Beauty, Sex and Death - Darwin's botanical obsessions

Beauty, Sex and Death - Darwin's botanical obsessions is at The Old King's Head on Wednesday 21 October, from 7 pm to 9 pm. It's a science talk about the plants that obsessed Charles Darwin — the ones that imitate, deceive and kill. The whole thing is run by PubSci, an independent, not-for-profit initiative run by volunteers that brings science talks into a pub meeting room on a donation or pay-what-you-can basis. No specialist knowledge is required, and you're encouraged to have a drink in hand while you listen.

The speaker is Sheila Poole, who has a direct connection to the subject: she volunteers her time and knowledge taking visitors around Down House, Darwin's family home in Kent, where she explains the research he did after returning from his voyage on The Beagle. The talk plays on the image of Darwin as a man easily distracted by the natural world. After publishing On the Origin of Species in 1859, he became so consumed by orchids that he begged a benefactor to stop sending him new specimens, calling them 'wicked powers of witchcraft'. Two years later came his obsession with insectivorous plants; of the round-leaved sundew, Drosera rotundiflora, he declared he cared more than for the origin of species, calling it 'a most sagacious animal'.

It's the kind of evening that works best in a pub: a bit of science, a bit of storytelling, and no pressure to be an expert. The talk runs from 7 pm to 9 pm, with doors opening at 6:30 pm, so there's plenty of time to grab a drink before it kicks off. It's held in the upstairs room of The Old King's Head, King's Head Yard, 45-49 Borough High Street, London SE1 1NA. Entry is by donation — pay what you can, with no set price.