What’s on Spring in ‘Colliding worlds: particle physics to the rescue’ Suzie Sheehy returns to theRionFriday 15 February

Science / Culture / Talks / Events January — April 2019 Inspiration and wonder at the Royal Institution

The Royal Institution (Ri) is an independent charity dedicated to inspiring everyone to think more deeply about science and its place in our lives. Every season we have a packed programme of accessible science for adults, children, and families. Our internationally significant museum is open every

Family fun fun Family weekday, to everyone, for free; while Family Fun Days mean our wonderful building is packed with people of all ages enjoying hands-on science and exploration together. And in the evening we throw open the doors to our iconic theatre for talks by today’s leading scientists and cultural commentators, just as we’ve always done since 1799.

Inspiration Inspiration This spring at the Ri, rapt audiences, packed tightly into the steep banks of our historic theatre, will hear inspirational and mind-expanding talks on everything from quantum physics to the science of love. Join us for inspiration and wonder at the Royal Institution. Planning to visit more regularly? Become a member and enjoy discounts and other great benefits as well Culture Culture as meeting like-minded people who share your passion for science. Spring 2019 themes We have three themed series this season. One on space, including our Universe, how it works, and the race to live on Mars. ‘Who am I?’, which continues the

History national conversation on identity in the 21st century sparked by the 2018 CHRISTMAS LECTURES. And chemistry, to celebrate 2019 as the International Year of the Periodic Table.

Book now at rigb.org Discovery

Ticket prices, unless stated otherwise:

Standard Concessions Ri Members Ri Young Members Ri Patrons Education Education Standard events £16 £10 £7 £7 £7 Family Fun Days £16 £10 £7 FREE £7 Ri Patrons Present £16 £10 £7 £7 FREE Discourses £20 £15 FREE £7 FREE

Science Science Concessionary ticket prices apply to over 60s, under 16s, anyone registered as a student, unemployed or disabled. Free tickets are offered to carers attending with the person receiving care. Special concessionary rates are offered to educators attending with school groups. For more information please contact [email protected] or call 020 7409 2992. January The science of dieting Virtue and violence in and obesity human evolution

Friday 11 January, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Thursday 17 January, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Each New Year brings new diets and health fads. Drawing on new research by geneticists, But what is the genetic evidence for and against neuroscientists, primatologists, and various diets and dieting as a whole? Using the archaeologists, Richard Wrangham argues that latest science, TV presenter and leading geneticist it was nothing more than the invention of capital Giles Yeo unveils his own research to tell us what punishment that domesticated our species. But really works and why. Join us to break the cycle of how could our low aggressiveness evolve from pseudoscience and misinformation surrounding the repeated acts of aggression? Richard solves this world of dieting. puzzle and proposes a fascinating new theory regarding the domestication of Homo sapiens. Who am I?

Mental health in a digital age Delightful and dangerous liquids

Tuesday 15 January, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Friday 18 January, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Mental health is a growing public health concern, A selection of transparent liquids is in front of you: with an estimated one in six people experiencing a but which will quench your thirst and which will kill mental health problem in the past week alone. But you? And why? Why does one make us drunk, and what can we do about it? another power a jumbo jet? Materials scientist, engineer and 2010 Christmas Lecturer Mark Join Helen Stokes-Lampard, from the Royal College Miodownik talks us through his prize-winning book of General Practitioners, James Thomas, CTO at the on the liquids that bring death and destruction as Wellcome Trust, and Judit Simon, from the Medical well as wonder and fascination. University of Vienna, to discuss the impact of emerging technologies on advancements in mental Chemistry health care. Who am I? Ri Patrons present...

Ri Patrons present Did you know... ‘Ri Patrons present’ events explore the intersection of science, culture, innovation and society with leading thinkers and decision makers. These events are supported by Ri Patrons, a group of philanthropically motivated individuals that help to ensure that people of all backgrounds can build a lifelong interaction with science.

