Two leading academics from the ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ are taking part in a major national celebration of ideas and discoveries across the sciences.
Professor Richard Thompson OBE and Professor Deborah Greaves OBE are among the eminent names taking part in New Scientist Live 2018.
Held over four days in September at LondonÂÌñ»»ÆÞ™s ExCeL, the festival features more than 140 speakers and 100 exhibitors to offer thought-provoking talks, ground-breaking discoveries, interactive experiences, workshops and performances.
Professor Thompson, Head of the UniversityÂÌñ»»ÆÞ™s International Marine Litter Research Unit, is one of the worldÂÌñ»»ÆÞ™s leading experts on the global problem of marine litter.
He will be taking part in a debate ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ“ ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ“ on the festivalÂÌñ»»ÆÞ™s Main Stage, which will focus on the scale of the issue and whether any of the proposed solutions could potentially help to address it.
Chaired by the editor of New Scientist Emily Wilson, the panel will also include filmmaker Jo Ruxton, Co-Founder of Plastic Oceans Foundation UK, and environmental writer and broadcaster Lucy Siegle.
Professor Greaves, Head of the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, will be among the speakers appearing on the festivalÂÌñ»»ÆÞ™s Engineering Stage with her talk, .
Made an OBE earlier this month in recognition of her services to offshore renewable energy, she will be speaking about the sectorÂÌñ»»ÆÞ™s potential to transform the power industry.
It is particularly timely with 2017 being a record year for renewable energy, with wind farms producing more power than coal on 263 days, and the UK seeing its first full day without any coal power.
