Chelsea Physic Garden: Darwin Summer Lectures

Every Wednesday evening throughout July and August the Chelsea Physic Garden is inviting eminent professors and speakers to host a series of talks for the Darwin Summer Lectures. The historic garden is an appropriate place to hold this series - both Charles Darwin's son Francis and his great-great-granddaughter Sarah worked at the gardens. This is a busy year for fans of the great evolutionary scientist with 2009 marking his bicentenary and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his groundbreaking book, The Origin of Species. Here to help shed some light on the hefty tome is Dr Sandy Knapp who begins the Darwin Summer Lectures series on Wednesday 1st July with 'Darwin the Botanist' with the research botanist at the Natural History Museum talking about Darwin's love of plants. Subsequent talks are hosted by Professor Jonathan Smith, Professor of English at the University of Michigan-Dearborn; Professor Howard Griffiths, the Cambridge-based plant ecologist; and Professor Armand Leroi, evolutionary biologist, TV presenter and lecturer in zoology at Imperial College. The ?15 lecture tickets not only give you an insight into one of the most influential scientists of all time but also allow you access to the magical botanical garden. Late night opening on Wednesday evenings in July and August mean you can take in the garden's unique horticultural delights - with a glass of wine from the bar - until 10pm, with last entry at 8.30pm.