Release Date 02 March 2012

The University of Reading celebrates science and its wonders this month as part of National Science and Engineering Week.

Psychoanalysis, lifestyle and cancer risk, and our world in motion are among some of the topics under discussion during Reading Science Week, from 9-17 March.

On Tuesday, 13 March, the University's Department of Psychology will give a fascinating insight into the study of the brain followed by a Reading Film Theatre screening of A Dangerous Method  (tickets for the film can be purchased on the evening). The pre-film seminar starts at 7pm and the screening at 8pm.

As part of the University's Public Lecture Series, Professor Ian Rowland will present ‘Can changing your diet and lifestyle alter your cancer risk?' on Wednesday 14 March in Palmer Building at 8pm. Professor Rowland, Head of the University's Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, will explore the main causes of cancer and address why experts disagree on which diets contribute to it and which prevent.

The following evening, 15 March, two young researchers will present the Fellgett seminar on the theme of ‘Our world in motion'. The regular seminars celebrate research at Reading and are named in memory of Peter Berners Fellgett, emeritus Professor of Cybernetics. Lesley Allison, from the School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, will discuss ocean circulation and its role in climate, and Murray Evans, from the School of Systems Engineering , will talk about how motion is exploited in computer vision, for example robot navigation and 3D reconstruction.  It takes place in Palmer Building at 7pm.

Finally, find out about biodiversity in your garden at the Museum for English Rural Life on Saturday, 17 March from 2-4pm, when the University's museum celebrates the Science of Mother Nature.

The week's programme is co-ordinated by the Thames Valley branch of the British Science Association, and University of Reading staff will also be volunteering at other events, such as star-gazing on the main Whiteknights Campus, and science busking in Broad Street, Reading.

All events are free, unless otherwise stated.

For more information visit www.britishscienceassociation.org/readingscienceweek

ENDS

For more information please contact Rona Cheeseman, Research Communications Manager, on 0118 378 7388 or email r.cheeseman@reading.ac.uk