Evening events, Talks & lectures

Composer Tod Machover, conductor Peter Oundjian and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra take us through the creation of a new piece of music celebrating the City of Edinburgh and its Festival and co-created by members of the public.

A panel event as part of University of Edinburgh's 'Women in Warfare' conference, featuring novelist Sue Reid Sexton, lecturer and critic Faith Pullin and historian Yvonne McEwen and chaired by historian Jenni Calder.

Award-winning traditional African acrobats from Ghana, West Africa. A breathtaking performance, not to be missed. A family friendly event (i.e. suitable for all ages).

Writer, perfume expert and jogger Alex Musgrave talks about his life in poetry and scent (he's Business Manager of Penhaligon's), with a chance to smell the perfumes he mentions. Ages 16+. Booking is essential.

Come hear the results of a multidisciplinary project between two geneticists, two poets, a design artist and a photographer, initiated by the ESRC Genomics Policy and Research Forum. With Pippa Goldschmidt, Lisa Matthews and Matthias Wienroth in discussion.

Dr David Hetherington looks at the two feline species native to Scotland: the Scottish wildcat and the Eurasian lynx. The lynx is extinct, but the wildcat hangs on – although only with help from conservationists like Hetherington, who set up the Cairngorms Wildcat Project.

Jesse Schell, Distinguished Professor of Entertainment Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, and technology entrepreneur Chris van der Kuyl discuss the gamification of design and its potential for widespread influence. Chaired by writer Ben Hammersley.

Mary Brennan, Dance Critic of The Herald, chairs a discussion with Scottish Ballet Artistic Director Christopher Hampson, Scottish Dance Theatre Artistic Director Fleur Darkin and Dance Base Artistic Director Morag Deyes.

An interactive multi-media spoof tutorial, with Theoretical Zombiologist Doctor Austin, teaching you how to survive a hypothetical Zombieism outbreak using science. Supported by Wellcome Trust and University of Glasgow. “Superbly entertaining… Doctor Austin is quirky and engaging, a delicate mixture of innocence and…

Peter Abrahams, Professor of Clinical Anatomy at Warwick University, explores the value of Leonardo’s anatomical drawings as a tool for understanding the human body, and how closely the artist anticipated the range of imagery used by the medical profession today.

We launch the London Literature Festival with a glorious night of readings from some of the nominees for the Man Booker International Prize 2013. The Man Booker International Prize highlights one writer's continued creativity, development and overall contribution to fiction on the world stage. Of the ten authors in…

Rebecca Goldstein ponders the conflict between literature and moral philosophy and whether or not literature is more adept at engendering moral advances than dear old Plato might have imagined.

The mountainous Abruzzo region has less than half the vineyard land of Tuscany, and yet it produces nearly twice as much wine, thanks to the dry Adriatic breezes that blow in from the East. The most famous wine of the region is Montepulciano, but here's a chance to try some others.

One of Britain's leading intellectuals, AC Grayling makes his case against Religion and for Humanism. He gives a talk which asks, what is the alternative to religion as a view of the world and a foundation for morality? Is there a world-view and a code of life for thoughtful people who wish to live with intellectual…

Professor of politics Christina Boswell talks about her research into the motivations behind the formulation of public policies.

Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the death of poet, artist and naturalist Alexander Wilson.

The amiable bushcraft expert shares stories from his three decades roughing it in the bush.

Graphic design as an extreme sport. Andie Airfix talks about the challenges working with music’s ‘megastars’ including Metallica, Thompson Twins, Stones, Doa, Leppard, Zeppelin and more. Talk dates: May 10/11; (Def Leppard). 17/18; (Metallica). 12/19/24; (Music design; Early Days). 8/15/22/25; (Music design; Latter Days).

Tax evasion, avoidance and non-collection cost £120 billion while benefit fraud was below £5 billion (2010). Katy Clark MP, Mark Serwotka (PCS leader) and Owen Jones discuss who’s really scrounging. With over 24 times as much lost to tax cheats, why do we hear little about them but so much about benefit scroungers? We…

Four established freelancers talk about the tricks of the trade and explain how to find clients, how to create a great online presence and how to manage your taxes effectively.

Leonardo is celebrated as both an inspired artist and anatomist. This special event considers how contemporary artists, performers and scientists are informed by each other’s work in their exploration of the human body. Part of the Clod Ensemble’s Performing Medicine programme in collaboration with Wellcome Trust.

Get together with the society to discuss a variety of space-related topics.