; and also, pandemics in the future. A tale of two pandemics: AIDS and Covid-19 Professor Salim Abdool Karim, Director, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), South Africa South Africa has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in Africa, reporting over 1.3 million cases and 38,000 deaths by 20 January 2021. The Covid-19 epidemic has unfolded against a backdrop of a substantial HIV epidemic in the country, which accounts for 1 in every 5 people living with HIV in the world. Early predictions raised concerns that people with compromised immunity, such as those living with HIV, particularly those with low CD4 T-cell counts, would be at higher risk of developing severe Covid-19. Although some studies have shown that the clinical presentation and outcomes of Covid-19 in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected individuals are similar, others find an increased risk of death in HIV-infected individuals.  In addition to deaths, the Covid-19 epidemic has impacted the HIV response in several ways. Firstly, key resources used for control of HIV, including: diagnostic platforms, community outreach, programs, medical care access, and research infrastructure, were redirected to control COVID-19. Secondly, the national lockdown early in the epidemic resulted in a significant decrease in patient attendance at health care facilities, potentially reversing the gains made over the past 2 decades. Delays in HIV testing impedes initiation of ART, potentially increasing the risk of new infections and drug resistance. This presentation will highlight ten lessons from HIV for the Covid-19 response. Scientific evidence has assumed new importance in decision-making and both pandemics have provided a new lens for the nexus between science, policy-making and global health in pursing the sustainable development goals, with equity and social justice as guiding principles. The Fourth Industrial Society, and the Economy  Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Johannesburg, South Africa As we wage a war against the coronavirus pandemic, the global economy has taken a hit likened to the great depression. South Africa, which has been in an economic downturn for a decade, is far worse off than many other nations. As we begin to rethink our policies and strategies to rebuild the economy, our focus needs to shift towards embracing a digital transformation. The economic benefits of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) are apparent. If we are to emerge on the other side stronger, we have to begin to tap into policies that speak to this shift - beginning with implementing our national 4IR blueprint. The pandemic has confirmed that the 4IR is certainly here, we must adapt in order to be relevant!

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Explaining Humans with Dr Camilla Pang

What science can teach us about life, love and relationships. How do we understand the people around us? How do we recognise people's motivations, their behaviour, or even their facial expressions? And, when do we…

Monday 22 February 2021

02/22/2021

02/22/2021

Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of eight, Camilla Pang struggled to understand the world around her and the way people worked. Desperate for a solution, Camilla asked her mother if there was an instruction manual for humans that she could consult. But, without the blueprint to life she was hoping for, Camilla began to create her own. Now armed with a PhD in biochemistry, Camilla dismantles our obscure social customs and identifies what it really means to be human using her unique expertise and a language she knows best: science. This event is hosted by author and TV & Radio presenter Claudia Hammond. Winner of the 2020 Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize.  About the speaker Dr Camilla Pang holds a PhD in Biochemistry from University College London and is a Postdoctoral Scientist specialising in Translational Bioinformatics. This event is part of NI Science Festival 2021.

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Can we adapt to a changing climate?

Throughout history, humanity's survival has depended, in part, on our ability to adapt to natural fluctuations in our environment. And now, as our planet faces unprecedented shifts in the climate, it has never been…

Thursday 18 February 2021

02/18/2021

02/18/2021

Chaired by journalist and former Climate Change Editor at Nature magazine, Dr Gabrielle Walker, this discussion explored stories of climate adaptation from humanity's past, and the importance of adaptation in the future. Panelists included polar and paleoclimate expert Professor Eric Wolff FRS, environmental journalist, broadcaster and Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize winner, Gaia Vince, and archaeologist of Alaskan Indigenous sites, Dr Rick Knecht. This event is being held in partnership with the British Museum and is part of the public programme accompanying the Museum's Citi exhibition Arctic: culture and climate.

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You and the planet: air

Air pollution causes around 7 million premature deaths every year, according to the World Health Organisation. And, as well as the impact on human health, poor air quality and increasing greenhouse gases in our…

Tuesday 16 February 2021

02/16/2021

02/16/2021

From the cars we drive, fuels we burn and animals we farm to the garbage we landfill and beyond, human activity continues to be the main source of pollutants in our air. Without urgent action, we will continue to see increasing global temperatures, extreme weather, damage to biodiversity and loss of human life. But what can we do to tackle the problem we are currently facing? And how can we take clean, fresh steps forward?  The event was hosted in partnership with Manchester Science Festival and was also streamed as a part of NI Science Festival.  Speakers The event was hosted by Helen Pidd, North of England editor of the Guardian and founding member of Walk Ride Greater Manchester. Helen was joined by:  Professor David Fowler CBE FRSE FRS, world leading expert on air pollution, formerly of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Dr Mark Richards, Senior Lecturer and Head of Outreach in the Department of Physics at Imperial College London Dr Ther Wint Aung, energy poverty expert and a National Geographic Explorer leading citizen science air monitoring activities in Myanmar Dr Suzanne Bartington, Clinical Research Fellow in Environmental Health in the Institute of Applied Health Research and Honorary Consultant in Public Health at Public Health England

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Shining a light on the brain

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body and the intricate systems and interactions within enable us to sense, feel, think and do. Being able to map these networks and the billions of connections that…

Tuesday 09 February 2021

02/09/2021

02/09/2021

Professor Ed Boyden is Y. Eva Tan Professor in Neurotechnology at MIT and professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Media Arts and Sciences, and Biological Engineering, at MIT's McGovern Institute for Brain Research, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. His discoveries in the emerging field of neurotechnology have revolutionised the way we analyse and repair the brain. From expansion microscopy, which enables complex biological systems to be imaged with nanoscale precision, to optogenetics, with which individual neurons and pathways can be turned on or off using a beam of light, Professor Boyden talks about his research that led to him being awarded the Croonian Medal and Lecture 2020.  The award The Croonian Medal and Lecture is the premier lecture in the biological sciences. The lectureship was conceived by William Croone FRS (PDF), one of the original Fellows of the Society.  Professor Edward Boyden was awarded the Croonian Medal and Lecture 2020 for his inventions that expand our understanding of the brain and allow therapeutic development including the co-invention of optogenetics, a technology that has revolutionized neurobiology. Enquiries: contact the Events team

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The Economics of Biodiversity: the Dasgupta Review

Tuesday 02 February 2021

02/02/2021

02/02/2021

Biodiversity is declining faster than at any time in human history. Since 1970, there has been on average almost a 70% decline in the populations of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians. It is thought that one million animal and plant species  - almost a quarter of the global total - are threatened with extinction. These losses in biodiversity are undermining the productivity, resilience and adaptability of nature. This is in turn putting economies, livelihoods and well-being at risk.  Join economist Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta and Nobel-prize winning biologist Sir Venki Ramakrishnan to mark the publication of The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review. Commissioned by the UK Government, this independent, global Review will present a new economic framework, grounded in ecology and Earth Sciences, in order to understand the sustainability of our engagement with Nature, and identify the options humanity has to enhance biodiversity and prosperity. Hosted by Venki Ramakrishnan and joined by several special guests, Professor Dasgupta will outline the Review’s central findings and respond to questions from the audience.  Questions can be submitted in advance, as well as throughout the event, on Sli.do. Attending this event The event will be livestreamed on the Royal Society YouTube channel on Tuesday 2 February 2021 at 2pm GMT The event is free to join, and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available For all enquiries, please contact science.policy@royalsociety.org

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The race for a vaccine

Will vaccines provide the solution to the coronavirus pandemic?

Thursday 28 January 2021

01/28/2021

01/28/2021

December 2020 saw the rollout of the first regulatory approved vaccine against COVID-19 in the UK and many other countries, providing a glimmer of hope for many. However, the path to effectively managing the disease has only just begun. With potential public hesitation and misinformation around the effectiveness of the vaccines, transparency and communication around the process has never been more important. How have vaccines against the virus been developed so quickly? How do we know they are safe? Hosted by Professor Brian Cox, our panel of expert speakers discussed the collaborative global effort of the scientific community over the past year to develop the COVID-19 vaccine. They explored what we currently know about the vaccines that are being deployed or in development and took a forward look at what the next few months and years may hold for us as we continue to tackle this universal public health crisis.  This event is part of a series of Royal Society events discussing the scientific response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Catch up with the first event on the Royal Society’s YouTube channel. Speakers Professor Brian Cox CBE FRS, the Royal Society’s Professor for Public Engagement in Science (event host) Professor Melinda Mills FBA, Nuffield Professor of Sociology and Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, University of Oxford Professor Charles Bangham FRS, Co-Director of the Institute of Infection, Imperial College London Dr Rino Rappuoli ForMemRS, Chief Scientist and Head of External Research & Development, GSK Vaccines

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The race for a vaccine

Will vaccines provide the solution to the coronavirus pandemic?

Thursday 28 January 2021

01/28/2021

01/28/2021

December 2020 saw the rollout of the first regulatory approved vaccine against COVID-19 in the UK and many other countries, providing a glimmer of hope for many. However, the path to effectively managing the disease has only just begun. With potential public hesitation and misinformation around the effectiveness of the vaccines, transparency and communication around the process has never been more important. How have vaccines against the virus been developed so quickly? How do we know they are safe? Hosted by Professor Brian Cox, our panel of expert speakers discussed the collaborative global effort of the scientific community over the past year to develop the COVID-19 vaccine. They explored what we currently know about the vaccines that are being deployed or in development and took a forward look at what the next few months and years may hold for us as we continue to tackle this universal public health crisis.  This event is part of a series of Royal Society events discussing the scientific response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Catch up with the first event on the Royal Society’s YouTube channel. Speakers Professor Brian Cox CBE FRS, the Royal Society’s Professor for Public Engagement in Science (event host) Professor Melinda Mills FBA, Nuffield Professor of Sociology and Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, University of Oxford Professor Charles Bangham FRS, Co-Director of the Institute of Infection, Imperial College London Dr Rino Rappuoli ForMemRS, Chief Scientist and Head of External Research & Development, GSK Vaccines

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Putting the sun in a bottle: the path to delivering sustainable fusion power

The Royal Society Kavli Medal and Lecture 2019 given by Professor Ian Chapman.

Wednesday 27 January 2021

01/27/2021

01/27/2021

The imperative to address climate change is only escalating. Fusion – the process that powers the Sun – offers the potential for carbon-free, effectively limitless, continuous electricity, if only it can be harnessed here on Earth. Professor Ian Chapman and his colleagues are working to make fusion power a reality, and with the advent of ITER, the largest science experiment humankind has ever undertaken, they hope to demonstrate fusion power on a commercial scale. The UK, as one of the world leaders in fusion, is embarking on the design of a compact fusion reactor to follow ITER which aims to drive down the scale and cost of fusion power, which Professor Chapman explained and explored during his prize lecture.    The award The Royal Society Kavli Medal and Lecture is now awarded annually for excellence in all fields of science and engineering relevant to the environment. The medal is of bronze gilt and is accompanied by a gift of £1,000. Professor Ian Chapman was awarded the Kavli Medal and Lecture 2019 for his scientific insight that has illuminated the complex physics of confined plasmas and prepared the way for fusion burn.   Enquiries: contact the Events team

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How we learn, predict and decide: the circuit basis of behaviour

Francis Crick Lecture 2020 delivered by Dr Marta Zlatic

Wednesday 20 January 2021

01/20/2021

01/20/2021

Learning, predicting, and deciding are fundamental brain functions essential for survival across the animal kingdom. Despite decades of investigation, we do not understand the rules governing biological intelligence. A major obstacle to progress has been the inability to determine the architecture of the circuits that implement these functions and to relate the architectural motifs to their function.  To overcome this obstacle Dr Zlatic's team have established the Drosophila larva as a powerful genetic model system, ideally suited for relating the structure of neural circuits to their function. In this system it is possible to map circuits with synaptic resolution and to record and manipulate the activity of uniquely identified neurons to determine their roles in behaviour.  Using functional imaging and behavioural experiments, the team is identifying neurons and circuit motifs that regulate learning, compute predicted values, and select actions. In this talk, Dr Zlatic discussed the key findings from these studies and her team’s ongoing work to elucidate the basic principles by which brains learn, predict, and decide.  The award The Francis Crick Medal and Lecture is awarded annually in any field in the biological sciences. Preference is given to genetics, molecular biology and neurobiology, the general areas in which Francis Crick worked, and to fundamental theoretical work, which was the hallmark of Crick’s science. The lectureship was endowed by Sydney Brenner FRS in memory of Francis Crick FRS, the co-discoverer of the structure of the DNA molecule. The first lecture was given in 2003. The medal is of bronze, is awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £2,000. The Francis Crick Medal and Lecture 2020 was awarded to Dr Marta Zlatic for discovering how neural circuits generate behaviour by developing and disseminating definitive techniques, and by discovering fundamental principles governing circuit development and function. Enquiries: contact the Events team

Free Event

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Are threats to academic freedom damaging global science?