Delightful and dangerous liquids – Friday 18 January January Medical cannabis Our Universe and how it works

Monday 21 January, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Wednesday 23 January, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Medical cannabis was never far from the headlines Few of us understand more than the bare facts in 2018, with a number of high profile cases about the universe we call home. What is really out challenging UK law. But what constitutes a there? How did it all begin? Where are we going? cannabis-derived medicinal product? How do the Award-winning astrophysicist and Professor of active ingredients work? And who should be able Physics at , Jo Dunkley traces to prescribe what? Join neurologist and medical the evolution of the Universe from the 14 cannabis expert Mike Barnes, ‘End Our Pain’ billion years ago, through the birth of the Sun and campaigner Peter Carroll and Hannah Deacon, our planets, to today and beyond. who fought to obtain cannabis oil for her son Alfie Space Dingley, to explore this hotly debated topic.

An introduction to (short course) Discourse

Starts Tuesday 22 January, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Making a material difference to Cosmology only really existed in the realm of green energy philosophy until the start of the 20th century. Since then, technological advances and the development Friday 25 January, 7.20pm – 8.45pm of general relativity, nuclear physics and particle physics have revolutionised our understanding of With scientists warning that the impact of global the history of our Universe. This six week course warming will be far greater than expected, creating offers a more in-depth exploration of the theme of clean, sustainable energy is a challenge we simply ‘space’. have to meet. But this requires advances in new materials and the science that underpins them. £225 standard tickets / £190 Ri Member tickets Chemist and 2016 Christmas Lecturer, Saiful Space Islam, will explain how atomic-scale modelling and structural chemistry are helping explore new energy materials to protect our future. Discourses Chemistry Did you know... Discourses are one of the Ri’s oldest and most prestigious series of talks. Since 1825, audiences have witnessed countless mind-expanding moments, including the first How the Earth drives our public liquefaction of air by James Dewar, the announcement of the discovery of the electron evolution by J.J. Thomson and over 100 lectures by Michael Faraday. Wednesday 30 January, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Legend has it that a speaker once tried to run away before their Discourse so we now lock them From plate tectonics and ancient climate change, into a room ten minutes ahead of the start and to atmospheric circulation and ocean currents, begin at 7.30pm sharp. astrobiology researcher Lewis Dartnell will investigate how features of our planet drove our Ri Discourses are free for Ri Members and Ri Patrons. evolution, influenced civilisations over millennia, and continue to shape politics today. February Why space itself is quantum in What is life? nature

Tuesday 5 February, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Tuesday 12 February, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Darwin’s account of the origin of living things Quantum gravity is the Holy Grail for modern makes no attempt to answer the deepest question, theoretical physicists – a single structure that what is life? With new advances in nanotechnology brings together the two great theories of the 20th and biophysics, scientists are demonstrating how century: quantum mechanics and general relativity. living organisms manipulate information to power Yet they are based on two different interpretations molecular motors, control chemical reactions of space and time which are fundamentally and navigate the uncertain world of molecular incompatible. One widely known solution is string randomness. Physicist Paul Davies illuminates theory, which emerged from particle physics, yet how ‘organised information’ may be the key to the other is less well recognised. Award-winning understanding new laws of life. popular science writer Jim Baggott draws on the pioneering work of Carlo Rovelli and Lee Smolin to Who am I? describe the ‘road less travelled’: loop quantum gravity. This theory starts from general relativity, borrows many ideas and techniques from quantum Rising sea level: the crisis on our mechanics, and predicts that space itself is doorstep quantum in nature. Space Monday 11 February, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Rising sea levels will permanently alter coastlines and arguably represents the most profound ‘The Ri is the Wembley, long-term impact of climate change on both the geography and economy of our world. Drawing Twickenham and Lords of on his expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica, science. Every time I go to an oceanographer and author John Englander will show why it can no longer be stopped and explain event there the atmosphere why it is now urgent that we begin a programme of and the history of the place intelligent adaptation. is truly inspiring.’ - Ri Member

