Monday
Not exactly science tonight, but this one might be of interest to photographers or would-be authors: a session on self publishing, how to do it, when it’s worth it and more. This event is part of The Social, a monthly get together for photographers, organised by The British Journal of Photography and The Photographers’ Gallery. Free entry, 6:30pm at Barrio Central, Poland Street.
Tuesday
A brilliant one at the British Library today, which I can’t avoid mentioning simply because of its URL: www.cowlooseinthelibrary.eventbrite.com. If for some strange reason you need to know more about it before buying your tickets, it is an all day event linked to the Growing Knowledge Exhibition, which is exploring the evolution of research by showcasing innovative technologies and digital tools currently shaping the way we interact with information. In this event, the Royal Veterinary College will be bringing some of their haptic technology (technology using our sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, and/or motions to the user) including the award winning Haptic Cow. Half hour sessions throughout the day – free, but only three still have spaces, so book now.
You could then stay at the BL until the evening for their Aliens and the Imagination talk, with panelists including David Clarke, Sheffield Hallam University and consultant to the National Archives UFO project.
Wednesday
The 2011 Sir Hans Sloane Lecture, organised by (but not held at) Kew Gardens tonight, entitled Materia medica in the 19th century with speaker Mark Nesbitt, Ethnobotanist and Curator of Kew’s Economic Botany Collection. 6pm, Apothecaries’ Hall, Black Friars Lane, London EC4V 6EJ. Entry is free but pre-booking essential.
As always, the last Wednesday of the month is Science Museum Lates. This week’s theme is climate change, including the top 10 disaster films which use the climate as a plot device, marked out of ten for scientific probability.
Thursday
Dr Aubrey de Grey comes to the Royal Institution for a lecture on aging and regenerative medicine, suggesting that regenerative medicine for aging is coming, and is promising to bring aging under the same degree of medical control that we have today for most infectious diseases. 7pm; tickets £10.
Friday
Lates at the Zoo, every Friday during summer. Tickets selling out fast – book for future weeks now.
Saturday/Sunday
Kids can meet some of the nastiest creatures on the planet at the Grant Museum with the Nasty Nature Family Activity Day. “Find out why some animals are more dangerous than others, and which are just pretending. With specimens showing some impressive natural weapons, discover which animals are nasty and which ones are nice.” 11am – 4pm; free, no need to book.
You can follow the Nature Network London Google calendar of events in London at https://blogs.nature.com/london/2011/05/17/scientific-events-calendar. Updated daily.