Greetings from rainy South London.
26/09/2024 [Updated 03/10/2024]
Many thanks to Deborah Hyde for September’s PubSci talk on A Natural History of Vampires. It turns out everything we knew about folkloric Vampires was wrong… but we knew a lot about Vampire movies, which is something. Unsurprisingly, the truth comes down to poverty, disease, and a desperate need to understand and explain a world in which you have little control of your life and even less understanding of science and medicine.
Deborah and Richard at the King’s Head
I was in Athens just the day before, where I finally saw the Antikythera Mechanism, an incredibly complex astronomical computer from a shipwreck dated to at least 60BCE. Coming face-to-face with this ancient scientific instrument – the likes of which wouldn’t be seen again for 1,300 years – was a surprisingly profound and moving experience for me. If any readers find themselves in Athens, I strongly encourage a visit to the stunning National Archaeological Museum as well as the Acropolis museum.
The Antikythera Mechanism: a 2,100 year old mechanical computer.
Talking of mechanical computers, our friends at the Ri (AKA The Royal Institution of Great Britain) have asked me to share a fantastic event with you. On Tuesday 8th October 2024, we celebrate Ada Lovelace Day in honour of the world’s first computer programmer (and daughter of the “mad, bad, dangerous to know” Lord Byron). Ada Lovelace Day Live is a cabaret-style evening of science and entertainment presenting seven truly inspiring STEM practitioners and communicators, all hosted by the wonderful Dr Sally Le Page. Check the lineup and get your tickets from the Ri website to attend live or watch online.
And if you’re free and in reach of London on Friday 27th September, do come to The Scientist and the Forger presented by Professor Jehane Ragai of Cairo University. You don’t have to dress up for Friday discourses any more, but it’s quite fun if you want to do so. I’ll be stewarding at the event so come and say hello if you’re there.
October’s PubSci
We have a great talk lined up for Wednesday 16th October. In Killer Whales to Killer Heels, we’ll be Demystifying the Menopause with Dr. Diane Keeble Ramsay from University of Suffolk. Get your tickets on Eventbrite now to learn about a topic that’s directly relevant to at least 50% of people alive today.
Full details of PubSci events are published in a new blog post soon after tickets go live on Eventbrite, but you can always see a brief preview in the PubSci calendar and on our regular Next Event page. Read on for more ways to stay informed of forthcoming PubSci events.
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Good news
PubSci’s programme is still available to download or print. If you didn’t realise we even had one, follow this link for a preview of events to the end of the year.
Of course, you may prefer PubSci events to appear in your calendar app automatically rather than looking at a flyer pinned to your fridge. Fear not! You can view or subscribe to our Google calendar feed here. Or just click this link to subscribe in one step by downloading the .ics file.
Get with the programme
Since we’ve got an events programme, why not share it with friends and colleagues? It takes me a while to plan and produce every quarter and I’d hate it to go unused! How about printing off a copy and pinning it on your staff noticeboard? Everybody is welcome at PubSci.
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Follow PubSci wherever you are…
Did you know PubSci is on Facebook and Bluesky (and Twitter though I’m trying to move off that). We even have a LinkedIn group, which I’d really love you to join.
And if you want to find all the links in just one place, then you need to head to our Linktree. What’s linktree, you ask? It’s a kind of mini website that’s optimised for mobile viewing and hosts links to all your stuff. Basically it’s like an index to everything you want to put online – and it’s free. Nope, we don’t have a “partner link” or get a kickback for recommendations, I just really like it.
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There is no charge for attending PubSci talks, but we have a traditional whip-round to cover expenses – consider it a “Pay What You Can” event. Very few of us carry cash these days, so you can contribute digitally through our TipJar [awaiting link update] or make a donation when registering for ticketed events with Eventbrite. Please help PubSci continue putting on events. PubSci has no other source of funding.
We aim to keep PubSci accessible for all, although it is unsuitable for under 18s as we meet in the function room of a pub. Regrettably, there is no wheelchair access.
Check out the Future Events page where you can also subscribe to our Google Calendar so PubSci events automatically appear in your own Calendar. You can find all our links on our LinkTree.
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We used to meet on the first Wednesday of the month but PubSci is now on the third Wednesday. Join us upstairs at the Old King’s Head near London Bridge Underground (Borough High Street east side exit) every month apart from December for a regular dose of Sipping, Supping & Science.
Address:
The Old King’s Head (upstairs room)
King’s Head Yard
45-49 Borough High Street
London SE1 1NA
PubSci 