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.
