Cafe Scientifique is a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology. We've been holding them in Bournemouth for ten years and are very pleased to have returned to in-person events as of June 2022.
Café Scientifique on pause until September 2024
Many of you may already be aware that the Black Cherry Theatre Café in Boscombe is closing down at the end of June.
Due to the difficulty of finding a venue at short notice, we have unfortunately had to postpone July’s Café Sci. This gives us more time to secure another venue in time for the start of our 2024-25 series of talks in September.
We appreciate your patience while we make these arrangements and will continue to keep you updated.
In the meantime, thank you all for your fantastic support in continuing to make Café Sci such a successful event.
We look forward to seeing you in September at a new café!
Past events
2024
How can we become more resilient in the face of multiple risks and hazards?
Tuesday 4 June 2024
Professor Lee Miles, Dr Frazer Ball, Dr Yue Zhang, & Martin Travers and Charles Jenkins
There are many dangers faced by societies, communities and households today – whether that is accidents in the home, flooding, other extreme weather events, medical emergencies such as pandemics, and even terrorism. Join researchers from Bournemouth University Business School to hear about how they are helping communities and households understand the range of hazards they face. You’ll also hear from Safehouse Pro, experts in public safety, who are working with our researchers, and get a chance to record your views for their ongoing national survey.
Showcasing tomorrow's researchers
Tuesday 7 May 2024
Come and listen to four postgraduate researchers from Bournemouth University to get an insight into how their research might answer the following questions:
How do Hollywood film-makers create believable fantasy worlds?
What can we do to prevent natural and man-made disasters?
Can we extend the life of Lithium-ion batteries for electric cars?
How do we overcome cultural differences to provide appropriate healthcare?
All speakers are currently working towards their PhDs and are passionate about sharing their research with the public.
The event is free and open to all, and you will be able to ask questions about their diverse projects, as well as find out what inspired them to be researchers in the first place.
Should we help machines understand and respond to our emotions?
Dr Roya Haratian
Tuesday 2 April 2024
Assistive technology in the home is increasingly part of everyday life. To improve the experience for people who use it, researchers are looking at ways to improve machines’ ability to adapt to human emotions. But does this also have its disadvantages?
Join Dr Roya Haratian, electronics scientist from Bournemouth University, to explore how research in this area can improve the way machines adapt to users’ experience, and also address the concerns it raises.
From ‘Student’ to ‘Lifesaver’ how understanding identity can help new paramedics
Peter Phillips
Tuesday 5 March 2024
Paramedics have the worst wellbeing of all healthcare professionals, and the newly-qualified are particularly vulnerable. But it is not necessarily for the obvious reasons of dealing with traumatic events.
Join Bournemouth University’s Peter Phillips, a senior lecturer in paramedic science, to hear how his research about identity among newly qualified paramedics could help make them more resilient.
The Sun and the Moon and the Stars: Ancient Britons an their skyscapes
Pamela Armstrong
Tuesday 6 February 2024
The first monuments ever built on our landscapes were mounds known as barrows. These communal places made of earth and stone were designed to house the dead. There are those who say the people who built these huge structures deliberately oriented them to the sun, the moon and the stars.
Join Pamela Armstrong, Skyscape Archaeologist from Bournemouth University to explore the old stones, the old ways and the old skies.
2023
What can we learn from 17th-centuary artists about how we perceive colour?
Dr Matteo Toscani
Tuesday 5 December 2023
Digital devices use technology based on scientific understanding of how we perceive colour to ensure images look as natural as possible. But the Dutch ‘Old Masters’ were doing something similar to enhance the realism of their paintings in the 17th-century.
Join psychologist Dr Matteo Toscani, from Bournemouth University, who will use examples of these masterpieces to demonstrate how artists used their knowledge of colour perception to create vividly realistic works of art.
The hidden life of white blood cells: how they help construct our bodies
Dr Yutaka Matsubayashi
Tuesday 7 November 2023
Many of us know that white blood cells help fight bacteria, but we may not be aware that they also act as tiny ‘couriers’, moving all around the body to deliver its building blocks. Without these couriers, the body cannot be constructed properly.
Join biologist Dr Yutaka Matsubayashi, from Bournemouth University, who will share video of these microscopic cells at work and discuss how important they are for the body’s structure. He will also explore whether they may have played a part in our evolutionary journey from single-celled organisms – and explain why thinking about stirring sugar into coffee can help us understand their function.
