The Family Show - In the Mind's Eye

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@festivalofinnov #InnovateMalvern #science #innovation #technology #STEM #careers

10:30

Part 1 - 

Sexing the Brain: Is your brain female or male? Or are we asking the wrong question?

New ways of looking at the brain can give us new answers to old questions. Are there sex differences in the brain? If so, where do they come from: from inside-out (is biology destiny?) or from outside-in (can our world shape our plastic brains)?  This talk aims to help you understand more about brain myths and brain matters in the controversial world of sex and the brain. [Watch]

Professor Gina Rippon, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Neuroimaging at the Aston Brain Centre, Aston University, Birmingham

Gina is a past-President of the British Association of Cognitive Neuroscience and, in 2015, was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the British Science Association. Her research involves state-of-the-art brain imaging techniques to investigate developmental disorders such as dyslexia and autism. She also investigates the use of neuroscience techniques to explore social processes including gender stereotyping and stereotype threat. She is an outspoken critic of ’neurotrash’, the populist (mis)use of neuroscience research to (mis)represent our understanding of the brain and, most particularly, to prop up outdated gender stereotypes. Her book on this topic 'The Gendered Brain' published by Bodley Head and Penguin Random House, came out in February 2019.

@ginarippon1

Short intermission.

11:45

Part 2

Our colourful world, and how we measure it

Andrew will briefly discuss what he feels are the top strangest things National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has been involved in, that he is allowed to talk about!

He will then elaborate on his own area of work – colour measurement. Colour informs, influences consumer choices, warns us and comforts us. As with every aspect of life, it needs to be measured to ensure good communication and confidence in manufacturing processes for a diverse range of goods from pills to paints. But how do we ascribe numbers to a human perception which is incredibly versatile and variable? The challenge is enormous and human colour perception science is still a lively topic today. Be warned: this demonstration talk will contain surprises – there is a lot more to colour than meets the eye! [Watch]

Andrew Hanson, Senior Research Scientist, National Physical Laboratory, UK

For 25 years Andrew has been professionally measuring colour, from evaluating the appearance of ornamental plants, to building the world’s first national standards telespectroradiometer to calibrate the colour of visual display units and a machine to measure the shininess of cats. He is currently Outreach Manager and Occasional Senior Scientist at NPL - the UK’s National Measurement Institute. Andrew is past Chairman of the Colour Group of Great Britain and received an MBE for science communication in 2019.

@NPL

12:45

Close

Biology Week 2020

Running from 3rd-11th October, Biology Week showcases the important and amazing world of the biosciences, getting everyone from children to professional biologists involved in fun and interesting life science activities.

@RoyalSocBio

International Year of Plant Health

The United Nations has declared 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH). The year is a once in a lifetime opportunity to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment, and boost economic development.

#IYPH2020

World Space Week

World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from October 4-10. We'll also feature some space-themed activities and exhibits in the Festival programme.

@WorldSpaceWeek, @WSW_UK

European Cyber Security Month

ECSM is the EU’s annual advocacy campaign that takes place in October and aims to raise awareness of cyber security threats, promote cyber security among citizens and provide up to date security information, through education and sharing of good practices. We'll be featuring some cyber security exhibitors and workshops during the day.

@CyberSecMonth, #CyberSecMonth