Imagine being fully capable to seeing and understanding the world around you but being unable to move. The Diving bell and the butterfly tells the story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who suffers a stroke and lives with locked –in syndrome. Based on a true story, the film describes his life after suffering the stroke were he could only then communicate blinking using his left eye.
CineXjenza aims to spark discussion on science topics raised in films. Following the screening of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly together with guest speaker Dr Owen Falzon (University of Malta) and Dr Josanne Aquilina join in the chat about the science behind this illness and ways how the latest research can help people with mobility impairment. Falzon is a biomedical engineer who specialises in understanding brain signals that are interpreted by a computer to make devices like wheelchairs, curtains, or even music players move just by thinking. While Aquilina is a consultant neurologist at Mater Dei hospital.
The event is going to be held on the 14th of March at 6.30 pm at the auditorium at the Faculty of ICT, at the University of Malta.
This event is part of a series of events for Malta Brain Awareness Week (MBAW). The program can be found here: https://www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/events/uomevents/2016/03/brainawarenessweek
CineXjenza is supported by the Faculty of Science Centenary Celebrations, the Faculty of ICT – University of Malta, the Malta Neuroscience Network Programme – University of Malta, the RIDT – University of Malta Research Trust and Instituto italiano De Cultura. It is run by S-Cubed – Science Students’ Society and Malta Chamber of Scientists.