Thursday 10 December 2020

12/10/2020

12/10/2020

The Royal Society believes that academic freedom in the science community is an essential component of excellent science which benefit all of humanity. The Royal Society also recognises that this freedom is under growing threat in many parts of the world, not least as a result of growing political trends of nationalism, populism, and authoritarianism. This event, co-hosted with the Council for At-Risk Academics, marks both the launch of the Royal Society’s statement on academic freedom (PDF) and International Human Rights Day. Our panellists will discuss what threats to academic freedom faced by scientists around the world today look like and what scientific institutions can do to support the rights and freedoms of scientists globally. Our panel is made up of: Chair for the evening - Professor Jim Al-Khalili OBE FRS Professor Carlos Nobre Professor Veronica van Heyningen CBE FMedSci FRS The Lord Krebs Kt FMedSci FRS Zaher Al-Bakour, Cara Fellow Attending this event We look forward to you joining us for an evening of discussion and debate on 'are threats to academic freedom damaging global science?' The event is free to join, registration is required Live subtitles will be available

Free

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Digital Technologies and the Planet: Towards Net Zero

10 - 11 December 2020

12/10/2020

12/11/2020

Read the conference report summarising the event (PDF). View the conference talks on the Royal Society's YouTube channel. Human activity has increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration by more than 40% since pre-industrial times. This, and increases in other greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide, has led to a global average temperature rise of 1°C above pre-industrial levels. If emissions continue to increase at their present rate, temperatures could rise by more than 4°C by 2100. Limiting global warming to 1.5°C may still be feasible. To achieve a 1.5°C target, the net emissions of long-lived greenhouse gases, principally CO2, would have to reach ‘net zero’ level by around 2050. In the next decade urgent, ambitious and concerted action is required across all countries and sectors to deliver rapid emissions reductions. Rapid and unprecedented changes in energy, land use, urban development, transport, infrastructure and industrial systems are needed, with implications for how individuals live and work. Digital technologies could support this transformation. These technologies have already reshaped many daily activities – from online retail to on-demand transport services – with individuals using data-enabled systems to bring physical activities into the digital realm, reducing carbon emissions in the process. As technologies develop and systems for data use evolve, there will be further opportunities to find new ways of carrying out everyday tasks, with digital technologies bolstering a low-carbon revolution. This conference follows the launch of the Royal Society's Digital Technologies and the Planet policy report on 3 December. Attending this event  This online conference has been developed to help generate connections between industry, academia and government. We would welcome attendees involved in high-tech and digital industries, green technology, green recovery and the Just Transition, associated policy and finance bodies, as well as those with an interest in the social sciences. If you meet these criteria, or are otherwise interested, please do register for this event. Please direct any questions to the Industry team. About the conference series This scientific meeting is part of the Royal Society’s Transforming our Future conference series. The Transforming our Future meetings are unique, high-level events that address the scientific and technical challenges of the next decade. Each conference features cutting edge science from industry and academia and brings together leading experts from the scientific community, including regulatory, charity and funding bodies. Join the Scientists mailing list to receive updates about the Royal Society's activities and events. 

London

Free Event

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The what, the how and the why of the pandemic

Our panel of expert scientists explored the science behind the pandemic, and discussed what it is about this particular virus that makes it so infectious and potentially life-threatening on an unprecedented global…

Monday 07 December 2020

12/07/2020

12/07/2020

The coronavirus pandemic has dominated our lives for a large part of 2020. As we face a second wave of infections and national lockdowns, scientists are working around the world to develop effective vaccines. They are also trying to understand how this strain of virus differs from other coronaviruses in the severity of the disease it causes, and what are the long-term effects of contracting the infection. Scientific research has never had to advance so fast to find solutions to a global public health crisis. Bringing together leaders in their field, this discussion explored our current understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and looked to answer some of those burning questions: What do we currently know? How is science being used in the battle against COVID? Why has the pandemic been so devastating? We interrogated what the pandemic has revealed about society’s vulnerability to future infectious diseases, as well as exploring the past and future policy trade-offs that are the result of our ever-shifting knowledge about the disease.  Speakers Dr Anjana Ahuja, Science Writer (event host) Professor Dame Anne Johnson DBE PMedSci, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, UCL and President of the Academy of Medical Sciences Professor Sir John Bell GBE FMedSci HonFREng FRS, Regius Professor of Medicine, University of Oxford Dr Nicole Robb, Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow and Assistant Professor, Warwick Medical School Sir Jeremy Farrar OBE FMedSci FRS, Director, The Wellcome Trust

Free

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Online

Seeing the future: how our brains decide our actions

The Ferrier prize lecture given by Professor Ray Dolan FMedSci FRS, who was awarded the Ferrier Medal and Lecture 2019.

Thursday 03 December 2020

12/03/2020

12/03/2020

How do we decide what is the best course of action? How do we use prior experience to guide these actions? How do we decide when outcomes are delayed and uncertain? How do we deploy a model of our environment to assist us in choosing? Ray Dolan’s group, and collaborators, have tackled such questions over the past two decades. His group uses state of the art brain imaging techniques, combined with a mathematical analysis of behaviour, to probe how these abilities arise out of brain function. This research has revealed new and exciting principles of brain organisation and has also provided insights into how processes related to planning go awry in severe forms of psychiatric disorder.   The award The Ferrier Medal and Lecture is for distinguished contributions on the structure and function of the nervous system. The medal is of bronze gilt and is accompanied by a gift of £2,000. Professor Ray Dolan FMedSci FRS was awarded the Ferrier Medal and Lecture 2019 for his work charting the brain activity related to fundamental aspects of human conduct and behaviour. Enquiries: contact the Events team

Free Event

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You and the planet: technology

Our panel of experts came together to discuss the incredible opportunities provided by digital technologies in mitigating climate change and helping us to achieve net zero.   

Thursday 03 December 2020

12/03/2020

12/03/2020

From the handheld device that fits in your pocket to the large-scale digital infrastructure that keeps our shelves stocked and cars driving, digital technologies underpin almost everything we do in modern society. And with that power, comes great potential to use these to tackle one of the biggest issues facing our world today, climate change. Machine learning, for example, can facilitate cleaner and greener journeys by analysing traffic data to lower congestion and reduce emissions in real time. Combining digital sensors with wireless networks and computer analysis can help farmers shift to smarter ways of farming where food production is optimised and waste minimised. And these are just two examples from a list of near endless applications – what other ways can digital technologies support us in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss?  Subscribe to the Royal Society YouTube channel, or follow us on Twitter @royalsociety or Facebook @theroyalsociety.  Speakers This event was hosted by broadcaster and CEO of TeenTech, Maggie Philbin.  Professor Corinne Le Quéré FRS CBE is Royal Society Research Professor of Climate Change Science at the University of East Anglia, where she conducts research on climate change and the carbon cycle, including the drivers of CO2 emissions. She is author of IPCC’s 3rd, 4th, and 5th Assessment reports and former Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. She instigated and led for over a decade the annual update of the global carbon budget within the Global Carbon Project. She Chairs France’s Haut conseil pour le climat and is a member of the UK Committee on Climate Change.  Dr Shakir Mohamed is a South African research scientist and lead at DeepMind, researching statistical machine learning and artificial intelligence. He works on advancing machine learning principles, applied questions in healthcare and climate, and sociotechnical systems, diversity and transformation. Shakir is also a founder and trustee of the Deep Learning Indaba, a grassroots organisation aiming to build pan-African capacity and ownership in AI. Shakir is the General Chair for the 2021 International conference on Learning Representations, an associate fellow of the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence at the University of Cambridge, and a member of the Royal Society's Diversity Committee. You can follow him on twitter @shakir_za and online at shakirm.com. Victor Ohuruogu is currently Senior Africa Regional Manager for the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD), based at the UN Foundation. He leads and manages political and technical engagements, activities and products of the GPSDD in Africa. He provides guidance on how the GPSDD brings partners together to strengthen data ecosystems, and how various data sources can be accessed and used to achieve the SDGs and sustainable development more broadly. Dr Emily Shuckburgh is a mathematician and climate scientist and Director of Cambridge Zero at the University of Cambridge and Reader in Environmental Data Science at the Department of Computer Science and Technology. Dr Shuckburgh leads the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training on the Application of AI to the study of Environmental Risks (AI4ER). She is a Fellow of the British Antarctic Survey and Royal Meteorological Society and co-chair of their Climate Science Communications Group. She has also acted as an advisor to the UK Government on behalf of the Natural Environment Research Council. In 2016 she was awarded an OBE for services to science and the public communication of science. She is co-author with HRH The Prince of Wales and Tony Juniper of the Ladybird Book on Climate Change. If you have any questions about the event, please reach out to us at events@royalsociety.org.  

Free Event

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Ask the experts: Coronavirus - SNP Party conference fringe meeting

Monday 30 November 2020

11/30/2020

11/30/2020

This event is jointly hosted by the UK National Academies; the Royal Society, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medical Sciences.  Researchers and innovators, including Fellows of the National Academies and people we fund, are working together across the globe to help us better understand COVID-19 and discover the best ways to treat, live with and ultimately to stop the virus.  Join us to hear from researchers and innovators working to better understand COVID-19 and develop innovations and interventions to stop its spread.  Panel: Tom Whipple, Science Editor at the Times and Sunday Times (Chair) Clare Adamson MSP  Dame Anne Glover, President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh  Professor Melinda Mills FBA Professor Massimo Palmarini FRSE FMedSci  Dr Shaun Fitzgerald FREng The event is a fringe meeting of the Scottish National Party Conference. More information and registration for the conference can be found here. 

Free for attendees of the SNP party conference

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Defining science through history

Our understandings of science are ever-changing, defined as much by our times as by the individual stories of scientists who contribute to it. 

Thursday 26 November 2020

11/26/2020

11/26/2020

Professor Simon Schaffer, Professor of History of Science at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of the British Academy, has revolutionised the definition of science in history – showcasing science and experimentation throughout the centuries not merely as accidental or a systematic testing of theories, but as a creative process firmly rooted in the gritty realities of everyday life. From the history of machines and automata and how they have defined human thought throughout the ages, to the narratives of scientific instruments, glass prisms and optics, Schaffer in his four-decade career gets to the very heart of scientific experimentation and its social and political contexts. In this ‘in-conversation’ style event, join Professor Schaffer and cultural historian Lubaaba Al-Azami for an evening of boundless conversation as they explore the very matter of science, and the uncharted territories where science, history, politics, and art meet. This event is the Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal and Lecture, which was awarded to Professor Simon Schaffer in 2019 for transforming understanding of the intellectual history of experimental science and his excellent communication of science in all media. Attending this event The event will be livestreamed on the Royal Society YouTube channel on 26 November at 6pm GMT The event is free to join, and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available

Free

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Automatic understanding of the visual world

The Royal Society Milner Prize Lecture 2020 given by Dr Cordelia Schmid.

Wednesday 18 November 2020

11/18/2020

11/18/2020

One of the central problems of artificial intelligence is machine perception: the ability to understand the visual world based on input from sensors such as cameras. In this talk, Dr Schmid will present recent progress of her team in this direction, starting with presenting results on how to generate additional training data using weak annotations and synthetic data. Next, she will discuss her team's results for action recognition in videos, which moves away from state-of-the-art frame-based approaches and improves classification and localization by relying on joint information from humans and objects over time. Such a model can also be adapted to behavior prediction for self-driving cars. Finally, Dr Schmid will present recent work on grasping with a robot arm based on learning long-horizon manipulations with a hierarchy of RL and imitation-based skills.  The award The Royal Society Milner Award and Lecture, supported by Microsoft Research, is the premier European award for outstanding achievement in computer science. It is awarded to candidates at the peak of their career who have made a substantial contribution to computer science in Europe, with the strategic aim of supporting European researchers and institutes. The recipient is a European researcher or researcher who has been resident in Europe for 12 months or more, and is chosen by the Council of the Royal Society on the recommendation of the Milner Award Committee. The Committee is made up of Fellows of the Royal Society, Members of the Académie des sciences (France) and Members of Leopoldina (Germany). The award is named in honour of Professor Robin Milner FRS (1934-2010), a pioneer in computer science. The medal is of bronze, is awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £5,000.  Dr Cordelia Schmid was awarded the Royal Society Milner Award and Lecture for her work in computer vision and her fundamental contributions to the representation of images and videos for visual recognition. Enquiries: contact the Events team

Free Event

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Communicating statistics in the time of Covid

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been exposed to more data and statistics than ever before. With decisions affecting everyone’s lives being made based on this data, understanding it has never been more…

Thursday 12 November 2020

11/12/2020

11/12/2020

Professor David Spiegelhalter, Chair of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication in the University of Cambridge, joins Tim Harford, columnist, broadcaster and author of How To Make The World Add Up in conversation about his current work focusing on communicating statistics, risk and evidence during the Covid-19 pandemic. This event is the Michael Faraday Prize Lecture 2020 awarded to Professor David Spiegelhalter OBE FRS for bringing key insights from the disciplines of statistics and probability vividly home to the public at large, and to key decision-makers, in entertaining and accessible ways, most recently through the Covid-19 pandemic. Attending this event The event will be livestreamed on the Royal Society YouTube channel on 12 November at 6pm GMT The event is free to join, and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available

Free

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Is science writing the solution?

