The Early Royal Society of London: Interactive Lecture and Collections Tour

What were the origins of modern science? This interactive session takes us inside the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, one of the oldest scientific institutions. Broadcasting live from its home on Carlton House Terrace, we will explore its early ambitions—from Francis Bacon’s New Atlantis to the practical routines of experiments. We will step into the Society’s archives to view Journal Books with minutes and drawings of early scientific instruments, alongside selected objects associated with Isaac Newton. We will close with a virtual visit to today’s exhibition “Nature spoke to her”: Women Scientists in the Royal Society, marking 80 years since the first women were elected Fellows.

Attendance is mandatory as part of the IS212 Early Modern Science core course.

Image credit: Frontispiece from Thomas Sprat's The History of the Royal Society of London (1667)

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Maria Avxentevskaya (Auxent) is a Research Associate at Bard College Berlin and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow at the Warburg Institute (University of London). She earned her PhD at Freie Universität Berlin (2015, distinction) with a thesis on John Wilkins’ artificial language and the early Royal Society of London. Her work has been supported by the Max Planck Society, Fritz Thyssen Stiftung, Klassik Stiftung Weimar, Herzog August Bibliothek, the German Research Foundation, the Warburg Institute, and the European Commission. She has taught history of science, scientific translation, and science communication at Bard College Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and the University of Sydney. Her science journalism has been republished online by The Independent and Scientific American.

Time: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm CET/GMT+1

Location: Online Event

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