| THE NEXT CAFE SCIENTIFIQUE
7:30pm Tuesday 10th January 2012 - Prof Luke Alphey
'Genetic control of mosquitoes'
Hundreds of millions of people are infected each year with mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria. This is despite heavy use of insecticides and other conventional control methods, which are themselves threatened by the spread of resistance. New tools are clearly needed. Could genetics-based strategies provide them? The first such methods, based on the release of engineered sterile male mosquitoes, have recently undergone successful field trials; more exotic approaches are under development. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach? What concerns may arise? Genetic engineering has been widely accepted for health applications such as insulin and vaccines, but is controversial for food. How will different stakeholders respond to engineered mosquitoes? Prof Alphey describes recent progress towards field use, and the prospects for developing new, environmentally-friendly tools with which to tackle some of the world's major diseases. |
AND THE ONE AFTER THAT
7:30pm Tuesday 14th February 2012 - Dr Jim Newton from the John Radcliffe Hopsital and the Oxford Heart Campaign
* A window to the heart: Echocardiography in the 21st century
THE NEXT FEW DATES
Tuesday 13th March 2012
* What happens when we run out of oil?
Tuesday 10th April 2012
* Sprites and weird atmospheric phenomena
Tuesday 8th May 2012
* Green transport - comparing petrol and diesel vehicles with their electric and hybrid rivals
|
| VISITING THE CAFE
From September 2011 the Oxford Cafe Scientifique is moving house, and will now be based in the Science Oxford Live centre on 1-5 London Place, Oxford, OX4 1BD (St Clement's, at the foot of Headington Hill). This is a permanent move and we thank both Blackwells Bookshop for their 11 years of hosting us, and Science Oxford for their generosity in taking the role over.
For full details of how to find the centre, parking suggestions and local transport links, please visit a new SO details page on this website. The Cafe start time will remain 7:30pm, doors open at 7pm.
There is no formal entry fee, but a hat is passed round during the break between talk and discussion, and all contributions are welcome and help towards providing the facilities and speakers.
|
NEW SPONSOR AND FACILITIES
 From September 2011 we welcome the support of OBN, a not-for-profit Oxford-based bioscience network which works across the south east of the UK. OBN is giving substantial support to the Oxford Cafe Sci which will not only enable us to cast our net wider in the search for good speakers, but will also, with the continued support of the generous Cafe audience, allow us to expand the refreshments on offer at Cafe events. See here for a brief explanation of OBN's activities and connections.
 We are also very grateful for the help of Science Oxford Live, which is offering a new home to the Cafe. Visitors to the Science Oxford headquarters will know that they house a fantastic Discovery Zone for adults and children, and play host to regular science events for all ages. Cafe Scientifique will be operating in the upstairs room (reached through the Discovery Zone). Visit the SO website, the SO Twitter feed or sign up to the SO email newsletter.
|
The Cafe Scientifique is a successful