International scientists discuss impact of research on global challenges

Speakers in the series include, crew member of Space Shuttle Columbia, Professor Larry DeLucas

World renowned scientists will take part in the University of Liverpool’s ‘Science and Society’ public lecture series to discuss the impact scientific research can have on global communities.

Speakers in the series include, crew member of Space Shuttle Columbia, Professor Larry DeLucas; former Chairman of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Council, Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith; and scientist from the Discovery Research Institute, RIKEN, Dr Yousoo Kim.

American scientist and Payload Specialist Astronaut, Professor Larry DeLucas is Director of the Centre for Macromolecular Crystallography at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  He was a member of the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia for the US Microgravity Laboratory in 1992.  Professor De Lucas will talk about his experiences working in space and his career as a scientist.

Former Chairman of ITER Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith was responsible for the UK’s fusion programme.  As part of his role at ITER, he led an international project to build a large-scale scientific experiment that aims to demonstrate it is possible to produce commercial energy from fusion.  It is thought that nuclear fusion, the process that powers the sun, could play a significant role in developing carbon-free energy.  Sir Chris will talk about current energy demands and possible future solutions.

Dr Yousoo Kim is a senior research scientist at the Surface Science Laboratory at the RIKEN Discovery Research Institute in Japan.  RIKEN carries out high level experimental research in a wide rang of fields, including physics, chemistry, medical science, biology, and engineering.  Dr Kim will discuss his pioneering work in surface chemistry and how advances in understanding the properties of molecules can impact on everyday life.

Director General of CERN, Professor Ralf Heuer, opened the lecture series in March with a discussion of the significant role large-scale science projects, such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) can play in the development of new industries and technologies.

Tickets are free, but places should be booked by telephoning 0151 794 2020 or registering at www.liv.ac.uk/science-and-society

All lectures will take place at 5.00pm at the University’s Victoria Gallery and Museum (VG&M).

Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith
Energy demands and solutions
Monday, 26 April

Dr Yousoo Kim
Impact of surface chemistry in real life – current excitements
Monday, 14 June

Professor Larry DeLucas
First hand experience of working in space: The US space mission
Monday, 22 November

Notes to editors:

1.  The University of Liverpool is a member of the Russell Group of leading research-intensive institutions in the UK. It attracts collaborative and contract research commissions from a wide range of national and international organisations valued at more than £93 million annually.


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