Edinburgh life
INTERACTIVE EXHIBITION OBESITY - WHY DO WE GET FAT? Royal Museum, Edinburgh, Tue 9-Thu 11 Apr
We've all seen the stereotype on TV: the fat person scoffing a cream cake and Simultaneously complaining that it's their “slow metabolism‘ or ‘genes' that cause them to pack on the DOunds. And oh how the skinny folk sneer. eyes rolling and false sympathy pouring out. But the time has come for the hefty Henriettas to get their own back. Research by the Rowett Institute suggests that obesity is a lot more complex than simply over-eating or taking the elevator instead of the stairs.
Sue Bird explains: ‘There's complex reasons why people get fat. There are genetic and environmental things which drive people into certain behavi0urs. and some pepple are more Susceptible than others.‘ Does this mean we sh0uld rejoice and unwrap the giant Dairy Milk then? It seems not. To help you understand the reasons behind obesity. the exhibition has a whole host of fun ways to hammer home the message.
Take the 'weighty soit'. Put this on and yOu'll feel how much heavrer you'd be if you ate an extra 409 of food a week for ten years. Ouch. Or get your resting metabolic rate tested: find out if you burn up more or less energy sitting down than the average Joe. And take a closer look at your fav0urite foods: tubes filled with fat. sugar and salt are just waiting to be matched up to baked beans. bread and cans of cola to discover the scary truth of what you‘re really eating.
If yOu're thinking all this is more than you can cope with after a full Scottish breakfast then it‘s even more imperative that you waddle along. Obesity costs the NHS millions each year. and the aim of the Institute's research is to find out how to identify and help susceptible individuals. So get down there and step on the scales and before you know it yOu'll be boasting about your body mass index. Or regretting all those mid—afternoon snackeroonies. (Louisa Pearson)
I This exhibition is linked to a talk by Professor John Speakman, ‘Obesity — A Matter Of Genetics?'. Royal Museum, Edinburgh, Tue 9 Apr. 6pm. See listings.
What Shape Is A Snowflake? Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street.
discoveries behind the museum's forthcoming exhibition of feathered
S—-9pm. £7 (£5). Professor Ian Stewart dinosaurs. considers the regularity and diversity of snowflakes. Tours
Bringing Dinosaurs Back To Life George Square Theatre. l'niversity ()f Botanic Garden. lnvcrleith Row. 552 lidinhurgh. George Square. 8 9pm. Free. 7171. I 1am & 2pm. £3 (£2.50). See Sat but ticketed. Both science and fiction 6. play a major part in films such as Flowers By Night Royal Botanic Jurassic Park. Dinosaurs are often Garden. lnvcrleith Row. 552 7171. faithfully recreated for lilm and TV" by 8.30pm. £5 (£4). See Sun 7. harnessing the expertise of scientists who
Other events
unearth the history of these beasts from
the past. The Natural History Museums Obesity - Why Do We Get Fat?
representative Dr Angela Milner will talk Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. 10am—8pm. Free. An interactive
about the techniques used to reconstruct these creatures and previews the latest exhibition where members of the public
Plants Of The Pioneers Royal
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READER OFFER: £1 off the following shows at The Edinburgh Science Festival
cart find otit what causes obesity and test their own metabolic rate using the latest technology. See preview.
Wednesday 1 O
Talks
Wild Health David Hume Tower. George Square. 6—7pm. £6 (£4). Author (‘indy lingel on animals‘ use of natural medicines.
Genetics - New Fortune Telling Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 6—7pm. £6 (£4). The completion of the human genome sequence. whilst groundbreaking. raises important medical. ethical and social issues. Will it mean designer babies? Will genetic diseases become a thing of the past? Will a G(IH(I(‘(I-Si_\'l€ genetic hierarchy emerge? This is your chance to get on your soapbox and quiz the director of MRC Human Genetics Unit. Professor Nicholas Hastie. on the implications of genetic advancement.
I-Race - The First Computer Generated TV Channel Royal Pharmaceutical Society. 36 York Place. 6.30—8pm. £6 (£4). Scott Maxwell's seen the future of television. and it's computer- generated. The VIS Fntertainment representative will outline a new TV channel which will show a computer- generated horse race every 10 minutes. every day of every week. Viewers can even bet on virtual races and train their own horses. Race rigging. anyone‘.’ Climbing Mount Wonderful: An Evening with Richard Dawkins Royal Museum. 2 (‘hambcrs Street.
