I’ve spent a fair bit of today sorting out the arrangements for the book launch.

As I’ve said before, many of the scientists there, plus Jenny Uglow and editor Keith Richards. The BBC’s David Shukman will speak (providing there isn’t another volcano suddenly erupting or a galaxy or two crashing into each other). I’ve also commissioned the Ben Markland Quartet with singer Sara Colman to play, and create a composition in the moment under the direction of the diner audience. I’ve also talked to Spike Walker today about the prospect of have an exhibition of some kind of his visually delicious images. The University of Birmingham and Aston University will be showing some of their researchers’ work, too.

And I’ve just heard broadcaster Sue Beardsmore will be coming which is brilliant news — she’s chairing the Q&A panel event at Aston University on 15th September.

fyi: Ben Markland has undertaken some interesting assignments for me before, beginning with his band being described as “being in the fast-moving consumer goods business with simultaneous manufacture the whole way down the supply chain” for his first appearance on a post-graduate innovation course I was running at the Warwick Manufacturing Group. True, I’ve never asked him to compose live before, but he’s a jazz musician, dammit, so well up for it. Besides which, I’ve seen what the band can do. They never fail to astonish me with their sheer musicality, as well as entertain hugely.