Murder in Brisbane – The Science of Life and Death 16th Sept 2016

One man’s pleasure is another man’s poison

University of Queensland School of Pharmacy researcher Dr Harendra Parekh will host a morbid but fascinating discussion at the upcoming event Murder in Brisbane – The Science of Life and Death.

“It’s all about poisons, venom and understanding what makes a killer,” Dr Parekh said.

“My presentation will have particular focus on the poisons aspect.”

“We’ll be exploring life and death and how poisons, when in the wrong hands, can wreak havoc.”

“The subjects are a touch dark and will include ways of preventing and preserving life – and discussing some unconventional ways to die.”

Murder in Brisbane is the third event in the Australian Academy of Science’s five-part The Science of Life and Death series.

It will be held at Queensland Museum at South Brisbane on Friday, September 16 from 6pm.

Dr Parekh admitted, when it came to crime thrillers and whodunits, his grounding was embedded in the likes of Murder She Wrote and Quincy and the intrigue they inspired in his youth.

His presentation will stray from solely discussing the nefarious uses of poisons and will suggest positive inventions that toxins could make possible.

“I’ll talk about the fact that poison from venom has been used to treat infection and cancerous conditions for centuries,” Dr Parekh said.

“It was, however, invariably combined with a range of herbs and dispensed as vile tasting concoctions that you would typically associate with the middle ages.

“We’ve come a long way to today where people just won’t accept that and demand their poison in an appealing form derived from cutting-edge science.

“The idea that poison – and the tragedies of our forbearers – could now have a silver lining in health solutions and financial fortunes is a very morbid, but fascinating, discussion.”

Dr Parekh heads the Drug/Gene Delivery Group at UQ’s Pharmacy Australia Centre for Excellence.

Fellow presenters will include Associate Professor Bryan Fry from the Venom Evolution Lab in the UQ School of Biological Science and American anger expert Dr Aaron Sell.

Tickets to Murder in Brisbane are $20 for students and $35 for adults.

Media: Dr Harendra Parekh +61 7 3346 1887, h.parekh@uq.edu.au; UQ Senior Media Officer Robert Burgin, +617 3346 3035, +61 448 410 364, r.burgin@uq.edu.au.