Science on the Hill
What is Science on the Hill?
Science on the Hill is a free programme of events jointly organised by the School of Life Sciences and Warwick Medical School - two departments based out of our Gibbet Hill campus. At each event academics, PhD students and researchers are invited to give short, fun, and informative talks around a theme. We support the evening with light refreshments and plenty of activities and demonstrations in our amazing IBRB building.
Recent events have explored host defences, microbiomes, early life, communication, and stress.
23rd September - The Air We Breathe. How do microorganisms regulate our atmosphere?
Our existence is intimately linked to the composition of Earth’s atmosphere. Diverse atmospheric gases are key to making Earth a habitable environment, including the oxygen that we breathe and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, although the latter and air pollutants also affect climate change and human health. What we may take for granted, we owe the evolution of our 'oxic' (oxygen rich) atmosphere and the cycling of greenhouse gases and harmful pollutants to microorganisms.
Drawing on examples from research in the School of Life Sciences, we will illuminate the crucial functions of these microorganisms and explore how understanding these processes may be key for better understanding of our climate and improving air quality.
Exciting talks will include:
Dr Rich Puxty: Wizards of O2: How the Oceans' smallest organisms control planetary oxygen
Dr Michaela Mausz: Delicate Beauties of the Microverse: The secret power behind gas cycling in the oceans
Dr Ryan Mushinski: The Nitrogen Bio-Geo-Chemistry of Cicada Mass Mortality
Prof. Hendrik Schaefer: Tree-associated bacteria degrade greenhouse gases and air pollutants
Doors open at 5:30 pm, talks begin at 6 pm.
How can I sign up to hear about more events in the future?
If you would like to receive emails about upcoming events being held by the university relating to our research please join our mailing list and take a look at the Resonate festival page.
Can I watch back old events?
Some of our virtual events are available to watch back at a time to suit you.
New Scientists: New Research, Tuesday 30 March 2021
Join us as we introduce you to some of our young scientists embarking on their careers in different areas of science and medicine. Find out what inspired them to go into science and the exciting work they are doing to help solve some of the current key scientific and medical challenges facing the world today.
Hosted by Professor Kevin Moffat with Warwick Medical School's Dr Erin Greaves and the School of Life Sciences' Dr Ellie Jameson and PhD student Emily Hill.
Covid-19 Diagnostics and Testing, Tuesday 10 Nov 2020
Join us for our first virtual science on the hill evening to discuss some of the science behind Covid-19 and the work that has been going on here at Warwick since the pandemic began. Professor Lawrence Young will be introducing to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, how it's transmitted and how infection results in disease. Then Dr Chrystala Constantinidou will discuss how she can track the movement of the virus throughout a hospital by studying tiny changes in the genetic code. Dr Nicole Robb will also discuss her latest work on detecting the virus and the development of a 5 minute test for Covid-19. As usual there will be plenty of time for questions at the end.
