Lectures on Identity — from identical atoms to human individuality

 LoN
20 Nov 2013 08:57:04.957
 

A new lecture series exploring the concept of identity from a multi-disciplinary perspective begins at The University of Nottingham this week.

Lectures on Identity is a weekly lecture series bringing together academic speakers from all faculties. Hear from physicists, philosophers, biologists and linguists on whether it’s atoms or art, looks or language that define us as humans.

The series launches on Wednesday 20 November, when John Marks of the School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies will give a lecture titled Identical Identity — Clone Stories. The following week, on Wednesday 27 November, Francis Gilbert of the School of Life Sciences will give a talk called How To Be Someone Else — Mimicry.

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The schedule for the coming weeks is available at www.facebook.com/LecturesOnIdentity/events 

Thomas Fernholz, of the School of Physics and Astronomy at The University of Nottingham, is organizing the series.

He said: “There are some aspects of our lives that we usually take for granted, which can become very disturbing once we are forced to put them to the test. What quality defines what a human being is? Who should we fight for? Where does insanity start?

“With this lecture series and discussions with the audience we want to challenge some of these ideas. By presenting scientific insight and sometimes by looking away from ourselves, we hope to develop some reflection on what we are.”

The lectures are free, and are open to the general public. They take place every Wednesday during term time in lecture theatre B1 in the Physics Building on University Park. 

For more information on Lectures on Identity visit www.facebook.com/lecturesonidentity
For directions to University Park and a map of the campus visit www.nottingham.ac.uk/about/visitorinformation/mapsanddirections/universityparkcampus — the Physics Building is no22 on the site map.

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Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham has 42,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with campuses in China and Malaysia modelled on a headquarters that is among the most attractive in Britain’ (Times Good University Guide 2014). It is also one of the most popular universities among graduate employers, one of the world’s greenest universities, and winner of the Times Higher Education Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development’. It is ranked in the World’s Top 75 universities by the QS World University Rankings.

More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. The University aims to be recognised around the world for its signature contributions, especially in global food security, energy & sustainability, and health. The University won a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its research into global food security.

Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest ever fundraising campaign, will deliver the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news…

 

Story credits

Thomas Fernholz, Lecturer in the School of Physics and Astronomy on +44 (0)115 95 14753, Thomas.fernholz@nottingham.ac.uk

Tara De Cozar

Tara De Cozar - Internal Communications Manager

Email: tara.decozar@nottingham.ac.uk Phone: +44 (0)115 846 8560 Location: University Park

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