As late as the 1880s people still believed that malaria was caused by the breathing of putrid air from swamps.  The discovery of French scientist Louis Pasteur that microscopic germs were responsible for some human illnesses lead to a vigorous quest for microbes behind a range of diseases.  At this time, the British Empire had spread to many parts of the world and many of the medical clinics there were manned by Scots doctors who had been trained in the philosophy of the Scottish Enlightenment.  Equipped with rudimentary microscopes these pioneers went on to show the causative agents for many diseases of the tropics including leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis as well as revealing how insects could be responsible for transmitting diseases like malaria and elephantiasis.  Today, many of these diseases are still with us, but scientists in Scotland remain at the forefront of efforts to eliminate them.

Mike Barrett is Professor of Biochemical Parasitology at the University of Glasgow and also directs a new initiative at the University, Glasgow Polyomics. He Chairs the Kinetoplastids Drug Efficacy working group at the World Health Organisation and is part of the Human African trypanosomiasis expert group at WHO. His research focuses on work into understanding how parasites become resistant to current drugs and how we can design new drugs tailored to specifically interfere with the inner workings of parasites.   He has also had a long interest in the history of research into Tropical Diseases, particularly the role played by Scottish Investigators in their discovery.

Tickets available now.

Glasgow Skeptics and Bright Club host an evening of stand-up comedy and top science for this Glasgow Science Festival special.

Let’s talk about sex: the night will kick off with a special insight into “Sperm Warfare”, courtesy of evolutionary biologist Simon Watt (of Channel 4’s BAFTA-winning “Inside Nature’s Giants”).

So you’ve found a healthy, fertile mate, you’ve fought off your rivals and you’ve convinced them that you are what they were looking for. Sorted! But the reproductive race is far from over, my friend. We have entered the realms of Sperm Warfare. Come learn about the devious tricks used by cells, organs and bodies to win the race to fertilisation.

With the audience sufficiently hot and bothered, Simon will go on to host a Bright Club science festival special, with six of Glasgow’s funniest academics and geeky headliner Helen Arney.

Don’t miss it!  Tickets are available on eventbrite now!

A look into the origins and philosophies and technologies behind Bitcoin, a digital, decentralised currency. We will look at where Bitcoin is being used today, and explore the possible ramifications of widespread adoption of the currency in the future and how that might be accomplished.

Math Campbell-Sturgess is a 29 year old graphics designer and elected Councillor from Greenock, Inverclyde. Math has been involved in Bitcoin and other virtual currencies for several years, and he is interested in the issues they raise, both technologically and politically.