Is science writing the solution? A panel discussion hosted by Professor Alice Roberts, followed by the announcement of the winner of the 2020 Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize. At a time when the…

Tuesday 03 November 2020

11/03/2020

11/03/2020

During the pandemic, the celebrations for the annual Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize have taken on an urgent relevance. The books championed by the Insight Investment Science Book Prize embody compelling science communication and provide an opportunity for readers to engage more deeply with science in an uncertain world. Discover the 2020 shortlist. Join our panel of experts Professor Steve Jones, Fiona Fox and Rowan Hooper, as we announce the 2020 winner of the Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize and explore the importance of, and challenges for, science writing at a time when the spotlight is firmly on science and science communication.  Without our science communicators to publicly inform, explain, teach, decode, counter misinformation and debate science matters many would remain in a space where they don’t have [the] information they need, leading to poor choices being made at really crucial times. Jacinda Arden, Prime Minister of New Zealand Attending this event The event will be livestreamed on the Royal Society YouTube channel on 3 November at 6pm The event is free to join, and there is no registration required Live subtitles will be available

Free

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You and the planet: the new normal

Combating climate change and protecting global biodiversity was at the top of the world’s agenda before COVID-19 struck. And, while battling the pandemic remains at the forefront of global efforts, the climate…

Thursday 29 October 2020

10/29/2020

10/29/2020

With the world on lockdown, rapid changes in how society functions and travels have revealed some promising climate benefits, from falling carbon emissions to nature reclaiming land. People have had to change how they live and this presents an unprecedented opportunity to take greener and more sustainable steps forward.  Moving towards a green economy where sustainability and climate resilience are a higher priority is crucial. At the heart of this transition should be people and the places they occupy, to ensure the benefits are shared, and that decisions that affect the many are not just taken by the few.  Our panel of experts came together to discuss the so-called just transition and, as society emerges into the “new normal”, the opportunity we are presented with for a fair green recovery. This event was held in partnership with The British Academy.  Subscribe to the Royal Society YouTube channel, or follow us on Twitter @royalsociety or Facebook @theroyalsociety. If you have any questions about the event, please reach out to us at events@royalsociety.org.   Speakers The event was hosted by the BBC’s Chief Environment correspondent, Justin Rowlatt.  Pete Smith is Professor of Soils and Global Change at the Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland, UK) and Science Director of the Scottish Climate Change Centre of Expertise (ClimateXChange).  His interests include climate change mitigation, soils, agriculture, food systems, ecosystem services and modelling. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, a Fellow of the Institute of Soil Scientists, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a Foreign Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, a Fellow of the European Science Academy, and a Fellow of the Royal Society (London). Margreth Tadie is a Zimbabwean Chemical Engineer residing in South Africa. She is an academic at Stellenbosch University and a Fellow of the Royal Society’s ‘Future Leaders African Independent Researchers (FLAIR) programme. Margreth grew up in mining communities all over her home country Zimbabwe and has now dedicated her research towards empowering these communities through process development. Her passion is for addressing the environmental legacy created by waste and developing solutions to ensure a resilient earth and sustainable livelihoods. Jim Skea is Professor of Sustainable Energy at Imperial College London with research interests in energy, climate change and technological innovation. His current main role is as Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III for the 6th assessment cycle. He was Research Director of the UK Energy Research Centre 2004-12 and Director of the Policy Studies Institute 1998-2004. He has operated at the interface between research, policy-making and business throughout his career. He was a member of the UK Committee on Climate Change from its inception in 2008 until 2018. He is currently chairing Scotland’s Just Transition Commission. Until June 2017, he was President of the UK Energy Institute. He was awarded a CBE for services to sustainable energy in 2013 and an OBE for services to sustainable transport in 2004. Harriet Bulkeley holds joint appointments as Professor in the Department of Geography, Durham University, and at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University. Her research focuses on environmental governance and the politics of climate change, energy and sustainable cities. Harriet currently Co-ordinates the H2020 NATURVATION project examining the role of urban innovation with nature based solutions for sustainable development. In 2014, Harriet was awarded the King Carl XVI Gustaf’s Professorship in Environmental Science and a Visiting Professorship at Lund University, Sweden and in 2018 was granted the Back Award by the Royal Geographical Society in recognition of the policy impact of her work on climate change. In 2019, she was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences and as a Fellow of the British Academy. 

Free Event

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Online

An evening with Stephen Fry and Venki Ramakrishnan

The very nature of science is to establish truth about the world around us, from groundbreaking new discoveries, like the Higgs boson, gravitational waves or the potential for life in the clouds of Venus, to issues…

Tuesday 20 October 2020

10/20/2020

10/20/2020

While the growth of the internet and social media makes it easier than ever before to obtain information, the free-for-all nature of the internet also makes it difficult for the average citizen to distinguish fact from fiction, truth from mistruth, and legitimate sources from fake news. The onslaught against evidence-based facts is a growing problem.  As an army of scientists continue to find themselves on the frontline of scientific discovery as they battle Covid-19, the role of scientific evidence and rational thought in an internet age of superstitions, rumours and pseudoscience has never been more apparent. Actor, comedian and author Stephen Fry joined Nobel Prize-winning biologist and President of the Royal Society, Venki Ramakrishnan to explore establishing trust in science and how individuals can make rational and objective decisions. Subscribe to the Royal Society YouTube channel, or follow us on Twitter @royalsociety or Facebook @theroyalsociety.

Free Event

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Professor Brian Cox introduces the Science Book Prize

Join Professor Brian Cox as he introduces the shortlist for the 2020 Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize.

Monday 19 October 2020

10/19/2020

10/19/2020

Brian Cox, the Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science and shortlisted authors Jim Al-Khalili, Bill Bryson, Susannah Cahalan, Camilla Pang, Linda Scott and Gaia Vince, will be discussing the unifying themes explored within the shortlisted books and the important role that science plays in our lives and in finding solutions to big, global challenges. The event will be in two parts: Panel 1 (7pm to 7.45pm): ‘The Beauty and Complexity of the Human Brain’ Professor Brian Cox - Host Bill Bryson Susannah Cahalan Dr Camilla Pang Panel 2 (7.45pm to 8.30pm): ‘Human and Social Dynamics: How we understand and engage with the world around us, from Evolution and Cosmology to Gender Inequality' Professor Brian Cox - Host Professor Jim Al-Khalili Professor Linda Scott Gaia Vince The Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize 2020 represents the very best in popular science writing from around the world for a non-specialist audience. The winner will be announced virtually on 3 November at 6pm.   Attending this event This event is hosted by Waterstones. A £5 General Admission ticket will grant you access to both panels but you are welcome to join for either one. This event will take place on Zoom, please make sure you have this installed and up to date on your device. For non-ticket enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org.

£5

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Making Europe a leader in AI: in conversation with Venki Ramakrishnan, Antoine Petit and Martin Stratmann

An international interactive online event organised by the Royal Society, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the Max Planck Society.

Wednesday 07 October 2020

10/07/2020

10/07/2020

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have made rapid advances in the last decade, opening possibilities for new applications in healthcare, transport, education, science, and more. Europe has been at the forefront of considering the social and ethical implications of AI, and advancing research in these areas could help ensure that high quality AI research continues to have a strong home in Europe. In this event Venki Ramakrishnan, President of the Royal Society, Antoine Petit, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and Martin Stratmann, President of the Max Planck Society, will discuss the opportunities for European collaboration in the field of AI. They will explore the potential for Europe to be an attractive and leading research destination for AI.  This international virtual interactive event took place on 7 October 12pm BST and lasted for approximately 60 minutes. For an overview of the main points of discussion at the event, read this summary note (PDF). You can read more about the Society’s international engagement on AI, including previous activities on European collaboration in AI.

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Online

Conservative Party Conference

This event is jointly hosted by the UK National Academies; the Royal Society, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medical Sciences. 

Monday 05 October 2020

10/05/2020

10/05/2020

Researchers and innovators, including Fellows of the National Academies and people we fund, are working together across the globe to help us better understand COVID-19 and discover the best ways to treat, live with and ultimately to stop the virus.  Join us to hear from researchers and innovators working to better understand COVID-19 and develop innovations and interventions to stop its spread.  Panel: Tom Whipple, Science Editor at the Times and Sunday Times (Chair) Amanda Solloway MP, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation Professor Dame Linda Partridge DBE FRS Dr Shaun Fitzgerald FREng Professor Melinda Mills FBA Professor Dame Anne Johnson FMedSci The event is a fringe meeting of the Conservative Party Conference. To join the event, click here.  Closed captions will be available.   

Free Event

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Liberal Democrat Party Conference

This event is jointly hosted by the UK National Academies; the Royal Society, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medical Sciences.

Friday 25 September 2020

09/25/2020

09/25/2020

Researchers and innovators, including Fellows of the National Academies and people we fund, are working together across the globe to help us better understand COVID-19 and discover the best ways to treat, live with and ultimately to stop the virus. Join us to hear from researchers and innovators working to better understand COVID-19 and develop innovations and interventions to stop its spread.  Panel: Tom Whipple, Science Editor at the Times and Sunday Times (Chair) Munira Wilson MP, Spokesperson for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care Professor Dame Linda Partridge DBE FRS Dr Shaun Fitzgerald FREng Professor Melinda Mills FBA Professor Peter Openshaw FMedSci The event is a fringe meeting of the Liberal Democrat Party Conference. For more information on the Conference or to sign up, click here.

Free Event

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No series available.

Labour Party Connected Conference: Ask the experts: Coronavirus

This event is jointly hosted by the UK National Academies; the Royal Society, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medical Sciences.

Monday 21 September 2020

09/21/2020

09/21/2020

Researchers and innovators, including Fellows of the National Academies and people we fund, are working together across the globe to help us better understand COVID-19 and discover the best ways to treat, live with and ultimately to stop the virus. Join us to hear from researchers and innovators working to better understand COVID-19 and develop innovations and interventions to stop its spread. Panel: Tom Whipple, Science Editor at the Times and Sunday Times (Chair) Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister, Digital, Science & Tech Professor Dame Linda Partridge DBE FRS Dr Shaun Fitzgerald FREng Professor Melinda Mills FBA Prof Dame Anne Johnson DBE MD FMedSci The event is a fringe meeting of the Labour Party Connected Conference. For more information on the Connected Conference or to sign up, click here. 

Free

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Open House

Open House

A chance to explore the history and architectural highlights of Carlton House Terrace, the home of the UK’s national academy of science from the comfort of your own home.

19 - 20 September 2020

09/19/2020

09/20/2020

Over the weekend, visitors are invited to discover the secrets of the Grade I listed, Nash-designed town houses that are home to the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence. Uncover some of the countless treasures behind the virtual doors of 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, including portraits of Royal Society Fellows dating back to the 1600s, an ornate mother-of-pearl inlay ceiling, and other highlights of the building. For the Open House weekend only, explore our curated collection of digital resources and take a virtual tour around the building. All Open House content will be available here on 19 and 20 September. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @royalsociety or Facebook @theroyalsociety for updates and to be notified when content is live.  What is Open House? Open House is a simple but powerful concept: hundreds of great buildings of all types and periods open up their doors to all, completely without charge. Open House London looks a little different this year, with many online only programmes. For more information about other Open House programming visit the Open House website. For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org.

