Why do we gnash our teeth in pain? How did the Cold War come to Scotland? Why is tobacco smoke addictive? How can we legally challenge the fact that half of Europe’s leading companies have no women on the board? Why should magnetism and romantic writing be related? How can designers help you think? Why are sugars good for your immune system?
Discover the rich variety of questions being asked - and sometimes being answered - by professors in all corners of the University at the inaugural Discovery Days in January 2004.
Staff, students and guests are invited to follow up to 40 of the University's most recently appointed professors on a stimulating, rapid-fire, mental tour of some of the most exciting "sites of special interest" at the University today.
Over a two Friday programme, staged in the Bonar Hall in January (9 and 23), professors from every discipline will open the lid on the most exciting current areas of their research in a new style of inaugural event designed to catalyse new thinking and foster collaboration across disciplines. Discovery Day 1 will start with Professor of Developmental Biology Cheryll Tickle on How to Make a Limb and end with Professor of Fine Art Photography Calum Colvin tracing the development of his visual language in three key artworks. Day 2 starts with Professor of Neuroscience Mike Ashford on Hunger on my Mind and ranges across skin disorders with Professor of Human Genetics Irwin McLean to an examination of fish gills with Professor of Zoology Brian Eddy.
The days are each split into four sessions, chaired by leading university figures, including the Chancellor Sir James Black. Time for questions, networking and exploring poster presentations of the varied topics is built into the programme.
"Ticket holders are welcome to come for as few as one or - if they have the stamina - as many as all eight sessions over the two days. It should certainly get the New Year off to a stimulating start," said Principal's Communications Director Carol Pope who is organising the programme.
To accompany the Discovery Days the University Museum Services will be staging a special exhibition of chairs mostly drawn from the School of Design's Chair Collection and including pieces by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Le Corbusier, Alvar Aalto and two Frank Gehry chairs, specially loaned for the exhibition by Dundee's new Maggie's Centre.
To ensure your place at the first of these exciting new events on the University calendar book your free ticket now at the dedicated website where the full progamme can also be viewed. www.dundee.ac.uk/principalsoffice/discoverydays.html