The month ahead

New media activists, drugs and gene songs
June 22, 2010
See 2001: A Space Odyssey with a live orchestra at the Southbank
CP Snow, who famously highlighted the two cultures of the sciences and humanities, would have relished the cultural blizzard hitting London’s Southbank Centre from 25th June to 4th July, in celebration of the Royal Society’s 350th anniversary. Marvel at 2001: A Space Odyssey with live orchestral score, and muse on such puzzlers as “Who needs men anyway?” More at www.seefurtherfestival.orgTwitter and Facebook are better for the soul than telly because they make us all activists, argues Clay Shirky. Turn off EastEnders and hear the new media sage launch his book, Cognitive Surplus, at the LSE on 28th June (www2.lse.ac.uk/publicEvents). You can also read his recent web exclusive for Prospect: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/2009/12/the-net-advantageExpect the fuss over mephedrone (the “legal high” also known as meow meow) to resurface in July, when European drug regulators issue a report on the synthetic stimulant. The government banned it in April, sparking another walkout from its drugs committee—and a suspected link to two teenage deaths has since been disproved. On 13th July, the Royal Society of Medicine is premiering Allele, with singers performing parts based on their own genetic code, accompanied by poetry from Ruth Padel, and a discussion of whether musical and tone-deaf people differ genetically. Tickets cost £12. Tune in at www.rsm.ac.uk