Free Event

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Summer Science Exhibition

Summer Science Online: Ask the SpaceXperts

Part of Summer Science Online  - the Royal Society's free digital programme of talks, quizzes and videos celebrating cutting-edge and historic science.

Friday 17 July 2020

07/17/2020

07/17/2020

What are black holes? Are we alone in the Universe? How do rockets work? Our live Q&A was your chance to quiz our collection of space experts as we were joined by exhibitors from previous years to help us explore the answers to some of the biggest questions about the Universe. Questions were collected on the day using #RSAskTheSpaceXperts. Exhibit groups joining us from previous years included: From 2pm, A message from afar: Planets beyond our solar system; Humanity within a vast Universe; Extra-terrestrial intelligence; and more. From 2.40pm, Galaxy makers – how do you build a galaxy?: What galaxies are made of; How galaxies are formed; Supermassive black holes; and more. And Gaia: one billion stars in 3D: The Milky Way; Stars and planets; Astronomy; and more. From 3.20pm, Living on the Moon: Finding water and living on the Moon; Modern lunar space missions; How the Moon was formed; and more.

Free

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Summer Science Exhibition

Summer Science Online: The big Summer Science quiz

Part of Summer Science Online  - the Royal Society's free digital programme of talks, quizzes and videos celebrating cutting-edge and historic science.

Monday 13 July 2020

07/13/2020

07/13/2020

Our big family-friendly online quiz evening ran with a host of special guests and Fellows of the Royal Society pitching questions on their favourite topics. With rounds on movies, space, the elements and more, get your household or an online team together, grab a pen and paper and go for quiz glory.  You can catch up on the event on our YouTube channel. The quiz content has something for all ages - the questions are generally suitable for an audience aged 12+, but there will also be a round, hosted by Konnie Huq, aimed specifically at younger quizzers. Hosted by comedian and scientist Dr Steve Cross, with special guests including:  Physicist and television presenter Professor Brian Cox Geneticist, author and broadcaster Dr Adam Rutherford Space scientist and educator Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock Chemist and YouTuber Professor Martyn Poliakoff Children's author and television presenter Konnie Huq The Natural History Museum, the Royal Institution and the Royal Society

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Summer Science Online

We're moving Summer Science online, with a free digital programme of talks, quizzes and videos celebrating cutting-edge and historic science.

13 - 17 July 2020

07/13/2020

07/17/2020

With a packed programme of thought-provoking talks, jaw-dropping demonstrations and entertaining performances alongside 21 exhibits of hands-on science and technology, there’s something for all ages. A special evening opening of the exhibition will be held on Tuesday 7 July 2020 for adults only, with additional talks and workshops in a relaxed atmosphere. Head on over after work, grab a drink and explore the future.  Families can explore the exhibition at their own pace during the weekend, with a dedicated children’s area in the cafe for younger members and exciting shows for all ages.  Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know when we announce our full programme of exhibits and events. Attending this event  Free and open to all No registration required More information about the Summer Science Exhibition coming soon.  For general enquiries, please contact exhibition@royalsociety.org.

London

Free

london summerscienceexhibition pastevents

International

Climate change and innovative paths to a sustainable future - POSTPONED

This lecture is postponed. More details to follow. International lecture given by Professor Steven Chu ForMemRS, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics and former United States Secretary of Energy.

Monday 22 June 2020

06/22/2020

06/22/2020

The multiple industrial and agricultural revolutions have profoundly transformed the world. However,  the unintended consequence of these revolutions is that  we are changing the climate of Earth. Alarming new data on climate change will be presented that indicates that the Earth’s climate is more sensitive than previously thought will be briefly presented. In addition to the climate risks, we face many challenges how to provide enough clean energy, water, air and food of a world of 7.7 billion people and likely to grow to 11 billion by 2100. The majority of the talk will discuss potential solutions that could provide a path to a sustainable and prosperous future. How we can transition from where we are heading to where we need to be within 50 years is arguably the most pressing set of issues that science, invention and innovations needs to address. The international lecture will be webcast live. Professor Steven Chu is an innovative physicist who has developed methods to cool then trap individual atoms and biomolecules using laser light. Professor Chu received the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics for this important advance, served as US Secretary of Energy from 2009 to 2013, and has devoted his career to finding solutions to energy and climate challenges. Attending the event This lecture is postponed. More details to follow.  Enquiries: contact the Events team

Free Event

earthandenvironmentalsciences international pastevents

Prize Lecture

Shining a light on brain cells - POSTPONED

This lecture is postponed. More details to follow. Ed Boyden is Y. Eva Tan Professor in Neurotechnology at MIT, associate professor of Biological Engineering and Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT's Media Lab and…

Tuesday 09 June 2020

06/09/2020

06/09/2020

Professor Boyden’s discoveries in the emerging field of neurotechnology have revolutionised the way we analyse and repair the brain. In his Croonian Lecture, he will discuss two such technologies. The first is expansion microscopy, which enables complex biological systems to be imaged to nanoscale precision; the second is optogenetics, with which individual neurons and pathways can be turned on or off using a beam of light. The prize lecture will be webcast live and the video recording of the event will be available shortly after the event. Attending this event This lecture is postponed. More details to follow. The award The Croonian Lecture series began in 1738 and is the premier lecture in biological sciences. Professor Edward Boyden was awarded The Croonian Medal and Lecture 2020 for his inventions that expand our understanding of the brain and allow therapeutic development including the co-invention of optogenetics, a technology that has revolutionised neurobiology. Enquiries: contact the Events team

Free Event

anatomyphysiologyandneurosciences anatomyphysiologyandneurosciences anatomyphysiologyandneurosciences prizelecture pastevents

Festival Event

The next big thing

Royal Society Research Fellows Rachel Lowe, Charlotte Lloyd and Myriam Chimen discuss the next big thing.

Friday 29 May 2020

05/29/2020

05/29/2020

From the methods to track and reduce ocean microplastics, to the effect of the immune system in ageing to understanding how environmental factors can determine the risk of disease transmission, three Royal Society Research Fellows discuss their work at the forefront of science with xxxxxxxxx.  For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org

Free Event

festivalevent pastevents

Prize Lecture

Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar 2019 prize lecture - POSTPONED

This lecture is postponed. More details to follow. Professor Simon Schaffer was awarded the Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal and Lecture 2019 for his contributions to the communication of the history of science. 

Tuesday 12 May 2020

05/12/2020

05/12/2020

On Tuesday 12 May, Professor Schaffer will present his prize lecture at Carlton House Terrace in London. Full details of the lecture title and topic will be released in 2020. This event is the 2019 Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Prize Lecture, which is awarded to Professor Simon Schaffer for transforming understanding of the intellectual history of experimental science and his excellent communication of science in all media. Attending this event This lecture is postponed. More details to follow.

Free

scientificareas prizelecture pastevents

Prize Lecture

Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar 2019 prize lecture - POSTPONED

This lecture is postponed. More details to follow. Professor Simon Schaffer was awarded the Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal and Lecture 2019 for his contributions to the communication of the history of science. 

Tuesday 12 May 2020

05/12/2020

05/12/2020

On Tuesday 12 May, Professor Schaffer will present his prize lecture at Carlton House Terrace in London. Full details of the lecture title and topic will be released in 2020. This event is the 2019 Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Prize Lecture, which is awarded to Professor Simon Schaffer for transforming understanding of the intellectual history of experimental science and his excellent communication of science in all media. Attending this event This lecture is postponed. More details to follow.

Free

scientificareas prizelecture pastevents

Panel Discussion

The art of sleep - POSTPONED

This lecture is postponed. More details to follow. Professor of Circadian Neuroscience Russell Foster and artist Tom Hammick discuss the effect of different sleep patterns and nocturnal working on an artist’s…

Friday 27 March 2020

03/27/2020

03/27/2020

Léon Spilliaert’s battle with insomnia played a key part in the production of his mysterious night-time scenes created following his nocturnal walks around his hometown of Ostend. Taking Spilliaert’s work as a starting point, Professor Russell Foster and artist Tom Hammick will examine how changes to our natural circadian rhythm, our sleep/wake cycle, and exposure to lightness and darkness may affect the mind and discuss how nocturnal working practices can influence an artist’s creativity and inspiration. Russell Grant Foster, CBE FMedSci FRS is a British professor of circadian neuroscience, the Director of the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology and the Head of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute. Tom Hammick is a British painter and printmaker who has work in many major public and private collections and was the winner of the V&A Prize at the International Print Biennale in 2016. He curated the exhibition Towards Night at Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne in 2016, which featured over 60 artists, from Edvard Munch to Louise Bourgeois. His most recent exhibition of his own work, Night Animals was at Flowers Gallery in 2019. Attending this event This lecture is postponed. More details to follow. For non-ticket enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org. In this series of events, organised in partnership between the Royal Academy of Arts and The Royal Society, we examine the creative connections between art and science.

London

Free Event

london paneldiscussion pastevents

You And The Planet

You and the planet: family festival

Join us for a celebration of You and the Planet; the Royal Society’s event series exploring global environmental issues across the UK and asking how science can look after the planet and life on it.

Saturday 21 March 2020

03/21/2020

03/21/2020

Talk to scientists at the frontline of understanding and protecting our changing world, including the Museum’s own team, future leaders in African research, and scientists of tomorrow from schools across the UK. Extract some plant DNA, find out what’s valuable about your urine, and what lives beneath your feet. Then look to the future with the final discussion on what the next steps for us and the planet are. Full programme to follow shortly. 

Free Event

youandtheplanet pastevents

You And The Planet

You and the planet: family festival - POSTPONED

This event is postponed. More details to follow.  Join us for a celebration of You and the Planet; the Royal Society’s event series exploring global environmental issues across the UK and asking how science can look…

Saturday 21 March 2020

03/21/2020

03/21/2020

Talk to scientists at the frontline of understanding and protecting our changing world, including the Museum’s own team, future leaders in African research, and scientists of tomorrow from schools across the UK. Extract some plant DNA, find out what’s valuable about your urine, and what lives beneath your feet. Then look to the future with the final discussion on what the next steps for us and the planet are. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Events team. 

Free Event

youandtheplanet pastevents

Panel Discussion

Science on the frontline

Conflict zones and areas of hostility and instability are inherently dangerous and pose significant threat to life, which means conducting scientific research in these places can be challenging, if not impossible.…

Wednesday 11 March 2020

03/11/2020

03/11/2020

Meet the experts working on the frontline in some of the world’s most hostile territories and discover the importance of exploring these places to learn more about the world we live in and the things that shape our planet and ourselves.  This event is a part of British Science Week 2020. Speakers The panel will be hosted by evolutionary biologist Professor Mark Pagel FRS who will be joined by:  Ella Al-Shamahi, National Geographic Explorer, palaeoanthropologist and TV presenter Professor Graeme Barker CBE FBA, Disney Professor of Archaeology Emeritus at the University of Cambridge, Senior Research Fellow in the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, and Professorial Fellow at St John’s College, University of Cambridge Dr Leona Vaughn, Derby Fellow, University of Liverpool Attending this event Free to attend No registration required, seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis Live subtitles will be available. Travel and accessibility information

Free Event

paneldiscussion pastevents

Prize Lecture

Ripples from the Dark Side of the Universe – a bright future ahead

Bakerian Lecture 2020 given by Sir James Hough OBE FRS

Tuesday 10 March 2020

03/10/2020

03/10/2020

In this talk Sir James will discuss progress in the field of gravitational wave detection, from the first days of the aluminium bar detectors to the present time, where the laser interferometer detectors Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo have allowed gravitational waves to be detected and are opening up a new field of gravitational multi-messenger astrophysics with a number of ground breaking discoveries. Many experimental challenges had to be overcome and new challenges are presenting themselves as we look to further enhance the performance of ground based detectors and look to lower frequencies with the space based detector LISA.  Attending this event This event has taken place.  The award The Bakerian Lecture series began in 1775 and is the premier lecture in physical sciences. Sir James Hough OBE FRS was awarded the Bakerian Medal and Lecture 2020 for his world-leading work on suspensions systems for the test masses used in laser interferometry, pivotal to the successful detection of gravitational waves. Enquiries: contact the Events team

Free Event

astronomyandphysics astronomyandphysics astronomyandphysics astronomyandphysics prizelecture pastevents

You And The Planet

You and the planet: biodiversity

Join our panel at the Eden Project to discover how human activity affects the variety of life on Earth.    

