NHM: Science Uncovered

More engaging in large ("L").

This evening was the Science Uncovered event at the NHM: Science Uncovered is an annual event when the museum stays open late (until midnight this time!) and many of the science staff step out from behind the scenes to share their work, their views, and their enthusiasm for the natural world. There were stalls, displays, experiments, and talks; the cafés and restaurants were open, and bars had been set up; there were DJs lined up for later in the evening... It was All Go!

I couldn't stay long, but took some pictures of the set-up and build up.
Here is one of my colleagues (you've seen him before) talking about Solanaceae: the family that includes the genus Solanum (tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines, nightshades, and their close relatives) and other closely related genera (including the peppers in Capsicum, and "cape gooseberries" in Physalis, and Tobacco...).

It was pretty quiet at this stage: lots of staff were ambling around eyeing up the other stands, asking questions, and linking faces to departments ("Oh, you're in Team Solanaceae!"). I like to think that these ones look slightly jealous at the amazingly colourful Solanaceae display; my colleague was practising his spiel, and I was asking unhelpful questions to throw him ("You've told me why it is called an egg-plant; why is it called an aubergine?").