The Thanks for the Memories public engagement project is excited to announce our next event bringing together vaccine science and the arts – a panel discussion at the Oxford History of Science Museum on Thursday 9th October, 6.30-8pm.
Join us to hear immunologists Prof. Paul Klenerman and Dr Lisa Ciacchi in conversation with Professor of the Global History of Medicine, Prof. Erica Charters, and Dr Zakiya Leeming, Artist and Producer in Residence at the Royal Northern College of Music's (RNCM) Centre for Practice and Research in Science and Music (PRiSM).
The panel will be discussing the themes behind Dangerous Matter, a new opera inspired by the extraordinary life of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu—a forgotten pioneer who defied convention and helped change the course of medical history by advocating for inoculation in 18th century Britain. Filmed excerpts of the opera will be shown during the event for the first time – don’t miss this exciting opportunity to see this new work, described as ‘compelling’, ‘memorable’, and ‘moving’ by audience members earlier this year!
The panel will explore themes including the role of arts in communicating science, questions of safety, trust and confidence in public health, and the overlooked contributions of women in the history of medicine. We invite you to join the conversation and reflect on how artistic practice can help reimagine how we tell stories about science – there will be the opportunity to ask questions the interdisciplinary speakers throughout the event, as well as in a drinks reception in the Entrance Gallery following the panel.
Join us for a captivating evening at the intersection of music, science, and history.
Free tickets are available here: https://www.hsm.ox.ac.uk/event/thanks-for-the-memories
This panel event has been generously supported by the British Society for Immunology, the Uehiro Oxford Institute and the Oxford MedHum network.
