RI Christmas Lectures 2021

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam dives into the micro-world of viruses, revealing how these invisible invaders can infect our bodies, and how a revolution in testing may transform medicine forever. With the help of immunologist Professor Katie Ewer and virologist Professor Ravi Gupta, this action-packed lecture will reveal the inner workings of the virus by blowing it up and inviting the audience to take part in a heist mission. Can they hijack our cell machinery to replicate? Up against the virus, is our immune system, designed to fight back. We’ll dive into a nose to uncover the wonders of snot and whittle down the winner of a game of antibody bingo to crack how our immune system can defeat this invisible enemy.

One of the most impressive scientific advances over the past two years has been the development of new testing techniques in our battle against Covid-19. We’ll peel back the mysteries of PCR, hack into a supersize lateral flow and show how modern diagnostic technology could shape the future of medicine.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam uncovers what drives a virus to world domination, and reveals how maths may be the secret weapon to thwart it. Joined by airborne infection expert Professor Catherine Noakes and mathematician Professor Julia Gog, the team will face the disgusting fallout of a super-sneeze, reveal the shocking invisible forces inside our masks, and unravel the mathematical models of contagion with a gigantic game of lucky dip.

In this lecture, no science is off the table. From microbiology to engineering, the Covid-19 pandemic has pooled the talent of scientists in every discipline to work together in ways never seen before. Can the audience be the scientific heroes of the hour and crack the riddle at the end of the show?

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam explores the inner workings of vaccines to reveal how these medical marvels can help win the war on viruses, and potentially fight diseases such as cancer. Joined by vaccine scientist Professor Teresa Lambe and microbiologist Professor Sharon Peacock, the team will peel away the scabs of smallpox, and inject the puss of a milkmaid to uncover the key milestones that led to vaccines over two hundred years ago. Science has not stopped since. The Covid-19 vaccines are a triumph, but can the audience take it a step further? Can they use a vaccine to blow up cancer cells on the lecture theatre floor?

Viruses have a trick up their sleeve, they can mutate. A pack of dastardly dogs will help unlock the secrets of variants, from Alpha to Omicron, but scientists are one step ahead. The pandemic has pushed the speed and scale of genetic sequencing technology to unprecedented levels and we can crack the virus’s genetic code to watch it evolve in near real time. A crucial tool to stay on top of Covid-19. Combined with solutions from nature, from fruit bats to furry llamas, science will never be the same again.