Philip Ball, one of the UK’s foremost science writers and journalists, visits the Department of Chemistry this Thursday (13) in an event which coincides with the launch of his new book Elegant solutions: The ten most beautiful experiments in Chemistry. His lecture will examine some of the more productive, dangerous and ground-breaking experiments that led to some of the biggest breakthroughs in science in their day, with Philip presenting them in true TV presenter style. Philip works regularly for the prestigious Nature journal, and as a freelance journalist for other publications including New Scientist. Philip is known for consistently putting his finger on the scientific pulse and making the most complex subjects seem accessible. This ability demonstrated in several books to date, earned him the Aventis Award for Popular Science Writing earlier this year. Whilst the scope of this lecture is ambitious, its content will be accessible to all. Students, staff and the general public are all invited to attend. The lecture will take place in the Physics Lecture Theatre on the Science Concourse (opposite the Library) on Thursday 13 October. Refreshments will be available from 4.00pm with the lecture starting at 4.15pm. For more information, contact Jeremy Ireland or Christina Forbes in the Department of Chemistry. For more information on Philip Ball, visit http://www.philipball.com Quote: 'Philip Ball is one of the most prolific and imaginative of contemporary science writers. He has plenty of attitude, boasts a fine knowledge of visual art and a literary sensibility, and his science is encyclopaedic.' Further information: Philip Ball is a renowned, prolific, award winning science writer. Formerly an editor of physical sciences at Nature magazine for over ten years, Philip is now a freelance science writer and a Consultant Editor for Nature. He has written several successful popular science books, including: The Ingredients: A Guided Tour of the Elements and Stories of the Invisible: A Guided Tour of Molecules. He has won numerous awards, including the Association of British Science Writers Award 2001 and the acclaimed Aventis Prize for Science Books 2005 for his book Critical Mass: How One Thing Leads to Another.