Bad ideas: will our best technology finish us off? 
2 August 2011
5.15pm for 5.30pm start - 6.30pm
Venue: The Opera House 111-113 Manners Street Wellington
Host: Liggins Institute and Cawthron Institute (Nelson)
Cost: No charge, no bookings but early arrival recommended
Contact info: Liggins Institute +64 9 923 2305
Contact email: ligginscommunications@auckland.ac.nz
The well known presenter of television series like “Child of Our Time” and “The Human Body” will give a free public lecture at the Opera House Wellington on 2 August 2011. The event is part of celebrations marking 100 Years of Outstanding Science in New Zealand, combining the 90th anniversary of the Cawthron Institute in Nelson and the 10th anniversary Liggins Institute of The University of Auckland.
Professor Robert Winston is Professor of Science and Society and Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College London and has achieved international prominence as an expert in human fertility. However he is probably best known for presenting many BBC television series including Superhuman, the Secret Life of Twins, Child of Our Time, Human Instinct and The Human Body.
A medical doctor, IVF pioneer, scientist, television presenter, former MP and life peer, Professor Winston is also the author of a string of popular science books. His latest, Bad Ideas? tackles the dark side of technology.
Professor Winston will expand on this theme in his lecture: Bad Ideas: Will our best technology finish us off?
“Ever since mankind invented the hand axe, humans have produced technologies which have become increasingly powerful,” he says. “So many scientific discoveries increase our domination over the world yet we are also unable to control our environment. Each scientific advance offers extraordinary and exciting possibilities but there is nearly always an unpredictable dark side to mankind’s inventiveness. The real use of scientific achievements is nearly always unpredictable.
“How do we ensure that the achievements that do increase our wellbeing do not decrease our chance of survival on the planet we increasingly threaten?”
The lecture is free and bookings are not required, however people are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.
Further enquiries: Liggins Institute
Cawthron Institute website
