The Friends of Ravenna May Event:
Thursday 22 May 2025,
Leonardo da Vinci – A Curious Man
An illustrated talk by Craig JL Gershater
About The Talk
In 1481 Leonardo da Vinci wrote offering his services to Ludovico Sforza the powerful ruler of Milan. He listed his expertise in designing war machines, bridges and excavating equipment, and almost as an aside in times of peace he could pass muster as a painter. This brief lecture will explore the other Leonardo, ‘the intellectual magpie’; studying anatomy, geometry, dynamics, hydraulics, geographical sciences, astronomy, optics and art theory. To Leonardo the quest for an ‘inner truth’ was his motivation and he would not have recognised the modern concepts of being exclusively an artist or scientist.
About Our Speaker
Craig has, for most of his career, worked as a senior research scientist and transnational manager in the pharmaceutical industry specialising in microbial biochemistry, biotechnology, and applied mathematics. Most recently he has worked in synthetic biology.
He holds degrees in Biochemistry, Mathematics, Microbiology and undertook PhD research into fungal enzymology
He researches and lectures on the history and philosophy of science. He has provided numerous courses to The Institute of Continuing Education, University of Cambridge including on the Scientific Heritage of Cambridge, Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton and Leonardo da Vinci. Craig is a qualified and prize-winning Blue Badge Tourist Guide for South East England and also guides in Chichester, Cambridge, Windsor Castle, Hampton Court and beyond.
This event will commence at 7:30pm at:
THE ASSEMBLY ROOM, COUNCIL HOUSE,
NORTH STREET, CHICHESTER.
Price: £10 members, £12 non members
We welcome payment via BACS, to Friends of Ravenna, Barclays Bank, Sort code 20-20-62, account No. 73194604. Please put ‘leonardo’ in the reference area when you make your payment If you prefer to pay by cheque Please send it to ‘The Treasurer’, 9 Dolphin Court, Bognor Regis. PO21 1TP