by Matthew Cobb
Professor Ceiling Cat is travelling, so I am using the opportunity to indulge in some shameless self-promotion. As regular readers will know, my book Life’s Greatest Secret: The Race to Crack the Genetic Code is out in June in the UK (Profile Books) and in July in the USA (Basic Books). To launch the book I’m doing a talk with my friend and fellow-Profile author, Nick Lane, on Thursday 11 June at 7:00 pm. Nick’s book The Vital Question: Why Is Life the Way It Is?, published last month, has rightly been gaining rave reviews all over the place. The talk is at the Royal Institution (motto: “Science Lives Here”) on Albemarle Street in the centre of town.
The blurb for the event says:
How was the code of DNA cracked? How did it confirm the theory of evolution? And why did life evolve the way it did? To celebrate their ground-breaking new books, Matthew Cobb and Nick Lane will come together to unravel the tangled story of DNA and answer the vital question: why are we as we are, and why are we here at all?
We will each give a short talk, with plenty of time for discussion. It isn’t free, I’m afraid (£12 with £8 for concessions – OAPs, disabled, students etc) and you need to book tickets at the RI website. Hope to see you there – please come and say hello!
It was cracked? I thought it was Cricked!
Congrats – sounds like a great event!
Matthew, I have pre-ordered it on Amazon. (I did so when it was first announced on this website, a while back.)
I will be in the UK in June and July; but not at this date. 🙁
I so much look forward to attending the presentation Jerry. Royal Society events are greatly valued by both the scientific community and all passionate followers of science. The venue, if by chance this is your first visit, absolutely radiates the historic majesty of the scientific effort. I would imagine it’s got to be rather inspiring to speak where so many of the great figures of science made their own contributions.
Oops… the Royal Institution not the Royal Society. Still incredibly impressive!
That’s the situation over here, you can get mixed up by all the Royalty we’ve got over here..
Figure this is not entirely off-topic, as it appears that the entire readership of this site is a Fan of Philomnena.
Her June gig dates (per her website calendar) will overlap with this event.
Thought the Philomena-philes would want to know.
http://www.dianemorgan.co.uk/gigs/
JUNE
Thursday 4th June – (new material) Backyard Comedy Club, Bethnal Green.
Wednesday 10th June (new material) – Charterhouse, Farringdon.
Friday 26th June – Bush Hall presents Show & Tell http://www.showandtelluk.com.
When I was in London earlier this month, I missed a chance to see her, to my perpetual regret. Found out her gig dates after I’d booked a theater event. Sigh. Will have to catch her on YouTube and WEIT until I can get back across the Pond.
Jeannine
Sub
Is that Nick “Oxygen Dunnit!” Lane ?
Damn – that would be interesting, but the only way I’d make it is if something breaks on the rig for [counts fingers ; removes sock] 10 or more days, or I kill the whole project … no, that’s not going to happen.
Can’t type – moulding earwax into models of … [wouldn’t work] … [could be bypassed] …
OK, voodoo target acquired.
They record the lectures so they are preserved for posterity! I will be thinking of some nice question I can ask – just got a ticket!