Rising sea level – Monday 11 February

Book now at rigb.org Family events

Immerse the whole family in science, mathematics and engineering, with loads going on throughout spring. Find more events online at Fire and explosions: from coal gas rigb.org/families to the cosmos

Saturday 19 January, 6.00pm – 7.15pm Claire Benson discusses a collection of stories about fire and explosive science in the Victorian era; including the dangerous nature of the first plastics, how the creation of explosives saved lives, and how the Bunsen burner led us to better understanding the make-up and expansion of the Universe. An explosive start to the new year! Ages 7+

Colliding worlds: particle physics to the rescue

Friday 15 February, 6.00pm – 7.15pm Join Suzie Sheehy to explore the exciting, atom- smashing world of particle accelerators. She’ll use live demonstrations to show how we design these fascinating machines which let us interact with and explore nature on the smallest scales. She’ll also reveal how we use these machines in many unexpected and useful ways, helping us solve some of the greatest challenges facing people on Earth. Ages 12+ Family Fun Day: Who am I? Easter holiday workshops

Saturday 23 February Monday 8 April – Thursday 18 April Arrive between 11.00am and 4.00pm Join us this Easter for a wide range of hands-on Hands-on fun at this season’s Family Fun Day workshops based on our popular Summer Schools. based on the 2018 CHRISTMAS LECTURES ‘Who From exploring forests to measuring the Universe, am I?’. Drop in for an action-packed day of we have something for everyone. See the full talks, demonstrations and experiments curated schedule of workshops at rigb.org/families. in partnership with the Genetics Society and All ages generously supported by the UKRI.

Ages 7+ Braving the elements

CHRISTMAS LECTURES Sunday 14 April, 2.00pm – 3.15pm Did you know... The CHRISTMAS LECTURES are Sunday 14 April, 6.00pm – 7.15pm possible thanks to the generous support of our Monday 15 April, 2.00pm – 3.15pm major supporter: The Lloyd’s Register Foundation and our community of supporters: The Genetics To celebrate 150 years of the Periodic Table, Society, UKRI, Schlumberger and BGI. join 2012 Christmas Lecturer Peter Wothers for an exciting and explosive journey through the elements. This demonstration-filled lecture will Humble Pi: when maths goes show you the genius of Mendeleev’s discovery from wrong Argon to Zinc. Ages 7+ Friday 1 March, 6.00pm – 7.15pm Most of the time, the maths in our everyday lives works quietly behind the scenes, until someone forgets to carry a ‘1’ and a bridge collapses or a plane drops out of the sky. Join Matt Parker to explore the bizarre ways maths can trip us up, and what this reveals about its essential place in our world. Ages 12+

The kitchen science cookbook

Saturday 6 April, 2.00pm – 3.15pm Come on an action-packed kitchen adventure with catapults, explosions and volcanic eruptions as nanotechnologist Michelle Dickinson shows how to cook up fantastic science experiments in your own kitchen. Using everyday equipment such as marshmallows and nuts, string and balloons, Michelle’s experiments demonstrate principles of science that all ages will find fascinating. If you’ve ever baked a cake or cooked spaghetti – you’ll see how you’ve been involved in scientific experiments! Ages 7+ February Future money: the problem What is love? with cryptocurrencies

