Edinburgh life
The Orkney Lad
What is it? The Orkney Lad is acclaimed filmmaker Anne Wheeler's docvimentary abOut the first European woman to set foot in Canada.
What’s the story? The life of Isobel Gunn is quite remarkable. She ventured to the New World disguised as a man with the Hudson's Bay Company. then travelled around Canada as an agent. delivering supplies to remote fur-trading
outposts.
Why that title? Well. Gunn's disguise was rumbled when she gave birth to a baby boy. Described as a tragic and compelling drama. The Orkney Lad marks a special chapter in the exploration of the Americas. and will be followed by a panel
discussion.
I The Orkney Lad and Panel Discussion, Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street,
247 4279. Thu 25 Apr. 6.30pm. Free.
Architecture, Design & The Environment Royal Museum. 2 Chatnbers Street. 247 4219. 6.30- 8pm. £36 (£22). See Tue 16.
Other events
Scottish Toastmasters Scottish Power Regional HQ. l-‘ishwives Causeway. Portobello. 669 5190. 7.]5—9pm. £30 for six months. A self- help public speaking club teaching invaluable techniques and sharing experiences with others.
Stella Screen Cinebar ()xygcn Bar 8; (irill. 3 5 Infirmary Street. 557 9997. 8pm. Free. See Tue 16 only tonight's film is Blair “Tic/1 I’I'Ujr‘t‘l 2.
Wednesday 24
Talks
Hugh Miller Guided Tour Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. 12.30pm. Free. See Fri 12.
George Romney: Our Dear Magician National Portrait (iallcry. l Queen Street. 624 6200. l2.45pm. Free. David A. Cross from the l'niversity of Durham gives a talk.
Artist’s Talk Talbot Rice (iallcry. L'niversity of lidinburgh. South Bridge. 650 22| 1. 2pm. Free. Alan Shipway is in conversation with assistant curator Pat Fisher.
Around The World In 80 Minutes Dawyck Botanic (iardcns. Stobo. Peeblesshirc. 0l72l 760254. 2pm. A guided walk exploring the foreign trees found in the garden.
108 THE LIST 1 '. '25; Apr 7’1)?
Other events
Mugenkyo llowden Park Centre. Howden. Livingston. 01506 433634. 7.30—9.30pm. £l5 (£10). A beginners workshop series introducing this traditional Japanese drumming technique.
Book events
Ruari McLean National Library Of Scotland. (ieorge lV' Bridge. 622 4807. 7pm. Free. The author is in conversation with Ian McGowan as he discusses his wartime exploits as a submariner in the
Talks
Can Both The Left And Right Claim Adam Smith? ()ltl College. Playfair Library. l'niversity of lidinburgh. South Bridge. 650 2252. 6pm. Free on door~£3 in advance. King's College lecturer limma Rothschild and Rt Hon (iordon Brown MP lead a provocative discussion on the political implications of the work of Adam Smith. (iordon Brown's attendance will not be confirmed until closer to lecture.
Other events
Film Screening With Panel Discussion Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 42l9. 6.30pm. Free. Anne Wheeler’s one-hour documentary The ()rkmjv [ml tells the story of the first liuropean woman to set foot in Canada. The screening is followed by a panel discussion.
edinburgh international science festival
lilI'fUllX venues. Edinburgh. (frilil Tue 16 Apr
lidinburgh erupts with an explosion of events which make science and technology accessible. fun and interesting. Listed below are highlights of the talks and tours in the Popular Science programme. Highlights of workshops and activities for families and children are listed in the Kids section. L'nless otherwise stated. for more information or to book tickets. call 0131 473 2070.
Talks
Women And Cancer Royal Mtiseum. 2 Chambers Street. 6 8pm. £6 (£4). A panel of medical experts TOCUS on women‘s cancers and the steps being taken in research and treatment.
