What’s on Spring in ‘Colliding worlds: particle physics to the rescue’ to particle physics worlds: in ‘Colliding 15February the RionFriday to returns Sheehy Suzie 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 Princeton University, Jo Dunkley traces to prescribe what? Join neurologist and medical the evolution of the Universe from the Big Bang 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 cosmology (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.