For lovers of science and books
2007/06/15 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia
The Cultural Centre Koldo Mitxelena de Donostia hosted the feast of lovers of science and books. The protagonists of the day were the talks, three in the morning and two in the afternoon. In addition, in the afternoon a round table on translation was held.
Three UPV professors participated in the morning conferences: The psychologist Joseba Jauregi, the genetics Ana Zubiaga and the mathematician Javier Duoandikoetxea. However, it was not necessary to be a university student to listen to his explanations. That is the goal of this project: to be read by anyone interested in science, even those who do not know much about it.
Brain, genes and numbers
Jauregi offered a lecture entitled "The brain, the organ of the soul" and spoke of the history of the search for the soul. During the last centuries, the soul, consciousness, or enthusiasm have been placed in the brain and scientists try to clarify its characteristics and functioning. Although steps have been taken with the advances of neurosciences, Jauregi pointed out that there are still many mysteries to be explained.
Javier Duoandikoetxea, professor of mathematics at the UPV, explained why we need mathematics. (Photo: A. A. Galarraga)
Subsequently, it was the turn of questions and answers, as interesting as the conference itself, which was followed by the word Ana Zubiaga. He talked about what we know and don't know about genes, and explained what sets us apart by being able to compare DNA sequences among species as sequences, and even between different people, are decoded. He also mentioned genetic determinism and other interesting topics that arouse people's interest, and in the questions it was also evident that genetics generates many questions in people.
At the last morning conference, why? Javier Duoandikoetxea responded. He gave an entertaining talk full of illustrative examples, explaining that mathematics is necessary for both self and society. And, in the words of Duoandikoetxea, also for “the honor of the spirit”, how not.
On the other hand, the papers were also the excuse to present the six books published to date in the ZIO Collection, since each topic of the conferences is related to two books. In short, on the brain is spoken of An anthropologist of Oliver Sacks, The rebellion of the forms of Mars and Jorge Wagensberg; of genetics François Jacob speaks in his book The mouse, the fly and the man and, somehow, of John Lenihan in his work The human body; and of mathematics is the subject of the book Loral and of the Counting of the books of the books of Paulis.
Science and Literature, Front to Head
Yesterday was the feast of lovers of science and books. (Photo: A. A. Galarraga).
In the afternoon the round table Zientzia euskaratzen was held first. The translators spoke of the difficulties they had when translating the works of the ZIO Collection. By habitually translating literary works, most recognized that the scientific aspect gave them a little fear, but in the end they recognized that it was not the most difficult. In addition, the translators had the help of scientists.
The party ended with a special talk by writer Anjel Lertxundi and physicist Pedro Miguel Etxenike. It was discussed the scientific literature and the literature of science for the enjoyment of the public that filled the room.
Gai honi buruzko eduki gehiago
Elhuyarrek garatutako teknologia