Cafe Scientifique: Food Irradiation - A Useful Technology for Improving Food Safety? The Hub. Castlehill. Royal Mile. 6.30--8pm. £6 (£4). It is estimated that the bacteria Campylobacter is responsible for most instances of food poisoning. Irradiation kills Campylobacter. btit this technique isn't widely tised. Dr Margaret Paterson of
BBC BLUE PLANET: DIVE TO THE ABYSS George Square Theatre. UniverSity Of Edinburgh. George Square. 473 2070. Fri 12 Apr. 8—9pm. E7 (535). Scientists know more abOut the Surface of the moon than they know abOut the darkest depths of the oceans which cover most of our planet. However. landmark BBC natural history series Blue Planet broke records in its depths of exploration and captured speCies of creatures which w0uldn't look Out of place in a SCI-ll flick. Here Paul Manners of the beeb's Factual and Learning unit shares his experiences of the challenges his team faced and the implications of their findings.
Queen's L'niversity of Belfast explores the benefits and limitations of irradiation. and invites the audience to sample irradiated food. if they dare.
New Scientist Says: Time To Rethink Everything (ieorge Square Theatre. L'niversity ()f lidinburgh. (ieorge Square. 7—9pm. £7 (£5). From global terrorism to economic recession. religious tensions to rigged elections. we're barely into the 21st century and already you'd be forgiven for thinking the world's gone mad. New .S‘t'i't'nti'sr want to change all that. They‘ve picked the brains of the world's radical thinkers in order to find solutions to the world's problems from the realms of science and technology. And they want you to help in their public brainstorming session.
Art And Science: Equal Partners? Fruitmarket (iallery. 45 Market Street. 7—--8.30pin. £6 (£4). The collaboration between art and science yields interesting results as a panel of experts will testify. Hear Sian lidc. the assistant director of the (iulbenkian Foundation chair a panel of speakers including historian and philosopher Stephen Webster and astrophysicist Janna Levin discussing recent and potential art- science partnerships.
Tours
Plants Of The Pioneers Royal Botanic (iarden. lnverleith Row. 552 7l7l. l lam & 2pm. £3 (£2.50). Tales of heroism and tragedy endured by plant collectors are retold by RBGF guides. Flowers By Night Royal Botanic Garden. lnverleith Row. 552 717 1. 8.30pm. £5 (£4). An evening walk through the grounds and glasshouses with night stories. exotic scents and more than a few surprises.
Other events
Obesity - Why Do We Get Fat? Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. l0am- 5pm. Free. An interactive exhibition where members of the public can find out what causes obesity and test their own metabolic rate using the latest technology.
Face Your Phobias titlinhurgh zoo, Corstorphine Road. 7- 9pm. £10. Advance booking required. ()vercome your fear of spiders or snakes with these phobia workshops.
Talks
Life On Other Earths David Hume Tower. George Square. 6---7pm. £7 (£5 ). Dr Alan Penny on the design and implications of the Darwin super- telescope.
Eat To Live And Live To Eat! David Hume Tower. (ieorge Square. 6—7pm. £6 (£4). We’ve all felt guilty about eating that second chocolate bar. or choosing a fuss-free take-away over healthy eating. but when does that worry become an obsession? As professor Marion Hetherington will outline. we are experiencing a global epidemic in obesity. whilst eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa are on the increase. The l'niversity of Liverpool professor will examine eating patterns over space and time. and how this affects our physical and mental health.
Big And Beautiful: The Latest and Greatest Hits of the Hubble Space Telescope Royal Mtiseum. 2 Chambers Street. 7.l5 SlSpm. £7 (£5). A chance to look back nearly ten billion years in time at stars being born. stars dying or exploding. swirling gas clouds and crashing galaxies. Professor Donald Kurt/ presents his popular illustrated guided tour of the universe and its beauty spots. as seen through the lens of the Hubble Space Telescope. See preview for Prof Donald Kuru.
A Short Introduction To Drugs David Hume Tower. (ieorge Square.
8 9pm. £7 (£5). Daily newspaper reports paint a bleak picture of drugs. They 're bad.