Conversation Starters: 10 Dream Dinner Dates with Scientists

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2 days ago

Conversation Starters: 10 Dream Dinner Dates with Scientists

If you could have dinner with any scientist, dead or alive, who would it be? What would you talk about and why? We asked ten life science researchers to tell us who they’d most like to share a meal with, and what they’d chat about over a delicious dinner!

From historical heroes to social media icons, the list is fascinating, and gives us real food for thought! Take a look at these scientists’ ideal dinner partners and tell us who you would choose to dine with if you had the chance!

1) Albert Einstein

“I’d like to have dinner with Albert Einstein. Not only because he is the first worldwide modern famous scientist I knew (actually I probably knew Corpenicus and Newton before him), but also I’d like to hear his perspective on brain science as a physicist.” - Yifeng Cheng

2) Maud Menten

“She had an impact in shaping many aspects of modern biochemistry, such as enzyme kinetics and histochemistry. A fascinating person with many interests, reported incredible enthusiasm and an unmatched scientific mind. That would be an amazing dinner!” - Kristina Mlinac Jerković

3) May-Britt Moser

“I have seen May-Britt Moser, who jointly won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2014, give several talks at conferences – she discovered grid cells in the brain, which act like a coordinate system for navigating space. Not only does she do fascinating science, but she’s also very enthusiastic and absolutely hilarious – she would definitely be a good giggle at a dinner party!” - Ruth Carmichael

4) Sir Isaac Newton

“It would have to be Sir Isaac Newton. My mum traced back our family tree when I was little and discovered we are distantly related to him, which sparked my interest in Science. I would love to ask him about our family as well as his discoveries.” - Caroline S Taylor

5) Big Manny

“If I could have dinner with any scientist, dead or alive, I would choose Big Manny from TikTok. While he's not a traditional scientist in the academic sense, his creative and engaging science content makes learning fun and accessible for everyone, especially the younger generation. His approach to explaining complex concepts in simple, relatable ways has made science exciting for many. I’d love to learn more about how he crafts his content and what inspires him to keep the curiosity alive.” - Samuel Dada

6) Ed Domino

“It’s a hard question, I think it would be Ed Domino. I never knew him personally, but he was the pioneer of ketamine research (the drug I’ve been researching for 20 years). He was an active scientist leading a lab and publishing even when he was over 90 years old! I remember him at a symposium (he must have been around 85 yrs old) asking loads of insightful questions.” - Mark Hunt

7) Katalin ‘Kati’ Karikó

“Among the long list of cherished personalities with whom I would love to share a meal, one person immediately springs into my mind - the 2023 Nobel Laureate in Medicine, Katalin ‘Kati’ Karikó. Aside from her amazing scientific breakthrough and lifesaving achievements, I have always greatly admired her relentless passion and humble demeanour. Given an opportunity, I would like to hear more about her journey and perhaps some personal anecdotes for fellow women scientists.” - Caroline Manicam

8) A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

“If I were to choose to dine with a scientist who is no longer with us, it would be none other than the late A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, an aerospace scientist who played a critical role in the development of the Indian space programme. His legacy lives on in the lives of countless people he has influenced. I would have definitely enjoyed listening to his out-of-the-box approach to solving complex problems and the drive behind his tenacity in the face of challenges.” - Caroline Manicam

9) Adam Rutherford

“I would like to have dinner with Dr. Adam Rutherford, a geneticist, science writer, and broadcaster, known for his engaging discussions on genetics, evolution, history, and science communication. There would be so many things that I would want to 'pick his brains' about. Since he's a skilled science communicator, I would ask him about the challenges of explaining complex scientific ideas to the public, and ask how he manages to be so knowledgeable across such a broad range of scientific subjects. I'd also ask how he manages balancing scientific accuracy with accessibility for a non scientific audience, and how he engages with science skeptics. His insights on human genetics and evolution are also fascinating. I would ask him for his thoughts on the latest breakthroughs in gene editing, like CRISPR, or how genetics helps us understand human history. Genetics is increasingly intertwined with technology. I'd really like to hear him talk about the ethical dilemmas in AI applications to genetics, and how these might shape our future. And I would ask him for his predictions for the future of human evolution. But if all of this is a bit heavy for a dinner date, I'd probably just like to hear some funny stories about the scientists, comedians and celebrities he has worked with in his career to date - David Attenborough, Brian Cox, Ben Goldacre to name a few.” - Sam Roome

10) Richard Feynman

“I would like to chat to Richard Feynman. Why? He was cool and knew about quantum physics! I have a keen lay interest in physics and I am fascinated by particle and quantum physics. So I would love to understand Feynman diagrams - a one-on-one tutorial from the inventor would be amazing. It might also be interesting to ask him about the Manhattan project and what it was like to look at a nuclear explosion without sunglasses. Or my second choice would be László Polgár - who was a chess player, psychologist and studied intelligence. He decided that geniuses are made, not born. And he 'created' three awesome chess player daughters... As a keen chess player and a dad, I could do with learning a few tips!” - Steve Roome

More ‘Top Ten’ lists from Hello Bio!

Here are some more fascinating 'top ten' lists featured on the Hello Bio blog:

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Conversation Starters: 10 Dream Dinner Dates with Scientists

Conversation Starters: 10 Dream Dinner Dates with Scientists

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