South Solihull u3a Science Group
Coordinator: Dave Hunter
When: Approximately monthly
Where: Member's houses and visits to places of interest
When: Approximately monthly
Where: Member's houses and visits to places of interest
INTRODUCTION
The Science group meets on average about once a month. One of its aims is to explore topics of current scientific interest through a combination of visits to places of scientific interest, home-based meetings, practical investigations and attending talks and lectures.
New members who have an interest in Science are welcome.
The Science group meets on average about once a month. One of its aims is to explore topics of current scientific interest through a combination of visits to places of scientific interest, home-based meetings, practical investigations and attending talks and lectures.
New members who have an interest in Science are welcome.
SCHEDULE OF FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Possible future visits include Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve near Coventry and the Railway Control Centre in Nechells.
Possible future visits include Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve near Coventry and the Railway Control Centre in Nechells.
ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE
VISITS
VISITS
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12th October 2022: Trip to National Space Centre in Leicetershire.
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September 2019: A tour of Oxford Botanical Gardens
July 2019: Some of the Local History 2 and Science Group members enjoying the steam train ride to Broadway
(pictures courtesy of Brian Jones)
(pictures courtesy of Brian Jones)
June 10 2019: We joined Local History Group 2 on a visit to Abbey Pumping Station and the Great Central Railway, Leicester
(pictures courtesy of Brian Jones)
(pictures courtesy of Brian Jones)
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19 Apr. 2018: Science Group's visit to the Chemistry laboratories at the University of Oxford
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Science Group doing a spot of bird-watching - courtesy of Brian Jones
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MEETINGS
The home-based meetings are hosted and led by various group members and have explored contemporary topics such as:
The home-based meetings are hosted and led by various group members and have explored contemporary topics such as:
- Diet and Climate Change
- Artificial Intelligence
- Robotics
- The Chemistry of Winemaking
- Astrobiology (life on other planets)
- Einstein’s Special Relativity
- Pandemics - past and present
- Hydrogen as an alternative energy source
- Chinese Nutrition
- Plastics
These are some of our other past visits:
- National Brewery Centre , Burton-upon-Trent
- National Museum of Computing, Bletchley Park
PRACTICALS
We had an interesting session in which we attempted to investigate the efficiency of domestic vacuum cleaners. It made us realise how challenging it can be to control some variables in a scientific practical.
We had an interesting session in which we attempted to investigate the efficiency of domestic vacuum cleaners. It made us realise how challenging it can be to control some variables in a scientific practical.
TALKS AND LECTURES
Members have been to talks held by a number of national and local organisations, for example:
Members have been to talks held by a number of national and local organisations, for example:
- I.E.T. presentations on Hydrogen as an alternative energy source held at Austin Court, Birmingham.
- British Science Association annual conference at the University of Warwick, including a presidential address by Prof. Alice Roberts.
