26 October 2011

How our planet became green - Inspiring People lecture in Dundee

Renowned geologist and TV presenter Professor Iain Stewart is to take an audience at the University of Dundee back 400 million years in time to explore the secrets of life on Earth.

The host of hit BBC series’ Making Scotland’s Landscape and Men of Rock’ will reveal how plants have shaped the face of our planet, taking a barren rock and transforming it into the home we know today, when he delivers a Royal Scottish Geographical Society's 'Inspiring People' talk.

The lecture takes place at the University’s D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre on Tuesday, 1st November. Professor Stewart is known for his dedication to his work, and is currently recovering from spending two days sealed in an airtight chamber with over 150 plants for his upcoming BBC2 series, How Plants Made the World.

During his time in the 8 x 2 x 2.5m chamber at the Eden Project in Cornwall, Professor Stewart breathed in oxygen produced solely by plants. This caused him to experience headaches as he coped with oxygen levels equivalent to being at an altitude of 4,500m.

The aim of the challenge was to demonstrate the importance of plants to human survival as the "lungs of the planet".

Professor Stewart said, 'This experiment has never been done before with a human - it seems a fascinating challenge to see if plants really could keep a person alive. I cannot think of a more powerful way of driving home to the viewer the importance of photosynthesis.'

Aside from the plants he had a hammock to sleep in, a laptop to work on and an exercise bike to keep him moving. Special lights were also been placed both inside and outside the chamber to ensure the plants are continuously lit throughout the day and night, providing the energy for photosynthesis to take place.

Professor Stewart will be discussing this challenge, and his new series, at the D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre from 7.30pm on Tuesday, 1st November. Tickets costs £8 for adults (redeemable if buying membership for the RSGS), £2 for students and are free for under 18s and RSGS members.

Tickets are available on the night.

Notes to editors:

The Royal Scottish Geographical Society is an educational charity that promotes an understanding of natural environments and human societies and how they interact. For further information about RSGS or to see the full 2010-11 Talks Programme please call 01738 455050 or visit www.rsgs.org.

For more information, contact Kirsten Smith on 01738 455050 or kirsten.smith@rsgs.org

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