7 October 2013
Cafe Science set to welcome 5000th visitor
Attendance at the popular Cafe Science series will this week pass the 5000 mark when students from the University of Dundee
lead a discussion about the risk to human and marine life posed by algal blooms.
Organisers will be counting heads as people turn up for the Cafe Science Extra event at Dundee Science Centre on Wednesday,
9th October. The lucky visitor who pushes the number over the 5000 mark will receive a goodie bag containing popular science
books and a complementary family ticket to the Science Centre.
The talk will be given by members of the University's team who will be taking part in the prestigious iGEM (International
Genetically Engineered Machine) competition in Lyon later this month. Dundee has won gold medals at the competition
in 2011 and 2012, and this year's team will be hoping to emulate this success with their 'Toxi-Mop' project, which uses
synthetic biology to engineer harmless laboratory strains of bacteria to 'clean up' water contaminated with toxic algal blooms.
The value of this became apparent in the summer when the warm weather led to algal blooms in Clatto Reservoir and in the
boating pond at Camperdown Country Park. The team has also built a device ('the Moptopus') that can be housed permanently at
a lake or pond, which will continuously monitor the temperature, pH and light levels that can be used to predict the likelihood
of future algal blooms.
'We are delighted that the iGEM team will help us celebrate this milestone,' said event organiser Dr Jon Urch. 'The purpose
of Cafe Science is to engage with the public and promote science to a new generation so it is fitting that these talented and
enthusiastic young scientists will be leading this event.
'Over the past five years we have had just under 5000 people come along to our events and audiences have been rising steadily
since our inaugural talk. The prize for the 5000th visitor is not the only reason to come along, however, as the iGEM team
will be filling us in on one of the unfortunate consequences of the lovely summer we've just enjoyed.
'Harmful algal blooms can turn sea water red, freshwater a vivid green and represent a risk to humans and marine animals.
In the heat of the summer the conditions are perfect for growth of algal bacteria. This, along with other factors, can cause
an explosion in growth called an algal bloom, which are often a health hazard due to the toxins they release
'The team taking part in the iGEM competition decided to do something about it and have created new technology to clean-up
harmful algae, as well as monitoring conditions to predict outbreaks.'
The competition requires students to use a kit of biological parts (issued by iGEM at the beginning of the summer)
and to use these parts (and new parts of their own design) to build biological systems and operate them in living cells
at laboratories in their own Universities.
The 2013 Dundee inter-collegiate team comprises 10 undergraduate students: Kyle Harrison (applied computing), Nasir Ahmad
(physics), Craig Johnston (mathematics), Rachel Findlay (mathematical biology), as well as Christopher Earl, Philip Rodger,
Ewa Grabowiecka, Kyle Buchan, John Allan and Alice Rowan from Life Sciences.
The iGEM Foundation, which runs the competition, seeks to promote the advancement of science and education by developing
an open community of students and practitioners in schools, laboratories, research institutes, and industry - in particular by
involving students and the public in the development of the new field of synthetic biology.
Cafe Science was launched in January 2008. 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 happening locally. Cafe
Science Extra allows members of the public to meet with up-and-coming scientists from the Universities of Dundee,
St Andrews and Abertay, the James Hutton Institute, and Dundee Science Centre.
'Algal Blooms - A Downside of a Hot Summer' takes place at Infusion coffee shop, Dundee Science Centre, at 6pm on Wednesday,
9th October. Doors open at 5.30pm, and 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:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07800 581902 |
