Due to unforeseen circumstances, fertility expert Lord Robert Winston is not able to give the Spotlight on Science talk, “Can We Really Trust Scientists?”, scheduled for 12 March as the opening event of the 2007 Cambridge Science Festival.

Instead, a panel of distinguished scientists and communicators will debate the same topic on 12 March, 8pm, at the Department of Chemistry, Lensfield Road, the venue originally planned for this event.

The re-scheduled “Can We Really Trust Scientists?” debate will be chaired by well-known science journalist and writer, Tim Radford, who has contributed to the Guardian for 30 years.

The panel will include Professor Peter Lipton, Head of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge. He will be joined by Professor Sir Patrick Bateson of the Department of Zoology, Professor Ron Laskey, speaking on cancer research, and Dr Jim Haseloff, talking about biotechnology.

Professor Sir Patrick Bateson is a member of the UK Panel for Research Integrity and Professor of Ethology (the biological study of behaviour) at the Department of Zoology.

Professor Laskey is Director of the MRC Cancer Cell Unit in Cambridge. Some of the proteins studied in his work are emerging as promising markers for the development of screening tests for the commonest cancers.

Dr Haseloff is Sainsbury Research Fellow and Lecturer in the Department of Plant Sciences. He is an international name in the field of genetically-engineered machines, leading a ground-breaking team of researchers.

The opening “Spotlight on Science” talk will be followed over the next ten days by ten further lectures or discussions, given by leading names in the fields of science.

Topics have been chosen to cover a wide range of subject interests – from mathematics in the natural world (The Importance of Being Peripheral by Professor John Barrow on March 14) to nutrition (The Truth About Food, a panel discussion on March 17).

Nicola Buckley, co-ordinator of the Cambridge Science Festival, said: “The Spotlight on Science talks always attract a keen audience as they offer the chance to hear leading speakers communicate some of their latest research in an accessible way, taking questions from members of the public.”

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