Thursday 14 February, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Tuesday 26 February, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Ah, Valentine’s day. Is there any point to it? Is On 22 May 2010, software developer Laszlo Hanyecz romance really dead? Are sexual companion robots swapped 10,000 Bitcoins for two pizzas, and the the future of relationships? Join non-fiction writer first documented purchase of real world goods with Laura Mucha and lecturer in artificial intelligence cryptocurrency was complete. Kate Devlin as they discuss the past, present and Nine years on and numerous peaks and troughs future of our most intimate relationships. later, which cryptocurrencies have a future? Can Who am I? currencies have real-world applications without being backed by real assets? What are the legal and ethical implications of global digital currencies and do real-world costs outweigh virtual benefits? Discourse Join Alexander Lipton, Connection Science Fellow at MIT, and Tatiana Cutts, Assistant Professor of Law at Identity, anatomy and the LSE, as they discuss the future of cryptocurrencies, forensic conundrum central banks and money as a whole. Ri Patrons present... Friday 22 February, 7.20pm – 8.45pm At the core of ‘self’ is the unshakeable certainty of identity. Yet, when challenged, it can prove to be a ‘For anyone who is even fragile and fleeting construct. While we may think we know who we are, is it who we have always slightly interested in been? Dame Sue Black, the UK’s leading forensic science, the Ri is a great anthropologist reveals how our life’s history can be written into our anatomy and why the forensic place to nurture that anthropologist must learn the language of the curiosity.’ - Ri Member biological code to uncover clues and ultimately reunite the person with their identity. Who am I?

The next supercollider – Thursday 7 March March The hunt for new elements: then The Genetics Society and now Mendel Lecture

Wednesday 6 March, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Friday 8 March, 7.00pm – 8.30pm In the 1800s, Royal Institution professors were the Mary-Claire King is one of the world’s leading first to identify 10 chemical elements. Today there are geneticists. She is known for three major 118 in our current periodic table. But how did the likes accomplishments: identifying breast cancer genes; of Humphry Davy discover elements in the early 19th demonstrating that humans and chimpanzees are century? After all the naturally occurring elements 99% genetically identical; and applying genomic had been identified, how have scientists created new sequencing to identify victims of human rights AI superheavy elements? And are there more elements abuses. Join us at the Genetics Society’s Mendel to be created? Join writer Philip Ball, historian Frank Lecture to hear about her life and work. James and nuclear chemist Christoph Düllmann to Who am I? celebrate the International Year of the Periodic Table. Chemistry The Genetics Society Did you know... 2019 marks 100 years since the The next supercollider founding of the Genetics Society. As well as their normal programme of events, they’ll be holding a number of special centenary celebrations Thursday 7 March, 7.00pm – 8.30pm throughout the year. Join a panel of physicists and engineers from CERN as they reveal more detailed plans for the next gigantic particle collider. The ‘Future Circular The human Martian Collider’ (FCC) will be a 100km ring-shaped particle accelerator buried underground near Geneva, Tuesday 19 March, 7.00pm – 8.30pm which will be seven times more powerful than the world’s current biggest scientific instrument, the In 2009 Buzz Aldrin said, ‘We can restore the sense Large Hadron Collider. This awesome machine will of wonder and adventure in space exploration that allow physicists to seek answers to some of the we knew in the summer of 1969. We won the moon deepest questions it is possible to ask about our race; now it’s time for us to live and work on Mars.’ Universe, including the nature of , the Join us as we explore humanity’s first attempts to imbalance between matter and antimatter, and establish a permanent settlement on Mars. Adrian whether a deeper theory lies beneath the current Hayes, Iya Whiteley and Jill Stuart bring together Standard Model of particle physics. expertise from the worlds of exploration, science and law to guide us through how humans will live in a new era in which space exploration is no longer about the journey. From space medicine and psychology to space law and inter-planetary politics, how will this new society function? Space Ri Patrons present...

Book now at rigb.org March

Animal CSI: predator WiFi Wars Debug X

Wednesday 20 March, 6.00pm – 10.00pm Friday 22 March, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Dive into the world of veterinary science and Future-tech video gaming comedy show WiFi Wars glimpse behind the scenes, including hands-on returns to the Ri for another fun development veterinary pathology activities and a live-streamed night where they test out their newest toys and dissection demonstration from the Royal Veterinary technology. Hosted by Steve McNeil from the hit TV College’s Anatomy Lecture Theatre. This event is show ‘Dara O Briain’s Go 8 Bit’, this event always recommended for ages 16+. sells out so book now.

