24 September 2012
our long-running Science Fair™ series comes to a fitting grand finale with a look at the dim and distant future. join us as we turn the basement of The Book Club into a crystal-filled cave and journey beyond the year 3000 to see what the deep future will hold for our distant descendants
we’ll start our journey into deep time via celluloid – with a series of clips curated by the ever-awesome Aorta Burst Film Club. expect synth-rock in strange caves, humans boxing with aliens in the year 4038, etc
Professor David Smith will look at rapid climate change in the ninth millennium, examining how ancient landslides changed the face of our planet and the forces that will do so again
a major problem faced by the nuclear waste industry is that some sites will remain cataclysmically dangerous for tens of thousands of years – longer than the lifespan of any known human artefact or language. Dennis Duncan, lecturer at Birkbeck College, will discuss nuclear semiotics and how we plan to communicate with people in the year 20,000
via the magic of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos, we’ll end our journey billions of years in the future, and witness the last perfect day on earth
deep future music on the night with come courtesy of Bright Star Catalogue and Stephen Smith
7pm til midnite / basement of The Book Club, 100 Leonard Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 4RH
£3 for students (bring ID)
£5 in advance
£6 on the door
about Science Fair™
running since 2009 at The Book Club in Shoreditch, super/collider’s Science Fair™ has become a cult evening of laidback science – bringing together scientists and stylists, chemists and creative-types, artists and astronomers. with discussions, DIY experiments and a chance to ask why it’s just like being back in science class. except with a bar. and music. and more awesome.
previous Science Fair™ events
Monday 19 October 2009
Subject: Cosmos
Guests: Marcus Chown and Piers Martin
what stops time from running backwards? could we actually be living inside a computer program? and what’s out there beyond the edge of the Universe? cosmologist Marcus Chown discusses some of the ideas and theories he has explored in his amazing books – and will answer any questions you may have about time, space, the universe and all that. formerly a radio astronomer at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Marcus is currently cosmology consultant at New Scientist. from black holes to the big bang, it’s your chance to quiz an expert on the stuff you’ve always wondered about. after the discussion, DJ Piers Martin (Cocadisco/VICE) presents a brief history of Cosmic Disco and an exclusive set of classics from the depths of the musical Universe
Monday 16 November 2009
in the run up to the Copenhagen climate talks, Science Fair™ presents a eco extravaganza with guest speakers Greta Corke (creator of the Wattson home energy device), tree surgeon Martin Cake, Reuters carbon trading journalist Mike Szabo and Bryony Worthington from Sandbag (a retirement home for carbon emissions), plus a special living Christmas Tree forest
December 2009
join us for stylish science Christmas market with special discounts on our shop items
Monday 15 February 2010
theme: Polar
guests: Nicola Triscott (Arts Catalyst) & Anil Ananthaswamy (New Scientist)
vast, white, frozen and forbidding, the Arctic and Antarctic regions hold endless fascination for artists and explorers – but are also the ideal setting for some of the latest research in physics, astronomy and climate change. guests on the night were Nicola Triscott of the Arts Catalyst’s Arctic Perspectives Initiative and New Scientist journalist Anil Ananthaswamy, whose forthcoming book The Edge of Physics took him to Antarctica to visit cutting-edge physics experiments and meet the people behind them
Monday 15 March 2010
Subject: Crystals
Guests: Robin Armstrong (Natural History Musesum), Jolyon Ralph (Mindat.org) and The Lovely Jonjo
Natural History Museum researcher Robin Armstrong joins Jolyon Ralph from Mindat.org for a hands-on look at nature’s most mind-blowing mineral formations – plus a crystal-themed set by The Lovely Jonjo and a grow-your-own crystals to take home session
Monday 26 April 2010
Subject: Robots
Guests: Shadow Robots and DJ Sascha Mikloweit
super/collider’s monthly pop science continues with a demonstration of the latest in robotic technology from Islington’s friendly neighbourhood Shadow Robots + robo-erotic music from Sascha Mikloweit and a screening of Spike Jonze’s robot film, I’m Here
Monday 17 May 2010
Subject: Rooftop astronomy party!
