This is the first in a new series of Humphry Davy Lectures to be given by Professor Sir Willliam (Bill) Wakeham (formerly Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton and currently International Secretary of the Royal Academy of Engineering). The talk will be entitled 'Innovation Past and Present', in which he will offer some thoughts on the successful exploitation of new ideas. As he says, a journey through the history of scientific discovery and the secrets behind a decent cup of coffee and a lamp.