Tuesday 17 August
Ageing - A Dignified Future
11.00 (12.00) Committee Room 1 FREE*
Sandra White MSP will chair an event with
Professor Alan Miller, Scottish Human Rights
Commission and David Manion, Age Scotland.
The event will consist of a panel discussion on
the theme of dignity, age and ageing in
Scotland, with audience participation and
questions to the panel.
In association with the Cross Party Group on Older
People, Age and Ageing and the Scottish Human Rights
Commission.
Cities: Catalysts for Economic Success?
11.00 (12.00) Committee Room 3 FREE*
In the aftermath of the deepest recession the UK has
experienced since the 1930s, what role do city regions play in
generating economic growth for the benefit of all? Are our cities
fulfilling their economic potential, and how can we ensure their
readiness to respond to future opportunities and challenges?
Join Mike Blackburn, Manchester’s Commission for the New
Economy; Neil Lee , the Work Foundation; Ross Martin,
Centre for Scottish Public Policy; and Graham Birse, Edinburgh
Chamber of Commerce; as they examine the developing
contribution cities make to the economy. Chaired by
The Scotsman Editor, John McLellan.
In association with the City of Edinburgh Council.
The Politics of Comedy 
13.00 (14.00) Main Chamber – £6.00 (£3.50) Book in advance
During the 80s comedy was frequently used as a political ‘weapon’. But is comedy today equally political, or has its
increasingly commercial nature dulled its campaigning edge?
And what now is deemed ‘politically acceptable’ comedy
material? The panel, which includes Simon Fanshawe,
a Perrier Award winner; Tommy Sheppard, owner of
The Stand comedy club; and The Scotsman comedy critic
Kate Copstick; will discuss the serious politics behind what
makes us laugh. Chaired by Trish Godman MSP,
Deputy Presiding Officer.
In association with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Changing Politics in Europe
13.30 (14.30) Committee Room 1 FREE*
The Lisbon Treaty entered into force on 1 December 2009.
For some, this Treaty was a mere tidying up exercise of the
EU’s legal framework; for others it constituted a decisive
step towards a federal Europe. Nine months on, a panel
including Mark Lazarowicz MP,
Aileen McLeod, John Purvis, and Iain Smith MSP, will
debate who was right
and whether, or how, the EU’s newest Treaty is changing
politics in Europe.
In association with the European Movement and the European
Parliament Office in Scotland.
Book online
Judged by Genetics?
13.30 (14.30) Committee Room 3 FREE*
Immigration authorities in many countries
routinely use genetic tests to determine biological
relatedness of immigrants seeking family
reunification, and some are now considering
analysing asylum seekers' DNA to verify their
country of origin. But what can DNA really tell us
about human origins and human relatedness?
Does reliance on such testing mean science takes
precedence over personal experience? And why
should someone's DNA be more important than
their personal history? Chaired by Dr Steve Sturdy, ESRC Genomics Forum, and including amongst the panel Dr Bruce Durie, University of Strathclyde.
In association with the ESRC Genomics Network
and the British Council.
The Science of Eating -
Or Who Controls What You Eat?
16.00 (17.00) Committee Room 1 FREE*
We are in the grip of an epidemic of over-eating. But what is the
root cause: greed, the availability of food, or societal pressures?
Or are there more subtle physiological mechanisms at work?
And why is it that some people are “naturally” slim, whereas
others struggle to control their weight? Professor Julian Mercer,
Head of Obesity Research, University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute
of Nutrition and Health; Claire Hughes, Company Nutritionist,
Marks and Spencer plc; and Lydia Wilkie, Assistant Director, Food
Standards Agency Scotland; consider whether food itself may be
the answer to the epidemic, and how your brain knows what you’re
eating. Chaired by Reevel Alderson, BBC Scotland Home Affairs
Correspondent.
In association with the University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute of
Nutrition and Health.
Privacy and Human Rights
16.00 (17.00) Committee Room 3 FREE*
It has been suggested that Article 8 of the European
Convention on Human Rights is being used to introduce a law
of privacy 'by the back door' as evidenced by recent cases
such as Max Mosley. Critics also assert that the human rights
of ordinary people are not protected by such laws e.g. in cases
of lost data. For those concerned about human rights,
can press and media freedom be balanced with respect for
private and family life in Scotland's modern democracy?
In association with the Cross Party Group on Human Rights and
Civil Liberties and the NUJ, Scotland.
Scotland’s Political Football
18.00 (20.00) Main Chamber - Tickets only
available through the Real Radio Football
Phone in Show Competition
Football fans, politicians and sports media examine the
politics of Scotland’s national game and discuss what
needs to be done to improve the fortunes of our
national team. Event will feature a panel of pundits,
football experts and politicians.
In association with Scotland’s Futures Forum and Real Radio.
*Tickets available in advance (subject to a booking fee) or on the day
