23 December 2013

'Sonic Screwdrivers and Tractor Beams: From Science Fiction to Real Life' - 8th January

The first Cafe Science event of 2014 will see Dr Mike MacDonald from the University of Dundee explain how futuristic technology seen in science fiction has the potential to bring about major health breakthroughs.

Sci-fi writers came up with many fantastical tricks and tools to move objects without human touch, such as Star Trek's tractor beam and Dr Who's sonic screwdriver. Local scientists have now turned this fantasy into reality with real-world versions of sonic screwdrivers and tractor beams that use ultrasound, albeit at a much smaller scale, in a wide range of clinical and research settings.

Dr MacDonald will be discussing current uses, and what the future holds for this type of technology, at Dundee Science Centre from 6pm on Wednesday, 8th January.

'Ultrasound can be used to generate forces, pushing, pulling, or trapping objects, and this can be used on the lab bench or applied in the human body,' he explained. 'These research breakthroughs can develop real tools for a wide range of clinical and research applications. I will be talking about how we can harness these new technologies to improve diagnosis, to reduce the side-effects of cancer therapy, and for tissue engineering.'

Cafe Science was launched in January 2008, and has attracted 5000 visitors since then. The monthly events are informal discussions led by leading local researchers that allow members of the public the opportunity to learn more about the ground-breaking science at the Universities of Dundee, St Andrews and Abertay, the James Hutton Institute, and Dundee Science Centre.

'Sonic Screwdrivers and Tractor Beams: From Science Fiction to Real Life' takes place at Dundee Science Centre from 6pm on Wednesday, 8th January. The event is free and open to all. There is no need to book in advance but an early arrival is recommended.

More information is available at www.cafesciencedundee.co.uk.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277