Venue details:
The event is being held in the upstairs event space at The Yard Coventry.
This is an accessible space.
No food or drinks will be provided but it is possible to purchase both at the venue (ID required for alcohol regardless of age).
After the event, it is possible to stay at the Yard- they have karaoke starting at 10 pm.
Agenda:
There will be 3 speakers from the University of Warwick, each giving approx 15 min talks with time for questions and short breaks in between.
Details of the speakers and the topic of the talks are below:
Mx Rowan-Lee Ball:
My research looks at the genetic diversity of onions. Whilst we know quite a lot about how delicious they are, we actually know very little about their DNA. At the UK Vegetable Genebank, we have seeds from many different types of onion from all over the world. I'm growing these seeds and taking genetic material from them, to see if I can find out more about their DNA. I'm also hoping to narrow down the search for genes that might help onions deal with both old challenges, like pests, and new challenges caused by climate change, like different weather patterns.
Dr Criska Li:
When is a door not a door? Exploring The Science of Cellular Transporters. Every cell in your body is surrounded by a membrane — but nutrients, medicines, and signals still need to get in and out. This talk introduces the tiny “door” proteins, called transporters, that control cellular access. Starting with what proteins are and how these molecular doors work, I’ll explain how structural biology lets us see their shapes and movements at the atomic level.
Dr Dan Richmond:
Sea the Light: Brewing Ocean-Friendly Sunscreen. Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) radiation that can damage skin and cause cancer. Whilst many sunscreens and cosmetics can protect us from UV, some of their chemicals can harm marine life, leading to bans in several countries. Our solution to protect the ocean is to look to the ocean for answers! Many seaweeds and algae produce their own natural filters to protect themselves from UV, so we have taken their genetic blueprints and adapted them for our bacteria to use as biofactories to produce natural sunscreen ingredients at scale. This approach offers a more sustainable, ocean-friendly alternative to conventional sunscreens.
For any questions, contact becca.baileeves@warwick.ac.uk