Wednesday 26 February 2020

02/26/2020

02/26/2020

Broadcaster Gillian Burke hosts a discussion to get to the bottom of your questions about biodiversity, what it means and why it’s so vital to have variety in species. Recent studies have shown that the populations of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians have declined by 60% since 1970 and a fifth of the Amazon has disappeared in just 50 years. In the UK, the abundance of wildlife is falling, with the steepest losses happening in the last 10 years.  What do these losses mean for humanity? What are the benefits of restoring nature and biodiversity? How can human societies flourish alongside thriving natural ecosystems? Get involved by submitting your question to the panel when registering. This event is part of You and the Planet, a series exploring global environmental issues with world-renowned speakers from science, business, politics and more. Watch the series live on YouTube and join the conversation at #YouAndThePlanet. Speakers Sebsebe Demissew is Professor of Plant Systematics and Biodiversity in Addis Ababa University and Executive Director of the Gullele Botanic Garden in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He served as the Leader of the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea between 1996 until its completion in 2009 in collaboration with Dr Inga Hedberg from the University of Uppsala in which 6000 species with 10% endemics are documented; the project involved 91 scientists from 17 countries. It is one of the few completed Floras in Africa. He is a Foreign Member of the Royal Society won the 2016 Kew International Medal. Georgina Mace is Professor of Biodiversity and Ecosystems and was the founding Director of the UCL Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, which she led between 2012 and 2018. Her research interests are in measuring the trends and consequences of biodiversity loss and ecosystem change. She was the winner of the 2007 International Cosmos Prize, the 2016 Heineken Prize for Environmental Science and the BBVA Frontiers of Knowledge Award for Ecology and Conservation Biology. From 2012 to 2018 she was a member of the UK Government’s Natural Capital Committee and in 2018 she joined the Adaptation Committee of the UK Climate Change Committee. Tim Smit is Executive Vice-Chair, and Co-founder of the Eden Project near St Austell in Cornwall. He ‘discovered’ and then restored ‘The Lost Gardens of Heligan’ with John Nelson, which is now one of the UK’s best loved gardens having been named ‘Garden of the Year’ by BBC Countryfile Awards (Mar 2018).  Tim’s book ‘The Lost Gardens of Heligan’ won Book of the Year in 1997. He has received a variety of national awards including The Royal Society of Arts Albert Medal (2003). In June 2012 he was appointed Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Her Majesty the Queen. He lives in Cornwall and in his free time he enjoys reading, film, music and art. Tim is also Executive Co-Chair for Eden Project International which aims to have an Eden Project on every habited continent by 2025. Lindsay Turnbull is an Associate Professor in plant sciences at the University of Oxford where she leads the plant ecology research group. She is a Trustee of the Seychelles Island Foundation, a charitable organisation that manages and protects the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Aldabra Atoll and the Vallée de Mai. She co-led the Aldabra Clean-Up Project, which aimed to rid the atoll of plastic pollution through volunteer teams of Oxford Graduates and young people from the Seychelles.  NOTE: This event will be broadcast live on our YouTube channel  Attending this event Free to attend, tickets required  Please register for tickets on Eventbrite Doors to the talk open at 6.00pm and seating is unreserved Live subtitles will be available Free tea and coffee will be available on the evening. We strongly encourage you to bring your own reusable cup. British Sign Language interpretation will be available on request. Please let the Events team know if you require it at least two weeks before the event. Please note; due to the nature of free ticketing, booking a ticket does not guarantee entry to the hall. Please arrive early to secure your seat. Please direct questions or queries to events@royalsociety.org

Free

youandtheplanet pastevents

You And The Planet

You and the planet: biodiversity

Our panel at the Eden Project discussed how human activity affects the variety of life on Earth.    

Wednesday 26 February 2020

02/26/2020

02/26/2020

Broadcaster Gillian Burke hosted a discussion to get to the bottom of your questions about biodiversity, what it means and why it’s so vital to have variety in species. Recent studies have shown that the populations of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians have declined by 60% since 1970 and a fifth of the Amazon has disappeared in just 50 years. In the UK, the abundance of wildlife is falling, with the steepest losses happening in the last 10 years.  What do these losses mean for humanity? What are the benefits of restoring nature and biodiversity? How can human societies flourish alongside thriving natural ecosystems?  This event is part of You and the Planet, a series exploring global environmental issues with world-renowned speakers from science, business, politics and more. Watch the series live on YouTube and join the conversation at #YouAndThePlanet. Speakers Sebsebe Demissew is Professor of Plant Systematics and Biodiversity in Addis Ababa University and Executive Director of the Gullele Botanic Garden in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He served as the Leader of the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea between 1996 until its completion in 2009 in collaboration with Dr Inga Hedberg from the University of Uppsala in which 6000 species with 10% endemics are documented; the project involved 91 scientists from 17 countries. It is one of the few completed Floras in Africa. He is a Foreign Member of the Royal Society won the 2016 Kew International Medal. Georgina Mace is Professor of Biodiversity and Ecosystems and was the founding Director of the UCL Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, which she led between 2012 and 2018. Her research interests are in measuring the trends and consequences of biodiversity loss and ecosystem change. She was the winner of the 2007 International Cosmos Prize, the 2016 Heineken Prize for Environmental Science and the BBVA Frontiers of Knowledge Award for Ecology and Conservation Biology. From 2012 to 2018 she was a member of the UK Government’s Natural Capital Committee and in 2018 she joined the Adaptation Committee of the UK Climate Change Committee. Tim Smit is Executive Vice-Chair, and Co-founder of the Eden Project near St Austell in Cornwall. He ‘discovered’ and then restored ‘The Lost Gardens of Heligan’ with John Nelson, which is now one of the UK’s best loved gardens having been named ‘Garden of the Year’ by BBC Countryfile Awards (Mar 2018).  Tim’s book ‘The Lost Gardens of Heligan’ won Book of the Year in 1997. He has received a variety of national awards including The Royal Society of Arts Albert Medal (2003). In June 2012 he was appointed Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Her Majesty the Queen. He lives in Cornwall and in his free time he enjoys reading, film, music and art. Tim is also Executive Co-Chair for Eden Project International which aims to have an Eden Project on every habited continent by 2025. Lindsay Turnbull is an Associate Professor in plant sciences at the University of Oxford where she leads the plant ecology research group. She is a Trustee of the Seychelles Island Foundation, a charitable organisation that manages and protects the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Aldabra Atoll and the Vallée de Mai. She co-led the Aldabra Clean-Up Project, which aimed to rid the atoll of plastic pollution through volunteer teams of Oxford Graduates and young people from the Seychelles. 

Free

youandtheplanet pastevents

Festival Event

Clearing the Air

In March 2014 sustainability journalist Tim Smedley helped his wife and newborn baby out of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, unaware that he was taking them along one of the most polluted roads, in one of Europe’s…

Saturday 22 February 2020

02/22/2020

02/22/2020

Tim tells the full story of air pollution: what it is, which pollutants are harmful, where they come from and, most importantly, what we can do about them. Amidst terrifying statistics Tim uncovers the hope that remains for the planet. This event is taking place at the 2020 Northern Ireland Science Festival. Clearing the Air: The Beginning and End of Air Pollution was shortlisted for the 2019 Insight Investment Science Book Prize.  Attending this event Ticket is required £3 per ticket, plus a 30p booking fee per ticket Suitable for 14+ Tickets are available from the Festival website For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org.  

£3

festivalevent pastevents

Festival Event

Who do we think we are?

Ancient DNA has become a vital archaeological tool, enabling genetic post-coding of discoveries of human remains and helping to rewrite the history of Europeans.

Friday 21 February 2020

02/21/2020

02/21/2020

Professor Dan Bradley (Trinity College Dublin) will explain how human genetics can be used to understand the patterns and processes underlying genetic variations which exist on our island. This event is taking place at the 2020 Northern Ireland Science Festival in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. Attending this event Booking is required Suitable for 18+ Tickets are available from the Festival website For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org.  

Free

festivalevent pastevents

Festival Event

What can Big Data do for Northern Ireland?

What are the latest developments in data, artificial intelligence and digital technologies in Northern Ireland, and how can we make sure they benefit as many people as possible?

Wednesday 19 February 2020

02/19/2020

02/19/2020

Sir John McCanny CBE FRS FREng hosts a panel of experts from business, science and policy to discover local examples of innovative practice and find out how they can contribute to a thriving and prosperous region. Panel Patricia O'Hagan - CEO, Core Systems Adrian Johnston - Director of Operations, Digital Catapult NI Professor Maire O'Neill FREng - Professor of Information Security, Queen's University Belfast This event is taking place at the 2020 Northern Ireland Science Festival and is part of the Innovate UK Grand Challenges series.  Attending this event Booking is required Suitable for 18+ Tickets are available from the Festival website For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org.  

Free

festivalevent pastevents

Prize Lecture

The elements of chemistry

Join Professor Sir Martyn Poliakoff for a whirlwind tour among the chemical elements that have played an important role in his scientific career and have led him to champion greener more sustainable ways of making…

Monday 17 February 2020

02/17/2020

02/17/2020

Sir Martyn is a professor of chemistry who works at the interface of chemistry and engineering, a role that has led him to work with more than half of the stable elements of the Periodic Table.    In this lecture, Sir Martyn will show how the relationship between a chemist and the elements is more complicated and more personal than you might imagine. He will describe how his involvement with different elements has been very varied. Some elements he has known a long time while others have passed fleetingly through his lab in Nottingham, but all have played important roles in his work. This event is the 2019 Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture, which is awarded to a practicing scientist or engineering who demonstrates excellence in the field of scientific public engagement. Attending this event Free to attend No registration required, seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis This event may be popular and entry cannot be guaranteed Live subtitles and BSL interpretation will be provided for this event Please note, this event will be filmed as a livestream broadcast. You can watch the livestream on this page when the event starts Travel and accessibility information For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org.

Free

prizelecture pastevents

International

Generating high-intensity, ultrashort optical pulses

International lecture given by Professor Donna Strickland

Thursday 13 February 2020

02/13/2020

02/13/2020

With the invention of lasers, the intensity of a light wave was increased by orders of magnitude over what had been achieved with a light bulb or sunlight. This much higher intensity led to new phenomena being observed, such as violet light coming out when red light went into the material. After Professor Gérard Mourou and Professor Strickland developed chirped pulse amplification, also known as CPA, the intensity again increased by more than a factor of 1,000 and it once again made new types of interactions possible between light and matter. They developed a laser that could deliver short pulses of light that knocked the electrons off their atoms. This new understanding of laser-matter interactions, led to the development of new machining techniques that are used in laser eye surgery or micromachining of glass used in cell phones.  Professor Strickland works at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Waterloo, Canada. She was one of the recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physics 2018 for developing chirped pulse amplification, with Gérard Mourou. This research paved the way for one of the most intense laser pulses ever created, and has many applications in medicine and technology. Attending the event This event has taken place. Enquiries: contact the Events team

Free Event

astronomyandphysics international pastevents

History Of Science

Royal Society lates: science fiction

Catch up on an evening celebrating science fiction and the Royal Society. Discover the remarkable scientific artefacts and stories housed in our extensive, world-class archives.  Science has long inspired writers to…

Monday 10 February 2020

02/10/2020

02/10/2020

In case you missed it You can listen to audio recordings of the following talks by clicking the links below. Beyond Discworld.mp3 Elois vs Morlocks: Darwinism and Victorian Sci-Fi.mp3 The science of Frankenstein.mp3 Waves, particles and pronouns.mp3  Events and activities Beyond Discworld 19:30 Terry Pratchett's Discworld series has inspired authors, screen writers, and individuals to create their own stories and their own fictional worlds. But how can a flat planet balanced on the backs of elephants, who stand on the back of a giant turtle drifting through space link to science? Join BBC CrowdScience's Marnie Chesterton as she quizzes the man behind the Science of Discworld, mathematician and Honorary Wizard of the Unseen University, Professor Ian Stewart FRS, and hear about where he thinks science fits in with fiction. Listen to an audio recording of this talk (Beyond Discworld.mp3).

London

Free

london historyofscience pastevents

History Of Science

Royal Society lates

Join us for a evening celebrating science fiction and the Royal Society. Discover the remarkable scientific artefacts and stories housed in its extensive, world-class archives.

