Tag - Aston University
Experts & the public head to Aston University to take on ageing
Experts from around the UK are at Aston University today to exchange ideas as part of a one-day conference tackling ageing. The conference is organised by Aston Research Centre for Healthy Ageing (ARCHA), which is led by New Optimist Dr Roslyn Bill.
She says: “This showcase is about exchanging ideas, as well as looking for practical solutions to a major challenge for all of us. We hope those who attend will go away having been inspired after hearing about the huge amount of cutting edge research carried out here at Aston University.
At ARCHA, we’ve always said that we want our research to have real impact on the lives of older adults. We are keen for the public to come along to see what we are doing, and also so we can find out what matters to them. If we don’t know what affects their lives we can’t help them as well. We are looking for volunteers, and there will be opportunities to take part in our many research studies.”
As well as Roslyn, other New Optimists involved in leading this event include Helen Griffiths, Julia King, Peter Lambert, James Wolffsohn, Brian Tighe and Robert Berry.
You can read more about the event here. Look out for our interview with Roslyn Bill very soon.
Gareth Griffiths on why understanding plant molecules matters
It may seem bizarre that a biochemist interested in plants at a molecular level works closely with engineers. But that’s exactly what Dr Gareth Griffiths does at Aston University.
Plants, Gareth tells me, fix 100 billion tons of carbon dioxide and water into cellulose each year through photosynthesis. Indeed if the sugar generated on planet Earth each year could be made into sugar cubes it would extend to one of the Solar system’s outer bodies, Pluto!
Plants are also ble to synthesis the vast array of complex molecules including DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids and other carbohydrates from the primary products of carbon dioxide fixation.
So it is that Nature already has the answers for synthesising complex molecules —but then it has had several billion years to make the process effective.
By contrast, humans have only been utilising their understanding of organic chemistry for the past few hundred years. We have a lot of catching up to do!
And in understanding the fundamental processes by which plants are able to make such complex molecules, we may, in turn, be able to mimic it, hopefully in a simpler and cost effective way, to generate products of value to society.
For example, plants produce molecules to defend themselves against pathogen attack. At Aston, Gareth and his colleagues have looked at the features of some of these molecules and generated simpler molecular mimics which may have potential use as ‘green’ fungicides
The New Optimists Recommend Science Books: Ann Vernallis on science themed memoirs
It’s time for another list of recommended books from one of the New Optimists, in the next instalment of our series. Today, Ann Vernallis from Aston University praises a collection of memoirs which are about science or medicine as much as they are about humanity.
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The New Optimists Recommend Science Books: Peter Lambert on books about microbes and medicine
Next in our series of book recommendations from the New Optimists, Peter Lambert – Professor of Microbiology at Aston University – suggests a selection of science books covering microbes, malaria, medicine and much more.
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New Optimist Ian Nabney on BVI and other weighty matters
New Optimist Professor Ian Nabney is a computer scientist, so not someone you’d automatically think of when it comes to medical and health issues.
He’s an expert in probability theory and machine learning. And that expertise has proved key to a radical new way of measuring the risks associated with obesity.
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Harvard research – it’s a brain of two halves?
Research conducted at Harvard has concluded that the pattern of inherited characteristics – known as imprinting – may account for some of the perceived differences between male and female brains.
This follows on from Gina Rippon‘s recent article where she suggests there are more similarities than differences
Continue reading “Harvard research – it’s a brain of two halves?”
Aston praised by Beeb at British Science Festival
British Science Festival 2010 may be over, but sifting through the reportage has revealed praise from the BBC for Aston University and its scientists.
In a blog about the festival, scientists from the university were praised for the “simplicity and enthusiasm” with which their research was put across to audiences.
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Meet the New Optimists – James Wolffsohn discusses restoring eye focus
Here’s our latest clip, which finds James Wolffsohn, one of the UK’s youngest Professors contemplates how research on restoring eye focus will benefit people, and why he wanted to be part of the project.
James also featured in the optometry blog ‘In the Hot Seat’ interview last year.
Meet the New Optimists – Tim Grant on forensic linguistics
In the next instalment of our round-up from the New Optimists launch event, we speak to Dr Tim Grant, a “natural optimist”, about the role forensic linguistics play in society.
Thank you…and there’s more!
A huge thanks to all of the guests who came to the launch event on Tuesday at the Botanical Gardens, and also to everyone who came to last night’s panel event at Aston University or came into Waterstone’s today for a chat about the book.
The support from the scientists and also from people interested in the book has been fantastic. We’d like to ask if you could help spread the word by blogging and tweeting about The New Optimists and telling all your friends about your enthusiasm for the project.
There are some more events coming up too…Kate is being interviewed by Carl Chinn on Sunday September 26th at 12.30pm on BBC Radio WM, and then three scientists featured in the book will be talking at Lichfield Literature Festival on Saturday October 9th at 3.45pm.