Zoom link: https://ucl.zoom.us/j/99342982623

Abstract:

Drawing on his books Mescaline: A Global History of the First Psychedelic and the recent Psychonauts: Drugs and the Making of the Modern Mind, Mike will talk about forgotten histories of psychedelics, the long tradition of scientific self-experimentation with drugs, and the relation between indigenous plant medicine and western ideas of psychedelic therapy.

Bio:

Mike has written widely on the history on the history of science and medicine, and in particular on the history and culture of mind-altering drugs. His books on this subject include The Atmosphere of Heaven, on the discovery of nitrous oxide; High Society, an illustrated survey which accompanied the exhibition he curated at Wellcome Collection; Mescaline: a global history of the first psychedelic and, most recently, Psychonauts: drugs and the making of the modern mind. He's written on these topics for many journals, from VICE to Nature to the London Review of Books, and he's an Honorary Research Fellow at UCL Centre for Health Humanities.

An additional note for attendees: The paperback of Psychonauts is out on the 27th Feb!