Cambridge Science Festival 2017 kicks off today and the enormous line-up of events looks fantastic as usual. If you’re anything like us, you would need to clone yourself to go to everything you’d like to see.
To save you time scouring the whole programme of events, we have pulled together some highlights relevant to the broad area of therapeutics R&D, from drug discovery and biological research to development of devices and diagnostics. The majority of events are free of charge; however some require advance booking so check the relevant webpage for details.
Talks and debates
CHROMOS: zoom into the 3D structure of our chromosomes (Monday 13 March, Hidden Rooms, 7.00pm) is an interactive adult-only event where science meets art. Organised by the Babraham Institute, scientists will explain a new technique which has allowed them to get a more accurate 3D picture of how the DNA folds within the chromosome. Working with Max Cooper and Andy Lomas they have created an audio-visual experience, and now you can explore chromosome interactions too. Entry is £5 and includes a drink.
Who owns us? (Friday 17 March, Mill Lane Lecture rooms, 7.30pm) is a panel discussion on the ethics of medical use of patient material and is organised by Cambridge Enterprise, the commercialisation arm of the University. Featuring experts such as George Freeman MP, former Under-Secretary of State for Life Sciences and currently Chair of the Prime Minister’s Policy Board, and Dr Ruth March, VP of AstraZeneca’s Personalised Healthcare & Biomarkers function this is sure to be an engaging and thought-provoking debate.
The hunt for dementia treatments (Thursday 23 March, Clifford Abbott Lecture Theatre, 6.00pm) provides the opportunity to hear from the Dr John Skidmore, Chief Scientific Officer of the Alzheimer’s Research UK Cambridge Drug Discovery Institute along with other clinical scientists and researchers on the hunt for new treatments that can effectively tackle diseases like Alzheimer's. The talks will be followed by a tour of the Institute's labs and a chance to see how Alzheimer’s Research UK are using the latest in Virtual Reality Technology to improve the public understanding of dementia.
For an insight into the personal tales of the lives of scientific researchers check out Chemistry stories (Thursday 23 March, Department of Chemistry Cyber Café, 7.00pm) and to find out how you can get involved in research in your spare time join the Cambridge Biomakespace team and historian of science Dr Helen Anne Curry for Hacking biology through time and space (Wednesday 15 March, Department of Plant Sciences at 6.00pm)
Talks on the topics of genetics and epigenetics, which are certain to educate and inspire in equal measure, include 100,000 genomes: the road to personalised medicine (Tuesday 21 March, Charles Babbage Lecture Theatre, 6.00pm) and Epigenetics: DNA does not account foreverything (Tuesday 21 March, Murray Edwards College)
Personalised production: The future is closer than you think (Saturday 25 March, Institute for Manufacturing, 1.30pm and 3.30pm) and Engineering solutions to medical problems (Sunday 26 March, UTC Cambridge at 2.00pm) explore the overlap between the fields of engineering and materials science with advances in medical diagnostics and treatments.
Experts in cancer research and treatment take a look at the challenges of tackling the developed world’s most prevalent disease type in Is earlier necessarily better? (Wednesday 15 March, McCrum Lecture Theatre at 6.00pm) and When one size doesn’t fitall (Sunday 26 March, UTC Cambridge at 3.15pm)
Neuroscience and mental health are the subjects of Exploring your mind and brain (Wednesday 15 March, MRC Cognition and Brain Science Unit, 6.00pm) Beating multiple sclerosis and helping the brain repair itself (Tuesday 21 March, Robinson College, 6.00pm) and Odd behaviour, strange ideas and the immune system (Wednesday 22 March, Mill Lane Lecture Rooms, 6.00pm)
Drop-in and hands-on events
Turn up at a time that suits you to find out about the future of healthcare in Personalised health (Saturday 18 March, Department of Biochemistry, Hopkins Building, 11.00am-3.00pm) or to learn about how drug development happens in Clinical science: From bench to bedside (Saturday 26 March, UTC Cambridge, 10.30am-4.00pm)
And if getting hands-on is more your thing drop-in to A medicine for your heart at the Guildhall (Saturday 18 March, 10.00am-4.00pm and Sunday 19 March 12.00pm-4.00pm), just one of a whole host of activities for all the family on offer as the Science Festival takes over this iconic city centre venue for the weekend.
Also suitable for all ages, Your personal immune army (Sunday 26 March, UTC Cambridge, 11.00am-4.00pm) is an opportunity to explore how your immune system has developed its own personal defence mechanisms.
Finally, Brain Injury and patient inspired innovation (Sunday 26 March, UTC Cambridge, 10.30am-4.00pm) is your chance to find out more about the NIHR Brain Injury Healthcare Technology Co-operative (HTC) which is dedicated to identifying areas of unmet need susceptible to a technology-based solution amongst patients of all ages with brain Injury.
For the full events listing see the Cambridge Science Festival 2017 website and, whatever you go to over the next couple of weeks, enjoy the festival!