Reconnecting Europe’s rivers: how can citizen scientists help monitor the results?
Demetra Andreou
Tuesday 3 October 2023
Barriers such as dams and weirs alter a river’s natural flow, severely affecting aquatic ecosystems and leading to a decrease in water quality. Researchers in Europe have been working to address this issue – with the goal of reconnecting 25,000km of rivers by 2030. However, with funding for long-term monitoring decreasing, how do they track the success of this rewilding process?
Join Bournemouth University’s Dr Demetra Andreou, an expert in environmental science, to discover how citizen scientists might play a role in the collection of such vital long-term data.
Voices for the Future
Tuesday 5 September 2023
How can we shape a better future for ourselves and the planet? Join us for an evening of inspiring talks and discussions with postgraduate researchers from Bournemouth University, all currently working towards their PhDs, who will share their insights and perspectives.
From patient safety and experience, to medical device reprocessing and recycling, these speakers will challenge you to think critically and creatively about the future we want to create. The event is free and open to all, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage with the speakers and other attendees.
Patient feedback for improving NHS care by Sarah Chessell, PhD researcher in Health and Social Care. How can we ensure that patients receive the best possible care and experience in health and social care settings? Sarah will discuss how near-real time patient feedback can be used to create a culture of responsibility and challenge, with staff being able to respond and act positively to patients’ needs and preferences.
Reprocessing single use medical devices: a sustainable solution for the NHS? by Matthew Edge, PhD researcher in Bournemouth University Business School. How can we reduce the environmental impact of medical devices that are used once and then thrown away? Matthew will present research on reprocessing single use medical devices, a practice that involves re-sterilising, repairing and repackaging them for reuse.
Forest resilience in the face of climate change: lessons from the New Forest
Dr Elena Cantarello
Tuesday 4 July 2023
The New Forest is a beautiful and diverse landscape that has been around for centuries. It is home to ancient woodlands, heathlands, wetlands, and a traditional way of life. But it is also under threat from climate change and other factors that are killing its trees.
How can we protect the resilience of the New Forest and other forests around the world? Join us to hear from Dr Elena Cantarello, who will explain forest resilience, why it matters and how we can measure and improve it. We’ll also explore how protecting forests could be a nature-based solution to tackle climate change.
Repairing bodies with tissue engineering
Dr Sarah Upson
Tuesday 6 June 2023
Many parts of the body cannot effectively renew and repair themselves, for various reasons. This is where tissue engineering and regenerative medicine could step in; to repair, replace or renew tissues in the body.
These techniques may sound futuristic, but they are increasingly being used to change our approach to medicine and aging. New 3D-printed biomaterials can be implanted into the body, enabling tissue re-growth or the complete replacement of damaged tissues.
Join Dr Sarah Upson, an expert in biomaterials at Bournemouth University, to discover the latest research and what these new technologies could mean for medicine and society.
Mind-reading machines
Dr Géza Gergely Ambrus
Tuesday 2 May 2023
Join us to discover the latest advances in neuroscience and the possibility of creating machines that can read human minds.
Dr Géza Gergely Ambrus will explore how machine learning algorithms could decode brain activity and reconstruct subjective experiences, and what this might mean for fields such as neuroprosthetics and brain-computer interfaces.
We will consider how this research could help us understand how humans think, but also raise important ethical questions about the potential use of such technologies to access our innermost thoughts and memories.
This talk is suitable for anyone interested in neuroscience, artificial intelligence, or the ethics of technology.
Improving Disaster Management with Social Science
Professor Lee Miles and Martin Travers
Tuesday 4 April 2023
African countries are increasingly vulnerable to disasters of all kinds and must urgently enhance their abilities and capacities to deal with these hazards. We learned how social science research could help improve disaster management in Africa using innovative Single Points of Failure approaches and partnerships with local stakeholders. We heard how African countries have embraced new technology and how disaster management can even take place over WhatsApp!
Lee Miles, Professor of Crisis and Disaster Management at Bournemouth University and Martin Travers, a highly experienced practitioner who has worked in Sierra Leone, to hear both academic and practical perspectives.
Emotion and its effects on spatial memory
Dr Tara Zaksaite
Tuesday 7 March 2023
Spatial memory is our ability to remember where things are, for example remembering where you put down your keys, or where you met a friend. Interestingly, our spatial memory is stronger when we have an emotional connection to a place or object.
