Sleep is something we all do, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood aspects of health. What happens when we sleep? Why does sleep change across childhood, adolescence and adulthood? How do modern lifestyles affect our ability to get the rest we need? Dr Emma Gale, St. Andrews University, will discuss how sleep influences children’s health, development, learning and wellbeing, as well as its wider impact on physical health, mental wellbeing, memory and obesity across the lifespan. She will separate common myths from scientific evidence and examine whether we should begin treating sleep as a public health priority. You will leave with a better understanding of sleep and practical insights into how small changes can support healthier sleep at any age.

Perthshire Society of Natural Science is one of the oldest Scientific Societies in Scotland and encourages interest in the natural World by means of lectures, meetings and field outings.

The annual Curious Minds Lecture series, presented by Culture Perth & Kinross and the Perthshire Society of Natural Science is themed around “Contemporary Science in Scotland” and, over past seasons, speakers have covered a stimulating array of scientific topics from dinosaur fossils in Skye, through the human genome to black holes, gravitational waves and the science of consciousness.