SOLD OUT - Pint of Science CBD 14 May Beautiful Minds

ABOUT

Pint of Science is a charity run by volunteers that brings some of the most brilliant scientists to your local pub to discuss their latest research and findings with you. You don't need any prior knowledge, and this is your chance to meet the people responsible for the future of science (and have a pint with them). The festival started in the UK and runs every May in over 150 cities across 19 different countries - including South Africa! This year Pint of Science will take place on 14, 15 and 16 May 2018. 

Our theme for 14 May is Beautiful Mind

Speakers

Dr. Jonathan Shock - 1942-2018, the legacy and impact of Stephen Hawking

I will discuss the impact that Stephen Hawking has had on our understanding of the universe from the most beautiful results to some of the controversies which remain unsolved. I will focus on his research about the bizarre behaviour of black holes and our understanding of the very early universe.

Dr. Shock is a senior lecturer in the department of mathematics and applied mathematics, Shock is a researcher in string theory as well as in machine learning techniques applied to biomedical data and beyond. Teaching is a huge passion of his and he is always happy to share the ideas which he find to be beautiful with a wider audience.

Hayley Tomes - Seeing Inside the Black Box

The brain is tucked away behind layers of bone and skin and is difficult to observe in action. Neuroscientists have had to find creative ways to learn about its function. Ranging from the morbid study of recently injured individuals, to the wide array of advanced techniques we have today (electrophysiology, optogenetics, and diffusor tensor imaging, to name a few), attempts to see inside the ‘black box’ of the brain have fascinated and frustrated. Using case studies and real examples, we’ll explore the history of neuroscientific inquiry through our efforts to solve this challenge.

Hayley Tomes is postgraduate researcher in the Cellular Neuroscience and Electrophysiology Laboratory at the University of Cape Town Medical School. She also manages the Histology Laboratory for the Human Biology Department. Her research focuses on the mechanism by which tapeworm infection results in seizures, an underdiagnosed and significant challenge in the developing world.

Dr. Fleur Howells - Demystifying psychotic disorders 

The psychotic disorders are greatly stigmatized. I will take you through the criterion for clinical diagnosis, addressing key areas of behaviour and function and how these sustain the stigma related. This will lead to the introduction of electroencephalography (EEG) an electrophysiological tool which provides direct measurement of the brain’s electrical activity, and how this tool may provide the necessary biological evidence that will serve to reduce the stigma related to psychotic disorders. We are currently lacking this biological evidence, e.g. diabetes is a chronic medical condition and so too is schizophrenia – but the discrete biological mechanisms in schizophrenia continue to evaded us.

Fleur Howells is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health and is a Fellow of the Neuroscience Institute, at the University of Cape Town. She co-heads the Translational Neuroscience Research Group within her Department which is home to eight postgraduate students.

The key aims of her group are to investigate the biological mechanisms which underlie the presentation of psychotic disorders. If we are able to identify the biological mechanisms this will provide support in early diagnosis, improve quality of life for these individuals, and potentially lead to the development of new therapies. 
 

DIRECTIONS