Deep-sea discovery, face recognition and chick chat – the BA Award Lectures (1 May 2007)
For immediate release
The current golden age of deep-sea discovery, how birdsong can help us understand human vocal communication and the importance of accurate face recognition in our surveillance society are amongst the topics which have scooped prestigious awards for science communication from the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science). The recipients of the accolades will present the 2007 BA Award Lectures in York this September at the BA Festival of Science.
‘The BA Award Lectures seek to reward exceptional younger communicators who bring science to life with passion whilst also tackling its impact on society,’ says Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the BA and one of the judges.
‘The entertaining lectures are a very popular component of the Festival programme and attract an extremely broad audience. This year’s winners promise to deliver thoroughly engaging talks, explaining their current innovative work and its relevance to our everyday lives.’
The winners are:
Charles Darwin Award Lecture
Dr. Karen Spencer, University of Glasgow
‘The evolution of chick chat: how the study of bird song can help us understand the origins of human speech’
Joseph Lister Award Lecture
Dr. Rob Jenkins, University of Glasgow
‘Identity and mistaken identity: Face recognition in a surveillance society’
Isambard Kingdom Brunel Award Lecture
Dr. Tiziana Rossetto, University College London
‘Why do earthquakes become disasters and what are engineers doing about it?’
Lord Kelvin Lecture
Dr. Roberto Trotta, Oxford University
‘Does the Universe need humankind? - The strange case of intelligent observers in the cosmos’
Charles Lyell Award Lecture
Dr. Jon Copley, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
‘Seasons where the sun don’t shine: chasing island-hopping shrimp in the abyss’
The BA Festival of Science will take place in York from 9-15 September, bringing over 350 of the UK’s top scientists to discuss the latest developments in science with the public. In addition to talks and debates at the University of York, there will be a host of events throughout the city as part of the Festival in the City programme.
For more information, visit www.the-ba.net/festivalofscience.
This year’s BA Festival of Science is organised in partnership with the University of York, Science City York and the City of York Council. It is supported by the Department of Trade & Industry, BP and Yorkshire Forward.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Lisa Hendry, Press Officer, the BA
Tel: 020 7019 4946
Email: lisa.hendry@the-ba.net
Note for editors
1. The BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) is the UK's nationwide, open membership organisation that exists to advance the public understanding, accessibility and accountability of the sciences and engineering. Established in 1831, the BA organises major initiatives across the UK, including National Science and Engineering Week, the annual BA Festival of Science, programmes of regional and local events, and an extensive programme for young people in schools and colleges. The BA also organises specific activities for the science communication community in the UK through its Science in Society programme. For more information about the BA, please visit www.the-ba.net.
2. The BA Festival of Science 2007 is being hosted in York by the University of York, Science City York and the City of York Council.
3. The University of York, founded in 1963, has nearly 12,000 students, 3,000 staff and more than 30 academic departments and research centres. It is one of Britain’s leading research-intensive universities, with a global reputation. The University concentrates on strong viable departments and teaching and research of the highest quality. It is rated sixth out of 172 UK higher education institutions for the quality of its research, with 18 of its 23 departments rated 5 or 5*. Ambitious plans for growth include a projected 50 per cent increase in student numbers, and significant research expansion and spin-out activity.
4. Science City York is a successful business and skills development initiative, driving the creation and growth of business and employment opportunities across York and North Yorkshire in bioscience, IT & digital and creative technologies. Established in 1998 as a partnership between City of York Council and The University of York, Science City York is supported by Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency for Yorkshire and the Humber. Further information available from www.sciencecityyork.org.uk.
5. City of York Council serves over 180,000 residents, covering an area of 236km2 and providing a wide range of services. The council works with 70 schools across the city to provide high quality education to over 24,000 pupils. The authority employs over 7,000 staff and is York's largest employer. More information about the council and its services is available at www.york.gov.uk.
The current golden age of deep-sea discovery, how birdsong can help us understand human vocal communication and the importance of accurate face recognition in our surveillance society are amongst the topics which have scooped prestigious awards for science communication from the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science). The recipients of the accolades will present the 2007 BA Award Lectures in York this September at the BA Festival of Science.
‘The BA Award Lectures seek to reward exceptional younger communicators who bring science to life with passion whilst also tackling its impact on society,’ says Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the BA and one of the judges.
‘The entertaining lectures are a very popular component of the Festival programme and attract an extremely broad audience. This year’s winners promise to deliver thoroughly engaging talks, explaining their current innovative work and its relevance to our everyday lives.’
The winners are:
Charles Darwin Award Lecture
Dr. Karen Spencer, University of Glasgow
‘The evolution of chick chat: how the study of bird song can help us understand the origins of human speech’
Joseph Lister Award Lecture
Dr. Rob Jenkins, University of Glasgow
‘Identity and mistaken identity: Face recognition in a surveillance society’
Isambard Kingdom Brunel Award Lecture
Dr. Tiziana Rossetto, University College London
‘Why do earthquakes become disasters and what are engineers doing about it?’
Lord Kelvin Lecture
Dr. Roberto Trotta, Oxford University
‘Does the Universe need humankind? - The strange case of intelligent observers in the cosmos’
Charles Lyell Award Lecture
Dr. Jon Copley, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
‘Seasons where the sun don’t shine: chasing island-hopping shrimp in the abyss’
The BA Festival of Science will take place in York from 9-15 September, bringing over 350 of the UK’s top scientists to discuss the latest developments in science with the public. In addition to talks and debates at the University of York, there will be a host of events throughout the city as part of the Festival in the City programme.
For more information, visit www.the-ba.net/festivalofscience.
This year’s BA Festival of Science is organised in partnership with the University of York, Science City York and the City of York Council. It is supported by the Department of Trade & Industry, BP and Yorkshire Forward.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Lisa Hendry, Press Officer, the BA
Tel: 020 7019 4946
Email: lisa.hendry@the-ba.net
Note for editors
1. The BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) is the UK's nationwide, open membership organisation that exists to advance the public understanding, accessibility and accountability of the sciences and engineering. Established in 1831, the BA organises major initiatives across the UK, including National Science and Engineering Week, the annual BA Festival of Science, programmes of regional and local events, and an extensive programme for young people in schools and colleges. The BA also organises specific activities for the science communication community in the UK through its Science in Society programme. For more information about the BA, please visit www.the-ba.net.
2. The BA Festival of Science 2007 is being hosted in York by the University of York, Science City York and the City of York Council.
3. The University of York, founded in 1963, has nearly 12,000 students, 3,000 staff and more than 30 academic departments and research centres. It is one of Britain’s leading research-intensive universities, with a global reputation. The University concentrates on strong viable departments and teaching and research of the highest quality. It is rated sixth out of 172 UK higher education institutions for the quality of its research, with 18 of its 23 departments rated 5 or 5*. Ambitious plans for growth include a projected 50 per cent increase in student numbers, and significant research expansion and spin-out activity.
4. Science City York is a successful business and skills development initiative, driving the creation and growth of business and employment opportunities across York and North Yorkshire in bioscience, IT & digital and creative technologies. Established in 1998 as a partnership between City of York Council and The University of York, Science City York is supported by Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency for Yorkshire and the Humber. Further information available from www.sciencecityyork.org.uk.
5. City of York Council serves over 180,000 residents, covering an area of 236km2 and providing a wide range of services. The council works with 70 schools across the city to provide high quality education to over 24,000 pupils. The authority employs over 7,000 staff and is York's largest employer. More information about the council and its services is available at www.york.gov.uk.
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