Cafe Scientifique
Our Implausible Universe
Tuesday 20th May
7.45pm
£2 Donation
Guest Speaker - Carlos Frenk
Professor Carlos Frenk is Director of the Institute for Computational Cosmology, Durham University's world-renowned theoretical cosmology research group. Along with collaborators from all over the world, he builds model universes in state-of-the-art supercomputers, trying to understand how the structures in our Universe evolved from simple beginnings to the complex structures composed of stars and galaxies that we see today. Carlos is a regular broadcaster and committed to the greater public understanding of science particularly extragalactic astronomy & cosmology - more details later.
Cafe Scientifique
Brain Death – Can We Survive It?
Tuesday 17th June
7.45pm
£2 Donation
Guest Speaker - Martyn Evans
For some purposes, such as organ transplantation, the death of a human being is diagnosed from the loss of certain brain functions. A surprising number of other bodily processes remain intact beyond that point, some of them rather disturbing to the non-professional. So in what does – or should – my death really consist? Can I be dead for some purposes and not others? Join a sceptical philosopher in finding out!
Martyn Evans is Professor of Humanities in Medicine and Principal of John Snow College, at Durham University. He is a philosopher by discipline and a musician in his spare time.