Living Systems: From Stem Cells to Sea Turtles

Dr Federica Masieri will lead a fun and interactive scientific talk to explain what stem cells are, how they can be derived and how they can be studied. Moreover, the talk will discover how they can be used towards the regeneration of diseased or worn-out body parts, as well as a powerful tool to better understand how our bodies work, when healthy and when sick.

Many people with functional bowel disorders (such as IBS) are told their symptoms are ‘all in the head’, yet emerging science reveals the critical importance of food triggers. This talk explores how specific food components – from rapidly fermentable carbohydrates to resistant proteins and industrial additives – can provoke genuine physical symptoms.
Dr Fandi Ibrahim will explain the diverse mechanisms behind these reactions, including gut microbial fermentation, osmotic effects and immune responses. Drawing on recent research, he demonstrates how understanding these specific gut-food interactions can transform how we view functional disorders and lead to simple, evidence-based dietary solutions.

When people think of turtles, they often picture sea turtles from movies, Pokémon characters or pet turtles in tanks. But few realise there’s an incredible diversity of wild freshwater turtles and tortoises globally – and sadly, they’re among the most endangered animals on Earth. In this talk, Dr Hei Sung share how his research aims to save some of these species from extinction. From fieldwork studying wild populations to monitoring the wildlife trade and developing forensic techniques to identify illegally traded turtles, he will show how science can help protect these remarkable yet often overlooked reptiles.