The speaker for the April 2014 meeting at The Tea Bar will be Dr Jon Copley from the Ocean & Earth Science Centre at the University of Southampton.  The subject for this month is "Discovering new life and new resources in the deep ocean: a choice for our future".

Dr Copley is the first - and so far only - British "aquanaut" to dive more than three miles deep in the ocean. His research team has been involved in exploring deep-sea volcanic vents around the world, and discovering new species of deep-sea creatures, from the "Hoff crab" to the world's deepest known vent shrimp. You can find out more info about all these research trips at www.joncopley.com

Deep-sea biologists are enjoying a golden age of discovery as they explore "islands" of life on the ocean floor, finding new animal species at an average rate of one every three weeks. Jon Copley discusses some of these recent discoveries from the abyss and their surprising spin-offs for our everyday lives, from new medical treatments to better optical fibres and even novel cosmetic ingredients. He also describes a new initiative that invites the public to get involved in exploring the ocean depths.Jon Copley is a lecturer at the University of Southampton, where he undertakes research in deep-sea biology; he is also a former reporter and news editor of New Scientist magazine.

The Tea Bar will be open from 6:30pm with the talk starting at 7:30pm, so you can get yourself a drink and have a chat with other participants. The discussions will aim to finish around 9:00pm, though everyone will be welcome to stay around and have a chat with the speaker afterwards ... and indulge in more of the Tea Bar's delicious cakes.

The format of the evening is usually a talk of 30 to 40 minutes, followed by a short break so the audience can refill their glasses, before questions and discussions about the talk. Entry is free and open to everyone, but we do encourage you to buy a tea, coffee or drink (and cakes) at the bar to show your support for The Tea Bar who sponsor the meeting by providing the venue.

Cafe Scientifique is a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to explore and debate the latest ideas in science and technology.

Basingstoke Cafe Scientifique is a free Special Interest Group organised and sponsored by the Active Hampshire Social Club.

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