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ARU launches first ever online science festival

Published: 29 May 2020 at 14:06

Running shoes

Seven free talks on topics from marathon running to the science of attraction

Have you ever wondered the secret to a marathon personal best? Or what makes people attractive to others? Or how to treat age as just a number?

Fortunately, you can delve a little deeper into these topics and many more with the help of experts from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), which is putting on its first ever online science festival.

The Talking Science series runs from 8-12 June and features prominent ARU researchers imparting their knowledge on a variety of different topics.

The talks are as follows:

• Brain computer music interfacing for meditation – 8-12 June, 10am-5pm. A workshop introducing research by Krisztián Hofstädter, which connects real-time EEG and generative music with neurofeedback to help meditation practices. Visitors can participate in a short audio meditation study.
• Developing artificial minds: Joint attention and robotics – 8 June, 2-3pm. Dr Mike Wilby on how social skills develop in children and adults, and how this can help develop artificial intelligence.
• Seeing through ‘older age’ – 9 June, 2-3pm. Dr Helga Hejny explores how society places limits on access to employment and financial services based on chronological age – regardless of physical and mental capabilities. Can we look beyond the number? 
• The sub 2-hour marathon: What does the future hold? – 9 June, 4-5pm. With the fastest ever marathon time of 1 hour, 59 minutes being set last October, Dr Dan Gordon examines just how this incredible time was possible.
• Because we are worth it! On new vision of gender roles in advertising – 10 June, 2-3pm. Dr Magdalena Zawisza examines how men and women have been portrayed in advertising, and why it matters.
• Sugar and spice and all things nice: A journey into taste sensors in the body – 11 June, 2pm. Scientists have discovered it’s not just our mouth that ‘tastes’ what we eat. Dr Havovi Chichger delves into the weird and wonderful locations in the body which can taste and considers how and why.
• Attraction explained: The science of how we form new relationships – 12 June, 2-3pm. Professor Viren Swami debunks modern myths of attraction and draws on cutting-edge research to provide a ground-breaking and evidence-based account of relationship formation.

All talks are free, but must be booked in advance at the relevant links above.

Miriam Berg, Public Engagement Officer at ARU, said:

“We are thrilled to be able to introduce our experts to the wider public, and these online talks give an opportunity for people to find out more about a range of fascinating subjects from the comfort of their own homes.”