Impact of AI to be explored over a beer for Pint of Science

The Pint of Science festival returns to Colchester next month with the debate featuring University of Essex researchers and Colchester councillors one of many taking place in city centre pubs.

Unfolding over three days from May 13-15 talks will take place in three venues – CODA, Three Wise Monkeys and Other Monkey Brewing.

Tickets – which cost just £5 - are available online from pintofscience.co.uk

As well as the AI debate local archaeologists and historians will explore Colchester, the catastrophic role of hormones in disease will be explained and the secret life of fish will be exposed.

Taking over as city coordinators this year are Tobias Boyington, and Katarina Stanka, both scientists, inheriting the role from Dr Olivia Grant and Dr Ellie Watson after they completed their PhDs.

Particularly excited

Tobias, a Colchester local now a Senior Science Technician at Essex, said: “Katarina and I are really excited to be taking over from Ellie and Liv who organised these events in previous years.

“We’re particularly excited for the first Pint of Science debate in Colchester, which will be focused on the societal benefits vs costs of AI!

“It’s been an incredible opportunity to combine a range of opinions, not just from an academic view but from cultural and political vantage points too.”

Incredible opportunity

Katarina, a Masters student in the University of Essex, added: “We have been part of Pint of Science for a few years now.

“First as part of the team, then as team leaders and now as city coordinators.

“It is an incredible opportunity, and we hope to bring our excitement about this festival to the public.

“There are many different topics that we have planned, and it should suit everyone’s interest. One of the topics is about how the sex hormones work.

“It will cover not only the importance of oestrogen and testosterone, but also the latest developments in breast cancer, and will even feature a talk about truth on viral pandemics.”

Pub quiz

Alongside the main talks, audience members will be able to take part in the largest ever multi-city pub quiz.

Teams will tackle science-themed trivia and go head-to-head with other cities interactively, in the hope of claiming the top spot in their city and across the UK.

Pint of Science founders Dr Praveen Paul and Dr Michael Motskin wanted to bring back the personal touch to science. From three cities back in 2013 to hundreds of cities this year, the festival continues to showcase the brilliant work happening on our doorsteps.

“It’s fantastic to see how a simple idea between a few friends has captured people’s imaginations and pushed scientific research into the spotlight”, said co-Founder Dr Praveen Paul.