The biggest name in Dundee’s scientific community will provide a fitting start to what promises to be the biggest and best celebration of science heading to the city.
Dundee’s role in beating some of the worst diseases will be highlighted next week before the Dundee Science Festival gets under way from November 1-14.
Professor Sir Philip Cohen, the festival’s patron, is giving a lecture entitled Discovery of New Drug Targets for the Treatment of Disease in the 21st Century.
The British Science Association event will be held in Dundee University’s Dalhousie Building, Old Hawkhill, from 6-7pm on Thursday, October 28.
Professor Cohen said, “I am delighted to have been invited to give the opening talk of this year’s programme, which will take place throughout the city over the next month and aims to inform and entertain people of all ages and from all walks of life.
“Our whole way of life today is largely based on the application of scientific discoveries, including electricity, television, computer and telephone, motor car and aeroplane and the medicines that have helped to double our life expectancy over the past century.
“My talk will focus on an area of medical science that I have helped to develop over the past 40 years, and which has become the most important source of anti-cancer drugs for the pharmaceutical industry with 16 new drugs approved over the past 10 years.”
Professor Cohen will also use the public platform to call on the Scottish and UK governments to be prepared to support basic fundamental research for a sustained period of time.
He said, “It may take years or even decades before a field of research reaches the stage of maturity where it becomes obvious how it can be exploited to improve health and create wealth.”
The event will be followed by a wine reception. Admission is free and there is no need to book.
Dundee Science Festival will appeal to all ages. As well as a family fun day like last year’s, it will offer stand-up comedy, a photographic exhibition, “dinodig” and forensic science roadshows, and a week-long primary school programme and events for secondary pupils covering computer gaming, genetics and more.For more information on the lecture visit www.the-ba.dundee.ac.uk and the festival website at www.dundeesciencefestival.org.