Members of the public are to be given behind-the-scenes access to scientific laboratories at the University of Warwick, as well as the chance get to grips with cutting-edge research.

Over the next year, the School of Life Sciences will be running open events, allowing people of all ages to come along and find out how the natural world works – from the human brain, to antibiotics and climate change.

Researchers and staff will give live demonstrations of science in action and tours of working laboratories, and they’ll be on hand to answer your questions.

The first event, ‘A healthy brain for a healthy life’, will be devoted to exploring our amazing brains.

Find out which part of the brain does what, before hearing the latest research on how the brain controls appetite and body weight.

Visitors will have the opportunity to find out how we can keep our brains in great shape as we get older. Plus, learn about what happens when things go wrong with the brain, for example epilepsy, stroke, dementia and neurodegenerative disease.

There will also be a demonstration of how our sense of self can be tricked into adopting inanimate objects, and a Q&A session where you can find about all those brain things you wanted to know, but were too afraid to ask.

Professor Nick Dale, who is organising these open events, says everyone is welcome to come along:

“Helping the local community and alumni to understand the latest scientific developments, the research, and what we do in the School of Life Sciences is really important to us. These science evenings are all about communicating the excitement about science and scientific research to members of the public.”

Other events will run, through to June 2017, including:

• Getting to grips with antibiotic resistance
• a Christmas lecture
• Food Security: keeping plant pathogens at bay
• the Microbiome
• Films and Science

More information can be found here: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/outreach/publicscievents

‘A healthy brain for a healthy life’ will take place on October 11, from 6-8pm, at the University of Warwick’s Gibbet Hill Campus. It will be led by Professors Nick Dale, Bruno Frenguelli & Kevin Moffat.

Refreshments will be available.

If you’d like to attend the event, book your place using the form on this link: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/giving/news/lifesciencesevents

13th September 2016

Further information, contact:

Luke Walton, International Press Officer

L dot Walton dot 1 at warwick dot ac dot uk

02476 150 868

07824 540 863