But do we better remember things with positive associations or negative? And can we turn this around and use the power of emotions to improve our spatial memory?
Dr Tara Zaksaite, a cognitive psychologist and a lecturer in psychology at Bournemouth University, explored how your spatial memory works.
Challenging news negativity
Dr Antje Glück
Tuesday 7 February 2023
Why can the news feel so overwhelmingly negative, and what can we do about it?
There's no doubt that serious news needs to be handled appropriately, but can the widespread doom and gloom cause us to switch off?
Dr Antje Glück discussed why the news is biased towards negativity, and how alternative models of journalism can create better news for all of us.
2022
Understanding emotional wellbeing
Dr Laura Renshaw-Vuillier
This event took place online on Tuesday 13 December 6:30pm
Society tells us that we should always try to be happy. But life isn’t perfect and expecting constant happiness can actually be unhealthy.
Negative emotions, like sadness or anger, are a normal part of life – we all experience these. The problem arises when we try to suppress them in order to only feel ‘happy’ emotions. In doing so, negative emotions paradoxically become more overwhelming, and we might turn to harmful behaviours to make us feel better.
In this talk we’ll explore practical tips, based on research, to help us better understand, accept and manage our emotions. This talk will also briefly touch on eating disorders and the role of emotions on these conditions.
Please note: this talk will explore research in the area of emotions, but it is not an intervention or treatment. You should seek advice elsewhere if you think you need help.
How volunteering can boost your wellbeing
Dr Danni Liang & Dr Daisy Fan
Tuesday 1 November 2022
Engaging in community activities not only helps others but can help you too. Bournemouth University researchers Dr Danni Liang and Dr Daisy Fan measured the impact of engaging in the work of Grounded Community, a local Boscombe charity, on volunteers and discovered that being involved in community activities boosted their health and wellbeing.
Join us to learn more about this ongoing research, the Grounded Community project and what engaging in other community projects could do for you.
Digital healthcare for LGBTQ+ communities in Africa
Dr Festus Adedoyin
Tuesday 4 October 2022
In Nigeria, LGBTQ+ people are often criminalised and discriminated against, meaning they are less likely to seek medical help despite suffering higher rates of HIV/AIDS, mental health conditions and other problems. To tackle this problem, Dr Festus Adedoyin is developing a digital solution to provide safer access to healthcare, working with NGOs, social workers and people across the medical field on a confidential and secure online platform.
Join us to discover the challenges and rewards of developing a digital solution in a complex social situation.
How can cities cope with climate change?
Dr Ediz Akçay
Tuesday 6 September 2022
Explore how major cities in Japan and Turkey have adapted to improve their resilience to the effects of climate change.
Autism - from 'acceptance' to celebration
Dr Rachel Moseley
Tuesday 5 July 2022
Autism is a stigmatised and poorly understood condition, plagued by stereotypes and misconceptions. Merging her neuroscientific expertise and lived experience, Dr Rachel Moseley will explain what autism is (and what it isn’t!), and consider how different models of disability affect how we see autism and autistic people.
We'll explore new research that suggests that many of the difficulties faced by autistic people may result from a 'disconnect' when people with different minds and brains interact with one another, and when someone with a minority type of brain lives in a world not designed for them.
Green Recovery: what should we be doing post pandemic?
Professor Rick Stafford
Tuesday 14 June 2022
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments promised a 'Green Recovery' - setting a new course for the economy to bounce back from the pandemic while addressing the impending climate crisis, pollution and biodiversity loss. Others suggested Green New Deals, to tackle social problems at the same time.
But amid wars, spiralling inflation and a cost-of-living crisis - have these aims now been forgotten?
Join Bournemouth University's Professor Rick Stafford to explore what really works to address social and environmental concerns, and discover that not all Green New Deals are equal.
Deep breathing to lower blood pressure
Malika Felton
Tuesday 1 March 2022
High blood pressure affects around 1 in 3 adults in the UK and is a major risk factor for conditions such as heart failure and stroke. There are many treatments available, but deep and slow breathing could also help, with research suggesting that just ten minutes a day could reduce blood pressure with lasting effects. Join us to discover more and try out slow and deep breathing for yourself.
A Shallow Gene Pool - Red Squirrels in the South of England
Dr Emilie Hardouin
Tuesday 1 February 2022
The red squirrel is an enduring symbol of British wildlife but survives in the South of England only on islands – the Isle of Wight and in Poole Harbour. Join Dr Emilie Hardouin to discover what genetics can tell us about where these last surviving populations came from, and how they can be protected from extinction.
