The birth of great ideas

Viagra scientist Dr Simon Campbell and the "father of the pill" Dr Carl Djerassi pictured in front of Damien Hirst's Virgin Mother artwork at Burlington House.

The two friends and former colleagues met before the Royal Society of Chemistry annual summer party at the Royal Academy next to the RSC.

Simon Campbell, who was a key player in the Viagra project, relinquished the presidency of the RSC yesterday (25 July) handing over to Professor Jim Feast.

Carl Djerassi, Hungarian-born, performed much of his pioneering work on the contraceptive pill in Mexico City.

He lives in the USA but spends many months a year in London.

Damien Hirst's remarkable statue of the pregnant ballerina from Degas' famed painting has caused a sensation since it was erected in the Burlington House courtyard in June.