The ‘mad’ scientist is one of the most recognizable gothic tropes in Victorian literature. Advances in medical science were observed with keen interest by Victorian society, but there was also a growing fear that scientists were taking their experiments too far and were seeking knowledge not meant for humanity. Mary Shelley’s Victor Frankenstein and Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr Jekyll are driven by curiosity and a thirst for knowledge, but their disregard for scientific convention and ethics had disastrous outcomes. Flawed, morally ambiguous and ‘evil’ scientists are still frequently found in popular culture from James Bond to Deep Blue Sea. But what happens in the real word when scientists ignore ethics and cause serious harm?

Neuroscientist Jenny Lange discusses the psychology behind the ‘mad scientist’ – what were Victorians afraid of and what drove Victor Frankenstein, Dr Jekyll and Dr Moreau to abandon conventional science? But ‘bad’ science is unfortunately not just fiction – amongst great scientific discoveries, our history is littered with research that caused more harm than good. Good intentions can easily be overcast by ambition, lack of empathy and a disregard for experimental subjects. From ice pick lobotomies, to the thalidomide scandal and more recent scientific disasters, this talk will examine what happens when science meets crime.