We are continually developing our programme, seeking to provide sessions covering a variety of subjects by speakers who enjoy working with an audience that can be relied upon to ask many questions. Please use the comment form to let us know if you would like to lead a session for us.

Speakers can find guidelines to our preferred style here

  • Whatever have glial cells done for us?

    Online via Zoom

    Prof Nick Dale, Ted Pridgeon Professor of Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences University of Warwick. Nick studies chemical signalling in the central nervous system, with particular interests in: developing biosensor technologies to measure neurotransmitter release in real time, the control... Continue Reading →

  • AI in Visual Art

    Dr Aniko Ekart, Reader in Computer Science, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University The quest for machines capable of performing creative activities began with the invention of the computer. Producing aesthetically pleasing visual art is certainly one such creative activity.... Continue Reading →

  • The Climate and Money

    Café Scientifique member John Stott looks at evidence for the relationship between the climate problem and money. As an engineer, his initial reaction to the climate problem was to see it as problem about carbon pollution, so the way to... Continue Reading →

  • What is Engineering Education and does it work?

    Dr Rebecca Broadbent, Teaching Fellow, College of Engineering and Physical Science, Aston University Engineers have the power to shape the world and improve people’s lives, however engineering firms continue to warn of a shortage of engineers that poses a threat... Continue Reading →

  • Introduction to Quantum Computing

    St Patricks Irish Club 4 Adelaide Road, Leamington Spa

    Matija Pretnar, University of Ljubljana We often read in the media that quantum computers are fast because quantum superposition allows them to be in multiple states at once, enabling them to explore all the possible solutions in a single step.... Continue Reading →

  • Clinical Trials: Past, Present and Future

    St Patricks Irish Club 4 Adelaide Road, Leamington Spa

    Jon Bishop, Senior Biostatistician, Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit, University of Birmingham Clinical trials play a key role in advancing medicine and this has been reinforced during recent times due to the COVID19 pandemic. This talk will give the audience an... Continue Reading →

  • Vaccine Optimisation Technology

    St Patricks Irish Club 4 Adelaide Road, Leamington Spa

    Dr Phil Gould, Associate Head of School Enterprise and Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Coventry University Vaccines save millions of lives per year. Unquestionably, the current COVID-19 pandemic is a timely reminder of what can happen in a population that... Continue Reading →

  • The Fungal Kingdom

    St Patricks Irish Club 4 Adelaide Road, Leamington Spa

    Dr Rebecca Drummond, Birmingham Fellow, Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham Dr Drummond covers the size and scope of fungal species on Earth and how we use them in day-to-day life (e.g. production of alcohol, food and antibiotics),... Continue Reading →

  • Microplastic Pollution and its Detection

    St Patricks Irish Club 4 Adelaide Road, Leamington Spa

    Dr Katie Reilly, Research Fellow, University of Birmingham Microplastics are a pervasive pollutant globally, and have been found in all environments studied to date. However, the available data for microplastic ingestion and interaction with organisms in the environment is varied... Continue Reading →

  • Failing to Succeed

    St Patricks Irish Club 4 Adelaide Road, Leamington Spa

    The vital role of testing and failure in the development of products. How have famous and infamous failures enabled the development of new products and even new sciences. From the failure of the Comet aircraft to the wobbly Millennium bridge,... Continue Reading →