Cafes Scientifique are informal and lively discussion events around contemporary science issues that take place in local bars, cafes and pubs. Taking place on the first Tuesday of every month, we feature a variety of local scientists and engineers, talking about their work and how it affects the average person in the street. Always fun, sometimes controversial, these events are a great way to get to the heart of the matter.
Join Richard to discuss the psychological basis of binge drinking. The Brits are known for their love of excessive drinking and binge drinking has been blamed on everything from high crime levels to rising cases of STIs and unplanned pregnancies. But is there a scientific basis to this behaviour?
Please note, this event is not a masterclass on how to drink more!
Join Jane to discuss the role that ethics play in modern research. As Director of the Human Biomaterials Resource Centre, Jane is aware of the need for rigorous ethical procedures within biosciences, but how does this affect the person on the street and how does it impact on our perception of scientists?
Astroseismology: using the natural music of the stars
Join Bill to discover how stars make their own music and how scientists can interpret this to tell us about their inner workings. Discover not only how stars appear to breath in and out, but also how this work is helping the quest to discover new planets in our galaxy
Join Ben to discuss the nature of Persuasive Technologies and how much of an impact they already have on your life. From voice recognition software to cars calling the garage to book themselves in for a service - who is really in charge any more, you or the machine?
Ben will discuss the existing state of research on how technology can be used to nudge people towards more pro environmental behaviours. He will also explore how psychological research can be used to improve the effectiveness of technologies aiming to bring about long term sustained behaviour change.
Ben works at the juncture of psychology and computer science. His research focuses on exploring how technology impacts us psychologically, studying how design impacts users' behavioural and emotional responses towards technology.
Join Lindsay to discover the advances being made in the search for medical models that do not involve animals. From artificial smoking machines to advances in tissue culture systems, there are an array of different ways to study various diseases. But do they work and how reliable is the data that researchers can get from these systems?
