This year marks the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence and on Wednesday 31 August the Science Museum will be hosting a special Lates that celebrates the science, technology, art and innovation from India and the global Indian diaspora. India Lates is an adult-only, after-hours event that will feature performances from acclaimed musicians, DJ’s and Q&As with experts from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and best-selling authors, hands-on workshops hosted by video game developers and much more.
From literature to scientific innovation, the night’s compelling talks will invite Lates attendees to delve into Indian culture and history. In Folklore Retold Amish Tripathi, author of the fastest-selling book series in Indian publishing history the Shiva Trilogy, will be joined by Lucy Hounsom, author of bestselling fantasy Sistersong, set in ancient Britain, to discuss how legends from India and the UK are being re-told through a modern lens and explore their impact on contemporary literature.
Visitors can also meet the team behind Dreamachine, the world’s first artwork to be experienced behind closed eyes. Created with a team of leading technologists, scientists, philosophers, and Grammy-winning musician Jon Hopkins, Dr Roger Highfield, Science Director at the Science Museum Group, will chair a discussion about Dreamachine with Neuroscientist Anil Seth, Director Jennifer Crook and Dr Jane Hall in IMAX: The Ronson Theatre.
Throughout the evening, pioneering turntablist and former BBC Radio Presenter DJ Ritu will be performing in the Science Museum’s Energy Hall. As the manager of the UK’s longest-running South Asian club nights, Kuch Kuch and Club Kali, she was a key catalyst of the 90s Asian underground scene due to her unique mixing of genres, from soul to drum and bass. In the museum’s Wonderlab Showspace, up-and-coming artist-producer Nikhil Beats will explore how Indian melodies and harmonies have been used in modern music and why these sounds still appeal to audiences today.
Attendees can grab a headset and step into Exploring Space for a drop-in silent disco, test their knowledge of Indian culture in the pub quiz or join museum curators on a tour to discover the fascinating stories behind Indian scientific objects.
Lates takes place at the Science Museum on Wednesday 31 August from 18.30 – 22.00. For more information and to book free tickets please visit: https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/lates
