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Can Machines Be Conscious, and Would It Matter If They Were?

The question “Will AI artefacts ever be conscious?” was raised by Turing seventy years ago, and will not go away even though no one quite knows what it means, nor how we would know they were conscious if they were.

Taming the Trolls of Social Media

Barely a day goes by without some lunatic assertion on social media. Thinking-people shake their heads, but what can be done about this?

A History of the Eye

This lecture explores the politics of scientific theories about eyes.

AI Weapons, War and Ethics

This lecture will explore fully autonomous weapons, the products of AI technology, and the arguments for and against their use.

Infection, Immunity and Cancer

This lecture will also consider one of the fastest moving areas of cancer treatment, stimulating the immune system to attack cancers.

Biometrics: How Unique are You?

How do biometrics help reduce crime and is it possible to have a biometric system yet not broadcast even more personal information than we do now?

The Maths of Future Computing

This lecture examines the mathematics behind computing, starting with the history of the explosive growth of computer technology, from code breaking through to all aspects of modern communication and security.

Creativity: Can Computers Cut It?

We will look at technology that enables creativity (not always of a good kind) and the prospects for a machine to create works of art.

The Changing Impact of Infections as We Go Through Life and Age

The changing pattern of disease as we progress in life has implications for treatment and prevention.

Energy and Matter at the Origin of Life

The origin of life is one of the biggest questions in science, but until recently it was, experimentally, a question in chemistry. Now, gene sequences and a better understanding of cell growth under extreme conditions are giving insights from biology.

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