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Date: |
Monday 6th September 2010 |
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Title: |
The famous five |
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Description: |
Mike
Lean
We all
know what we SHOULD be eating -- so why are most Scots still
ignoring the public health messages about diet and
nutrition?
The
nutritional arguments for 5-a-day (or more) are rock-solid.
People who do eat 5 or more portions of fruit and veg have
better health on all fronts (less heart disease, fewer
strokes, less diabetes, fewer cancers) and live longer and
happier lives. Vitamin C, folate, carotenoids, flavonoids,
fibre and potassium all provide health benefits with
virtually no down-side. And the argument also holds true
for Scottish Agriculture: we could increase ten-fold our
production of high-quality fruits and vegetables - now
limited mainly to berries, root veg and broccoli - as our
land and climate are ideal for many others (apples, plums,
onions, beans, and salad greenhouse vegetables using waste
heat from all those distilleries - there is almost no
end!). There is no nutritional benefit from going
'Organic', so we can keep the message simple – and we can
also demand that the supermarkets stock local produce, warts
and all.
Early
exposure through fruit in schools is a great step forward,
but we’re not using Scottish produce. So is the answer to
“grow local” and “eat local” with our own Scottish
supermarkets and caterers? And what do we have to do to
influence the people who control the Nation's food supply?
Mike
Lean is chair and
head of the department of Human Nutrition at the University
of Glasgow. |
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Date: |
Monday 1st November 2010 |
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Title: |
Our anxious
genes |
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Description: |
Jonathan Flint, Oxford
How far do our genes play a part in anxiety and depression?
And how can we use a better understand of the causes of
these conditions to improve better therapies? Neurogenetics
is the study of the genetic basis of
psychiatric disorders and as our understand of the make-up
and functions of the human genome improve, we can use this
understanding to gain insight to the biology behind these
stress-related disorders.
Research at the Psychiatric Genetics Group has already
conducted a large-scale study on
neuroticism, a personality trait that is a
major genetic mediator of depression, and the group has also
initiated a study of
major depression in women in China. But the
potential is much greater and could help us understand more
about the genetic basis of other psychiatric conditions and
even learning disabilities.
Professor Jonathan Flint is Head of the
Psychiatric Genetics Group at the Wellcome
Trust Centre for Human Genetics (WTCHG). |
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Date: |
Monday 5th December |
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Title: |
Why are we here? |
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Description: |
Martin Hendry, Physics, Glasgow University
Since the dawn of civilisation human cultures have sought to
understand our place in the Universe, asking "big questions"
about our cosmic origins. Modern cosmology provides some
startling answers: not only is the Universe expanding, that
expansion is accelerating - driven by a mysterious "dark
energy" which challenges our ideas about gravity and the
nature of space and time. Moreover, some of the latest
cosmological theories suggest that we may, in fact, inhabit
one island universe in a "Multiverse": a vast ensemble of
distinct universes, all with different physical properties
or even physical laws. What does all of this mean for our
existence, our origins and our future? Come along and
explore these fascinating questions with Martin Hendry,
Glasgow University cosmologist.
Martin is a Senior Lecturer in Physics & Astronomy at Glasgow
University and a recent recipient of a ‘Science in Society’
Fellowship from The Science and Technology Facilities
Council.
http://dept.physics.gla.ac.uk/staff/default.asp?record=192 |
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