[visionlist] Professor Michael Land FRS - "Ways of Seeing" public lecture - THURSDAY 18 MARCH

[Benjamin Tatler]

"WAYS OF SEEING: EYES AND EYE MOVEMENTS ACROSS THE ANIMAL KINGDOM"

Professor Michael Land FRS (University of Sussex)

THURSDAY 18 MARCH – 6PM – DALHOUSIE BUILDING, UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE, OLD HAWKHILL - FREE PUBLIC LECTURE

Most of us take our eyes for granted without stopping to think how these miraculous organs actually work.  For example, did you know that our gaze unconsciously shifts up to four times every second and that we are blind during these eye movements? It is only between these rapid shifts that we see with any clarity. 

This same strategy of rapid jerks of the eyes is found across many parts of the animal kingdom, from humans to insects to crustaceans and even cephalopod molluscs. This is because most animals have to solve the same problem: minimising the amount of time we can’t see because the eyes are moving. 

Professor Mike Land FRS will be exploring these, and other secrets of our eyes, when he delivers the Drever Lecture at the University of Dundee on Thursday, 18 March 2010.

Described by Richard Dawkins as “The King Midas of eye research”, Professor Mike Land FRS is one of the country’s leading comparative biologists and psychologists. The impact of his research has been far-reaching even leading to a revolutionary new type of telescope based on his discoveries about the optics of animal eyes. He is now the world’s leading authority on how humans use their eyes in everyday life.
 
The Drever Lecture in Psychology is an occasional event to honour outstanding psychologists and to promote understanding of psychology in the wider community. The lectures commemorate James Drever, 1910-1991, first Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee. The Drever Lectures are possible because of the extraordinary generosity of the Drever family and the Board of Trustees of the Drever Fund.

Tickets are available FREE from Tower Building Reception, events at dundee.ac.uk, 01382 385564, www.dundee.ac.uk/tickets 

Drinks reception follows. Please note that overflow theatres will be in use.

Please feel free to contact Dr Ben Tatler (b.w.tatler at dundee.ac.uk) for any questions you have about this event or for any further information.