Past events
Our public events programme started in November 2009. Since then we have had influential, forthright and engaging speakers covering a wide variety of topics.
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2012
Global Transport 2050: scenarios and implications
Watch on demand. Dr Ayed Al-Qahtani, World Energy Council, discusses the results of a year long study into how we could limit carbon dioxide emissions.
A medicine cabinet in your garden?
Watch on demand. Professor Monique Simmonds talks about the use of plants and fungi as sources of sustainably harvested medicines.
Next few days to next few decades
Watch on demand. BBC Weather presenter and Met Office forecaster Peter Gibbs takes a behind the scenes look at weather prediction.
2011
The quest for a clean drink
Watch on demand. Phil Souter discusses the challenges faced in making potential water sources drinkable using chemical technology.
Watts New with Clean Energy? Batteries Included
A free lecture for 16 - 18 year olds delivered by Professor Saiful Islam
Science for a safer world
Watch on demand. Dr Derek Craston, the Government Chemist, reveals a link to Captain Scott's 1901 discovery expedition to the Antarctic.
The three lives of Marie Curie
Watch on demand. Dr Serge Plattard examines how through the development of radiotherapy methods and instruments Marie Curie led the way in the fight against cancer.
Harnessing the light fantastic
Watch on demand. Professor Nick Terrill explains how using light is pushing forward research in futuristic materials.
Eating sustainably: dream or reality?
Scientist Carol Wagstaff explores whether it's really possible to eat sustainably, or if it's simply an idealistic dream of a fairy-tale future.
What's in my stuff?
Watch on demand. Dr Hywel Jones presents a science and art based approach to raising awareness of the use of the elements in consumer technology.
Recharging the Planet
Watch on demand. Clare Grey discusses the latest developments in energy storage and future transport.
Can we live without E-numbers?
At our latest Cafe RSC discussion Dr David Baines, scientist and food consultant, talked about e-numbers.
What flavour is my lunchbox?
Dr Jane Parker, food scientist, explained why there is much more to flavour than what taste-buds tell us.
Robert Boyle's A Sceptical Chymist
Watch on demand. We celebrated the 350th anniversary of A Sceptical Chymist by Robert Boyle with Duncan Thorburn-Burns.
The Nuclear Debate
Watch on demand. A debate on whether we can meet emissions reductions without the use of nuclear power.
Functional foods: sound science or marketing hype?
Do "functional foods" work or is it all marketing hype? Bob Rastall analysed a shopping basket in our Café RSC discussion
Water sustainability - a global challenge
Watch on demand. Richard Allan, Chief Scientist at Scottish Water, discusses the challenges we face in securing global freshwater supplies.
Science on the silver screen
Michael Hanlon explored the science of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and afterwards watched the film itself.
From the Romans to the ring main
Watch on demand. Navigate the twists and turns of the London's historic water supply with Rob Casey.
A little light relief
Watch on demand. David Phillips, President of the RSC, demonstrates the healing powers of light.
Let's do lunch: your 21st century lunchbox
Tom Coultate, food scientist, discussed the dangerous food colourings of the past and the "natural" versions of the present.
Turn on and tune in
Watch on demand. Take a trip through the weird world of drug use and abuse with John Mann.
Sex and the City - The emerging role of human skin
Watch on demand. Is the role of skin merely to provide an aesthetically pleasing covering for the body?
2010
Don't panic!
Friday 10 December 2010, 6.30pm. Is there science in sci-fi? Journalist and author Michael Hanlon explores the science of the Hitchhiker's Guide. CANCELLED (to be rescheduled)
The Music Instinct
Monday 6 December 2010, 6.30pm. Why do we like music? What makes a tune catchy? Have an café-style discussion with award-winning popular science writer Philip Ball.
Nuts about Christmas
Webcast on Thursday 2 December 2010, 6.30pm. Professor Clare Mills uses some festive examples to shed light on the world of food allergies.
Materials Chemistry at the Origin of Life
Webcast on Monday 8 November 2010, 6.00pm. Tony Ryan sheds light on how life began on Earth.
2050: Sustainable Britain?
Thursday 4 November 2010, 6.30pm. John Emsley explains how together we could create a healthy, wealthy, and sustainable Britain.
Elements of Scientific Success
Webcast on Thursday 7 October 2010, 6.30pm. CEO Richard Pike discusses the RSC's origins and its role in society today for Story of London.
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Crime scene to court
Webcast on Thursday 2 September 2010, 6.30pm. Peter White reveals the role that forensics plays in a criminal investigation.
Make mine a pint!
Webcast on Thursday 5 August 2010, 6.30pm. Paul Hughes considered 10,000 years of beer evolution.
Chemistry in a Salad Bowl
Webcast on Thursday 15 July 2010, 6.30pm. Eric Block discussed the alliums, bad breath and garlic oil.
The Detective's Eye
Friday 11 June, 2.00pm. Accompany chemist and fine art collector Alfred Bader on the journey from the thrill of discovering a great forgotten work to the joy of restoring it.
Our Planet's Peculiar Atmosphere
Thursday 13 May 2010, 6.30pm. Join Richard Wayne to discover which came first: life or the Earth's atmosphere?
Making the Food of the Gods
Wednesday 31 March 2010, 6.30pm. Writer and scientist Stephen T Beckett spoke on the science of chocolate.
Turn On and Tune In
Thursday 4 March 2010, 6.30pm Join writer and scientist John Mann for a trip into the weird world of drug use and abuse. --CANCELLED-- (to be rescheduled)
Living Life on the Edge
Thursday 4 February 2010, 6.30pm An insight into how chemistry is helping to understand and prevent the escalating toll of many neurodegenerative diseases.
Perfumery's Hot Date - Synthetic meets Natural
Thursday 21 January 2010, 6.30pm Will Andrews showed us how perfume is created using a special relationship between mother nature and mankind's creativity.
2009
Chemistry, Energy and Climate Change
Tuesday 8 December 2009, 6.30pm As the UN Climate Change conference began in Copenhagen, how can science can provide for our energy needs yet help the environment?
Genetic modification: solution or problem?
Wednesday 2 December 2009, 6.30pm Are global food targets sustainable without help from GM technology?
Curry: the dish that conquered Britain
Tuesday 10 November 2009, 6.30pm Shrabani Basu discusses the phenomenon of British curry.
Wednesday 4 November 2009, 6.30pm Dr John Emsley spoke about one of the greatest challenges facing humankind.
