The speaker for the April 2015 meeting of Basingstoke Cafe Scientifique at The Tea Bar will be Dr John Wilkinson who is visiting Senior Lecturer in Pharmacognosy, Ethnobotany and Phytochemistry at Middlesex University.  Dr Wilkinson will be discussing the topic of "Herbal Medicines and New Nutritional Foods".  

Summary:  Dr Wilkinson will give a talk on the latest cutting edge scientific developments in nutraceuticals and  "new" herbal medicine - from algae grown in bio-reactors in the desert, research on synergism in plant extracts to new "super fruits" found in Africa utilizing sustainable development and also highlighting the regulatory hurdles that need to be overcome for successful commercial development of natural products. 

Dr Wilkinson has been involved in the research development of natural products over the past 25 years. The talk will also include personal anecdotes from his travels and worldwide collaborations as well as offering advice to budding entrepreneurs and scientists interested in perusing alternative careers and working in sustainability and "green science".

Dr Wilkinson is one of a new breed of entrepreneur scientists. He works entirely from a laptop and mobile phone and his office is where ever he is - on a beach in Brazil to hotel in central London.   From working with a Nobel prize winner in California on natural products found in outer space, to program leading the Worlds first BSc degree in Herbal Medicine in the UK in 1994, to getting the first exotic fruit in Europe approved as a novel food based on comparative phytochemistry and safe history of use in 2008, rather than extensive animal and human toxicology testing - Dr Wilkinson tells a fascinating story. 

Finale: Dr Wilkinson is also a professional saxophonist and music producer and will perform one of his compositions at the end of the evening. His style of instrumental music is best described as "New Age, Ambient Jazz".

Venue:  The Tea Bar doors will be open from around 6.00pm before the talk which starts at 7:30pm, so you can get yourself a drink and have a chat with other participants. We will aim to finish around 9:00pm as usual, though everyone will be welcome to stay around and have a chat with the speaker until around 10:00pm.

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 and buy cakes 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 Science Interest Group organised and sponsored by the Active Hampshire Social Group.

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