Thanks for the Memories
How should we tell the stories of science?
Thanks for the Memories is a panel discussion bringing together immunologists, a medical historian and a composer to discuss the themes behind Dangerous Matter, a new opera inspired by the extraordinary life of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu—a forgotten pioneer who defied convention and helped change the course of medical history by advocating for inoculation in 18th century Britain.
Previewing filmed excerpts of the opera ahead of its forthcoming release and open discussion, the panel will explore themes including the role of arts in communicating science, questions of safety, trust and confidence in public health, and the overlooked contributions of women in the history of medicine. We invite you to join the conversation and reflect on how artistic practice can help surface hidden narratives and reimagine how we tell stories about science.
Join us for a captivating evening at the intersection of music, science, and history.
The panel will be followed by a drinks reception in the Entrance Gallery.
Please be aware that there will be a photographer capturing this event.
Meet the speakers
Professor Erica Charters is Professor of the Global History of Medicine at the University of Oxford.
Knowing the history of immunology helps us to understand the complexities of public health, but also helps us to appreciate the many possibilities available in shaping the future of public health.
Zakiya Leeming is the Artist and Producer in Residence at the Royal Northern College of Music's (RNCM) Centre for Practice and Research in Science and Music (PRiSM).
A desire to understand what goes into our bodies and where that knowledge comes from can grow when medicine feels complex and its advocates distant. Sharing stories like Lady Montagu’s can show a connection between non-western traditional medicine and current public health initiatives. By linking these voices to shared values through storytelling, we can create understanding that helps rebuild public trust in the health systems that protect us.
Professor Paul Klenerman is the Truelove Professor at the Nuffield Dept of Medicine, University of Oxford.
The concept of “immunity” is an old one, although it is only more recently that we have understood how this immunity is created. Knowing the history of this subject is important as many of the interventions we use today have a long and complex past - and likewise many of the issues we need to address today are not new.
Lisa Ciacchi is a post-doctoral scientist (T cell biology) at the Nuffield Dept of Medicine, University of Oxford.
Studying the early history of immunology provides us with an appreciation for the individuals behind ground-breaking discoveries. Reflecting on these proof-of-principle experiments from the past has helped to drive research forward, in refining our understanding of protective immune responses in health, as well as immune dysfunction in various disease contexts.
