Merthyr Tydfil Science Festival Lats

Science filled evenings for adults only (18+)

A different topic every week for 5 weeks:

14th Oct - This is your brain on drugs https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/429860964717

From nicotine, to heroin, to cocaine - all of these drugs change how our brain and body works. But how do they do it? In this talk, we will look at how these drugs work in our bodies and how these drugs of abuse have surprising uses within medicine!

Presenter: Dr Aidan Seeley, Senior Lecturer (Swansea University Medical School)

28th Oct - Merthyr Tydfil, the very long view https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/429855006897

A tour of the geological history of how Merthyr Tydfil came to be.

Presenter: Dr Malcolm Blandford, Chartered Geologist (Blandford Consulting)

11th Nov - How the time of day affects everything https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/429845458337

In 2017 Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W. Young were awarded the Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine for their shared contributions to the discovery of what controls the time-of-day responses in our bodies. These time-of-day responses are known as circadian rhythms and occur approximately every 24 hours in our bodies, controlling our behaviour, metabolism and immunity. Join us for a presentation from Dr James Alexander Pearson, a diabetes researcher at Cardiff University, who will discuss how the time-of-day may influence our metabolism and immune system. In addition, come and explore our exhibits to learn more about time-of-day responses and diabetes.

Presenter: Dr James Pearson, MRC CDA Research Fellow (Cardiff University)

18th Nov - Vaccines and the immune system https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/429887122957

Have you ever wondered why there seems to be a new COVID variant every few months, and why so many vaccines are offered against influenza and COVID-19? Why is it we need vaccinating against some diseases only as children, while other diseases need annual boosters? And why are some vaccines only offered to adults?

This Lates session will give an interactive overview of the “arms race” between our immune system and the pathogens it fights off, plus the central role vaccines play in this puzzle. The session will then open to an audience Q&A session for all those burning questions you have wanted to ask during the pandemic, and more!

Presenter: Dr Carly Bliss, Wellcome Trust ISSF Fellow (Cardiff University)

25th Nov - The biochemistry of aging https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/429850433217

Description: I’ll discuss the current state of the art research into ageing and how the ageing process can be slowed down. This will include discussing what we now know about why and how we age, what alters our health and life span, and what we can do to improve health span and longevity. I’ll discuss my own research and novel approaches to slowing ageing through senolytics.

Presenter: Dr James T. Murray, Senior Lecturer in Autophagy and Ageing Diseases (Swansea University Medical School)

All start at 7pm at Christchurch Cyfarthfa.This is an adult (18+) event.