Carl Djerassi in Portugal

Chemist and playwright Carl Djerassi receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Porto today. Afterwards, his play “Falácia” will be launched by U. Porto Editorial and presented by the Seiva Trupe group tonight at the Campo Alegre Theatre.

 

Next month, in November, Carl Djerassi will be back in Portugal for the premiere of his play ‘Cálculo’. This is a play written in 2003 with a plot around the heated clash between Newton and Leibniz over the invention of mathematical calculus, centred in particular on the committee of the British Royal Society set up to assess which of the scientists was the first. Curiously, it was Newton, president of the Royal Society at the time, who appointed the members of this committee and wrote the final report, giving himself priority in the invention of calculus. By exploring these behind-the-scenes manoeuvres, the play focuses on the moral behaviour of Newton and the members of the committee, and highlights the enormous importance given, even today, to priority in scientific discoveries or inventions.

 

This is Marionet’s latest production, which will have its world premiere on 17 November at 9:30pm in the Carlos Ribeiro room of the Science Museum at the University of Coimbra. The play will be on stage at the same venue until 3 December, from Wednesday to Saturday, at 9:30pm.