Alum of the College and Nobel Laureate Harold Varmus '61 will speak about the future of science in the 21st century. Varmus is an American virologist who received the 1989 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work on the origins of cancer. After graduating from the College, Varmus entered Harvard University on a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship to study English literature, and then enrolled in the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. He began his research into the origins of cancer as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, San Francisco. (8 p.m., Mon., Pruyne Lecture Hall, Fayerweather Hall. No admission charge.)

Renowned novelist Claire Messud will read passages from her novel, "The Emperor's Children" for students and the public. Messud has won wide acclaim for her work. The New York Times Book Review described her as a novelist "of near-miraculous perfection." The Village Voice said of her latest novel, "A gripping story of clashing ambitions, compromised loyalties." Messud was a Creative Writing Fellow at the College between 2000 and 2002. (Thur., Pruyne Lecture Hall, Fayerweather Hall. No admission charge.)

Fortune's Wheel Concern, a critically acclaimed ensemble, will present an intimate program of vocal and instrumental medievil music. Lydia H. Knutson, Aaron Sheehan and Shira Kammen will perform. This concert is presented in conjunction with the exhibition "Through British Eyes: British Art at the Mead." (3 p.m., Sun., Mead Art Museum. No admission charge; reservations recommended at 413-542-2335.)

The editors of the award-winning new literary journal n+1 will speak the College. n+1, a biannual journal of politics, literature and culture, has received numerous prizes, including the Utne Independent Press Award for Best Writing in 2006. The theme of the fifth issue is "Deciviling Process." This issue considers the human impact of politics and technology. Editors Keith Gessen, Mark Greif, Chad Harbach, Benjamin Kunkel, Allison Lorentzen and Marco Roth will read from this issue, which offers "a critique of contemporary technology and life practices, such as e-mail, cell phones, blogs and Internet pornography." (7:30 p.m., Fri., Paino Lecture Hall, Earth Sciences and Natural History Building. No admission charge.)