Conference: Potent Substances: on the Boundaries of Food and Medicine

This conference will be held from the 13th - 15th September 2010, at:

5th Floor
Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL
Wellcome Building
183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE

The author of the Hippocratic treatise ‘Ancient Medicine’ deemed medicine a branch of
food and highlighted culinary practice as foundational to medical knowledge and practice. Nonetheless, throughout history, there have been fierce debates over what exactly constitutes materia dietetica (nourishing substances) and materia medica (medicinal substances) and evidence about their effects. Potent Substances will engage historians, anthropologists, scientists and policy-makers in conversation about the boundaries of food and pharmacy. Three days will be devoted to the following sub-themes: Old Food and Drugs for New; Boundaries and Expertise; and Arts and the Environment. The long-term aims are to offer policy and practice recommendations on the boundaries of food and pharmacy relevant to high priority current and likely future challenges, drawing on the interdisciplinary knowledge of the conference participants.

Art and Outreach The lectures will be screened free outside of the lecture room for the public, where on the last day of the conference Dr Carole Reeves will run an all?day tasting event of medicinal foods and drinks.

Throughout the three days of the conference Chila Kumari Burman, a leading figure among UK Black and Asian artists, will bring her vibrant and provocative style to an installation dedicated to Potent Substances, on the subject of the boundaries of food and medicine.

Come and join in. Student prices are available.

To find out more or to obtain a registration form, contact:
Dr Vivienne Lo, The Wellcome Trust Centre at UCL, v.lo@ucl.ac.uk.