Sudden Death: Getting to the Heart of the Causes – Wednesday 11th June 2014, 6pm
In the past, sudden death in a young person was attributed to ‘natural causes’. We now know that these tragic events are often caused by inherited heart conditions. Making an early diagnosis is important, as there are effective treatments available…
Stories R Us: How Technology Can Help Nonspeaking People to Share Their Stories – Wednesday 14th May, 6pm
We all tell stories to make friends; sharing our experiences with others gives us the opportunity to forge connections with other people, finding common ground upon which we can build relationships. Stories are a means by which we can improve…
Sports Drinks: Performance in a Bottle or the Perfect Placebo? – Wednesday 16th April 2014, 6pm
The consumption of sports drinks is commonplace, from Sunday-league footballers to gym-goers to Olympic athletes. So it’s no surprise that sports drinks manufacturing is a multi-million pound worldwide industry that through sponsorship and advertising has become increasingly visible in our…
From Policy to Plate: Understanding What Our Children Eat – Wednesday 12th March 2014, 6pm
For primary school pupils, eating a healthy meal at lunchtime can improve concentration and performance, as well as their diet. This has been recognised by the Scottish Government who have created legislation and a curriculum that support healthy eating in…
Wonderful Wetlands – Getting Low Cost, Low Carbon Energy from Constructed Wetlands – Wednesday 12th February 2014, 6pm
Kiran Tota-Maharaj from Abertay Universitydescribed how we can access low-cost renewable energy by combining heat pumps in wetlands. This can be achieved by creating constructed wetlands, which are engineered systems which store water and filter out pollutants. Kiran described a…
Sonic Screwdrivers and Tractor Beams: From Science Fiction to Real Life – Wednesday 8th January 2014 6pm
Science fiction has come up with many fantastical tricks and tools to move objects without human touch; such as Star Trek’s tractor beam and Dr Who’s sonic screwdriver. Local scientists have now turned this fantasy into reality with real-world versions…
Beached Whales: Is Human Noise Responsible? – Wednesday 13th November 2013, 6pm
Every year the news reports that large groups of whales and dolphins are beaching and dying on beaches across the World. Whilst the majority of these tragic events have natural causes, evidence also suggests that exposure to sounds such as…
Algal Blooms – A Downside of a Hot Summer – Wednesday 9th October 2013, 6pm
Harmful algal blooms can turn sea water red, freshwater a vivid green and represent a risk to humans and marine animals. In the heat of the summer the conditions are perfect for growth of algal bacteria. This, along with other…
New programme released
We are excited to announce that the new leaflet for our upcoming series will be available in local libraries, tourist information and Universities from later this month. The leaflet will also be available at our next talk on Monday 30th…
The Scientific Imagination: Science Fiction and Innovation – Wednesday 11th September at 6pm
This talk asked how science fiction continues to influence science, and vice versa? The relationship between science and science fiction is more important than ever, as the twentieth-century has developed into the twenty-first. Many of the fantasies of Golden Age…