Members of the public have the chance to meet four eminent scientists this Monday, December 1, at two different events.

Kathy Sykes, TV presenter and Professor in the Public Engagement in Science and Engineering at Bristol University, will chat with Robert Winston (life peer and fertility expert), Sydney Brenner (Nobel prize winner ) and Dr Trevor Hawkins, who has been a Director of a Genome Institute.  Kathy will ask them about how they got where they are, what they love and hate about their work and their hopes and fears for the future of genes in medicine.  The audience will have a chance to ask their own questions.

Professor Kathy Sykes, talking about the event, said: “I am really excited to have such distinguished people coming to talk here in Bristol with the public.  Robert Winston is up for revealing the dark secrets of how he got into the media and Sydney Brenner is a deeply funny bloke, as well as an astonishing scientist.  I’m really looking forward to it!”

Professor Sydney Brenner, added: “Many people assume they can do what they like to their bodies because medical science will come along and save them with a pill. Perhaps the most valuable thing we can do is create a new health paradigm where we’re all taught to look after our own individual bodies; those who have a genetic background that makes them more susceptible to a particular disease will have to take extra care.

“We should begin with finding ways of dealing with the growing problem of obesity. How can we change the eating habits of children today? Should society exercise greater control over what people eat? I think these questions require more thought than worrying about people trying to clone themselves.”

The event will take place from 12.30 to 2 pm at the IMAX Theatre,
At-Bristol, Anchor Road, Bristol.

 Later in the day, this distinguished panel will hold an open debate, entitled Genes, Medicine and Society, discussing what they think the future may hold for medicine, after the genetics revolution.  This will be held at 6 pm at Bristol University in the Great Hall, Wills Memorial Building, Queen’s Road, Bristol.  Again, there will be time for the public to enter the debate.

Both these events are free but places need to be requested in advance.  Please contact the Public Programmes Office, 8-10 Berkeley Square on tel 928 7172, fax 925 4975 or email cont-ed@bristol.ac.uk