Smithson Tennant Celebration: Tennant's science then and now

Wednesday 23 November 2011, 5.00PM

Speaker: Professor Martyn Poliakoff, Nottingham University and Dr Adam Hart-Davis, Freelance writer and TV broadcaster

Smithson Tennant Celebration

A two-part lecture in honour of Selby chemist, Smithson Tennant FRS 1761-1815, who discovered two elements in the periodic table.

Professor Martyn Poliakoff From test tube to YouTube

Martyn Poliakoff is Research Professor in Chemistry at the University of Nottingham. He is the lead scientist and anchor man behind the Periodic Table of Videos. Martyn is one of the leaders of the Green Chemistry movement and was recently elected to be Foreign Secretary of The Royal Society. He is this year’s winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Nyholm Prize for Education with the citation: ‘for his enthusiastic leadership in taking chemistry to the widest possible audience, using not only traditional channels but also the power of YouTube, Professor Poliakoff is a true champion for chemistry’. Last year, Martyn had the Periodic Table engraved on one of his hairs, the smallest Periodic Table in the world.

Dr Adam Hart-Davis Chemical heroes of Yorkshire

Adam Hart-Davis is the presenter of numerous TV programmes about science and history, and often about both at once. He has presented for BBC, Yorkshire Television, ITV and the History Channel. Programmes include What the Romans (and others) did for us, How London was built and The Scientific Eye. He has also written many books. The latest, out Oct 2011, is The book of time: everything you need to know about the biggest idea in the Universe Mitchell Beazley. He studied for his DPhil in the University of York and also holds an honorary doctorate of the University.

The event is sponsored by:
Johnson Matthey Catalysts, BP Plc, The Royal Society of Chemistry (Dalton Division and Central Yorkshire Section) & The University of York

Admission by free ticket only, available from Helen Coombs

Location: National Science learning Centre

Admission: Admission by free ticket only

Email: helen.coombs@york.ac.uk