The science of romance (or the romance of science…)

I have become very fond of the US, despite having been here less than 3 months. But I have to acknowledge that life keeps foiling my penchant for romantic gestures. It’s not that, I should hasten to say, that the US itself lacks romance. I found the soaring skyline and raised L trains in Chicago to be the epitome of romance (to be fair I have a slightly nerdy enthusiasm for trains which may bias me). And strolling by the C&O Canal in Georgetown at sunset is undeniably delightful.

But it’s the way of life that dooms my well-intentioned romantic aspirations. Layla and I first visited DC on a recce trip that coincided with our civil partnership anniversary. We spent the evening with my boss, Philip Barton, having dinner. Though it was enjoyable, it lacked the romantic ambience of our first anniversary for which Layla had whisked me to Copenhagen for a glorious weekend involving dinner at the world’s best restaurant. And we just spent Valentine’s Day with Sir John Beddington, the UK Government’s Chief Scientist. Again, this contrasts with last year’s romantic visit to the Museum of London’s Valentine’s night. Though now I think of it, that too was a rather nerdy pursuit, and since it didn’t feature the rock stars of the science world we met at the Embassy on Tuesday night, perhaps DC wins this one after all…

Quite apart from the Valentine’s extravaganza, John’s visit was great, including meetings with Energy Secretary Chu, US Chief Scientist Dr John Holdren and the Director of the National Science Foundation Dr Subra Subresh. So many Nobel Prize winners in the space of a few hours… But a highlight for me was the launch of a new regular science event at the Embassy, where John talked to science and policy folk from the DC wonk community about space weather (the sun has an 11 year weather cycle, last time at its peak it blew out telecoms, the next peak coincides with the Olympics), risk registers (got to have them, but we’ve got to be expected to be surprised by the world), jargon (and his horror thereof) and educating an entire population about irrationality (can’t be done – you can only supply the evidence). A fabulous, if unromantic, end to his trip.

As I type, we’ve just said farewell to John Beddington and I am about to take a delayed Christmas vacation in Puerto Rico. Perhaps a tropical Caribbean island will prove more romantic…