From Seaweed Photos to Chaos Theory: Forgotten Stories from Lives in Science

This is a lecture accompanying the Ghosts and Whispers exhibition (see below).

All too often, our knowledge about scientists is defined by their work. Anna Atkins was a botanist, Mary Cartwright studied mathematics, Maria Sibylla Merian made drawings of caterpillars and butterflies... But who were they as people? Who conducted the research that led to better weather forecasts or inspired the Art Nouveau movement? And why does it matter?

In this lecture, the artist and scientist behind the Ghosts and Whispers exhibition, Dr Alexandra Vasilyeva, will tell you about a kaleidoscope of stories about the people who made the modern science possible. Why did Anna Atkins, the author of the first-ever published book with photographs, exclude herself from her own family biography? How did Ernst Haeckel's first wife inspire his lifetime of exploration? What did a woman scientist's life look like in 20th century Cambridge? Learn these and many other stories that inspired both Alexandra's art and her scientific work.

About the exhibition

From seaweed classification to chaos theory, Ghosts and Whispers is an immersive art exhibition that explores the human side of science. Through a series of paintings, it tells the stories of little-known historical figures in research, their discoveries and what we know - or don't know - about them as people. Materials in the exhibition are available in both English and German. The exhibition is open daily 2-10 November 12:00-20:00. Free admission.