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The Science & Technology Group
Organising committee: Tanya Dempster, Paul McKay, Bill Devitt, Kurt and Lynda Kovach - science@ashbyu3a.co.uk -
This group is for both people who have a general interest in science as well as those whose careers have been in this area. We meet monthly with talks given mainly by members on a mixture of science/ engineering topics, some science news, information about famous scientists, good YouTube ideas and even the occasional practical activity.
We normally meet in the main hall at Packington Village Hall, High Street, Packington LE65 1WJ on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 2pm.
Parking is limited, so please try to car-share if possible.
Future programme | ||||
| Date | Time | Venue | Speaker & topic | Details |
| Tue 13th May | 2:00 pm | Packington Village Hall. | 'Mary Anning' by Stuart Naylor | Mary Anning was a pioneering palaeontologist and fossil collector. Born in 1799 in Lyme Regis on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, her life was hard and her scientific contribution ignored for many years. Stuart Naylor will describe her discoveries and her dedication in the face of prejudice against women involved in science in the 19th Century. |
| Tue 10th Jun | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Tue 8th Jul | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Tue 12th Aug | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Tue 9th Sep | 2:00 pm | Packington Village Hall. | Catrin Rutland - 'Mending a Broken Heart' | Catrin explores how the heart works, why it can have problems and the research being undertaken to improve cardiac disorders. Drawing from her own scientific research into the genetics and anatomy of heart disease she looks at the present situation and why research is important for future diagnostics and treatments. This talk is popular at stroke and heart support groups but also general interest groups and gatherings. |
| Tue 14th Oct | 2:00 pm | Packington Village Hall. | Adrian Hickson - 'Keeping the Lights On' | Adrian's talk will cover a brief reminder of where we were during the 1900's in terms of power generation and the building of the national grid, the main body of the talk will discuss the challenges to the existing national grid as new power sources are brought on line, connecting of countries together and the UK connections along with the need for better grid control and 'microgrids' being driven by the increase in renewable energy sources. |
| Tue 11th Nov | 2:00 pm | Packington Village Hall. | Kurt Kovach - 'Ancient Pyramids: Who Built Them and How?' | We start by looking at the Egyptian pyramids at Giza and later focus on the Mayan and Aztec and Chinese pyramids as well as other ancient sites like Machu Pichu and Ankor Watt. Why are they so similar? What connects them and how amazing is their construction? |
| Tue 9th Dec | 2:00 pm | Packington Village Hall. | 'Have yourself a Wild Christmas' by Kevin Reynolds | A look at the part animals, plants and the environment play in our Christmas festivities. Why holly, ivy and robins, and why does Rudolph have a red nose? |
Tuesday 8th April.
'A Peek Behind the Curtain' by Tim Sexton
Tim’s talk was based on his voluntary work in Narodni National Park, in the Czech Republic. The ‘Iron Curtain’ created after World War 2, separating the ‘free’ world from communist countries stretched for 10,000 km, from the Barent Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south. In many places a physical barrier of barbed wire and lookout posts existed, with a ‘no-man’s land’ between the adjoining nations. Following the removal of these barriers, it was discovered that wildlife had flourished in the unoccupied zones, and nature reserves were created to preserve and protect this valuable habitat. The talk was illustrated by many images taken by Tim of the diverse fauna and flora in the Narodni National Park.
Tim explained that access to the national park was strictly controlled , to preserve the habitat and prevent contamination from the effects of development. Tim’s images included mammals, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates and birds, most memorable were the lynx, red deer, ground squirrel, hen harrier, white storks, sea eagle, hoopoe, smooth snake and the colourful ladybird spider. It is a very bio-diverse region, with eight of the nine species of woodpecker found in the Czech Republic. The wildlife and vegetation has thrived by leaving the habitat to grow and develop naturally, and now a ‘hands-off’ style of management is practiced. Military bunkers are now home to bats, not guns.
During questions, Tim said eco-tourism in the Czech Republic that might exploit the appeal of the nature reserve had not started but would be strictly controlled anyway. I commented that it was ironic that a political barrier had been so successful in protecting wildlife habitats. Tim always gives a comprehensive talk, mixing politics, nature and exquisite wildlife images.