Events at The University of Manchester
  • University home
  • Events
  • Home
  • Exhibitions
  • Conferences
  • Lectures and seminars
  • Performances
  • Events for prospective students
  • Sustainability events
  • Family events
  • All Events

Alan Turing and Life’s Enigma

image
Dates:24 March 2012 - 18 November 2012
Times:All day
What is it:Exhibitions
Organiser:Manchester Museum
How much:Free entry
See travel and contact information
Add to your calendar

More information

  • Alan Turing and Life's Enigma at The Manchester Museum
  • The Alan Turing Year - 2012 Turing Centenary
  • The Alan Turing Centenary Conference
  • Turing's Sunflowers
  • Alan Turing Biography

Other events

  • In category "Exhibitions"
  • By Manchester Museum

Inspired by 1950s design and combining Alan Turing’s notes with museum objects, this exhibition documents Turing’s investigation into one of the great mysteries of nature: how complex shapes and patterns arise from simple balls of cells.

This year marks the centenary of the birth of Alan Turing, one of the leading thinkers of the 20th century. Best known as a pioneer in the development of the computer and for helping crack the Enigma code during World War II, Alan Turing also made a single contribution to biology. From 1948 until his death in 1954, Turing worked on the early computers at The University of Manchester, working in the building next door to The Manchester Museum. At a time when people knew very little about genetics or DNA, Turing used the early computer to try to crack how a soup of cells and chemicals could transform itself and grow into complex natural shapes - a subject known as morphogenesis. In an incredible article published in 1952, Turing suggested that everything from the spots and stripes on animals to the arrangement of pine cones and flowers could be explained by the interactions between two chemicals. Turing’s work in this area is intimately connected with the timing of his trial and conviction for homosexuality, and his subsequent ‘treatment’ with a course of chemical injections.

Find out about the impact and continuing relevance of Turing’s work to experts at The University of Manchester and take part in a range of public events for all ages and interests.

Price: Free entry

Travel and Contact Information

Find event

Manchester Museum
Oxford Road Manchester Phone: 0161-2752648 Email: museum@manchester.ac.uk

 

Contact us

  • +44 (0) 161 306 6000

Find us

The University of Manchester
Oxford Rd
Manchester
M13 9PL
UK

Connect with the University

  • Facebook page for The University of Manchester
  • X (formerly Twitter) page for The University of Manchester
  • YouTube page for The University of Manchester
  • Instagram page for The University of Manchester
  • TikTok page for The University of Manchester
  • LinkedIn page for The University of Manchester

  • Privacy /
  • Copyright notice /
  • Accessibility /
  • Freedom of information /
  • Charitable status /
  • Royal Charter Number: RC000797
  • Close menu
  • Home
    • Featured events
    • Today's events
    • The Whitworth events
    • Manchester Museum events
    • Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre events
    • Martin Harris Centre events
    • The John Rylands Library events
    • Exhibitions
    • Conferences
    • Lectures and seminars
    • Performances
    • Events for prospective students
    • Sustainability events
    • Family events
    • All events