Monday 10 February 2020

02/10/2020

02/10/2020

This year’s theme, science fiction, is inspired by the many extraordinary scientific advances authors of the past only dreamed about, and the futures that scientists of the past predicted.  You will be treated to a special performance from a spectacular new science-themed dance piece, Sakura, produced by Sisters Grimm. Hear the story behind this collaboration of science and art as told by Professor Nicky Clayton FRS (University of Cambridge and Scientist in Residence at Rambert) and Mark Baldwin OBE (former artistic director at Rambert). The programme will include talks on science in Victorian fairy tales, astronomy in the 19th century, and Michael Faraday’s Christmas candle lecture, as well as festive activities such as printmaking greeting cards and mince pie molecular gastronomy. You will also have the unique opportunity to explore the beautiful Carlton House Terrace in all its glory by candlelight. Attending the event Over-18s only We are operating a Challenge 25 policy on the door and you may be required to show a valid form of ID to enter the event Free to attend No registration required Doors will open at 18:30 and admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis This event may be popular and entry cannot be guaranteed Travel and accessibility information The Royal Society’s aim is to make its events accessible to as many people as possible. This is why our events are free and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

London

Free

london historyofscience pastevents

You And The Planet

You and the planet: food

Join our panel in Gateshead to discover how the food we eat affects the natural world.

Thursday 23 January 2020

01/23/2020

01/23/2020

Chef and broadcaster Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall hosts a discussion to get to the bottom of your questions about the relationship between our food and our planet. World food production grew from 1.84 billion tonnes in 1961 to 4.38 billion tonnes in 2007, yet people still go hungry. How can we feed the world sustainably and equitably while protecting nature? Would eating less red meat make a real difference? What is the future of farming? Get involved by submitting your question to the panel when reserving a seat online, or come along beforehand to meet researchers from Newcastle University, who will be demonstrating how their work is addressing some of the biggest challenges in our global food system.  This event is part of You and the Planet, a series exploring global environmental issues with world-renowned speakers from science, business, politics and more. Catch up on the series on YouTube and join the conversation at #YouAndThePlanet. Speakers  Gordon Conway,  Professor of International Development at Imperial College London, is an applied ecologist with a focus on sustainable agricultural development in Africa. He is head of the UK hub of the Malabo-Montpellier Panel, a group of African and European agriculturalists who partner with IFPRI (The International Food Policy Research Institute) in Senegal and the University of Bonn to develop agricultural policy for African governments and NGOs. He also heads a new grant from the Rockefeller Foundation focusing on creating Healthy Diets worldwide. His most recent book is ‘Food for All in Africa’. Corinna Hawkes is Director of the Centre for Food Policy at City, University of London.  Her work aims to support the design and delivery of policies that effectively and equitably improve the quality of diets locally, nationally and internationally. A regular advisor to governments, international agencies and NGOs, her work is concerned with providing solutions to all forms of diet-related ill-health, including obesity, malnutrition and diet-related non-communicable diseases. Between 2014-18, Professor Hawkes was Co-Chair of the Global Nutrition Report, and in 2018 she was appointed Vice-Chair of London’s Child Obesity Taskforce by the Mayor of London.  She is also a Distinguished Fellow at The George Institute for Global Health. Dr Juha-Pekka Pitkänen, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Finnish start-up company Solar Foods Ltd. Solar Foods aims to bring to the market a radically new pure protein which is produced without agriculture or requirement for arable land. The process uses a microorganism which is grown in fermenter tanks similar to those in breweries using carbon dioxide, renewable electricity, water and minerals as raw materials. This closed process enables efficient food production regardless of climate, weather or quality of soil. No pesticides or irrigation is needed, avoiding environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and water pollution, eutrophication or even water shortage. Prior to co-founding Solar Foods, Dr. Pitkänen was a principal scientist in bioprocess engineering at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. NOTE: This event will be broadcast live on our YouTube channel. Demonstrations From 5pm, enjoy a refreshment in the bar area and meet scientists who will be showcasing how their work is addressing some of the biggest challenges facing our global food system. What is the carbon footprint of your trolley? Newcastle University Shopping carts at the ready in this “Supermarket Sweep” style challenge as you attempt to guess the carbon footprint of certain items in your weekly food shop. The importance of bee-ing healthy  Institute for Agri-food Research and Innovation, Newcastle University Meet the bumblebees at the forefront of crop and wild plant pollination and discover why scientists are striving to keep them healthy and safe by protecting them from pests and disease.  The future of farming FIELD research collaboration Discover your perceptions of the past, present and future of farming and explore the unlimited potential for farming of the future. We're root-ing for you Durham Unviersity Put your root related knowledge to the test and compete for the vegetable expert crown.  Please contact events@royalsociety.org with any questions or queries. 

Free

youandtheplanet pastevents

No series available.

Life versus mathematics: lecture by Fields Medal winner Caucher Birkar FRS

Tuesday 21 January 2020

01/21/2020

01/21/2020

Originally from Kurdistan province, Iran, Professor Caucher Birkar FRS will speak about his life and his journey to becoming one of the world’s leading mathematicians, as well as the role of maths in people’s lives. Professor Birkar won the 2018 Fields Medal. The lecture will be of interest to anyone interested in maths, human rights and the experiences of scientists who have sought refuge in the UK. Interesting artefacts and stories from other scientists who have sought refuge in the UK will also be on display, reflecting the huge and varied contributions that this group have made to science and society in the UK. Please contact international@royalsociety.org for further details.

Free

scientificareas pastevents

Prize Lecture

Love, smell and memory: exploring the brain circuits for learned and innate behaviour

Francis Crick Lecture 2019 given by Dr Gregory Jefferis

Thursday 16 January 2020

01/16/2020

01/16/2020

How does the genome encode behaviour through the development of the nervous system? What makes male and female brains different? What is different about brain circuits for learned and unlearned behaviour? Gregory Jefferis will provide answers to these questions from his group's work on the fruit fly, Drosophila. They are using the latest technologies to study animal behaviour and to monitor and perturb neurons. They are also using the new science of connectomics to map the neuronal wiring diagram of this tiny but sophisticated brain. Together this is revealing some of the core logic by which brains process information and control behaviour, principles that are likely shared all the way to humans.  The award The Francis Crick Medal and Lecture is awarded annually in any field in the biological sciences. Preference is given to genetics, molecular biology and neurobiology, the general areas in which Francis Crick worked, and to fundamental theoretical work, which was the hallmark of Crick’s science. The Francis Crick Medal and Lecture 2019 is awarded to Dr Gregory Jefferis for his fundamental discoveries concerning the development and functional logic of sensory information processing. Enquiries: contact the Events team

Free Event

anatomyphysiologyandneurosciences anatomyphysiologyandneurosciences anatomyphysiologyandneurosciences anatomyphysiologyandneurosciences prizelecture pastevents

Prize Lecture

Towards the genomic footprints of life

Milner Award Lecture 2019 given by Professor Eugene Myers.

Monday 02 December 2019

12/02/2019

12/02/2019

We are about to enter an era of DNA technology where one can determine the genome sequence of any living animal or plant with near perfect fidelity for €1,000 or less. Already there are nascent projects such as the Vertebrate Genome Project (VGP) whose goal is to sequence every one of the more than 70,000 species of vertebrates currently extant on our planet. As such, this ability will revolutionize ecology, evolution, and conservation science and effectively mark the beginning of a new exploration of the natural world. The lecture started with a brief review of the history of DNA sequencing technology and the computational problems involved in interpreting the data so produced. This history begins with Fred Sanger’s sequencing of the virus “lambda” in 1980, continues to the sequencing of the Human genome in 2000, and culminates in the present with an introduction to the transformative technologies alluded to above. However, the primary hurdle in this future vision is actually computational and the issues and potential approaches to addressing them were discussed. Professor Myers presented several recent findings enabled by having the genome sequences of related species and concluded with a prospectus of what could be discovered in the future. The award The Royal Society Milner Award and Lecture is awarded annually for outstanding achievement in computer science by a European researcher or researcher who has had European residency for 12 months or more. The Royal Society Milner Award and Lecture is kindly supported by Microsoft Research. Professor Eugene Myers was awarded the 2019 Royal Society Milner Award and Lecture for his development of computational techniques that have brought genome sequencing into everyday use, underpinned key biological sequencing tools, and made large scale analysis of biological images practical. Enquiries: contact the Events team

Free

engineering mathematics prizelecture pastevents

Conference

Educational Research Forum: Developing a future agenda for educational research

Tuesday 26 November 2019

11/26/2019

11/26/2019

Join the upcoming Educational Research Forum, hosted by the Royal Society and the British Academy, which will bring together educational researchers, policy makers and teaching practitioners to talk about shared challenges and opportunities in educational research. This event aims to take forward one of the Harnessing Educational Research report's key recommendations: 'improving collaboration' in the ecosystem. Published in 2018, the report assessed the current state of educational research about formal education up to the age of 18 in the UK and how it is used in the broader education ecosystem. This exciting event aims to: Bring together educational researchers, policy makers and teaching practitioners to talk about shared challenges and opportunities in educational research; Move towards a shared future research agenda which is jointly owned by the key communities in the ecosystem; Harness expertise and enthusiasm across communities to set in motion a step change in the way educational research is planned, coordinated and used in the UK; Create a lasting legacy to enable future collaboration between educational researchers, policy makers and teaching practitioners.   Attending this event Attendance is by invitation only. Registration has now closed. For further details please contact Kelly Chaplin.      

London

Free

london conference pastevents

Cafe Scientifique

Café Scientifique: Random Revolution

Royal Society Research Fellow Rob Young and designer Salomé Bazin explore the importance of randomness in our daily lives, and how the predictability of both humans and computers alike is a problem.

Monday 25 November 2019

11/25/2019

11/25/2019

Rob Young is Professor of Quantum Information Processing and is the Director of Lancaster University’s Quantum Technology Centre. He has recently invented a new form of random number generator whose output is based on quantum physics, which is arguably the only true source of randomness in existence. He and Bazin, designer of Random Revolution, will discuss future applications of his work to the important challenge of keeping our digital communications and transactions encrypted and secure. Attending this event Free to attend, registration required  Event taking place in the Fountain Room on the Ground Floor of the Barbican Centre Accessibility information For all ticket enquiries please contact tickets@barbican.org.uk, for all other enquiries please contact events@royalsociety.org. This Café Scientifique is an open scientific discussion. The Cafés are dialogue-based and allow time for discussion between and amongst the audience and the speaker, where you’re encouraged not just to bring an enquiring mind, but your own thoughts and questions.

Free

cafescientifique pastevents

Exhibition

Random Revolution

Journey into the quantum world, Random Revolution explores the laws that are governing the internet, our lives and nature.

21 November - 15 December 2019

11/21/2019

12/15/2019

What if our digital landscape was driven by pure randomness? Randomness plays a vital role in the digital networks that make modern life possible. It keeps our communications and financial transactions encrypted and secure, and is central to computer simulations and stock market analysis. Reflecting on technological advancement, Random Revolution explores the laws that are governing the internet, our lives and nature. Powered by the research of Rob Young (Royal Society Research Fellow and Professor at Lancaster University) in collaboration with Cellule studio, Random Revolution is an immersive journey into the quantum world. Attending this event This installation is free and can be found in the Life Rewired Hub on the Ground Floor of the Barbican Centre Accessibility information For all enquiries please contact events@royalsociety.org.

Free

exhibition pastevents

History Of Science

Collecting for charity

Thursday 14 November 2019

11/14/2019

11/14/2019

Baroque musicians 82 Degrees perform a benefit concert to raise awareness of the Coram Foundation for Children in London. The concert is hosted by Collective Wisdom in tribute to the work of Francke, Handel and Coram. The performance includes pieces by Handel, Haydn and Paganini. Download the programme (PDF) About the concert Collective Wisdom is an international network of scholars exploring how and why members of the Royal Society, the Society of Antiquaries of London and the Leopoldina collected specimens of the natural world, art, and archaeology in the 17th and 18th centuries. Part of this work examined the Wunderkammer or Natural History Museum in the Historic Orphanage of the Francke Foundation in Halle, Germany. In 1698, Francke created this global cabinet of curiosities as a teaching tool for the children in his care. His ‘learning-by-doing’ approach included teaching the children to sing for public performance. These ideas greatly influenced Thomas Coram’s vision for his Foundling Hospital. Handel was a native of Halle, had Francke as his teacher, and was familiar with Francke's use of musical performance to fundraise. Handel's Messiah was performed in a benefit concert for Coram's Hospital. Collective Wisdom is funded by a networking grant award from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and project partners include the Royal Society, the Leopoldina, the Society of Antiquaries of London, the Francke Foundation, the University of Lincoln and the University of Oregon. Attending this event Free to attend Doors open at 6.50pm Seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis An optional donation of £10 to Coram’s Programme of Creative Therapies for Children is suggested Travel and accessibility information This event follows Collecting and Collections: Digital Lives and Afterlives, a two-day workshop on early modern collections held at the Royal Society.