2021
Wildfires and Us
Dr Marin Cvitanovic
Tuesday 7 December 2021
Every year wildfires engulf 3.4 million square kilometres of Earth’s surface – approximately the size of India. These fires have massive economic, social and environmental impacts and, due to climate change, are expected to increase in the future. However, wildfires are also a naturally occurring global phenomenon that many ecosystems depend on. Join us to discover how scientific research at Bournemouth University could fill in some of the gaps in this complicated relationship between humans and wildfires.
Climate change and coastal flooding – relocate before it’s too late?
Dr Lucina Esteves
Tuesday 2 November 2021
For an increasing number of people, coastal flooding and erosion are a real threat to property, the local economy and, in some cases, life. With the effects of climate change, this threat is quickly growing. Should coastal communities at risk be relocated before they are forced from their homes? Or could engineering and nature-based solutions provide the defences they need? Join us to discover the challenges faced by coastal communities in an uncertain climate furture, and what society could do to adress them.
Improving children’s mental health through movement
Dr Ashok Patnaik
Tuesday 5 October 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened children’s mental health, which was already in decline. Researchers have observed increased levels of anxiety, depression and other psychological distress. However, children with poor mental health do not always receive the support they need from schools and mental health services.
Stormbreak is a new programme that combines simple, fun movements with well-being techniques such as talking therapies and mindfulness, to help children care for their mental health. Join us to discover what happened when Stormbreak was trialled in several local schools, and where it could go next.
The Ixchel skeleton and the mystery of America’s early settlers
Dr Samuel Rennie
Tuesday 7 September 2021
The skeleton of a young woman, dated to almost 10,000 years old, was recently discovered by divers in Mexico. Her bones hint towards a short, hard life and raise questions about the first settlers to America.
The Ixchel skeleton, or Chan Hol 3, is one of the oldest skeletons on the American continent. What makes her stand out, though, is that she was healing from three traumatic skull injuries. Analysing her skull, and comparing it to others found in the area, led researchers to discover what might be a new group of humans. Join us to help unravel the mystery of America’s earliest settlers.
What has lockdown taught us about digital nature and wellbeing?
Dr Sue Thomas and Dr Hiroko Oe
Tuesday 6 July 2021
In 2013 Dr Sue Thomas spoke at Cafe Sci about her book "Technobiophilia". At that time, when ‘digital detoxing’ was popular, the idea of using technology to experience nature seemed transgressive. But the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that experiencing the natural world via our computers, phones and TVs can contribute to wellbeing in many ways. Whether it's watching animals on live-streaming webcams, sharing beautiful photos, or viewing nature programmes like Blue Planet, we have learned how to achieve a satisfying tech/nature balance. Dr Sue Thomas asks whether COVID-19 will change our view of digital nature and Dr Hiroko Oe reports from a Japanese perspective.
Predicting a post-Covid-19 economic future
Dr Festus Adedoyin
Tuesday 1 June 2021
Amidst the noise and confusion of the present, new scientific tools enable us to forecast the future. Advanced machine learning algorithms are tracing what the future could look like for countries with high death rates from Covid-19 and their potential for economic recovery. Comparing the UK with other similar economies like the United States, what can we learn, and is there anything we can do differently?
Are the world's ecosystems about to collapse?
Professor Adrian Newton
Tuesday 4 May 2021
Figures including David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg have recently drawn attention to the risks of ecosystem collapse. But what do we know about this process? What might cause an ecosystem to collapse, and what are the consequences? Join us to review our current understanding of ecosystem collapse, and how it relates to subsequent ecological recovery, drawing on examples from throughout Earth's history.
Restoring our Rivers – Removing Barriers to Fish Migration
Dr Catherine Gutmann Roberts
Tuesday 2 March
The barriers that once enabled major industry along the UK’s longest river may pose problems for fish that need to migrate up and downstream. Researchers from Bournemouth University have investigated how these weirs, locks and other infrastructure affect fish migration along the River Severn - and what could happen if they were removed. Join us to find out how our rivers might be restored to let fish to swim freely once more.
How does stress affect our diet?
Karim Khaled
Tuesday 2 February
We all know the importance of maintaining a healthy diet, but do our stress levels affect what we eat? Everyone will have their own experience, so BU researcher Karim Khaled has reviewed the research to get a clearer picture, focusing on women aged 18-49 and investigating what differences there might be between Europe, America and the Middle East.