Guests: Doug Daniels and friends from the Hampstead Scientific Society plus DJ Joe Muggs
super/collider’s monthly pop science soirée takes a fieldtrip to The Queen of Hoxton for a special rooftop astronomy party. astronomer Doug Daniels and friends from the Hampstead Scientific Society will be on on hand with their 6″ Maksutov Cassegrain telescope to show you the crescent moon, Venus, Mars, the rings of Saturn and its moon Titan with space jams provided by Joe Muggs (Club Cosmonaut/VeryVeryMuch.com)
Monday 20 September 2010
Subject: Dinosaurs
Talk: Michael Pittman (UCL)
super/collider’s monthly pop science party journeys back in time to the age of dinosaurs with UCL paleontologist Michael Pittman, co-discoverer of Linheraptor exquisitus, plus music from Bright Star Catalogue
Monday 18 October 2010
Subject: Meteorites, comets, asteroids
Guests: Dr Kieren Howard (Natural History Museum), Ruth Pearson (KCL) and Sophie Rose Asquith (artist)
drop by The Book Club to celebrate the one year anniversary of super/collider’s pop science night with an all-day celebration of meteorites, comets and asteroids. you’ll have the chance to hold a genuine meteorite from space in your hands, and could win one to take home! from 10am we’ll be making paper space rocks and screening films, then the party gets started at 6pm with a special live/electronic set from Bright Star Catalogue. speakers from 7pm will discuss everything from asteroid mining to meteorite hunting, and if the sky’s clear we’ll pop outside to show you Comet Hartley-2 through a telescope
Monday 15 November 2010
Subject: Lasers
Guests: Anne-Marie Clarke (HiPER project), Feras al Saab (PhD Southampton)
come celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the laser at our final Science Fair™ event of the year! featuring Anne-Marie Clarke of the Central Laser Facility’s HiPER project, Feras al Saab of Southampton University’s Optoelectronics Research Centre and music from Bright Star Catalogue
Monday 31 January 2011
Subject: Apollo’s end
Guest: Dr Christopher Riley
forty years ago tonight, Apollo 14 blasted off from Kennedy Space Center, bound for the moon. six days later, the three-man crew landed in the Fra Mauro highlands, and spent nearly ten hours exploring the lunar surface. after the initial euphoria of Neil Armstrong’s first small steps and the drama of Apollo 13, this mission, along with the three subsequent landings, was largely ignored by the general public, marking the beginning of the end of Apollo. join us for the first Science Fair™ of the year as we explore these fascinating sojourns on the moon and launch a new open-source art initiative, Apollo’s End. our guest will be Dr. Christopher Riley – a filmmaker specialising in science and the history of science, notably the Apollo missions. working alongside his colleague Stephen Slater, Chris has created a unique multimedia installation that will be playing in a separate room throughout the night. entitled Cone Crater, this 4-hour long film documents – in real time – an ill-fated walk by the Apollo 14 surface crew towards a nearby crater, and has never been shown before. as ever, Bright Star Catalogue will open and close out the night with an extended DJ set comprising Apollo mission audio, lunar soundscapes and live synth overlays
Monday 21 March 2011
Subject: Science Cinema Special
Guests: Dr Stephen Gunning (Charring Cross hospital) and Prof Dave Wark (Imperial College London)
join super/collider and guests for a scientific exploration of popular cinema. did filmmakers get it right? does art mimic real life or visa versa? our two experts Prof Dave Wark, Particle Physicist at Imperial College London, and Dr Stephen Gunning, neuropsychologist at Charing Cross Hospital, will help us sort the fact from the fiction
Monday 18 April 2011
Subject: Amphibians
join ecologist Dr Jamie Tratalos and other volunteers from the London Amphibian and Reptile group for a night dedicated to some of nature’s awesomest creatures: amphibians! learn more about our pond-dwelling friends, what’s being done to protect their fragile habitats and what you can to help the little guys out
Monday 16 May 2011
Subject: Space Shuttle retirement party!
