Using the Wellcome Collection's wealth of fascinating exhibits visitors can explore health, medicine and well-being through a lively programme of exciting public events.

London has no less than 21 museums devoted to health and medicine, so competition for visitors is fierce. Since its opening in June 2007 the Wellcome Collection has attracted close to 25,000 visitors per month and gained a reputation for being not just another health-related museum. Their permanent exhibitions are entitled "Medicine Man", a look at the life of Henry Wellcome, and "Medicine Now" which explores current trends in medicine. Sleeping and Dreaming, the current temporary exhibition, explores every aspect of sleeping and dreaming including the story of Snow White.

Public Events at the Wellcome

The Wellcome also offers outstanding public events where participants explore health issues such as sleeping and dreaming through talks, walks and recitals of music and poetry. The standard of these events is exceptionally high but not aimed specifically at qualified doctors or members of the medical profession. Here is a short description of forthcoming highlights.

An End to Feeling Shattered? - 28 February 2008

Do you want to live without sleep? This event, presented by health professionals, will look at new drugs that will keep you awake for 24 hours. Should these be made available and how would they affect your body, your relationships with others, and your life in general?

Healing Herbs - 6 March 2008

This event is described by the Wellcome as an "Insights" session where visitors can explore materials from the Wellcome Library to discover the history of herbs used in home remedies and medicines.

The Meat of the Tongue: Disfigurement - 13 March 2008

This is the first of three poetry events. Three poets, Aoife Maanix, Roddy Lumsden and Luke Kennard, short listed for the Forward Best Poetry Collection Prize in 2007, will read examples of their work exploring mental and physical disfigurement.

Francis Crick: DNA and Beyond - 20 March 2008

In another "insights" session visitors will explore the career and character of Nobel Prize winner Francis Crick. The history of DNA will be revealed through Crick's archives held at the Wellcome Library. This session will be repeated on 1 May 2008.

In or Out? - 27 March 2008

This event will examine issues surrounding organ donation. In the UK there is a crisis with hundreds of people dying every year because of the shortage of organs. The debate will look at whether the UK should adopt an opt-out system as opposed to the present opt-in system.

The Meat of the Tongue: the Eye - 10 April 2008

This is another poetry event. Don Paterson, winner of the T. S. Eliot Prize and the Whitbread Poetry Prize, Tobias Hill, a contemporary poet commissioned by the Wellcome to write a short story, and Caroline Bird, who had her first collection published when she was 15, will read examples of their work exploring the eye, sight and blindness.

The Meat of the Tongue: the Body - 8 May 2008

In this poetry event the Wellcome have invited a further three poets to read examples of their work exploring the desires, senses and rhythms of the body. The poets are: Penelope Shuttle, Joanne Limburg, Tishani Doshi, winner of the Forward Prize in 2006.

Behind the Scenes Tour

On the first and last Friday of every month there is a one-hour walking tour behind the scenes in the Wellcome building. These walks are led by staff working for the Wellcome Trust keen to pass on their extensive knowledge.

The Wellcome Collection is located at 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE. Admission is free and the museum is open Tues/Wed/Fri/Sat 10.00-18.00. Thursday 10.00-22.00, Sun 11.00-18.00. Most events are free but booking is essential as space is limited. The Wellcome's comprehensive website gives further details of all events and how to book place on them.