12 December 2006

Learning from Life Sciences

Photo opportunity: 11.35 am, Tuesday, 12 December 2006,
Medical Sciences Institute Large Lecture Theatre,
College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee

The world of toxic algae, drug development and forensic facial reconstruction will be explored by over 250 secondary school pupils at the University of Dundee this week.

The pupils will all be attending the annual Higher Biology Conference in the College of Life Sciences The aim of the conference is to increase the awareness of recent exciting developments in life sciences. The topics being explored are among those in which the College of Life Sciences has forged an international research reputation.

The conference allows pupils to see the breadth of career opportunities that the biosciences have to offer, and also provides the pupils who will be sitting their mock higher examinations in January with a unique opportunity to experience University life at first hand.

Professor Michael Ferguson, in his talk entitled "Biology + Chemistry = Dead Parasites: How to cure tropical diseases", will explain how a ‘drug target’ against the parasite causing African sleeping sickness is identified, validated and characterised and how modern robotics and computational methods are used to identify molecules that can be developed into new medicines. Professor Ferguson is based in the Division of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Microbiology.

Professor Geoffrey Codd, in his presentation "Cyanobacterial Blooms, Cyanotoxins and Climate Change", will highlight problems associated with potent cyanobacterial toxins produced by algal blooms in fresh and marine waters. Professor Codd is based in the Division of Environmental and Applied Biology.

In the final presentation entitled "Faces of the Dead", Dr Caroline Wilkinson will describe techniques involved in forensic facial reconstruction and will illustrate the contribution of these techniques in human investigations through presentation of selected case studies. Dr Wilkinson is a Senior Lecturer in the Unit of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology.

Contact: Dr Hilary Young (tel: 01382 384278; email: h.k.young@dundee.ac.uk)

Note to Editors

PROGRAMME

10.30 - 10.35 Welcome
Dr James Elliott
Dean of the School of Life Sciences - Learning & Teaching

10.35 - 11.05 Biology + Chemistry = Dead Parasites: How to cure tropical diseases
Professor Mike Ferguson

11.05 - 11.35 Cyanobacterial Blooms, Cyanotoxins and Climate Change
Professor Geoffrey Codd

11.35 - 11.50 Break

11.50 - 12.30 Faces of the Dead
Dr Caroline Wilkinson

For media enquiries contact:

Anna Day
Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: a.c.day@dundee.ac.uk