Poetry and Science - The Unbridgeable Divide that Doesn't Exist

featuring Michael Malay, Rebecca Nesbit and Bob Walton.

A mid-winter social, discussion and performance, with 3 very special guests, exploring the unbridgeable divide - that doesn't exist - between poetry and science.

- Michael Malay - is the Winner of the 2024 Wainwright Prize for nature writing for his book Late Light; he teaches English and Environmental Humanities at the University of Bristol

- Rebecca Nesbit - is a biologist and ecologist at Plymouth University; author of popular science books Tickets for the Ark and Is That Fish in Your Tomato? Rebecca is also a poet, novelist and painter

- Bob Walton - is a poet and educator; his books include Sax Burglar Blues, as well as featuring in numerous anthologies; he is currently writing about earthworms, and runs poetry events in Bristol and online, including the monthly poetry night Under the Red Guitar

Increasingly, science is seen as the answer to all questions, problems & woes. But is it really omnicompetent? Poetry is seen as subjective, but can it can teach us as much about the natural world as the 'hard' and objective sciences?

Michael, Rebecca & Bob will explore these different views and approaches, why we hold them, and the differing ways that science and creativity can share, express & communicate understandings.

Michael, who uses his creative work to explore migration, belonging and extinction will be in conversation with Rebecca, who is researching the behaviour of fish communities, communicating the insights gained with policy-makers and the fishing community, and with Bob, whose work encompasses the natural world.

All three will be reading from their work, as well as exploring together the 'unbridgeable divide'.

This promises to be a very special night!!

This event is jointly promoted by Bristol Humanists and Heron Books. There will be a bookstall run by Heron Books, with books from all three guests on sale.

Food & Drink
The cafe/bar will be open beforehand from 6.45pm, throughout the event and afterwards, and hot food will be available, if ordered in advance. Please contact Folk House on folkhousecafe@gmail.com to find out what food is on offer and to place your order Soft drinks, alcohol and hot drinks will be available throughout. The event itself will start at 7.30pm.