2020
Discovering the world's first farmers
Dr Sarah Elliott
Tuesday 1 December
Around twelve thousand years ago in the Middle East, the course of human civilisation changed forever - human hunter-gatherers became fully-fledged farmers, trading their small campsites for settled villages. But why? Why did it happen there and why then? Archaeological evidence is often limited or poorly preserved, so researcher Dr Sarah Elliott is looking closer, studying the microscopic traces people and animals left behind to try to solve one of the great mysteries of human history.
Hydrotherapy for learning disabilities
Carrie Tbaily
Tuesday 3 November
Researcher Carrie Tbaily is bringing her ten years of experience as a physiotherapist into the world of research, as she investigates the potential of hydrotherapy for people with learning disabilities. Join us to discover what a learning disability is and how this group of people is extremely diverse. We’ll also look at what current research can and can’t tell us about hydrotherapy, and how Carrie’ intends to shape her research plans to fill those gaps.
Revealing the secrets of ancient Egypt through Bioarchaeology
Dr Christina Stantis
Tuesday 6 October 2020
Ancient texts recount an invasion of ancient Egypt by the Hyksos, sweeping in from the northeast on chariots with innovative bronze weaponry, but is that what really happened? Modern archaeological techniques are changing the way we view this enigmatic 15th Dynasty of ancient Egypt – the first time Egypt came under foreign rule. Join us to discover how scientific research at BU is revealing an ancient, interconnected world.
There is no one quite like you: getting practical with your genetic uniqueness
Dr Anna Mantzouratou
Tuesday 1 Sept 2020
We are all unique, shaped by our genetic inheritance and the environment we live in. We all look different, not just clones of our parents. But with advances in genetics research and diagnosis, we are finding out that this uniqueness goes deeper. Each of us carries a unique genetic code that can influence our reactions to life events, such as the risk of certain diseases, how we respond to stress or our ability to have children. Discover the latest research in personalised genetics from BU and join us to discuss what it means on a personal level and how we can cope with knowing this information about ourselves.
The Dark Side of Personalisation: AI, Voice Recognition and Beyond
Ediz Akcay
Tuesday 3 March 2020
“I’m afraid I cannot do that…” - a famous line from 2001: A Space Odyssey, in which the AI software HAL rebels to take control of the spaceship. We are now far beyond the year 2001 and we already have our own AI-supported voice recognition devices in our pockets, houses, and cars, used by adults and children alike. Luckily, they do not rebel against our commands - yet. These devices bring advantages in convenience and accessibility, playing a song has never been easier, but at what cost? Join us to discuss the ethics of the many new ways that companies listen to, track and store information about us using voice recognition and AI.
Crooked picture frames and ageing of perception
Dr Sharon Docherty
Tuesday 4 February 2020
How we experience the environment around us involves the brain combining information from our different sensory systems. Something as ‘simple’ as staying upright involves signals from our inner ears, joints and eyes. Join us to discover how our perception of upright changes throughout our lifetime, and how different medical conditions can affect this. It may also make you reconsider whether your picture frames are straight.
2019
The secret information hidden in your hair
Dr Richard Paul
Tuesday 3 December 2019
As we go about our daily lives our hair is recording evidence of what we consume and of the environments we are exposed to. It can record how much you drink, whether you smoke or take drugs, or live or work in an environment where drug abuse is prevalent. Join us to learn about the technology used to analyse hair, and how it can be used in criminal cases, to investigate drug-facilitated crime, monitor alcohol consumption, and assess the exposure of prison guards to new psychoactive substances in UK prisons.
Hidden stories of online gamblers
Dr Elvira Bolat
Tuesday 5 November 2019
The stereotype of the problem gambler no longer holds true - digital connectivity means we are all now exposed to online gambling and the risk of addiction. Discover how platforms use artificial intelligence, targeted advertising and behavioural science to keep gamblers hooked – and how you can avoid falling prey to these tools.
The changing face of crime: how can we improve the recognisability of facial composites?
Dr Emma Portch
Tuesday 1 October 2019
Facial composites are computerised visual likenesses, constructed by witnesses and victims of crime, and released via the media in the hope that someone will recognise the constructed individual. While some composites are fairly accurate reconstructions that generate important investigative leads, others appear comical and may detract from the seriousness of the offence (who remembers the Cheshire Cat Burglar?). Join us to explore how psychologists can work with the police to improve the quality of composite images, have a go at recognising ‘celebrity’ composites and test your ability to generate accurate facial descriptions.
