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Where : |
The
Old Cooperage Bar, Jennings Brewery, Castlegate, Cockermouth |
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When : |
The
third Tuesday of each month whenever possible (there may be
exceptions, depending on speakers' availability);
doors open at 7pm and meetings start at 7:30pm
(the shop door is closed very promptly!) and end no later than
9.30pm. |
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Contact:
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Contact
Ann or John Lackie on 01697 321967 |
Previous Events
After the disastrous Cockermouth floods of
November 2009, the Old Cooperage Bar was out of action, having been deep under
water. However, by April 2010, Jennings were able to welcome us back. We were
delighted to return to our natural habitat - and very grateful to Jennings.
All our meetings this autumn will be at the
Brewery Shop / Cooperage Bar.
Upcoming Events
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Date: |
Tuesday
September 14th |
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Title: |
Capturing
tidal energy from the Solway |
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Speaker: |
Nigel
Catterson |
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Description: |
Nigel
Catterson has been promoting and working on developing the concept of tidal
energy capture from the Solway Firth for the past four and a half years.
During that time much has changed in the approach of how energy can be
captured whilst minimising environmental impact.
Nigel is
working with a company that has a low-tech, highly-efficient, device that
could provide water energy capture answers in a number of applications.
Cumbria could be a leader in this sustainable energy field. |
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Date: |
Tuesday
October 12th |
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Title: |
The
synthetic kingdom |
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Speaker: |
Ken
Macleod |
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Description: |
Craig
Ventner's creation of a bacterium with a synthetic genome is a technological
breakthrough. But the first response of many was to warn against hubris or
hype. Neither warning is justified. We should 'play God', and hype is --
like it or not -- part of the cycle from promise to progress.
Ken MacLeod
is the author of a dozen science fiction novels, and in 2009 was a writer in
residence at the ESRC Genomics Policy and Research Forum. He is currently
writing a novel on synthetic biology. |
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Date: |
Tuesday
November 16th |
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Title: |
No such thing as a free lunch: understanding risks, and public reactions |
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Speaker: |
Brian
Wynne |
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Description: |
As most of us are well aware, even if the tabloids don’t seem to know,
nothing is risk-free. Yet either public concern or opposition to new
technologies is often said to demand freedom from risk, or the public is
accused of misunderstanding, usually exaggerating, whatever risks the
experts say are involved.
Brian Wynne will draw upon several topical examples, from nuclear power to
GM crops and foods, the Chernobyl accident radioactive fallout, and risks
from volcano ash clouds, to explain how differences can occur in our
understanding of and response to risks in modern society.
Professor Wynne is Associate Director of the Economic and Social Research
Council’s Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics, Cesagen, at
Lancaster University; an ex-scientist now leading international research in
biosciences and society, he is also an occasional government and EU adviser. |
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Date: |
Tuesday
December 7th |
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Title: |
Synthetic
Life - what is it, and what does it mean for us in the future? |
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Speaker: |
Ben
Davis |
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Description: |
After
decades of isolating, identifying and analysing large biomolecules such as
proteins and carbohydrates, Synthetic Biology now offers tantalizing
opportunities for logical and free-ranging redesign of these molecules. In
particular, the possibility of assembling simple building blocks into
cell-like and life-like constructions may help us understand the origins of
the sugars and amino acids that led to life, challenge current ideas on how
life-like processes may be assembled -- and stimulate debate on what might
be considered to be life. This exciting research is moving forward rapidly,
but there has been little discussion about its future applications, and
ethical issues that might arise.
Professor
Ben Davis leads a research group in the Department of Chemistry, Oxford; he
is the recipient of many awards and the co-founder of Glycoform, a small
biotechnology company aimed at exploiting the therapeutic potential of
glycoproteins. |
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