The chemistry of love
Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs,
Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes,
Being vexed, a sea nourished with lovers' tears.
What is it else?
A madness most discreet, a choking gall and a preserving sweet.” -- William Shakespeare
'If you can’t measure it; don’t mention it' goes a quote by an esteemed Professor of Internal Medicine, a point made clear to highlight the importance of evidence-based medicine and quantitative metrics. 'But love?' you say (preparing to navigate yourself through Valentine’s Day), 'surely that is unquantifiable? Surely that can escape the harsh delineation of science and rational explanation?'
So how does it all begin? Those heady euphoric days of being in love; the flutter of your heart and your sweaty palms? And oh! That first kiss! What are the physiological factors that combine in the melting pot of this thing that makes the world go round? Is there a love map, a kind of template of the perfect partner? Is this based on appearances,
personality, a limbic resonance or pheromones (which may even elicit a specific immune response to a potential partner)? Or is it all just guided by hormones?
During this year's first session of Science & Cocktails Johannesburg, Dr. Joji Mercier will deconstruct the body's chemistry and physiology involved in attraction and lust: an addictive heady state that swirls us into new romances and reduces us to nervous exhilarated wrecks floating in a parallel universe. 'But' you say as Frankie Blue-eyes warbles out 'Love and marriage', 'is there science behind that transition between lust and love? Between that narcotic-like high and a permanent commitment, a long term attachment and staying together happily forever after?'
To find out these answers (and more), join us as we examine the physiology (or should we say 'pathophysiology'?) behind love which has been 'measured', so we may 'mention it' without restraint and with heady abandon.
Afterwards, euphoric cocktails at the bar accompanied by love-stricken, soulful jazz brought to us by the Phumelele Mzimela ensemble.
Image: attraction (alfrarman/Flickr).
Joji Mercier
The chemistry of love
'If you can’t measure it; don’t mention it' goes a quote by an esteemed Professor of Internal Medicine, a point made clear to highlight the importance of evidence-based medicine and quantitative metrics. 'But love?' you say (preparing to navigate yourself through Valentine’s Day), 'surely that is unquantifiable? Surely that can escape the harsh delineation of science and rational explanation?'
Talk by
Joji Mercier
Dr Joji Mercier qualified as a medical doctor in 2004, and after a few years as a trauma and aviation doctor, returned to her first love of molecular medical science. She joined the academic staff of the University of Pretoria in 2009, after which she obtained her PhD in Human Physiology. Dr Mercier is currently a senior lecturer at the Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, and is actively part of research collaborations both nationally and internationally. Her mainarea of research encompasses preclinical and molecular aspects of cancer, cancer drug discovery and radiation resistance mechanisms. You may see her dashing around the city in either a G4-orange Freelander, or a 1975 red MG with the top down!
Music by
Phumelele Mzimela Ensemble
Phumelele Mzimela is a young vocalist born in Durban and currently based in Johannesburg. Her jazz training at the Wits School of Arts under the tutelage of Edith Klug and Lindiwe Maxolo has greatly influenced her sound. This will be apparent in her arrangements wich include works by Gretchen Parlato, Thandi Ntuli and others artists who, for Phumelele, represent jazz in the present tense. With the accompaniment of Yonela Mnana (Piano); Emmanuel Paul (Bass); Thomas Nichol (Drums) and Hlumelo Ledwaba (Vocals) this promises to be a soulful experience.
