Music therapy for dementia and the ebola virus headline the first Science of the Local of 2019.
The popular community science series Science at the Local returns for their fifth year of free bimonthly talks on Sunday March 17, from 2.30pm at Springwood Sports Club.
Dr Sandra Garrido from at Western Sydney University will be speaking about the effects of listening to music on people with dementia.
Also speaking will be Professor Edward Holmes from the University of Sydney, on ebola, influenza, ticks and the evolving virosphere.
“2019 is shaping up to be our biggest year yet,” said co-founder Kevin Joseph.
“We’ve got another fantastic line-up for our regular series, plus we’re planning special events on bushfire and maritime science, as well as our first ever foray over the Mountains."
Science at the Local was successful in gaining funding from Energy Australia to run two events in Lithgow, to be held on June 30 and November 3, with topics to include diet and metabolism and medicinal marijuana.
“We were also lucky enough to win funding from Inspiring Australia again,” said co-founder Hamish Clarke.
“Support from Inspiring Australia has been huge for us, and for many other science engagement initiatives around the country.”
Dr Garrido is an NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Development Fellow at the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development at Western Sydney University. She has a background in both music and psychology. Her work focuses on translational research involving arts in health contexts, in particular with people with dementia and depression.
Professor Holmes is known for his work on the evolution and emergence of infectious diseases, particularly the mechanisms by which RNA viruses jump species boundaries to emerge in humans and other animals. He currently holds an ARC Australian Laureate Fellowship and has previously worked in Pennsylvania State University in the US and the University of Oxford in the UK.
Other 2019 events will be on May 19, July 28, September 15 and November 24, all at Springwood Sports Club. Topics include gravity, koalas, tree mortality, quantum physics and the Yarramundi forensic science facility.
To get involved, go to www.facebook.com/ScienceAtTheLocal .
The initiative is supported by Inspiring Australia and the NSW Government. Springwood Sports Club is at 83 Macquarie Rd Springwood. Contact Hamish Clarke for queries: 0458 105 269.