One of science's most compelling communicators, Professor Steve
Jones will deliver the seventh BioCity Nottingham Annual Lecture to
an audience of over 150 guests on Thursday 8th October 2009.
In what is anticipated to be a lively and entertaining
presentation, the award-winning geneticist will argue that the
signs show, at least in the developed world for now, that human
evolution has slowed down or stopped. His thesis will therefore
raise many questions about man's ability to adapt to future
challenges such as climate change, and to the social and
environmental impact of technology.
Speaking ahead of his visit to Nottingham, Steve Jones,
Professor of Genetics at University College London (UCL) says: "It
will give me great pleasure to deliver the Annual Lecture this year
at BioCity. Somehow we must all get a better grasp of how we humans
have evolved and how a slowing of that evolution could affect us.
Given BioCity's pre-eminence in the life science and bioscience
field I know my audience will be ready to engage in a robust and
thoughtful debate."
Dr Glenn Crocker, BioCity Nottingham CEO is looking forward to
welcoming Professor Jones to this prestigious event in the
scientific calendar. "Demand for places at this year's Annual
Lecture has been overwhelming which goes to show how popular Steve
Jones is. Many people know him for his talks on BBC Radio as well
as lectures around the UK. His accessible style and ability to
explain complex science will be well-received and appreciated by
our guests."
Among the audience at this year's BioCity Lecture will be
leading scientists from across the East Midlands, life science
company entrepreneurs, academics, college and school students.
Nottingham's status as a Science City, together with the City
region's reputation as a life sciences centre of excellence
continue to attract researchers, companies engaged in both research
and commercialization and inward investors. Professor Jones' visit
will bring further inspiration to this growing and influential
bioscience network.
Sponsoring the Annual Lecture, and keen to promote healthcare
growth and developments, are Boots UK and the East Midlands
Healthcare and Bioscience iNet.
Simon McCandlish, Boots the Chemists Director of Consumer
Healthcare & Pharmacy welcomes the event.
"As chemist to the nation, Boots has always been at the
forefront of helping our customers to manage their health
pro-actively. We know that lifestyle and demographic trend
predictions bring with them fresh challenges for us to meet.
Challenges that we have a duty to be ready for. This lecture will
be an interesting opportunity to understand what the future may
bring, and how we need to respond to it."
"Is man fit to survive?" says Dr Ian Barr, Director of the East
Midlands Healthcare and Bioscience iNet. "It's an excellent
question to ask on the 150th anniversary of the publication of
Charles Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species', and Steve Jones is the
man to address it."
Enquiries about places at the BioCity Annual Lecture should be
made to Miranda Knaggs by email at m.knaggs@biocity.co.uk