Other Victorian Science Talks this month

2006

19 October 6:30 pm, Prof. Rachel Webster
University of Melbourne:
AIP Nobel Prize in Physics Lecture: Blackbody form and anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation

Venue: Laby Theatre, University of Melbourne: just off Swanston St

For Further details go to vic.aip.org.au, the AIP Vic branch website.

26 October 7:00 pm, Alan S. Finkel PhD AM
AN ENGINEER'S INSIGHT INTO THE ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY OF THE BRAIN

Venue: Royal Society of Victoria, 9 Victoria St, Melbourne

J.E. Cummins OBE Memorial Oration.

Rapid communication between cells in the brain and the peripheral nervous system is mediated by electrical signals. Like pulses in a telephone line, these signals have specialised responsibilities and actions, but unlike their telephonic counterparts that transmit electrical signals by the flow of electrons, signals in brain cells are carried by chemicals that flow through protein trapdoors called ion channels. In his Oration Dr. Finkel will describe the key technologies that he and others have developed during the last 25 years to enable the extraordinarily small currents that flow in ion channels to be measured for the elucidation of mechanisms of operation in health and disease, and for the testing of new medicines.
For Further details go to www.sciencevictoria.org.au, the Royal Society of Victoria website.