Saving the world's botany

The Royal Institution (Ri) is an independent charity dedicated to creating opportunities for the public and scientists to explore science together. Anyone canbecome a member of the Ri. Become part of a community of like-minded individuals who share the Ri's mission and get discounts on a range of events and activities!

The Royal Institution

Chris Thorogood quest to save the world's largest flowers, the Rafflesia, in the face of extinction and deforestation

Ticket sales for this event have now ended.

Join Chris Thorogood, a botanist at the University of Oxford’s Botanic Garden, and discover the biggest flower on Earth – the Rafflesia. Chris has enjoyed a lifelong infatuation with these extraordinary blooms, from crafting life-size replicas in an abandoned cemetery to dedicating his life to studying and protecting these enigmatic plants.In this talk, Chris will take us on a mind-bending adventure through the Rafflesia's home of Southeast Asia, where he collaborates with fellow botanists and foresters to unravel their biology. From battling leeches, roving through remote territories along indigenous tribes, and navigating the dense and untrodden rainforest, Chris will narrate his quest to unveil the secrets of this leafless parasite. With two in five plant species under threat of extinction worldwide, Chris will stress the urgency of his mission and explore the vital role of plants in our survival. Can the efforts of Chris and his fellow botanists save the Rafflesia from disappearing forever?Copies of Thorogood's latest book '<a href="https://geni.us/YL9OK" title="https://geni.us/YL9OK" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Pathless Forest: The Quest to Save the World’s Largest Flowers' </a>, will be available to purchase at this talk.By booking to attend events at the Royal Institution, you confirm that you have read and agree to the Ri's <a href="https://www.rigb.org/terms-and-conditions" title="https://www.rigb.org/terms-and-conditions" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">event terms and conditions.</a>As we're always trying to understand more about you and our audiences at the Ri, you'll notice we've introduced some optional questions when booking tickets. Please do take a moment to fill them in if you have the time.Event image by Leah Newhouse

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

Ticket sales have ended

Saving the world's botany

More events from The Royal Institution

Discover more events from The Royal Institution, from Science & Tech to other experiences you might love.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in London and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.

Ticket sales have ended

Saving the world's botany

More events from The Royal Institution

Discover more events from The Royal Institution, from Science & Tech to other experiences you might love.

You might also like...

Browse more events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in London and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.