The causes of air pollution, climate change and the evolution of movement, are just some of the themes of a series of free public lectures starting next week by Bristol University academics. 

In two topical talks Dr Dudley Shallcross, Lecturer in Physical Chemistry will address two pressing environmental concerns as we enter the 21st century.  Climate Change, [October 6] will examine the evidence for climate change through inspection of past and present climate records.  The natural greenhouse effect will be explained and how human activities are influencing the natural balance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.  The second talk Air Pollution: What, When and How? [November 3] will discuss two contemporary topics in environmental chemistry; why there is an ozone hole and what is its significance and how levels of pollutants in the UK have changed over the last 30 years and what are the health implications.

Every breath of air, takes oxygen into our body, without which we would die. Roles of oxygen in the body on October 20, Dr Lydia Henderson, Lecturer in Biochemistry will explain why we need to breathe oxygen, outlining the uses to which oxygen is put within our body, from extracting energy from the food we eat, to killing the bacteria that infect the body along with its negative effects.

Finally, on November 17, Dr Jeremy Burn, Visiting Fellow, Anatomy will give a talk on movement entitled A moving story: the evolution of movement from fish to ballet dancers.  Humans are capable of performing the most complex of movement tasks for example playing a musical instrument, writing, playing sport, dancing or even driving a car.  This talk will describe how our thoughts about producing movements are translated into actual movements and what scientists have learned about this mechanism by studying a range of different animals. 

The interactive talks, organised by the University’s Public Programmes Office, take place in Activity Room Two, The Royal National Institute for the Blind, 10 Still House Lane, Bedminster, Bristol from 1 to 2 pm.

No pre-booking is necessary and members of the audience are welcome to bring their sandwiches.