Welcome to Nature Network London, the second city channel on the network. This is where you’ll find local news, blogs, interviews, profiles, events, jobs and other features celebrating scientific life in the capital. It’s also a place to talk. In common with other areas of Nature Network, you can create or join groups and take part in discussion forums.

There’s plenty to discuss.

London hums with scientific activity. This is most obvious in our world-class universities and teaching hospitals, and growing industrial sector. London is also home to an impressive list of learned societies, funding bodies, regulators, lobbyists and all the other entities that oil (and occasionally overboil) the scientific engine. This city also enjoys a rich scientific culture and a peerless medical and scientific history. In one of the first articles on Nature Network London, I’ve put together a ready reference of the key players, and the stats behind the science.

Speaking of statistics, one of the founders of that field was born in London 150 years ago today. Karl Pearson, founder of the world’s first statistics department and former head of UCL’s Galton Laboratory, is profiled in another article. A third story preempts World TB day on 24th March. This disease is resurgent in London – but local research hopes to make an impact.

We’ll be updating the News section daily. As for the rest of the site…over to you. The discussion forums and blogs are the real heart of Nature Network. Make new contacts, join in conversations and have fun.

Matt Brown

Editor, Nature Network London