The science of serendipity: How innovation really works | Event in London | AllEvents

The science of serendipity: How innovation really works

The Royal Institution

Highlights

Mon, 29 Sep, 2025 at 07:00 pm

1.5 hours

The Royal Institution

Starting at GBP 8

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Date & Location

Mon, 29 Sep, 2025 at 07:00 pm to 08:30 pm (GMT+01:00)

The Royal Institution

21 Albemarle Street, London, United Kingdom

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About the event

The science of serendipity: How innovation really works
Martin Reeves reveals how innovation in science and technology really come about, using new research done on Ri premises.

About this Event

Stories of innovation typically involve creative individual solving a well described problem single handedly, like Humphry Davy inventing the safety lamp at the Ri to prevent lethal methane explosions in mines.

But when you look at these stories in more detail, they turn out to be more nuanced; involving multiple contributors, surprising unforeseen outcomes and a continuous process of social tinkering.

Join Martin Reeves as he reveals this messier view of innovation, following research dealing with both scientific discovery and the rise of social media technologies.

Martin will introduce us to a mathematical signature of serendipity being decoded in the Ri by the London Institute of Mathematical Sciences, in light of recent research revealing that the majority of scientific papers contain significant discoveries which were not foreseen in their original grant proposals.

Martin will walk us through this messier view of innovation and its consequences for scientists, managers and regulators.

Martin's book "Like: The Button That Changed the World" will be available to purchase after the talk.


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Event image by WikiImages via Pixabay

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Ticket Info

Tickets for The science of serendipity: How innovation really works can be booked here.

Ticket type Ticket price
Theatre - Standard + Donation 21 GBP
Theatre - Standard 17 GBP
Theatre - Concession 11 GBP
Theatre - Ri Member or Ri Patron 8 GBP
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The Royal Institution, 21 Albemarle Street, London, United Kingdom
Tickets from GBP 8

Host Details

The Royal Institution

The Royal Institution

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The science of serendipity: How innovation really works | Event in London | AllEvents
The science of serendipity: How innovation really works
Mon, 29 Sep, 2025 at 07:00 pm
GBP 8