In this year of anniversaries 1953 is a significant year: the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth and the elucidation of the structure of DNA both happened that year.
Mount Everest was also conquered in 1953, and a recent book highlights the role that science played in that mountaineering success, through the work of physiologist Griffith Pugh.
His daughter, Harriet Tuckey, has written a biography of Pugh: Everest - The First Ascent: The untold story of Griffith Pugh, the man who made it possible.
Pugh was a physiologist at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research, and the MRC was closely involved in preparations for the Everest expedition.
Harriet Tuckey will give a lecture at NIMR, Mill Hill on Thursday 27 June 2013 at 4.15pm. The title of the lecture is Griff Pugh - the unsung hero of Everest.
Further details:
http://www.nimr.mrc.ac.uk/news/griff-pugh-the-unsung-hero-of-everest-lecture-by-harriet-tuckey/
Register for the lecture (for free) at:
http://griffith-pugh.eventbrite.co.uk/
This lecture is part of the ongoing celebrations of the Medical Research Council's centenary in 2013.