University of Cambridge

Date: 16/01/08

“Serendipity” theme for 2008 Darwin lectures

The impact of serendipity – the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate – on different aspects of our lives, will be the subject of this year's Darwin lectures, starting this week.

As ever, the lectures, organised by Darwin College, will be delivered by academics, politicians and journalists from all over the world who are all highly regarded in their respective fields.

The free talks will be open to the public and will cover a broad range of issues, demonstrating how serendipity can affect disciplines from science and the study of disease through to classics and anthropology.

The series will open this Friday (18 January) with a lecture from Professor Andy Fabian, Vice-Master of the College, about the impact serendipity has had on the study of astronomy and our knowledge of space.

Other speakers will focus on the effect of serendipitous discoveries in other areas. Simon Winchester, the geologist and a former foreign correspondent for The Guardian, will be talking about how serendipitous events led him from his early academic career to a more conspicuous and successful life in writing. His many books include “The Map That Changed The World” – a biography of the geologist William Smith.

MP Oliver Letwin will also be giving a lecture, discussing the impact of serendipity on the workings of government. As he puts it: “The interesting question is whether politicians themselves have any capacity to increase the likelihood of serendipitous occurrences”. Mr Letwin's lecture will be informed by his political career as MP for West Dorset and an ex-member of the Government's Policy Unit.

The Darwin series started in 1986 and consists of eight public lectures which aim to present complex ideas in an easy to understand manner.

The lectures will be held for eight consecutive Fridays, starting on 18 January. Each lecture will start at 5.30pm in the Lady Mitchell Hall, Sidgwick Avenue. People wishing to attend are advised to arrive early to be sure of a place as the lectures are very popular.

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For further information, please contact the University of Cambridge Office of Communications on 01223 332300

Reproduced courtesy University of Cambridge Office of Communications

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Organisation: University of Cambridge

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