Birkbeck’s School of Science is holding a programme of free online talks that will be open to a global audience and live streamed to Birkbeck’s YouTube channel.

What makes you, you? How do humans evolve, and what impact does climate change have on evolution? How can we become resilient? How do antibodies combat viruses? Is there intelligent life on other planets in the universe? Birkbeck’s Science Saturdays will seek to answer these challenging questions. 

Each Saturday in May from 10:30am to midday, academics from the Departments of Biological Sciences, Earth and Planetary Sciences and Psychological Sciences will deliver lively and inspiring talks about their research and career paths. The sessions are free to attend and will be live streamed via Birkbeck’s YouTube channel (please see the links below in the full programme of talks) followed by a panel discussion and the opportunity for the virtual audience to ask questions.

Dr Gillian Forrester, Deputy Head of Psychological Sciences and Director of Me, Human said: “Every year, the School of Science organises ‘Science Week’, a week of free public lectures and events to share academics’ research. Science Saturdays marks this year’s event in a slightly different way to the usual week-long format. We’re passionate about engaging as many people in science as possible and are delighted to be opening this year’s event up to a global audience as well as partnering with the National Saturday Club - making our talks available to students aged 13 to 16 across the UK. 

“Science Saturdays is a joint Birkbeck and Me, Human event. I founded the Me, Human project in 2019, which is an ongoing programme exploring who humans are and how we are connected to the natural world.”

The full programme of online talks

Saturday 1 May 2021: Life on Earth and Beyond YouTube link

• It's getting hot in here! Human evolution and climate change - Dr Phil Hopley, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
• The search for intelligent life in the universe - Professor Ian Crawford, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

• Get on board! Public transport inside our cells - Dr Giulia Zanetti, Department of Biological Sciences
• A war in the vein? Antibodies versus viruses - Professor Adrian Shepherd, Department of Biological Sciences

Saturday 15 May 2021: Nature and Nurture YouTube link

• Differences in DNA: what makes you, you? - Dr Emma Meaburn, Department of Psychological Sciences
• Coughing up a lung: pollutants in our air - Dr Katherine Thompson, Department of Biological Sciences

Saturday 22 May 2021: Mind the mind YouTube link

• All in the mind: the biology and culture of psychiatric disorders - Dr Simon Green, Department of Psychological Sciences
• Withstand the storm: making resilience work for you! - Dr Ute Liersch, Department of Psychological Sciences

Saturday 29 May 2021: Becoming Human YouTube link

• Left brain, right brain: the evolution of our divided brain - Dr Gillian Forrester, Department of Psychological Sciences
• Baby meets world: growing up in the middle of everything - Dr Natasha Kirkham, Department of Psychological Sciences

No booking or payment is required, simply visit Birkbeck’s YouTube channel (YouTube links for each session are published above) on the morning of the talk(s) you wish to attend. 

FURTHER INFORMATION

• Find out more about Science Saturdays
• Videos, blogs and photos from Birkbeck’s previous Science Week events