This year's Manchester Science Festival runs from Saturday 23 October to 
Sunday 31, and the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and 
Medicine is involved in a record number of events. Further information, 
including links to venue and booking details, is currently available on 
our news page at
<http://www.chstm.manchester.ac.uk/newsandevents/news/>.

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Crime Scene Investigation: Past and Present

On Saturday 23 October, Ian Burney and David Kirby join forces with 
colleagues at Manchester Metropolitan University to explore crime scene 
investigations, and the gaps between real and entertainment CSI. This 
interactive event uses a mock crime scene to illustrate changing 
technologies and practices.

The Eureka Commissions

Also on Saturday 23 October, James Sumner will be on the panel at a 
readings event featuring new fiction from Stella Duffy and Zoe Lambert. 
Local independent publisher Comma Press has brought together these and 
other authors with scientists and historians to produce a short-story 
collection themed around "Eureka moments", the monumental (and mythic?) 
breakthroughs that are said to change the rules of scientific thought. 
Zoe Lambert’s contribution, developed with advice from James, addresses 
the remarkable story of Lise Meitner, refugee from Nazi persecution and 
co-discoverer of the principle of nuclear fission.

Transport history walk

On Sunday 24 October, James Sumner will lead a guided walk around the 
historic canals and railway bridges of the Castlefield basin, talking 
about how the original "shock city" of urban-industrial growth met its 
transport needs, and how changing priorities and possibilities lead to 
sometimes unexpected new uses for old structures.

Arguments and umbrella stands: Victorian Manchester's natural history 
collections

Also on the 24th, Leucha Veneer will discuss relations between the 
Geological Society and the Natural History Society in Victorian 
Manchester. They shared a museum, but disagreed about the admission fee 
– and about everything else, including the museum's umbrella stand! This 
event will be repeated on Thursday 28 October.

Metropolis

David Kirby will be involved in a panel discussion at the Cornerhouse 
cinema, following the screening of Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, on Monday 25 
October. The classic movie has been digitally restored and includes 
footage not seen since the film’s 1927 release. (SORRY: THIS EVENT IS 
NOW FULLY BOOKED!)

Pedigree chums: historical perspectives on the science of dog breeding

On Wednesday 27 October, Michael Worboys and Neil Pemberton will draw 
together cutting edge research in evolutionary biology and historical 
studies to explore the enduring appeal of pedigree dogs, tracing how 
different breeds have physically changed over time and what this has 
meant to the wider public, breeders and pet owners. The talks will also 
reveal Manchester's history of dog shows and dog skulls. A display at 
the Manchester Museum will run from 11am, with talks starting at 2pm.

Two CHSTM events at the Briton's Protection pub on Great Bridgewater 
Street will address subjects dear to many pub-goers' hearts: smoking and 
drinking.

Cigarettes and smoking bans: the science and the history

On Thursday 28 October, Carsten Timmermann will give a talk on the 
smoking ban. For three years now smoking has been banned from all 
enclosed public places in England. Dr Timmermann will talk about the six 
decades of concern surrounding the dangers associated with cigarette 
smoke: the epidemiology and the politics. He will discuss who smoked and 
who quit, and why it has taken so long to ban smoking.

Drinking up time

On Friday 29 October, there’s another chance to catch James Sumner’s 
"Drinking Up Time". The improbable story of an everyday time-traveller's 
attempt to get to grips with the science of alcohol since 1600 played to 
a packed room at last year’s Festival, and is probably the first public 
event ever to feature a tavern scuffle with Sir Isaac Newton, plus 
Humphrey Davy’s courtroom testimony on the value of putting rotten fish 
in beer.

Plato, new discoveries and code

A recent discovery made by Jay Kennedy made headlines around the world 
in the summer of 2010. Plato was a key founder of Western science and 
philosophy, but his books have remained mysterious. His ancient 
followers insisted they were written in symbolic codes, but modern 
scholars have denied this. Dr Kennedy has shown that Plato did indeed 
write in code, and deciphering its hidden meanings has brought 
revelations about ancient Greek music and mathematics. Dr Kennedy will 
speak about this revolution in our understanding of the birth of Western 
science at MoSI, on Sunday 31 October, at 1pm.
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Full information about the 200+ events taking part across Greater 
Manchester as part of the Festival is available from the main Festival 
site at
<http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/>.