WHAT'S ON

Girton150 Founders’ Science Lecture by Professor Dame Pratibha Gai

We are proud to present five public lectures to mark 150 years of scholarship at Girton. The Founders Science Lecture is presented by Professor Dame Pratibha Gai FREng, FRS. Her Lecture is titled “CATCH ME IF YOU CAN! Atoms in Action for Energy, Environment and Healthcare”.

Coral reefs, malaria and drug discovery

Cambridge Infectious Diseases Public Lecture Dr Ellen Nisbet discusses how saving the world's coral reefs is helping us cure malaria. Corals contain photosynthetic algae, dying when the algae are lost. And malaria parasites are really algae in disguise. Part of Cambridge Science Festival

Natural or artificial intelligence? Measures, maps and taxonomies

Artificial intelligence is taking off while we still know very little about intelligence. Professor Jose Hernandez-Orallo argues that we need measures to compare natural and artificial intelligence, maps to locate their future trajectories in the cognitive landscape, and behavioural taxonomies to understand a new diversity of artefacts and interactions. Part of Cambridge Science Festival

The joy of steps

Humans have many physical adaptations for effective movement. Less obvious is how our minds have been shaped by the need to move. Central to these mental adaptations is the brain’s reward chemical dopamine. Drawing on research and hunter-gatherer wisdom Dr Matt Wilkinson reveals these stimulating mental systems and gives tips about how to keep them working. Part of Cambridge Science Festival

Five things about genetics everyone should know

From human disease and intellectual ability, ethnicity and race to sex and our origins, Dr Ewan Birney, Director of the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), discusses the five things that everyone should know about genetics. Part of Cambridge Science Festival

Biodiver-city: nature in your everyday life

We’ll be discussing urban ecology and the nature we see in our day-to-day lives, using drawing to express the natural world we experience and help us think about what we can do to see more of it and finishing with advice on the actions we can take to see more urban biodiversity. With Cambridge Environment and Energy Team. Part of Cambridge Science Festival

Discovery and the Dead Plants Society

With 1.1 million plant specimens, the University Herbarium is especially rich in those made by 19th century greats like Henslow, Darwin, and Wallace. Herbarium Curator, Dr Lauren Gardiner discusses why these treasures are so important today. Part of Cambridge Science Festival

The long-term perspective of climate change

A long-term perspective of natural climate variability is essential for understanding present and future global warming. Professors Ulf Büntgen, Mike Hulme, Christine Lane, Hans W. Linderholm, Clive Oppenheimer, Baskar Vira, and Paul J. Krusic discuss how we investigate past climate and the challenges we face in applying this to the policy making process. Part of Cambridge Science Festival

Gene eating: the truth about diets

Each New Year brings new diets and health fads. But what actually works? Dr Giles Yeo explores how to break the cycle of pseudo-science and misinformation surrounding the world of dieting as he discusses his new ‘anti-diet’ diet book. Part of Cambridge Science Festival