Guests: author Piers Bizony and photographer David Ryle
as NASA’s space shuttle program draws to a close, super/collider marks the end of an era with a golden watch retirement party for this iconic spacecraft. space expert and author Piers Bizony will discuss the history, achievements and legacy of the shuttle, and will be reading from and signing copies of his new book The Space Shuttle: Celebrating Thirty Year of NASA’s First Space Plane. he’ll be joined by photographer David Ryle, whose series The Space Coast captures the area of Florida surrounding the launchpad as the shuttle Atlantis blasts off. to round off the night, we’ll be screening VBS.tv’s Space Shuttle Parking Lot – a short documentary about the fans who flock to watch one of the most spectacular sights of the space age. live music, as ever, will come courtesy of the Bright Star Catalogue science soundsystem
Friday 10 June 2011
Subject: Cosmic Knocking @ Amwell Street Knocking Shop
Guests: Nous Vous, PINS London
super/collider takes up residence at The Amwell Street Knocking Shop for an evening of vintage shopping and cosmic fun. browse Julia and Karlie’s designer archives from Pam Hogg, Judy Blame, A Child of Jago, Vivienne Westwood, Piers Atkinson, Noki, Superfine, Mich Dulce, Simon Preen and Yasmina Dexter, take a look at Saturn’s rings and the moon’s craters through our telescope, leaf through vintage space & astronomy books and make your own badge to take home with PINS London and Nous Vous
Monday 20 June 2011
Subject: Summer solstice spectacular
Guest: Dr Andrew Gregory (KCL)
join us for a midsummer night’s dreaming as we decamp to the roof garden of the Queen of Hoxton to enjoy the second-longest evening of the year and learn more about why that is and what it meant for ancient astronomers. our guest will be Dr. Andrew Gregory, a lecturer in ancient science, astronomy and cosmogeny
Monday 18 July 2011
Subject: Bees!
Guests: Brian McCallum (urbanbees.co.uk) and Leanne Knox (London Honey Bees)
join us for our second night on the Queen of Hoxton’s splendid rooftop for a talk by Brian McCallum from urbanbees.co.uk and a special local honey tasting session hosted by Leanne Knox of London Honey Bees
Sunday 7 August 2011
Subject: Geology field trip
Guests: jolyon Ralph (Mindat)
bring a hammer and your permission slip to join super/collider’s second annual summer geology fieldtrip
with Jolyon Ralph of Mindat. we’ll be heading out to the Isle of Sheppey to collect fossils, minerals
and other geological goodies then returning to The Book Club to compare finds
Monday 19 September 2011
Subject: DesigningScience
join us during the London Design Festival as we return to The Book Club for the culmination of super/collider’s DesigningScience project, exploring the relation between science and design. we’ll be joined by participants from both worlds to explore how each influences the other
Monday 17 October 2011
Subject: Volcanoes
join us for an extra messy Science Fair™ dedicated to geology’s most explosive natural feature: volcanoes! we’ll be hearing from volcanologist Dr. Carina Fearnley about her work keeping people safe from eruptions, then creating our own volcanoes on the night with help from designer Nelly Ben Hayoun. live lava-inspired sounds will come courtesy of Bright Star Catalogue and there’ll be prizes for the best volcanic eruption
Wednesday 22 February 2012
Subject: Can Thorium Save the World?
Science Fair™ returns for a new school year with an evening dedicated to one of the great ‘what ifs’ of the modern world. back in the 1960s, a promising type of safer, cleaner nuclear reactors emerged – powered by an abundant element called Thorium. could such designs have prevented climate change and reduced nuclear proliferation, and could this new breed of reactors still save the world? join super/collider and guests from the Weinberg Foundation as we explore the latest breakthroughs and screen the recent Motherboard documentary, The Thorium Dream
Wednesday 23 May 2012
subject: The Transit of Venus
join super/collider and friends in a cosmic celebration of our final chance to witness the Transit of Venus. in June 2012, the planet Venus will pass between the earth and the sun – its small black disk revealing the true scale of the solar system. this planetary alignment happens just twice every 243 years, meaning this is the last time you’ll ever witness it… unless you live to see the year 2117
Oxford University’s Dr Suzanne Aigrain, who studies exoplanets orbiting distant suns, will discuss why scientists are so interested in the transit and how their observations will expand our knowledge of outer space. to help prepare you, Science Fair™ will also investigate the historical importance of this event, show why astronomers like Edmond Halley declared that “this sight is by far the noblest astronomy affords” and give you the low down on how to observe the Transit this June