Public Lecture


Date: Monday 13 July
Timings: 6:30pm to 9pm
Location: Scottish Exhibition Campus, Glasgow, UK
Who can attend
This event is open to the general public and welcomes anyone with an interest!
How to register? Free to attend and registration will be available here shortly 

Where does science end and society begin — and who gets to decide the future of innovation?

Join us for a special public evening at SynSci26 where science and society come face to face. This interactive event will explore how cutting-edge research, emerging technologies, and public trust shape the world around us.

The evening will feature a live conversation with a Nobel Laureate, offering rare insight into discovery, responsibility, and the human side of breakthrough science. Alongside the panel discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with scientists, ethicists, and AI experts to explore some of today’s most pressing questions.

We will also feature interactive board and server-based games, informal discussions, and opportunities for audience participation. Through these activities, we will explore themes such as trust in science, the role of innovation in society, and how ethical thinking can help guide technological progress.

Whether you’re curious about AI, passionate about ethics, or simply interested in how science shapes everyday life, this event offers an open, welcoming space to ask questions, share perspectives, and be part of the conversation.

Science doesn’t happen in isolation, come and explore where science and innovation meet society.

6:30pm to 7:30pm Pre-Event Activities
Join in and enjoy a range of interactive board and server‑based games. A bar will be open throughout the evening.

7:30pm to 8:15pm In Conversation with a Nobel Laureate
A live discussion exploring science, innovation, and society. Find out more about Ardem Patapoutian, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2021.

8:15pm to 9pm Panel Discussion: Science, Society and Public Trust
Featuring experts in science, ethics, AI, and innovation, with audience participation. Find out more about each of the panellists by clicking on the links: 

Lesley Henderson, University of Strathclyde, UK  
Laurens Landeweerd, Institute for Science in Society, Radbound University, Netherlands
Ardem Patapoutian, Scripps Institute, USA  
Timothy Peacock, University of Glasgow, UK  
Ciorsdaidh Watts, University of Glasgow, UK 
Steph Wright, Scottish AI Alliance, UK 



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