A record-breaking 6,900 people came to the Science Museum's
Lates event last night (Wednesday 26 February) to meet scientists
from the Crick's partner organisations.
The event gave visitors the chance to mingle with researchers
from the Crick's partners - the Medical Research Council's National
Institute for Medical Research, Cancer Research UK's London
Research Institute, Wellcome Trust, University College London,
Imperial College London and King's College London - and to take
part in a range of experiments and activities.
The Science Museum's Lates take place every month and the events
normally attract around 5,000 people. Huge crowds were drawn to the
Crick's evening at the museum by the opportunity to photograph
developing zebra fish on their smartphones, create and drink a DNA
cocktail, knit a blood vessel and meet some of the twins taking
part in a long-term study in epigenetics.
Jenny Jopson, the Crick's Public Engagement Manager,
said: "This was the Crick's biggest and most ambitious
public-facing event to date, and was a great opportunity for our
researchers at all levels to meet the public and engage with them
about the exciting work of the Crick. The Science Museum Lates are
hugely popular and it's very exciting that we've partnered with
them on our very first Late event."
Paul Nurse, director of the Francis Crick Institute, said: "A
key part of the Crick's strategy is to be committed to transparent
science for the public good. Last night was a wonderful opportunity
to let people see, first-hand, how exciting the discovery research
we'll be carrying out will be. I'm delighted that so many people
came along."
To watch a short film about the event click here.