UK: Professor Sophie Scott to speak at GCA Conference

Delegates at the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) annual conference will hear from laughter specialist Professor Sophie Scott CBE who is Director of the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London (January 26 until 29, 2025).

Professor Scott studies the neurobiology of human vocal communication, from speech and sound to social interactions and non-verbal emotional expressions, such as laughter – which will be her presentation topic.

GCA Chairman, Will Blake says: "We're thrilled to have Sophie with us this year at our 2025 conference. She'll be presenting to members on Tuesday, January 28 about 'Laughter & Leadership' and it promises to be a fun and informative talk, which I'm sure everyone will heartily enjoy. Plus, the positive health benefits of laughter are scientifically proven!

"Sophie is an accomplished presenter, moderator, and host, having given talks at everything from school prize-givings to being a master of ceremonies for British Science Association dinners.

Professor Sophie SCott, CBE

"She was the 2017 Royal Institution Christmas Lec turer and was awarded the Royal Society's Michael Faraday prize in 2021. Sophie is also a Fellow of the British Academy and the Academy of Medical Science and has published more than 130 scientific papers.

"You may have seen/heard her on TV and radio shows, as well as online too, as she's a popular contributor. Sophie is a recognizable voice on BBC Radio 4's 'Infinite Monkey Cage', host of 'In Their Element', the Sodium and Lithium episodes, and has appeared on the 'Museum of Curiosity', the 'Third Degree' and 'Inside Science'.

"She also regularly stands in on the 'Maths of Life' feature for Lauren Laverne on Radio 6 Music. In podcasting, she co-hosts 'The Neuromantics', broadcast monthly on Soho Radio, and she has appeared on the podcasts for Sarah Brown and the NPR show, 'Hidden Brain'.

"Sophie has appeared on 'The One Show' (BBC1) and 'Sunday Brunch' (C4) 'Horizon' (BBC2), 'David Baddiel: Social Media, Anger and Us' (BBC2), and has presented her work on 'Mary Beard's Inside Culture Show' (BBC2)."

According to the Garden Centre Association, Sophie is an accomplished public speaker, her multiple TED talks have amassed a million views, and she has presented at the World Economic Forum, The Royal Institute, and the Wired UK conference.

She has also performed science-based stand-up comedy and has appeared at the Hammersmith Apollo, the Bloomsbury Theatre, and the Latitude Festival.

Comedian Jimmy Carr says: "Understanding laughter is a deceptively complex business. Laughter is at the very heart of what it is to be human – our superpowers as a species are communication and cooperation and laughter is central to both.

"Laughter is the glue that holds families, tribes, and societies together. Sophie Scott's work is thought-provoking, rigorous, and brilliant. She's not only finding answers, but she's also asking questions that reveal so much about our minds and our humanity."

Professor Sophie Scott CBE will be speaking to attendees on Tuesday, January 28 at the 2025 GCA conference and places can still be booked for the conference here.