Eye tracking as a window to the mind
Dr Tim Slattery
Tuesday 3 September 2019
The movements of your eyes can reveal a lot about what you’re thinking. Join us to discover how researchers at Bournemouth University are studying eye moment, in order to understand the mental processes behind everyday tasks, such as reading and navigation. Alongside a talk, we’ll have interactive demonstrations to show what state of the art eye tracking technology is capable of. We’ll discuss how eye tracking is already being used and what the future may hold when eye tracking becomes more widespread, even embedded in our personal devices.
Can you save a life? Exploring the quality of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) delivered by bystanders
Debora Almeida
Tuesday 2 July 2019
Cardiac arrest is a sudden stop of the heart due to electrical failure and is a potentially reversible medical emergency yet, if untreated, it can lead to death within minutes. Every year in the UK, around 30,000 people receive resuscitation for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, with survival rates ranging between 2-12%. High quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is crucial in generating circulation to vital organs during cardiac arrest. However, it has been demonstrated that the quality of CPR delivered by a lay person, first aiders and highly-trained-rescuers is often inadequate, inconsistent and with excessive interruption, resulting in reduced chances of survival. This talk will highlight some of the research taking place at BU into the use of real-time-feedback to improve the retention and quality of CPR skills. You will have the opportunity to learn a bit more about the equipment and practice your CPR skills.
Can you save a life? We think so…
“All my life is in my telephone”: The lived media experiences of unaccompanied refugee children in Europe
Dr Annamária Neag
Tuesday 4 June 2019
By 2018, more than 80,000 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children were registered in the EU. That’s half of Bournemouth’s population. Refugee children pose considerable policy challenges, with their integration being of utmost importance. Studies show that refugee children have IT skills; however, they lack the ability to make critical media choices. This talk will present a research project that investigated how unaccompanied refugee children use digital technology and social media across four European countries – the Netherlands, Sweden, Italy and the UK. Media literacy education is one of the tools that could empower young refugees to become active citizens. We’ll discuss how these findings can assist in developing media literacy to encourage refugee children’s civic participation.
Pier Review: What does the future hold for British Seaside Piers?
Dr Anya Chapman
Tuesday 7 May 2019
Victorian seaside pleasure piers are unique to the British coast but this is important part of the country's heritage is under threat: in the early 20th century nearly 100 piers graced the UK coastline, but almost half have now gone. This session will chart the development of British seaside pleasure piers: from their beginnings as humble landing stages through to the 'golden age' of pier building. We'll also be looking at the current rejuvenation of piers, like Bournemouth, and how they are embracing the future. Come along and gain a unique insight into the past, present and future of piers, share your own memories of seaside piers, and let us know your hopes for their future.
The last one standing: Journalism for science democratisation in the post-truth era
Associate Professor An Nguyen
Tuesday 2 April 2019
The recent increase in scientific discoveries, not only offers hope for human fears and longings but also confronts fundamental aspects of life and long-accepted social and moral values. Without proper mechanisms for citizens of democratic societies to be meaningfully informed and to voice concerns over scientific advancements, they may find themselves stripped of the right to shape the science that shapes their lives. Ironically, the pace of science is too fast for citizens to follow, let alone have a voice. This talk first explores why science democratisation is the only way to tackle the growing science-society gap, which has been a catalyst for anti-intellectual and anti-science populist politics around the world. It will then examine why decades of ardent efforts by science institutions to close this gap have failed. Finally, demonstrate why and how science journalism, despite its many faults, may be the last candidate to fulfil this task.
I know what you did last summer: New persistent tracking mechanisms used in the wild
Dr Alexios Mylonas
Tuesday 5 March 2019
As the use of the Internet increases, so do the threats an everyday user faces. One of the most common Internet threats is web tracking, which enables an entity to gain unauthorised access to a user’s personal data while the user is browsing the web, thus violating user privacy. Over the years, many client storage technologies, such as cookies, have been used for this purpose and have been extensively studied. This talk will focus on three newer client storage mechanisms; Web Storage, Web SQL Database and IndexedDB. Presenting the results from a large-scale analysis of their usage, which examined the extent they are used for tracking purposes, we’ll discuss whether popular browsers for desktops (Firefox & Chrome) and mobile devices (smartphones & tablets) protect their users from trackers that use Web Storage, Web SQL Database and IndexedDB.
