News

Wednesday 8 February 2006

Healthy heart advice for villagers

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, residents of Keyworth are being invited to learn more about how to keep their hearts healthy through a range of exciting hands-on activities. As part of the run-up to National Science Week, Nottingham Trent University and South Nottingham Libraries have teamed up to stage an event at the village library on Saturday, February 11.

Visitors will be able to learn all about heart disease and how best to overcome the hurdles to maintaining a healthy heart. Nottingham Trent University academic Dr James Davis, from the School of Biomedical and Natural Sciences, will show how the latest advances in technology can help in the fight against the disease.

The event will include a variety of fun and exciting displays, activities and competitions. Two main features of the day include Get Smart with your Heart: The Grand Smartie Challenge Race; and the Molecular Origami Challenge.

For The Grand Smartie Challenge Race visitors can have a go at separating out the different food dye pigments used to colour the popular sweets. This will highlight the difficulties faced when trying to distinguish chemicals in the blood (which can give an indication of the likely onset or severity of heart disease).

For the Molecular Origami Challenge, visitors are invited to try their hand at the art of paper folding. The intricacy of this task is intended to mimic that of nature where specific and precise folding is required for proteins and DNA in order to preserve function. Mis-folding of proteins can have dramatic consequences as evidenced by various neurodiseases such as CJD.

There will also be a Heart of Glass display which depicts an abstract interpretation of a heart from a chemical engineering viewpoint – this intricate display involves a pumping heart constructed from chemical glassware.

Dr James Davis said: “The aim of the library event is to provide interesting activities that allow people to see how simple chemistry can influence the design of new technologies. These technologies can have a major impact on issues such as the treatment of heart disease and diabetes.”

ENDS

Notes for editors: The event at Keyworth Library on Church Drive in the village runs from 10am to 4pm.

Nottingham Trent University and South Nottingham Libraries are planning further activities in the villages of Keyworth, East Leake, Ruddington, Sutton Bonnington and Gotham, during National Science Week.

National Science Week (March 10-19) is an opportunity for people of all ages to take part in science, engineering and technology activities. The Centre for Effective Learning in Science (CELS) at the university is also organising a week-long series of events for school pupils across the East Midlands.

Dr James Davis is currently working on developing new technology to enable people to see how susceptible they are to a range of illnesses. The research – which could mean the risk of serious conditions such as heart disease could be identified at an early age – involves developing new sensors for people to use in their own homes. The technology would be similar to the small, portable machines currently used for testing blood sugar (glucose) levels for people with diabetes.

For more information please contact:

Dave Rogers, Press Officer, on Tel: 0115 848 2650 or via email: dave.rogers@ntu.ac.uk

Or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on Tel: 0115 848 6589 or via email: therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk