News

More on the menu at Caf� Scientifique

(13 September 2004)

After a very successful first season of a series of pioneering events aimed at engaging the local community in conversation about current issues in science and technology, there is something new on the menu at the University of Durham’s Queen’s Campus in Stockton.

Stockton Café Scientifique is one a growing network of Cafés Scientifiques throughout the UK and Europe aimed at bringing together a range of specialist speakers and the general public in a relaxed café setting.

The new programme of monthly conversations starts on Tuesday 21st September 2004 with a presentation and discussion about the importance of clean water and sanitation to public health.

Professor John Hamilton, Director of the Medical Curriculum at Queen’s Campus, will be exploring the question “Have We Advanced Since John Snow?” It is 150 years since Dr John Snow famously was reported to have removed the handle from the pump that was spreading cholera in London.

As well as being Queen Victoria’s obstetrician, the 19th century Yorkshire physician was a world-leading pioneer in anaesthesia, epidemiology and public health. One of the two University of Durham colleges at Queen’s Campus, Stockton, is named after John Snow who is regarded by many as one of the greatest of all doctors.

The September 21st. session at Café Scientifique takes place at The Point in the Arc, Dovecot Street, Stockton, starting at 8.00p.m. Professor Hamilton will examine how far public health has moved forward since Victorian times and the challenges faced in the world today.

From his experiences as a Member and Chairman of the World Health Organisation’s programme for the control of diarrhoeal diseases, he will speak about the factors that place diarrhoea, even in this age, as the second most common cause of death in children.

Other speakers lined up in the Café Scientifique programme which runs until July 2005 include Pete Edwards, Co-ordinator of the Science and Society Programme at the Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics University of Durham. He will look at what is actually holding the universe together on 19th October 2004.

On January 18th 2005 the University’s Vice Chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman will discuss the evolution of medical ethics over the last 50 years.

Details of the full programme for Café Scientifique are available at www.cafesci-stockton.org,uk. All sessions are free although those attending are invited to make a small contribution to cover costs.

Martin Dancey, Development Officer at John Snow College, said that after a very successful start-up programme which saw audiences increase from 45 to 85 people, the new programme has moved to a bigger and better venue with the Arc.

“The whole aim of Café Scientifique is to give people from all walks of life and all age groups a chance to think about how science and technology impacts on all aspects of life. It is done in an informal and relaxed atmosphere with all the jargon and technical talk stripped away. We want to encourage more people from within Stockton and surrounding communities to come along and join in the discussions,” said Martin.

For further information : contact Tom Fennelly, Public Relations Office, University of Durham, Tel 0191 334 6078 or e-mail : t.p.fennelly@durham.ac.uk.