S~ 9pm. £7 (£5). Distinguished scientist and writer Richard Dawkins. best known for his 1976 publication The Selfish (;(’II('. reminisces over his eventful career. Dawkins upholds his original proposal that humans are a vehicle for the perpetuation of our genes. and his later work exposes the complexity and artful beauty of the world whilst marvelling at the capability of our brains to comprehend those complexities.
Tours
Arid Deserts Of Early Edinburgh Meeting point specified on ticket. I()am—noon. £5 (£2.50). See evidence of Edinburgh's desert climate of old when viewing a rarely exposed rock strata. Plants Of The Pioneers Royal Botanic Garden. lnvcrleith Row. 552 7171. 1 lam & 2pm. £3 (£2.50). See Sat 6.
Evening Guided Tour: Conservation lidinburgh Zoo. Corstorphine Road. 6—8.30pm. £6. A chance to experience the peace and tranquillity of the mo and hear about the contribution the zoo makes to the survival of endangered animals.
Other events
Obesity - Why Do We Get Fat? Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. 10am—5pm. Free. See Tue 9.
Talks
Women And Cancer Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 6—8pm. £6 (£4). A panel of medical experts focus on women's cancers and the steps being taken in research and treatment. Cafe Scientifique: Food Irradiation - A Useful Technology for Improving Food Safety? The Hub. ('astlehill. Royal Mile. 6.30—8pm. £6 (£4). it is estimated that the bacteria Campylobacter is responsible for most instances of food poisoning. Irradiation kills Campylobacter. but this technique isn‘t widely used. Dr Margaret Paterson of Queen's University of Belfast explores the benefits and limitations of irradiation. and invites the audience to sample irradiated food. if they dare. New Scientist Says: Time To Rethink Everything George Square Theatre. University Of Edinburgh. George Square. 7-9pm. £7 (£5). From global terrorism to economic recession. religious tensions to rigged elections. we‘re barely into the 21st century and already you'd be forgiven for thinking the world‘s gone mad. New Scientist want to change all that. They've picked the brains of the world‘s radical thinkers in order to find solutions to the world’s problems from the realms of science and technology. And they want you to help in this their public brainstorming session.
Art And Science: Equal Partners? Fruitmarket Gallery. 45 Market Street. 7-—8.3()pm. £6 (£4). The collaboration between art and science yields interesting results as a panel of experts will testify. llear Sian lide. the assistant director of the Gulbenkian Foundation chair a panel of speakers including historian and philosopher Stephen Webster and astrophysicist Janna Levin discussing recent and potential art-science partnerships.
Tours
Plants Of The Pioneers Royal Botanic Garden. lnvcrleith Row. 552 7171. 1 lam & 2pm. £3 (£2.50). See Sat 6.
Flowers By Night Royal Botanic Garden. lnvcrleith Row. 552 7171. 8.30pm. £5 (£4). See Sun 7.
Other events
Plant Doctor Royal Botanic Garden. lnvcrleith Row. 552 717 l. I()amvnoon & 2-5pm. l‘ree. lixamine plant diseases under the microscope and bring along sick plants for an expert diagnosis.
Obesity - Why Do We Get Fat? Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. 10am—5pm. Free. See Tue 9. Face Your Phobias Edinburgh Zoo. Corstorphine Road. 7—9pm. £10. See Mon 8.
Experiments Ken’s World Getting A Obesity: A Wild Health Art and Science: With Cells Sunday 7 April Good Night’s Matter of Wednesday 10 Equal Partners? Saturday 6 7.30pm Sleep Genetics? April Thursday 11 April Qt, , ,. r, ‘ April George Square Monday 8 April Tuesday 9 April 6pm 7pm " t" 4.30pm Theatre 8pm 6pm David Hume The Fruitmarket - - Royal Museum £7 (£5) Royal Museum Royal Museum Tower Gallery m t e r n at ' O n 3' £7 (£5) £6 (£4) £6 (£4) £6 (24) £6 (‘24) science
Take this voucher to any of the above shows on the valid date and you will receive £1 off when you purchase a regular or concession ticket.
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TERMS 8. CONDITIONS: One voucher per perSOn per Visa. This offer IS subject to availability There is no cash alternative. This offer IS not valid in conjunction With any other offer. Only original vouchers Will be accepted.