Chasing the Sun Discourse

Monday 25 March, 7.00pm – 8.30pm How your brain maps the world The clocks spring forward at the end of this week, but what effect does this have on our bodies and Friday 29 March, 7.20pm – 8.45pm minds? Science writer and journalist Linda Geddes To understand the ability to orient ourselves in will discuss the science of sunlight and how you can space, UCL neuroscientist John O’Keefe studied the exploit your relationship with light and darkness to movements of rats and signals from nerve cells in improve your health, sleep and productivity. the hippocampus, an area located in the centre of the brain. He found that cells in the brain formed a kind of internal map. For this work he was awarded Chasing the Sun – Monday 25 March the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2014. Join him to hear about his ground-breaking work, which could offer vital clues to understanding dementia.

Book now at rigb.org April Gold: unreactive and underrated Unnatural history museums

Tuesday 2 April, 7.30pm – 8.45pm Wednesday 17 April, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Gold has always been significant to our lives. How Natural history museums are magical places, but a did such an unreactive element become essential fundamental flaw is that they are places for people, to economies around the world? What makes gold made by people. Author and head of the Zoology so useful to chemists? Join our panel of experts as Museum at the , Jack Ashby they take a closer look at an element entrenched in explores the quirks and biases we might not notice both the economic and scientific world. in how museums talk about animals. They reflect politics as much as science; but to what extent do Chemistry they realistically represent nature? And why should we care?

Ri quiz night Are we alone in the Universe?

Tuesday 16 April, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Tuesday 23 April, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Back by popular demand, legendary quizmaster, Have we been visited before? Are they out there Editor-at-Large of Londonist.com and author of ‘The watching, listening, studying us? Brad Gibson, Astounding Science Puzzle Book’ Matt Brown will Professor of at the University of present London’s nerdiest quiz. From fractals to Hull, will examine the evidence for and against Faraday, bosons to boron, we will probe every area of the existence of extraterrestrial life, and walk you your scientific knowledge. through the associated good, bad, and ugly corners of our Galaxy. £2 per entry paid on the door. Space

The art and science of attribution Discourse

Tuesday 16 April, 7.00pm – 8.30pm How to look inside a volcano In 2017, Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi sold for $450.3 million, setting a new record for the most Friday 26 April, 7.20pm – 8.45pm expensive painting ever sold. Volcanoes are big, hot, loud and dangerous; Now, on the 500th anniversary of Leonardo’s death, because of this we know little of their internal Martin Kemp from the and structure or underlying ‘plumbing system’, despite Book now at Larry Keith from the National Gallery discuss the them representing a global natural hazard. In issues involved in establishing the authenticity this talk, Professor of Basin Analysis at Imperial rigb.org of works of art. Our panellists will explain the College London, Christopher Jackson will show how essential role of scientific analytical techniques, new 3D seismic imaging techniques can be used while revealing that there is much more to the to illuminate the structure of volcanoes and the process than science alone. evolution of their underlying ‘hot rocks’. Ri Patrons present... Continue your journey

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Inspire the next generation Visit our free museum

Join your children in getting hands-on with Stroll through the basement and see the science at one of our Family Fun Days, book original samples of four of the nine elements them a place at one of our popular workshops, first isolated by Humphry Davy, see Michael or help bring our explosive brand of science Faraday’s perfectly preserved lab and marvel at shows to their school. Visit our website for the equipment John Tyndall used to establish more information. the principles of global warming. Then stay for a coffee, a bite to eat, and free WiFi in our Visit rigb.org/families or rigb.org/education for beautiful Atrium café. more information. Open weekdays 9.00am – 5.00pm.

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Image credits: Suzie Sheehy by Katherine Leedale, CERN.

Contact Booking information

The Royal Institution Book online at rigb.org 21 Albemarle Street London W1S 4BS or call +44 (0)20 7409 2992 Telephone: +44 (0)20 7409 2992 We are open Find us on Email: [email protected] 9.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday Registered Charity No. 227938