A ‘wicked challenge’: supporting our students’ learing with new technologies
Heidi Singleton, Liz Falconer and Debbie Holley.
Supported by BU learning technologists Dave Hunt and Stephen Pyne
Tuesday 5 February 2019
Education is changing – but what does this look like in practice? At Bournemouth University we are responding to research that considers how teachers of the future will work with their classes. What does the future of learning hold for students? Drawing upon examples from fields as diverse as archaeology and nursing, we will showcase recent innovations supporting student learning inside and outside their physical classroom. Later, the session will be interactive and you can take part by downloading the google cardboard ‘app’ for free, and join us in trying out different scenarios. We will have phones and cardboards for you to try out so don’t worry if you don’t have a phone. All welcome, and no technical skills needed.
2018
The physiology of living life to the extreme
Dr Rebecca Rendell
Tuesday 4 December 2018
Is the original secret to the domination of the human race simply physiology? Our body goes through a lot every day, but can it endure a whole lot more: from surviving life on the ice-caps to performing extraordinary feats of endurance in the desert, we can adapt to almost anything. This talk will explore how our bodies respond to extreme environments, the risks we face and how we might manipulate these scenarios to our advantage.
Working together: When your mind is in my mind
Dr Xun He
Tuesday 6 November 2018
Human beings are evolutionary shaped social animals. We often play and work together either independently or aiming at common goals. Have you ever wondered, when we are engaged in group activities, whether we perform everyday tasks in the same way as we do them alone? Recent findings in psychology showed that one person’s cognition and behaviour (such as attention, memory, perception, and action) can be shaped by another person who performs similar tasks in the same environment. But the answer to the question is more complicated than a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’. This talk will introduce these findings and explain the theories behind the phenomena. You will see psychological experiments in action and be engaged with some tests and discussions.
Bournemouth Café Scientifique is turning 6 on Tuesday 2 October. To celebrate we have a fantastic talk from Dr Curie Scott about changing our attitudes to ageing. We’ll also have Birthday Brownies!
Dr Curie Scott – Facing our future self
Tuesday 2 October 2018
One in five people alive today will reach their 100th birthday. You are going to grow old but have you thought about it? Ageing is a taboo subject and older people are often stereotyped and overlooked. Dr Curie Scott invited people over 60 and students from Health & Social Care professional courses to four drawing workshops. Come and hear how drawing about ageing made a startling difference to their current lives. In terms of ageing, we cannot separate ourselves from our future older self, however much we want to do so. ‘They’ are the ‘we’ of the future.
‘Invisible Presence’: Women, STEMM, and News and Popular Culture
Dr Shelley Thompson & Alexandra Alberda
Tuesday 4 September 2018
What does expertise in STEMM subjects (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine) look like? Who are our experts in these fields? When we look at representation of expertise in narratives about STEMM in popular culture and news, women are virtually absent. This session explores the power of media representation and specifically the representation of STEMM in news and popular culture and asks us collectively to consider what role media can and should play in addressing the under representation of women in STEMM.
Why sharks prevent climate change: the need for a new view of ocean management
Professor Rick Stafford
Tuesday 3 July 2018
Unlike other animals we eat, fish generally eat other fish, and sharks are right at the top of the food chain. Our exploitation of ocean resources for food (or even for prestige and status in the case of shark fins) has drastically changed the ecology of the oceans. In this Café Scientifique, we will explore ways to manage the ocean that go beyond the simple ‘Maximum Sustainable Yield’ concept of fisheries management. It will examine the connections between what lives in the sea, and the vital role the ocean plays in protecting the planet; and you will learn why sharks and whales are key players in the fight against climate change.
The power of bubbles
Nikhil Mistry
Tuesday 5 June 2018
The interaction of gas bubbles, in liquids, with sound is of great interest to us. Bubbles generate sounds in the ocean that can help understand the rate of gas transfer between the atmosphere and sea while also confounding sonar in shallow waters. Bubble acoustics has a number of powerful applications in the ocean, industry, medicine and defence. This talk will cover a few of the applications, with particular focus on recent research into novel sonar techniques to improve active sonar in bubble-filled environments.
Keeping your fingers crossed for a healthy old age?
