Researchers from the Peninsula Medical School will be bringing the science of CSI to Drake Circus on Thursday 25th June at what is hoped to be the first of a series of Science Cafes in the mall.
Visitors to Drake Circus will be able to take part in DNA-related experiments, including extracting DNA from bananas and having a go at some of the techniques they would have seen on the hit TV programme, CSI.
There will also be coffee break, lunchtime and afternoon tea lectures where the team will talk about the work it does with DNA, the science behind CSI and there the TV series gets it right - and wrong.
In addition to the information and displays concerning DNA, visitors to Drake Circus will also be able to learn more about one of the most significant pieces of medical research to come out of Plymouth in its history - the discovery that type 1 diabetes is caused by a virus or group of viruses, a revelation that could, in time, lead to a vaccination for the disease.
As well as the science element provided by the Peninsula Medical School, the café element will be run by popular mall drink and snack business, Juice Moose with freshly made juices and smoothies and homemade cakes. Waterstones will also be involved with displays of books related to the topics discussed at the Science Café.
Dr. John Chilton, who is organising the event on behalf of the Peninsula Medical School, commented: "We've got some great and exciting science happening at the Peninsula Medical School, and we are always keen to let as many people as possible know about it. We have made great progress with our Men in White sessions for local schools, so when the opportunity arose for us to come to Drake Circus and really show off what we're up to, it was too good to turn down. We are really looking forward to getting as many visitors to Drake Circus as possible interested in science, and we will be doing it in a fun and interactive way."
More information is available by logging on at www.pms.ac.uk
