Science Week

Talks from our 2026 programme explored the uses of space-filling curves, microscopic interactions in deep time geology and the animal gut, and insights from a new book on The Invisible Hand.

Our 2025 public lectures shared research in how the brain constructs reality, the complexity of natural organisms and the evolution of human-machine interaction.

Talks from our 2024 programme discussed our fascination with the Moon, the complexities of data systems and the mysteries of unexplained presences.

Talks in 2023 explored the impact of AI in biosciences, what astrobiology can teach us and breakthroughs in educational neuroscience.

Science Week 2022 looked at what it takes to become a scientist with talks from researchers in biological sciences, earth and plantary sciences and psychological sciences.

In 2021 our free online science talks were open to a global audience and live-streamed to Birkbeck's YouTube channel throughout May.

Our speakers discussed some of the key issues behind recent science headlines: the search for life in the universe, synthetic life, the adolescent brain and early infant development.

Shark's teeth, volcanoes, self-representation and cognitive training: find out more about the talks at our 2018 Science Week.

In 2017's Science Week, we explored microbes, human irrationality and how the Earth’s geochemistry controls the Earth’s long-term climate.

Events during our Science Week in 2016 included talks about the Moon, Mars and molecules. Oh, and the link between crystallography and chocolate.

What do cinema, water, face recognition, dementia and laughing babies have in common? They were all featured in our Science Week 2015.

Science Week in 2014 investigated mindfulness, synthetic biology, crystallography, garden flowers and asteroids.

Science Week 2013 covered topics such as autism research, climate change and human evolution, chlamydia, earthquakes and drugs.