London

Free Event

london historyofscience pastevents

History Of Science

Collecting and Collections: Digital Lives and Afterlives

This workshop concerning the afterlives, use and reconstruction of early modern collections is designed to benefit scholars interested in digital humanities.

14 - 15 November 2019

11/14/2019

11/15/2019

We will explore digital approaches to survey collections over time, assisted by the Royal Society-Google Cultural Institute partnership. How can we data-mine and use tools to integrate extant databases? How did the norms of early modern academies, of scientific journal publication, priority of discovery and ‘matters of fact’ shape the organisation of knowledge? How do we consider those early modern models in digital reconstructions of early collecting? This workshop is organised by Collective Wisdom. Collective Wisdom is funded by a networking grant award from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and project partners include the Royal Society, the Leopoldina, the Society of Antiquaries of London, the Francke Foundation, the University of Lincoln and the University of Oregon. Download the conference programme (PDF) Download the speaker abstracts (PDF) Attending this event You must purchase a ticket to attend this event Register and more information on the University of Lincoln website Travel and accessibility information

London

Standard: £100 Concessions/one day: £50

london historyofscience pastevents

Panel Discussion

Rewriting nature versus nurture

The question of whether nature or nurture contributes more to development of individual human behaviour is by no means a new one. In fact, it is a debate that has raged on for centuries, as far back as Ancient Greek…

Thursday 07 November 2019

11/07/2019

11/07/2019

While scientists today largely agree that a complex combination of biological factors, like brain structure and genetics, and environmental factors shape who we are, new advances in the field of developmental neuroscience suggest we should be examining this question within an evolutionary framework. From the brain’s factory settings that have developed over millennia, through genetic adaptations, to the influence of culture and experience, this discussion will explore the role that evolution has played in the development of our innate cognitive capabilities, like rational thinking and conscious reasoning. The panel is hosted by neuroscientist and author Dr Kevin Mitchell and includes: Professor Uta Frith DBE FBA FMedSci FRS, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Development, University College London Professor Cecilia Heyes FBA, Senior Research Fellow in Theoretical Life Sciences and Professor of Psychology, University of Oxford For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org. Rewriting nature versus nurture is part of Berlin Science Week 2019. Attending the event This event is free to attend but advanced registration is essential Seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis Travel information Accessibility information

Free

paneldiscussion pastevents

You And The Planet

You and the planet: energy

Wales is home to many important low-carbon energy projects, including Britain’s fastest supply of energy at Electric Mountain, one of the largest off-shore wind farms in the world, and over 120 community energy…

Wednesday 06 November 2019

11/06/2019

11/06/2019

BBC Wales's Rachael Garside hosted a discussion to find out how the energy we use affects the natural world and discovered promising pathways to a clean, safe and sustainable energy future. This event was part of You and the Planet, a series exploring global environmental issues with world-renowned speakers from science, business, politics and more. Watch the series live on YouTube and join the conversation at #YouAndThePlanet. Julia Brown DBE FREng FRS is an engineer and cross-bench peer in the House of Lords. She is the Vice Chair of the Committee on Climate Change, leading on decarbonising transport, and also chairs the Adaptation Sub-Committee, assessing the UK’s response to the risks of a changing climate. Julia is the Chair of the Carbon Trust and a Non-Executive Director of the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.  Juliet Davenport OBE is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Good Energy – a renewable energy company with a mission to power a greener, cleaner future together with its customers. Juliet has been an innovator for over 20 years, working on ideas to fight climate change and transform the energy sector for the better. She currently sits on the board of the Renewable Energy Association and Innovate UK and is Vice President of the Energy Institute. Juliet has various scholastic credentials with academic organisations, including University of Wales, Imperial College, Bristol University, Birkbeck and LSE. James Durrant FRS is Professor of Photochemistry in the Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London and Sêr Cymru Solar Professor, College of Engineering University of Swansea. Professor Durrant leads Imperial’s Centre for Plastic Electronics and the Welsh government funded Sêr Cymru Solar initiative. He also founded the UK’s Solar Fuels Network, and was founding Deputy Director of Imperial’s Energy Futures Laboratory. He was elected a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales in 2016. Rebecca Heaton is Head of Climate Change at Drax, with responsibility for Drax Group’s efforts to mitigate climate change, ensuring that sound science underpins climate change polices and business strategy. She is also responsible for developing sustainability and climate change research programmes. She has a 20 year global career working at the interface between business, science and policy. After an early career in academia, she has held senior roles in a number of large energy companies. She is also a member of the Committee on Climate Change, where her duties include representing Wales. NOTE: This event will be broadcast live on our YouTube channel.  Please direct questions or queries to events@royalsociety.org.

Free Event

youandtheplanet pastevents

Prize Lecture

Nanomaterials from bench to bedside

Rosalind Franklin Lecture 2019 given by Professor Nguyễn Thị Kim Thanh

Tuesday 29 October 2019

10/29/2019

10/29/2019

Michael Faraday synthesised gold nanoparticles back in 1856, so what is new? How could rust, which is magnetic, be used to diagnose and treat diseases such as cancer? How can different shapes of gold nanoparticle such as rods or stars help with killing bacteria on surfaces? Professor Nguyễn spoke about her interdisciplinary and innovative research on the design, synthesis, characterisation, and biofunctionalisation of plasmonic and magnetic nanomaterials for biomedical applications. Attending the event This event has taken place. The award The Rosalind Franklin Award and Lecture is awarded annually and is made to support the promotion of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Rosalind Franklin Award and Lecture 2019 is awarded to Professor Nguyễn Thị Kim Thanh for her achievements in the field of nanomaterials and her impactful project proposal. Enquiries: contact the Events team

Free Event

chemistry engineering prizelecture pastevents

Prize Lecture

Nanomaterials from bench to bedside

Rosalind Franklin Lecture 2019 given by Professor Nguyễn Thị Kim Thanh

Tuesday 29 October 2019

10/29/2019

10/29/2019

Michael Faraday synthesised gold nanoparticles back in 1856, so what is new? How could rust, which is magnetic, be used to diagnose and treat diseases such as cancer? How can different shapes of gold nanoparticle such as rods or stars help with killing bacteria on surfaces? Come to find out about Professor Nguyễn's interdisciplinary and innovative research on the design, synthesis, characterisation, and biofunctionalisation of plasmonic and magnetic nanomaterials for biomedical applications. The prize lecture will be webcast live and the video recording of the event will be available shortly after the event. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Doors open from 6pm and seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis This event may be popular and entry cannot be guaranteed Live subtitles will be available British Sign Language interpretation will be available on request. Please let the Events team know if you plan to attend at least two weeks prior to the event Travel and accessibility information The award The Rosalind Franklin Award and Lecture is awarded annually and is made to support the promotion of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Rosalind Franklin Award and Lecture 2019 is awarded to Professor Nguyễn Thị Kim Thanh for her achievements in the field of nanomaterials and her impactful project proposal. Enquiries: contact the Events team

Free Event

chemistry engineering prizelecture pastevents

You And The Planet

State of the Earth

An evening of conversation with climate scientists Sir Brian Hoskins and Professor Corinne Le Quéré, chaired by BBC Countryfile presenter Tom Heap. 

Tuesday 22 October 2019

10/22/2019

10/22/2019

Brian Hoskins and Corinne Le Quéré have decades of experience of understanding how human activity has influenced the natural world, and continue to pioneer ground-breaking solutions. In this event, they shared crucial insights into some of humanity’s greatest challenges with broadcaster and journalist Tom Heap. This event was the launch of You and the Planet, a series exploring global environmental issues with world-renowned speakers from science, business, politics and more.  Watch the recorded video on YouTube and join the conversation at #YouAndThePlanet.  Speakers  Sir Brian Hoskins has been a Professor of Meteorology at Reading for more than 35 years, and is also the Chair of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment. His international roles have included being vice-chair of the Joint Scientific Committee for the World Climate Research Programme, President of the International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences, and involvement in the 2007 IPCC international climate change assessment. He has also had important UK roles both as a member of the UK Committee on Climate Change and by playing a major part in the 2000 Report by The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution that first proposed a 60% target for UK carbon dioxide emission reduction by 2050.  Corinne Le Quéré is Professor of Climate Change Science at the University of East Anglia and former Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. She plays a key role in the annual update of the Global Carbon Budget, an international effort of the Global Carbon Project to provide the latest information global and national carbon emissions and their partitioning among the atmosphere, land and oceans, including their drivers. Corinne is a member of the UK Committee on Climate Change and is the Chair of France’s first Climate Change Committee. She was author of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Tom Heap presents the investigations on Countryfile – Britain’s most popular factual TV programme – and is the principal voice of Costing the Earth on BBC Radio 4, the nation's only dedicated environment series. He is also a regular Panorama reporter, covering food, farming energy and wildlife.   Please direct questions or queries to events@royalsociety.org.

Free

youandtheplanet pastevents

Festival Event

Data power at Pi: Platform for Investigation

In this special Royal Society takeover of Pi: Platform for Investigation, find out how different teams of scientists use data to tackle some of the world's challenges, from the spread of disease to the ageing…

Tuesday 22 October 2019

10/22/2019

10/22/2019

During October half-term the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester will be running a series of Pi: Platform for Investigation events. Join scientist from Manchester Metropolitan University and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to find out more about their work. Dr Moi Hoon Yap and her group from Manchester Metropolitan University use machine learning technology to advance facial recognition software.    Professor Shabbar Jaffar’s group, based at the Liverpool School for Tropical Medicine, study the treatment of non-communicable diseases like diabetes in comparison to the treatment of HIV. Learn more about the science they’re doing at Pi: Platform for Investigation.  For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org.

Free

festivalevent pastevents

Switching Perceptions

Think Tank live: An exploration in collective consciousness

Join Eleanor Minney, Liz Tunbridge and artist academic researcher Michaela Ross from the Bethlem for a guided Think Tank – a method of collective consciousness developed as part of the Switching Perceptions project…

Sunday 20 October 2019

10/20/2019

10/20/2019

Handle thought-provoking archive material to inspire our conversation Attending this event Free to attend, registration required  Event taking place in the Life Rewired Hub on the Ground Floor of the Barbican Centre Accessibility information For all enquiries please contact events@royalsociety.org. This event is part of the Switching Perceptions series, 12 - 20 October 2019.

London

Free

london switchingperceptions pastevents

Switching Perceptions

Brain cell cut and paste

Join Liz Tunbridge and Eleanor Minney for a combined science experiment and art workshop.

Saturday 19 October 2019

10/19/2019

10/19/2019

Tunbridge and members of her lab will sequence calcium channels in brain cells grown from human skin cells. Alongside this experiment, Eleanor will lead a collaging workshop designed to explore these processes and the idea of gene expression and creative expression.  This two hour workshop begins at 11am and 2pm.  Register for 11am-1pm Register for 2pm - 11am Attending this event Free to attend, registration required  Workshop 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm Event taking place in the Life Rewired Hub on the Ground Floor of the Barbican Centre Accessibility information For all enquiries please contact events@royalsociety.org. This event is part of the Switching Perceptions series, 12 - 20 October 2019.

London

Free

london switchingperceptions pastevents

Switching Perceptions

Symbols of the self

Join Eleanor Minney for a short talk about the exhibition followed by a drawing and textile workshop exploring symbols of the self. Take the opportunity to question the artist about her process and themes, and…

Thursday 17 October 2019

10/17/2019

10/17/2019

Attending this event Free to attend, registration required  Event taking place in the Life Rewired Hub on the Ground Floor of the Barbican Centre Accessibility information For all enquiries please contact events@royalsociety.org. This event is part of the Switching Perceptions series, 12 - 20 October 2019.

London

Free

london switchingperceptions pastevents

Switching Perceptions

Building brains from genes: Café Scientifique

Come and join Associate Professors Liz Tunbridge and Esther Becker for a discussion of the many ways that genes influence brain function, and how understanding these links is relevant to health and disease.

Wednesday 16 October 2019

10/16/2019

10/16/2019

Attending this event Free to attend, registration required  Event taking place in the Life Rewired Hub on the Ground Floor of the Barbican Centre Accessibility information For all enquiries please contact events@royalsociety.org. This Café Scientifique is an open scientific discussion. The Cafés are dialogue-based and allow time for discussion between and amongst the audience and the speaker, where you’re encouraged not just to bring an enquiring mind, but your own thoughts and questions. This event is part of the Switching Perceptions series, 12 - 20 October 2019.

