These listings cover lectures, screenings and other events that are open to anyone and do not require specialist knowledge. In some cases, it may be necessary to pre-book. For conferences and more academic events, see the Nature Network London calendar.

A fairly quiet week – everyone’s absorbed in the football – but watch out for the end of the week when the Royal Society’s HUGE summer science festival begins…

Tuesday

Genetic Fingerprinting And Beyond The Royal Society, 5.30pm. None other than Sir Alec Jeffreys, pioneer of genetic fingerprinting, is on hand to deliver the 2010 Jean Shanks lecture, covering the history and current state of play in this field.

UK Science Tweetup, 7pm upstairs at the Grafton Arms. Like Twitter? Like science? Live in London? Get ye to this decent Fitzrovia boozer to meet likeminded folk.

Wednesday

A Mathematician’s Journey… Imperial College, 5pm. Marcus du Sautoy describes his career route from mathematician to science communicator.

Friday

Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, Southbank Centre, from 6pm. And so it begins. The Royal Society’s huge summer science festival kicks off. As well as a showcase of UK Science, the 10-day celebrations also includes talks, music, theatre, film and other wonderful distractions.