News

Earthly opinions

(10 March 2005)

The next session in a highly successful programme of informal scientific debates will take place on Tuesday 15th March when philosopher Mary Midgely holds a talk on the different views of the earth throughout history.

Her talk, entitled, ‘Changing Visions of The Earth’, is part of the Café Scientifique programme organised by Queen’s Campus, Stockton, and will consider how our culture has too often viewed the earth with distaste as alien and dangerous, essentially opposed to Heaven. During the discussion, ideas will be presented on how we still haven’t got it all right. Early Christians, living in a confused and threatening age, taught detachment from earth and concentration on the afterlife. And enlightenment sages still did not really see humans as part of the earthly biosphere but rather as pure minds, observing and controlling the earth in their own interests.

Mary is a philosopher who has been described as “one of the finest thinkers in the English language”. Mary has also written many books on the relation between humans and the rest of nature, the best-known of which are Beast and Man and Science as Salvation. She was formerly Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Newcastle on Tyne. The event will take place at Arc, Dovecot Street, Stockton-on-Tees, on Tuesday 15th March at 7.45pm for 8pm start. Admission is free, although attendees are invited to make a small contribution towards expenses. Please ask for a ticket at the booking office to enable Arc to know how many people are in the Point theatre.

Cafe Scientifique is a monthly conversation concerning current issues in science and technology. The aim of each event is to create a free exchange of ideas between a range of specialist speakers and the general public. A background in science is not necessary and anyone, from sixth formers to senior citizens, can engage with an expert about the latest ideas and trends in a relaxed cafe setting. The invited specialist speakers are leaders in their field and are open to conversation - not just about technical details but also about the impact of science and technology upon communities and the world.

The events are a project of John Snow College, one of the University of Durham’s two colleges at Queen’s Campus in Stockton. Martin Dancey, Development Officer at John Snow College, said: “The whole aim of Café Scientifique is to give people of all walks of life and all age groups a chance to think about how science and technology impacts upon 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.”

The Cafe Scientifique programme runs until July 2005 and a wide range of expert speakers and fascinating topics are scheduled for the coming months. On Tuesday 19th April, Roger Williams, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in Stockton will discuss the relative responsibilities of genes and environment in the causation of a range of childhood conditions. Full details of the 2005 programme can be viewed at:www.cafesci-stockton.org.uk

Media enquiries to: Public Relations Office, University of Durham. Tel: 0191 334 6078 or e-mail t.p.fennelly@durham.ac.uk