Ice cream, grandparents and the causes and prevention of cancer are the themes of a series of free public lectures starting next week by Bristol University academics. These talks are aimed especially at a non-scientific audience. 

At the first talk [February 2], Why are grandparents so important?
Mr John Barrett, Department of Experimental Psychology, will outline recent research in psychological and brain development.  He will also discuss how grandparents and grandchildren influence each other’s brains, intelligence and health. What do they think about each other? What do cultural comparisons tell us? How are grandparents important for teenage and adult grandchildren?

Did you know that one in three people will develop cancer at some time in their life but that about 50 per cent of cancers are preventable? Causes and prevention of cancer, on February 16, will explain what cancer is and give examples of what causes cancer and how some cancers in rare conditions can be inherited.  Chris Paraskeva, Professor of Experimental Oncology, will also discuss possible ways of reducing the chance of developing cancer.

Finally, on March 2, Dr Peter Barham, Reader in Physics, will talk about Ice cream delights, with demonstrations and tastings to help explain the physical principles involved in producing high quality ice cream.

Dr Barham said: “People coming to this talk will learn the delights of ice cream and get to sample ice cream made in close to world record time.”

The interactive talks, organised by the University’s Public Programmes Office, take place in The Royal National Institute for the Blind, Activity Room Two, 10 Still House Lane, Bedminster, on Wednesdays from 1 to 2 pm.

No pre-booking is necessary and members of the audience are welcome to bring their sandwiches.