The fear of science

• 

• Tuesday 13 November 2012
• 7.00pm to 8.30pm
• Lecturers: Dr Vaughan Bell Dallas Campbell Lorraine Bowen

This event forms part of a series curated by Dallas Campbell and will feature a special performance from Lorraine Bowen.

There persists amongst many a deep-rooted thread of suspicion of science and technology, that weaves throughout human culture.  The history of technophobia stretches back to Socrates who believed the written word would: "create forgetfulness in the learners' souls, because they will not use their memories."  The advent of the printing press, and current mass media have all sparked their own techno-backlash.  Within science itself there are certain areas such as climate change, energy production, food production, medicine that provokes extreme reactions in people.  But how does this distrust of science happen? Why are we so receptive to it? How far can the popular media be blamed for the proliferation of fear and misunderstanding and why do we fall back on pseudo science and conspiracies?   How does our failure to comprehend risk in everyday life motivate a culture of fear?
 
Tickets: £10 standard, £7 concessions and £5 Associates. Members go free.

Make a night of it! Come for a cocktail or something delicious, modern and British to eat in the bar. The bar and café at the Ri has the perfect atmosphere for a night out.