Dr Clare Killingback
Tuesday 1 May 2018
The good news is that staying physically active as we age has the potential to improve out health and well-being. The bad news is that many of us are not active enough to reach those gains and become even more inactive the older we get. Some types of exercise have been more successful in helping older people stay active. One example is community-based group exercise programmes. Dr Killingback spent three years studying why some of these programmes seem to work so well. Come and see the findings for yourself to understand how we can help older people engage in a more active lifestyle so they can ‘use it rather than lose it’.
Connecting women and vocation: Understanding the story after war
Dr Varuni Wimalasiri
Tuesday 3 April 2018
Women’s experience of war is unique. They often have to hold onto caring duties for their families and are generally more vulnerable than men during their passage to safety. Their experiences during war shape their behaviour during resettlement and often they take on empowered roles in peace-building and regeneration. This is also evident on how they use work to reclaim their lives. The post-war work in Sri-Lanka is a good example where empowering women’s livelihoods and work lives have borne fruit for entire communities. Varuni Wimalasiri will talk about two case examples from her work with Palmera in Sri-Lanka and her current project ‘Woman’s Work’ on resettlement, women and their work-lives in the UK.
BRANES – Building Resilience and Awareness through Neuropsychology Education in Society
Dr Shanti Shanker
Tuesday 6 March 2018
The BRANES project is built on a previous project that used creative workshops (using graffiti) in adults diagnosed with dementia and their care partners. One of the aims of this project is to increase awareness of the role neuropsychology can play in overcoming the effects of certain conditions (e.g. stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, brain injury, dementia) in the general public. Join us at Cafe Scientifique where Dr. Shanker will share background, rationale and the outcomes of this project.
Conserving biodiversity in a dynamic world: Are we spending conservation resources wisely?
Dr Phillipa Gillingham
Tuesday 6 February 2018
Not all species are found everywhere: polar bears have evolved to live in arctic conditions, whilst sloths live in the tropics. Recent climate change has caused many species to change their distributions to try and track suitable conditions. However, efforts to conserve and protect species generally concentrate on designating and managing protected areas for them, of which the borders do not move. Does this mean that protected areas are a waste of time and money given that the climate is likely to continue to change and species are going to continue to track new living conditions? Come along to Cafe Scientifique to find out.
2017
How well can you hang a picture frame?
Dr Sharon Docherty
Tuesday 7 February 2017
‘It’s just the way it is: why humans doubt facts if they contrast belief’
Dr Darren G. Lilleker
Tuesday 7 March 2017
Going for Gold! 3D Scanning and 3D Printing of Ancient and Modern Jewellery: The Law and Technology
Professor Dinusha Mendis
Tuesday 4 April 2017
“Be quiet! You will wake up Alexa!” – Ethical and Legal Implications of Human-Machine Interaction in the era of Social Robots
Dr Argyro Karanasiou
Tuesday 2 May 2017
New Zealand frogs – The ancient weirdos of the amphibian World!
Professor Phil Bishop, University of Otago
Tuesday 6 June 2017
Let’s talk about genetics
Research assistant Ayesha Pyke
Tuesday 4 July 2017
‘All eyes on inflammation in age-related macular degeneration’
Professor Jessica Teeling, University of Southampton
Tuesday 5 September 2017
Breathe your way into balance
PGR Francesco Ferraro
Tuesday 3 October 2017
Is it okay for us to comment on Paralympic coverage?
Dr Carrie Hodges
Tuesday 7 November 2017
BU’s Health and Migration Research in Nepal
Professor Edwin Van Teijlingen
Tuesday 5 December 2017
2016
Finding your way: Understanding how environments can influence navigational abilities
Mary O’Malley, Bournemouth University Dementia Institute
Tuesday 7 July 2016
Sex, Violence and Popular Culture
Dr. William Proctor
Tuesday 5 July 2016
Are you a digital addict?
Dr John McAlaney, Bournemouth University
Tuesday 6 September 2016
Getting drunk with 302 brain cells – what we learn from a worm?
Prof Lindy Holden-Dye, Southampton University
Tuesday 4 October 2016
Antibiotic Resistance: Urban Myth or Zombie Apocalypse?
Dr Liz Sheridan, Poole Hospital
Tuesday 1 November 2016
Would you have your genome sequenced?
Dr Catherine Mercer, University Hospital Southampton and Dr Frank Ratcliff, Wessex Academic Health Science Network.
Tuesday 6 December 2016