London

Free

london switchingperceptions pastevents

Switching Perceptions

Café Scientifique

Artist Eleanor Minney and Neuroscientist Liz Tunbridge discuss the research and artistic rationale driving the Switching Perceptions project. They will explore the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration in…

Monday 14 October 2019

10/14/2019

10/14/2019

Attending this event Free to attend, registration required  Event taking place in the Life Rewired Hub on the Ground Floor of the Barbican Centre Accessibility information For all enquiries please contact events@royalsociety.org. This event is part of the Switching Perceptions series, 12 - 20 October 2019.

London

Free

london switchingperceptions pastevents

Festival Event

Could you make a Robot Orchestra?

Engineers and inventors have been finding new and exciting ways to use electricity since we first harnessed it over 200 years ago. From the first electric light to the appliances in our homes today, the machines we…

Sunday 13 October 2019

10/13/2019

10/13/2019

Professor Danielle George, winner of the 2018 Royal Society Michael Faraday Prize, is an inventor who knows the importance of learning to experiment with mending and improving things from a young age.  Her work focuses on designing astronomical instruments to observe and understand the universe. Join Danielle for a family-focused interactive talk exploring inventing, technologies and the importance of taking things apart, with a special performance from her famous Robot Orchestra. Danielle is passionate about giving the next generation the skills to become scientists and engineers, which led her to create the Robot Orchestra with the help of local schools and organisations.  Please direct questions and queries to events@royalsociety.org.

Free

festivalevent pastevents

Switching Perceptions

Family Workshop

What are your brain cells talking about? Join us for a conversation on the theme of neuron communication, neurodiversity and collaboration and draw your own version of neuron communication.

Sunday 13 October 2019

10/13/2019

10/13/2019

Join Eleanor Minney and Liz Tunbridge to create collaborative drawings and ask your science related questions. This two hour workshop begins at 11am and 2pm.  Register for 11am-1pm Register for 2pm - 11am Attending this event Free to attend, registration required Workshop 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm Event taking place in the Life Rewired Hub on the Ground Floor of the Barbican Centre Accessibility information For all enquiries please contact events@royalsociety.org. This event is part of the Switching Perceptions series, 12 - 20 October 2019.

London

Free

london switchingperceptions pastevents

Switching Perceptions

Switching Perceptions

A series of events, workshops and talks that consider whether an understanding of our genes could lead to a better understanding of mental illness.

12 - 20 October 2019

10/12/2019

10/20/2019

Created by artist Eleanor Minney and Professor Liz Tunbridge in collaboration with patients from the National Psychosis Unit at the Bethlem Royal Hospital, the project will allow visitors to explore perspectives on the mind, brain, subjective experience and the genetic and biological components of psychiatric illness.  Dissecting the space is Segment of Aself, Minney’s textile work which features hundreds of hand drawn ciphers alluding to a person’s holistic sense of self (including relationships, spirituality, illness and more) together with row upon row of genetic markers, only three of which relate to psychotic illness. Minney untangles the fragile threads of the human mind through delicate explorations into what creates a sense of self, and the relationship to psychiatric conditions. Attending this event This installation is free and can be found in the Life Rewired Hub on the Ground Floor of the Barbican Centre Accessibility information For all enquiries please contact events@royalsociety.org.

Free

switchingperceptions pastevents

Panel Discussion

When science meets art: Marcus du Sautoy and Conrad Shawcross

Join mathematician Professor Marcus du Sautoy OBE FRS and artist Conrad Shawcross RA as they discuss how experimentation, curiosity and creative thinking are central to both science and sculpture. This event will be…

Wednesday 25 September 2019

09/25/2019

09/25/2019

Marcus du Sautoy is the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of New College. His research uses classical tools from number theory to explore the mathematics of symmetry. He is author of popular science books and has presented numerous radio and TV series. He works extensively with a range of arts organisations from the Royal Opera House to Glastonbury Festival with the aim to bring science alive. Conrad Shawcross’ sculptures are imbued with an appearance of scientific rationality. They explore the borders between geometry and philosophy, physics and metaphysics. Throughout his work, Shawcross pays tribute to some of the great pioneers and analysts, and considers specific moments or figures from the past. Paradigm (Ode to the Difference Engine), 2006, references the life of Charles Babbage; Slow Arc Inside a Cube, 2007, takes its inspiration from the scientist Dorothy Hodgkin’s discovery of the structure of pig insulin; and most recently, ADA, 2013, is named after Ada Lovelace, credited by many as the world’s first computer programmer. Attending this event For all ticket enquiries, please contact the Royal Academy of Arts This event will be held in the Benjamin West Lecture Theatre, Burlington Gardens, Royal Academy of Arts Travel and accessibility information For non-ticket enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org. This is the third talk in the ‘When science meets art’ series of events, organised in partnership between the Royal Academy of Arts and the Royal Society. The series seeks to explore how emerging technologies can drive artistic practice, how art can develop new approaches to scientific problems, and what makes for a successful collaboration between the two disciplines.  

London

£15

london paneldiscussion pastevents

Open House

Open House 2019

A chance to explore the history and architectural highlights of Carlton House Terrace, the home of the UK’s national academy of science.

21 - 22 September 2019

09/21/2019

09/22/2019

Over the weekend, visitors are invited to discover the secrets of the Grade I listed, Nash-designed town houses that are home to the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence. Uncover countless treasures behind the doors of 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, including portraits of Royal Society Fellows dating back to the 1600s, an ornate mother-of-pearl inlay ceiling, and features from the building's time as the pre-WWII German Embassy. Tours of the building will be available every 30 minutes with limited spaces. Visitors can explore the building at their own pace with a self-guided tour, available to collect on the day free of charge.  Delve into the world of volcanoes with our exhibition Fiery Earth: the volcano and the Royal Society. This exhibition looks at how scientists struggled to understand volcanoes and why the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883 gave urgency to discovering more about what lies beneath the surface of our planet.  What is Open House? Open House is a simple but powerful concept: hundreds of great buildings of all types and periods open up their doors to all, completely without charge.  This unique opportunity to access and understand architecture is a chance to look at everyday buildings anew, and communicates the value of a well-designed city to everybody who uses it. For more information visit the Open House website. For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org. Take a virtual tour of the Royal Society .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }

London

Free Event

london openhouse pastevents

Cafe Scientifique

Café Scientifique: Your data, your health

Epidemiologists look for patterns of diseases in order to make informed, and important, predictions about the health of a population. These patterns come in the form of data and in an age where scientists have…

Thursday 19 September 2019

09/19/2019

09/19/2019

Dr Thomas House from the University of Manchester is a mathematical scientist who is exploring new methods to learn from our data and improve our health. Dr House has looked at the severity of Ebola outbreaks, the effects of friendship on mood in adolescent social networks, and the safety of scabies treatments. Attending this event Free to attend No registration required This event will take place in the Barbican's Life Rewired Hub Accessibility information For all enquiries please contact events@royalsociety.org This Café Scientifique is an open scientific discussion. The Cafés are dialogue-based and allow time for discussion between and amongst the audience and the speaker, where you’re encouraged not just to bring an enquiring mind, but your own thoughts and questions. This event is part of the Royal Society's year-long partnership with the Barbican's Life Rewired season.  

Free

cafescientifique pastevents

Festival Event

Learn about mosquitoes

Things change all the time, and when this happens, we adapt. Nature is no different. 

Tuesday 27 August 2019

08/27/2019

08/27/2019

Nearly all organisms in our world, even the very tiny ones adapt to changing conditions. The Reece group, at the University of Edinburgh, study the tiny parasites that cause malaria, the mosquitoes that spread them, and especially how they adapt to the changing environment they live in. Come and enter the weird and wonderful world of mosquitoes at the Great North Museum: Hancock. Find out how they grow, make their buzzing sound, and why they enjoy sugary drinks. Learn how hairs are connected to nasty smells, how mosquitoes discovered swimming armbands before we did, and how mosquito tummies are the home to malaria-causing parasites. There will be buzzing - and swimming - mosquitoes, microscopes to have a closer look, and mosquito art. Attending this event This activity is part of the Great North Museum: Hancock's Invasive Species Week Entry to the museum is free, but donations are welcomed Travel and accessibility information For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org.  

Free

scientificareas festivalevent pastevents

Cafe Scientifique

Robotic autonomy in our complex world

The dream that people will be served by robots that share their personal spaces is not too distant.

Thursday 15 August 2019

08/15/2019

08/15/2019

Just like humans, autonomous robots have the ability to decide on the actions they will take based on the situation they are in.  But what would it take to replace specialised robots such as automatic vacuum cleaners with autonomous, multi-purpose robots in people's homes? They need to be equipped with 'intuitive physics' that will allow them to navigate our shared spaces and to manipulate objects. Dr Kartic Subr from the University of Edinburgh teaches robots how to handle complex materials using machine learning techniques, enabling them to move through, touch and interact with our daily environment.  Join Dr Subr to find out whether robots can build intuition through interactive experiences.  Attending this event Free to attend No registration required Doors open at 7:30pm and event starts at 7:45pm This event will take place in the Barbican's Life Rewired Hub Accessibility information For all enquiries please contact events@royalsociety.org This Café Scientifique is an open scientific discussion. The Cafés are dialogue-based and allow time for discussion between and amongst the audience and the speaker, where you’re encouraged not just to bring an enquiring mind, but your own thoughts and questions. This event is part of the Royal Society's year-long partnership with the Barbican's Life Rewired season.

London

Free

london cafescientifique pastevents

Festival Event

Molecular music: The sound of chemistry

At first glance, chemistry and music don’t have much in common. Dr Nicolas Barry and Dr William Martin from the University of Bradford will show you otherwise.

Thursday 18 July 2019

07/18/2019

07/18/2019

In their talk, as part of the launch evening of the Bradford Science Festival at the Museum of Science and Media, they played audiences the sounds of vibrating chemical bonds. Each molecule has its own unique set of musical notes which will only change in a chemical reaction. Dr Barry and Dr Martin shared more about their research and the sounds of their musical molecules.  For all enquiries, please contact events@royalsociety.org.  

Free

scientificareas festivalevent pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Pointing a finger(print)

This event is part of our series of lightning lectures at the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2019. Perfect for getting a taste of science, why not catch one (or more) of these electrifying 15 minute…

Sunday 07 July 2019

07/07/2019

07/07/2019

Fingerprints left at a crime scene are critical in uncovering the identity of a perpetrator but how do we expose these invisible clues? And what happens if this crucial evidence is washed away, destroyed or otherwise damaged? Enter Dr Paul Kelly who, together with a team of chemists, has developed a pioneering new technique that will assist forensic investigators in answering the 'who, what and when' questions that can be crucial in solving a crime. From metal surfaces that have been scrubbed clean to remnants of prints on an ammunition case that have been removed through gun fire, Dr Kelly will reveal how chemistry can be the real hero at some of the most challenging crime scenes. Running times This event will run at 1.30pm and 5.15pm and last approximately 15 minutes. Talk - admittance for our talks is first-come, first-served. Please ensure you arrive early for talks as we can get busy at the weekends and you may need to queue to get into the building. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Limited spaces, admittance based on venue capacity Seats allocated on a first-come, first-served basis Doors open 5 minutes before start of event Suitable for ages 14+ Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.

Free

summerscienceexhibition pastevents

Summer Science Exhibition

Faces from the front

This event is part of our series of lightning lectures at the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2019. Perfect for getting a taste of science, why not catch one (or more) of these electrifying 15 minute…

Sunday 07 July 2019

07/07/2019

07/07/2019

It might surprise you to hear that plastic surgery was born not in the Hollywood Hills in the midst of the rich and famous, but from the battlefields and the trenches of World War I. Never before this time had such firepower been seen in battle and with this came an increase in the number and severity of facial injuries from the front line. Dr Andrew Bamji joins us to explain the major advances in facial reconstruction surgery during the Great War and to share some harrowing stories from post-war patients. He will introduce you to the father of modern plastic surgery, Harold Gillies, who set up a facial hospital in Kent during the war and revolutionised the field and explore why some of his ideas are still considered important today. Please note that this talk contains images that some visitors may find distressing. Running times This event will run at 12.45pm and 4.30pm and last approximately 15 minutes. Talk - admittance for our talks is first-come, first-served. Please ensure you arrive early for talks as we can get busy at the weekends and you may need to queue to get into the building. Attending the event Free to attend No registration required Limited spaces, admittance based on venue capacity Seats allocated on a first-come, first-served basis Doors open 5 minutes before start of event Suitable for ages 14+ Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café For all enquiries, please email exhibition@royalsociety.org.

Free