All the events here are relevant to people working in dementia research. If you would like to add your own you can submit an event
Salon Debate – Should Santa be running a research lab?
December 17 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
£5
Dementia Researcher Bloggers Adam Smith & Dr Anna Volkmer host Dr Connor Richardson & Rebecca Williams, for a Christmas Special Debate – Join us on 17 December at 12pm GMT and cast your vote.
Debate Motion:
This House believes that Santa would make an excellent PI.
Would Santa Claus be the ultimate Principal Investigator? Supporters might say he has impeccable project management skills, leads a global operation with precision, and motivates a diverse team of elves through even the busiest deadlines. Critics, however, may question his data transparency, reliance on outdated delivery models, and patchy record on work-life balance.
Join this festive (fun) debate to decide whether Santa’s leadership style would shine in academia, or melt under the pressure of grant applications and reviewer comments.
Speakers:
- Dr Anna Volkmer – Speech and language therapist and Associate Professor exploring communication in dementia.
- Dr Connor Richardson – Research Fellow working in data and applying epidemiology and machine learning to dementia research.
- Rebecca Williams – PhD Researcher exploring Frontotemporal dementia and Apathy.
- Dr Jodi Watt – Researcher working on healthy ageing and neurodegenerative diseases of older age, and drug repurposing for dementia.
What to Expect
Join us for a live online debate where our speakers will present opposing views on the continued relevance of animal models in dementia research. The session will include:
- 10-minute opening statements from each speaker
- Moderated discussion
- Audience Q&A
- Live vote before and after the debate to see if opinions shift
Take part in this light-hearted Christmas debate and decide once and for all whether Santa has what it takes to lead a world-class research team.
As part of the fun, we’ll also be using this debate to raise money for Dementia UK and their Admiral Nurses, who provide vital specialist support to families affected by dementia. The festive season can be especially difficult for those living with dementia, and every donation helps ensure that expert advice and compassionate care are available when it’s needed most. Tickets are priced at £5 and all money raised will be donated – please consider buying a ticket… even if you can’t be there, you can always watch the recording.
