We are currently putting together our programme for the autumn season, with talks planned for the 3rd Tuesdays of the month in September, October and November, as usual. Once the dates and details have been confirmed, we will update the website, so please come back and visit again soon.
Thank you.
PROFESSOR JOHN GALLACHER
University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry
8 pm Tuesday March 13, 2018
Lindisfarne House, 4 Barbourne Terrace, Worcester WR1 3JS
“WHEN THE MIND MALFUNCTIONS”
Mental health problems (mood swings, depression, dementia, bipolar disorder, etc) used to be kept secret; and some people felt ashamed of themselves or of their affected relatives. Nowadays we know that such conditions are simply diseases, and can be treated by doctors with varying degrees of success, although the causes of dementia are not yet sufficiently understood.
These conditions can alter our perceptions of the ability, rationality, morality and even the spirituality of sufferers. How to cope? Is research winning? And does faith in God help when you or your spouse no longer recognises anyone?
Professor Gallacher is Professor of Cognitive Health at Oxford, and Director of Dementia Platform UK. His interests are wider than dementia though; he studies ageing (something none of us can escape!), having reported recently on the prediction of cardiovascular disease, and he advises the Avon study of Parents and Children.
. John will say something about most of the issues mentioned above.He is a Christian, and his son Owen happens to be a Church of England minister here in Worcester.
Come along, bring a friend or neighbour, ask Prof Gallacher some questions!
No booking needed. No charge, but collection taken for costs. Coffee afterwards, about 9.30 -ish.. Free parking on site (Lindisfarne House is the first house in Barbourne Terrace, on the right as you leave the main road out of Worcester city centre, i.e. almost opposite St George’s Square).
Friday 2nd February
7.30pm
St. George’s C of E Church
St. George’s Square, Barbourne, Worcester WR1 1HX
We are delighted to have Riding Lights Theatre Company with us on Friday 2nd February. They are touring with their new production, “Faith In The Questions”, which is a dynamic blend of theatre and discussion. The first half of the evening is a specially commissioned one act play, Counting the Clouds, written by Nigel Forde and produced by Riding Lights Theatre Company.
Based in the book of Job from the Old Testament, Job is depicted as a respected scientist whose work is wrestling with the unpredictable as well as predictable structures of the universe. Is God really in control and what does it mean when his personal world is shaken to the core?
A brief interval follows the performance, for refreshments and to allow the audience to write and submit their questions arising from the play or other related issues. Then there will be a 30 – 45 minute Q and A session, with a panel of leading scientists/theologians who share a Christian faith.
There is no charge, but booking is essential. You can book your tickets either on line via Riding Lights’ website, www.ridinglights.org/fitq, or by phoning 01904 613000 or 01905 726662.
P.S. Please note that this replaces our January and February Tuesday evening talks, but we will be back at Lindisfarne House in March, on Tuesday 13th March, when John Gallagher, Professor of Cognitive Health at Oxford University and Director of Dementia Platform UK, will be with us. His title is “When the mind malfunctions”, and he will devote a part of his talk to mental health problems her than dementia, which is his main research interest.
Bees are a blast and brighter than you might think, so bright that people have started modelling them for the design of autonomous drones that exploit artificial intelligence…. to swarm ‘like bees’. And what do developments in AI mean for the doctors of tomorrow, or for factory workers? Does Artificial Intelligence threaten the foundations of our society, or help solve some of society’s thorniest problems? Finally, how does a faith in a loving God fit into this picture? There’s one way to find out what this busy bee thinks, join me, Dr Kim Stansfield on the 10th Feb at 7:00 pm at the ‘The Hive’!!!!
Rise of the Intelligent Machines – Future Battleground? 10 Feb 2017
The talk is the 2nd in the Re:Think Worcester series of talks aimed at 16-25 year olds, but open to all ages of 13 and above. Entry is free and there will be Re:Freshments. It is presented by Dr Kim Stansfield, Senior Teaching Fellow in Systems Engineering at Warwick University.
8.00 pm Tuesday January 17, 2017
Lindisfarne House, 4 Barbourne Terrace, Worcester WR1 3JS
Dr Ian Holyer, Bristol University
Not everyone who uses a computer simply to consult Google or read an email wants to know the fine details of computer science and technology, but there are aspects of the subject that would reward anyone trying to understand changes taking place in our society today. Dr Holyer will give a fascinating overview of how computers developed from the earliest stage, with some live demos of Turing machines and a discussion of the Game of Life – culminating in a great discussion of robots, free will in humans, and the positive or negative influence of God on free will.
There will be opportunity for questions and discussion. No previous knowledge of computers is required, and no prior booking. The meeting is expected to end about 9.40 pm. Coffee afterwards. Collection to meet costs.
8.00 pm Tuesday January 17, 2017
Lindisfarne House, 4 Barbourne Terrace, Worcester WR1 3JS
(Barbourne Terrace is the street almost opposite St George’s Square, on the left as you leave central Worcester. Lindisfarne House is the first building on the right, and you can park off-road in front of the building).
Tuesday 20th September, 8 pm at Lindisfarne House, 4 Barbourne Terrace, Worcester WR1 3JS
Developments in Artificial Intelligence and Future Clean Energy Supply Requirements present two significant challenges for humanity. How do we make the relevant judgements and how does our faith speak to us about these things?
Affordable fast processing and large memory stores provide the opportunity for “Artificial Intelligence” applications which can relieve much human error and drudgery. However, jobs (even at professional levels) and security could be threatened and human value degraded. Could an evolving machine hierarchy threaten humanity (as envisaged by Hawking)?
The World Energy Council speaks of an energy “ Trilemma” with the conflicting demands of Reliable Future Energy Supplies/Affordable Energy for All / Environmental Protection.
How do proposed solutions such as Enhanced Usage Efficiency, Fracking, Nuclear Generation, Renewables and Local Energy Storage figure in all this and is there new technology providing solutions on the horizon? How do we make the judgements for the long term investments necessary?
The above two topics will be introduced with the help of videos. You are invited to come along and provide your input whether or not you have any prior knowledge. These topics are too important to be left to the technical experts alone.
Jim Smith is current chairman of Bible and Science Worcester. His background is in electrochemical energy generation and storage.
For more information about a conference hosted by CiS on 22nd October, 2016, in Oxford, “Can a scientist believe in miracles?”, with Michael Poole, Colin Humphreys, Peter May and Sharon Dirckx, please use the following link: 2016 poster Sth Conf
Rev Dr Paul Beetham Talk 17 March 2015
How do we keep the lights on without wrecking the planet? Can the world support everybody enjoying our current lifestyle? What effect is our lifestyle having on planet Earth and what are our responsibilities in caring for God’s creation? Continue reading
Prof Glynn Harrison Poster, 18 November 2014
Have you ever said to yourself ‘surely a scientific view of the world prevents you from believing in a loving, creator God’ or ‘If there is a God, I’m sure He’s not interested in my professional life’. Or, as for many scientists, have you asked the big question, ‘Is there evidence for God?’. If so then we highly recommend you come along to listen to a talk by Professor Sir Roy Peacock on Tuesday 21st October, at 8.00 pm at Lindisfarne House, 4 Barbourne Terrace, Worcester WR1 3JS.
