Tickets available

Last minute tickets are still available for three festival shows being staged by University staff this weekend.

Each event is part of the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas 2015 and starts at 3pm in St Andrew Square at a new venue called the Stand in the Square.

These one-hour shows pose questions about controversial topics and issues that have no simple answers or solutions.

Let's turn on the smart light

On Friday 14 August Yunlu Wang and Aravind Venugopalan (Li-fi Research and Development Centre) investigate whether LED light bulbs are the future of wireless data communication.

They will argue that Li-Fi can become a highly energy efficient and central part of future hybrid networks in smart cities, and even on aeroplanes or underwater.

Fashion and the selfie culture

Mal Burkinshaw, Programme Director of Fashion at Edinburgh College of Art and Director of the Diversity Network, takes to the stage on Monday 17 August.

He will discuss the rise of the me, me, me, selfie culture and the role that fashion plays in stereotyping ideals of beauty. He explores why we present a different image of ourselves to the world and asks when are we ever good enough.

Whose face is it anyway?

On Tuesday 18 August, Felicity Mehendale (Clinical Lead for East of Scotland Cleft Lip and Palate Service and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer) invites the audience to share views, discuss ethics and explore prejudice around reconstructive and cosmetic facial surgery.

With previously impossible operations, including face transplants, becoming more common, she will ask what drives increasing numbers of patients to change their facial appearance and where should we stop.

Cabaret

The Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas 2015 is curated by the Beltane Public Engagement Network, produced by Fair Pley, and compered by the comedian, presenter and festival director Susan Morrison.

This year, there are 24 shows, running until Sunday 30 August, many of which feature University of Edinburgh staff.