Title: Nanotechnology: are we there yet?

Speaker: Dr Richard Cobley of Swansea University

Venue: The Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea

Admission: Free, all welcome

In this lecture, which has been arranged jointly with the Royal Society of Chemistry, Dr Richard Cobley will examine nanotechnology, the science of the small. 

Nanotechnology is equally discussed both as a miracle technology about to save the world, and the stuff of science fiction nightmare. But what is it, where did it come from, and why does it exist as an area of science and engineering unto itself?

This talk will take a non-technical approach to answer these questions, touch on doomed science predictions of the past, include a few live demonstrations and finally answer the most important point: are we there yet?

Contact details: http://swansea.ac.uk/science/swanseasciencecafe/

About Science Cafe Wales

Each month, a leading expert in their field will give a brief introductory talk followed by a friendly informal chat. You can sit back, relax with a drink and listen or get involved in the discussion and debate. The Science Café organisers are committed to promoting public engagement with science and to making science accountable.

Science Café Wales are held in casual settings in Cardiff, Swansea and Bangor. They are informal and accessible and entrance is entirely free. They usually start with a short talk from the speaker, usually a scientist or writer, followed by a quick break and then an hour or so of discussion afterwards.

Previous topics have included dark matter, the common cold, Dr Who, the Big Bang and alternative therapies.

The first Cafes Scientifiques in the UK were held in Leeds in 1998. From there cafés gradually spread across the country.

Currently, some 40 or so cafés meet regularly to hear scientists or writers on science talk about their work and discuss it with diverse audiences.