Science in Reading

Links to the local STEAM Groups + Social Media Link Tree

We are looking for speakers for 2025 & beyond. If you would like to get involved and support your local Science community please get in touch – email: scienceinreading [at] gmail.com or twitter: Science in Reading (@Science_Reading) Speaking slot availability can be found here.

A friendly Science focused group entertaining the local community with the fascinating world of science – events from hands on workshops to engaging talks. Everyone welcome!

Our monthly meetups are held upstairs at Zero Degrees (9 Bridge St, Reading RG1 2LR) from 7pm.

So please do come along, grab a beer/food at the downstairs bar (the mango beer and wood fired pizza are epic) and enjoy a relaxed evening of talks + networking + beers.

7:00pm Arrivals
7:30pm Welcome and Introductions
7:35pm The Science Behind the Magic: Can Psilocybin Treat Chronic Pain? (Tate Askey & Daniil Luzyanin – University of Reading)
8:20pm Comfort Break
8:30pm Q&A
9:00pm Networking
9:30pm End

More Information

The Science Behind the Magic: Can Psilocybin Treat Chronic Pain? (Tate Askey & Daniil Luzyanin – University of Reading)

Tate Askey is a pharmacology researcher and postdoctoral scientist at the University of Reading, where she is about to complete her PhD investigating how the psychedelic compound psilocybin affects chronic pain, with a focus on preclinical models of neuropathic pain. Her work combines behavioural neuroscience with molecular techniques to explore the role of serotonin in chronic pain.

Daniil Luzyanin has always been passionate about psychedelic research. He finished his MSci in Neuroscience in the University of Manchester, worked as RA in the Psychology department at the University of Birmingham, but only in Reading did he manage to enter the field of psychedelic research. There, as a PhD student, he has been investigating the electrophysiological effects of psilocybin in chronic pain models.

The Science Behind the Magic: Can Psilocybin Treat Chronic Pain?

Psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, has gained serious attention in recent years as a potential treatment for mental health conditions. But could it also help with chronic pain? In this talk, we’ll explore the science behind psychedelics, starting with what psilocybin is, how it alters perception, and what’s actually happening in the brain during a psychedelic experience. We’ll take a look at the history of psilocybin research, from promising studies in the 1960s to the current wave of clinical trials, before focusing on its emerging role in pain research.

You’ll hear about our latest findings in chronic pain, and how preclinical research in animal models is helping us understand its potential mechanisms of action. We’ll walk through behavioural experiments in mice, share new data from our own lab, and discuss how psilocybin might promote brain plasticity to reduce pain. Finally, we’ll zoom out to look at the real-world challenges of developing psychedelic medicines, from regulatory hurdles to the question: do we need the hallucinations for the treatment to work?

If you would like to get involved and support your local Science community please get in touch – email: scienceinreading [at] gmail.com or twitter: Science in Reading (@Science_Reading)

Speaking slot availability can be found here.

We meet 1st Tuesday of the month. Format is gathering from 7.00pm with talks commencing at 7.30pm. Talks timings are completely flexible but generally 40-60mins + Q&A with a ~20mins break to encourage social networking.

Contact’s: email: scienceinreading [at] gmail.com or twitter: Science in Reading (@Science_Reading)

Links to the local STEAM groups + #rdggeek Link Tree

We are looking for speakers for 2025 and beyond. If you would like to get involved and support your local Reading Geek community please get in touch – email: talks [at] rdggeeknight.org or via Twitter: @RDGGeekNight Speaking slot availability can be found here.

Our monthly meetups are held upstairs at Zero Degrees (9 Bridge St, Reading RG1 2LR) from 7pm.

So please do come along, grab a beer/food at the downstairs bar (the mango beer and wood fired pizza are epic) and come share your geekery and enjoy a relaxed evening of talks + networking + beers.

Everyone welcome!

• 7:00pm Arrivals
• 7:30pm Welcome and Introductions
• 7:35pm All aboard the Gadget Bahn (Richard Stephenson)
• 8:05pm Networking & beers
• 8:30pm Short announcements/updates*
• 8:35pm Pub Quiz (Please bring a pencil & paper)
• 9:30pm End(Networking and beers downstairs)

All aboard the Gadget Bahn (Richard Stephenson)

Why do so many futuristic public transport innovations fail? In this Months talk Richard Stephenson Give a few examples of new ideas which some place tried out to their cost (literally) when improvements to their current bus/rail/tram network would have been so much wiser.

About Reading Geek Night

A friendly and welcoming community for enthusiasts.
Every second Tuesday of the month Reading Geek Night has talks on various topics about science, tech, design & geekery. The usual format is to gather from 7:00pm and commence the talks at 7:30pm. Talks are ~20mins + Q&A with a break of 20mins for networking and beer.
*Before the second session there is an opportunity for any short announcements so please let us know on the night if you would like a slot or 1-2mins.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Get involved and support the community

If you would like to get involved with your local #rdggeek community by giving a talk or hosting a quiz at an upcoming event please contact us via twitter: @RDGGeekNight, Facebook or email us: talks [at] rdggeeknight.org

Speaking slot availability can be found here.