Image of ‘Second Nature’ from romneytv’s Flickr photostream.

Tonight, Nature Network London and the Royal Institution will jointly host a real-world event#.

It’s important to emphasise that ‘real world’ bit, as the boundaries between what happens in ‘meatspace’ (our flesh and blood world), and ‘cyberspace’ (virtual worlds such as Second Life) are increasingly blurred. Within online worlds, people are buying and selling non-existent property, ballroom dancing with partners on other continents via a mouse and keyboard…and some are even doing science.

Tonight’s event, at the Apple store on Regent Street, will bring together three very real people who know something about these brave new worlds. Aleks Krotoski, a Guardian columnist and expert on the social aspects of interactive technology, will talk about cyberpsychology and the unwritten rules of online interaction. Dave Taylor from the National Physical Laboratory, will discuss SciLands – a kind of science park within Second Life that includes the International Spaceflight Museum, where users can walk and fly around ‘full-scale’ replicas of famous rockets. Finally, Jo Scott will introduce Second Nature – a virtual island of science from Nature Publishing Group.

So if the idea of attending a non-virtual event, in a real shop, on a real street is not too repugnant, join us tonight.

Science in Virtual Worlds# is organised by the Royal Institution in association with Nature Network London. At the Apple Store, Regent Street, 19 June, 7pm. Entrance is free, and no reservation is required.