According to some nutritionists and practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine, sharks don’t get cancer. It’s a myth that’s not only brought false hope to sufferers of one of the world’s horrific diseases, who are told that consuming shark cartilage can cure cancer, but it’s also contributed to a recent acceleration in demand for shark cartilage, which has had devastating impact on the world’s shark populations. In fact, it’s estimated that 38 million sharks are slaughtered every year.

After millions of years serving as the oceans’ main apex predator, many shark species are now on the brink of extinction following just a few decades of indiscriminate fishing. People often ask ‘where the harm?’ when it comes to using alternative medicine, and this talk will explain the very real and costly price of relying on unregulated, bogus medicine to treat cancer.

In this talk, marine conservation enthusiast Ben Hardwidge will explore the theories behind using medicines derived from sharks and rays, and explain the devastating impact that overfishing them is having on our marine ecosystem. As well as this, he will also introduce the ideas behind a new scepticism campaign in development, which aims to raise awareness about medicines based on shark cartilage, while appealing to major retailers to stop stocking them.

What do philosophers and scientists understand by the concept of “truth” ? This talk will argue that however ‘truth’ is to be understood,  it will never be attained by science, and that therefore an ultimate ‘theory of everything’ is a disappointing and misconceived  promise. It will range from Aristotle, via Kant, to the critical / sceptical  ideas of Putnam and Nagel (with a pause to take in refreshments from Popper and Kuhn).  There will be plenty of time for questions, and maybe some disturbing, but enlightening answers.
 

Ian Bryant has spent most of his academic career training and supervising educational research students, and teaching in Canada, the USA, Scotland and England (including the Open University and Workers Educational Association). He has researched and published books and academic articles on the social philosophy of learning, education for professional development, and the history of scientific ideas. His current interests are in the phenomenology of mind, and the concepts of learning, agency and selfhood. Recently retired, he is now Visiting Fellow, University of Southampton School of Education.

Matt Parker's erudite brand of comedy takes on the topical and the daft in equal measure. Life's a game for Matt and his playful enthusiasm is so infectious you can't help but be drawn into his comedy world.

Relaxed and measured, Matt meanders through his thoughts and suggestions as the audience enthusiastically take part. A fixture of the illustrious Mathematics speaking circuit since January 2007, Matt has recently stormed into stand-up and has swiftly established himself as a exuberant new act and compère.

2009 People's Choice Award winner, National FameLab finals
2009 Semi-finalist, Amused Moose Laugh Off
2009 Finalist, Oxford Fringe Hobgoblin Comedy Awards
2008 Royal Institution Christmas Lecture warm-up

Jonathon Pearce is the author of "Free Will: An investigation into whether we have free will or whether I was always going to write this book". The book is a fine introduction into the age-old philosophical debate as to whether we have free will, or whether we live determined lives. Pearce approaches the subject in a lively manner, explaining terms clearly and using anecdotes to break down some of the heavier philosophy so that it is available to the popular philosophy reader.

Now that we are understanding our genetic heritage and our neurology better, can we account for all our characteristics and decisions? The author also looks at how theories of free will and determinism integrate with religion, particularly Christianity. If we live under the illusion of free will, do religions need reassessing? How does free will work when God knows what we are doing in advance? Does God have free will? How does prophecy interfere with free will? How is our justice system affected if we know exactly why people commit crimes? These and other crucial questions are investigated with a deft touch, and the author uses recent and important scientific findings to support the text supplying a valuable overview to the subject.