The BA Festival of Science will take place in Norwich from 2 – 9 September, bringing together over 300 of the UK’s top scientists and engineers, including Cambridge academics, to discuss the latest developments in science with the public.

In addition to talks and debates there will be a host of events throughout the city as part of the Science in the City programme.

The theme of the Festival this year will be ‘People, science and society’, with the presidential address exploring the economic impact of climate change and the ‘human’ context of scientific development. Other topics range from popular psychology (including a scientific approach to helping people look on the bright side!) to nutrigenomics and mammoth hunting in Norfolk.

One of the Cambridge academics speaking at the festival includes Professor John Barrow, Professor of Mathematical Science, who will give a talk under the theme of ‘Who needs maths now we have computers?’, discussing the strengths and limitations of computers and giving an insight into bank detail encryption which can defeat even the fastest computers.

Other talks include Dr Jonathan Silverman from the School of Clinical Medicine, speaking on communication in ‘Surely doctor knows best?’; Dr James Brenton on ‘Will this drug work for me? Lessons from cancer’; Kay-Tee Khaw from Clinical Gerontology on the subject of diet and chronic disease in mid-life and under the theme of ‘Beyond the brain: making science personal’, Rupert Sheldrake of Trinity College will give an intriguing talk on ‘testing for telephone telepathy’.

The annual science festival is an initiative of the British Association for the Advancement of Science(BA), the UK’s nationwide open membership organisation that exists to advance the public understanding, accessibility and accountability of the sciences and engineering.

For a comprehensive list of Cambridge academics speaking at the event or for additional information on the BA Festival, please visit www.the-ba.net/festivalofscience.


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