Afternoon events, Talks & lectures, Science

Professor of Epistemics Jon Oberlander, Professor of Composition and Electroacoustic Composition Peter Nelson, and Chris Speed of the Edinburgh College of Art discuss historical, conceptual and philosophical relationships between the performing arts and technology. Chaired by theatre specialist Olga Taxidou.

Esther Woolfson's book Corvus established her as one of our leading nature writers, and she currently observes the wildlife of Aberdeen, where she lives. RSPB naturalist Conor Mark Jamieson's Silent Spring Revisited updated Rachel Carson's environmental classic for the 21st century.

British scientist, writer and broadcaster Susan Greenfield asks us to consider how technologies may be changing the human brain, both for good and for bad. Chaired by Alison Elliot, Convenor of the Church of Scotland Guild. Speech-to-Text Reported event.

Psychiatrist Andrew Powell explores the ways that technology affects relationships. As depression rapidly becomes the greatest burden of illness in developed countries, he examines safeguards for emotional and spiritual well-being. Chaired by Reverend Richard Coles, writer of TV comedy Rev. Speech-to-Text Reported event.

Work with a group of population health scientists to learn more about the ways you can improve the health of everyone in your city. Ages 7–11.

Hamish Innes-Brown from the Bionics Institute Melbourne draws on the experience of commissioning music for cochlear implant users to explore how artists utilise and influence technology. Chaired by Stephen Allen of National Museums Scotland.

In this lecture demonstration Alan Murray, Head of the School of Design at ECA, shows us how synthetic biologists, designers, artists, engineers and computer scientists can work together.

Learn all about viruses and why they're so common (and deadly). Plus, have a go at building one of your own, Just be careful …