Consoling the bereaved and fighting dementia AI technology will eventually touch almost every aspect of our lives, but it may also shape how we die and how we are remembered by future generations. The emergence of the AI Griefbot offers what some have begun to call “digital immortality,” a concept now being actively marketed by a number of organisations around the world. Although this application is primarily designed to preserve and access memories in a post-mortem context, the same technology can also be adapted to assist individuals living with cognitive impairment including dementia. In this case, it serves to support those whose cognitive abilities have declined due to illness, helping them to reconnect with their own memories and identity. This use of AI raises a number of significant ethical, emotional, and technical challenges. This webinar explores many of these issues and offers ways in which some of the problems might be responsibly addressed.

Dr Jonathan Mitchley BSc PhD MCIEEM is an Associate Professor Field Botany at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading. Plants are just the greatest things. Plants are all around us, but we don’t always appreciate that they feed us, they heal us, and by their beauty they also nourish us heart and soul. Dr Mitchley invites us to take a fresh look at plants. His objective is simple – to achieve world domination by Botanists!

UK Biobank is a large-scale biomedical database and research resource containing de-identified genetic, lifestyle and health information and biological samples from half a million UK participants. It is the most comprehensive and widely-used dataset of its kind, and is globally accessible to approved researchers who are undertaking health-related research that is in the public interest, whether they are from academic, commercial, government or charitable settings

Hundreds of satellites orbit the Earth every day, collecting data that is used for monitoring almost all aspects of the environment. This talk will introduce to you the world of satellite imaging, take you beyond the 'pretty pictures' to the scientific data behind them, and show you how the data can be applied to monitor plant growth, air pollution and more. As well as giving talks, Dr Wilson currently works as a freelance geospatial software engineer, working with clients ranging from small community groups to multi-national corporations to store, process and visualise geographic data such as satellite images and maps.

See Workshops for meeting on 18th May

The fuel cell is perfect to power spacecraft systems and has been used on Gemini spacecraft, satellites, the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. Fuel cells also offer a green and practical solution to domestic and industrial power. Andrew tells the story in his usual dramatic and entertaining fashion lavishly illustrated and accompanied by music, video and sound effects!

See Workshops for meeting on 20th July

An Air France Concorde crashed shortly after take-off in July 2000. After extensive investigation the world was told the cause was a strip of metal which burst a tyre. However, the truth is far more disturbing. Using official crash investigation reports a new theory has emerged. This talk explores what actually happened and allows the audience the chance to draw their own conclusions.

Matthew Philpott is the Executive Director of Technology at NHS England, where he leads a dynamic team of approximately 750 professionals delivering mission-critical digital, data and technology services across one of the world’s largest healthcare systems. Mixed in with some mind-bending tricks and insight into your brain he looks at how the approach to saving lives with CPR can give us an insight to how we run incidents or work with teams to solve problems

Rebecca has a Masters (MSc) in Toxicology (with Bioinformatics) and a BSc in Applied Biology. Her particular interest is in the field of scientific research and policy on the use of non- animal, new approach methodologies (NAMs) including (but not limited to) in-vitro, in silico, artificial intelligence (AI) and improved use of clinical and other human-based data as well as 'big data' analysis. This PowerPoint presentation provides some facts and figures on animal testing; the types of testing carried out on animals; which species of animals and how they are used. It also covers alternative scientific methods and replacing animal testing with modern technologies and finally covers why animal testing continues.

Details to follow