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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20230510T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20230510T120000
DTSTAMP:20231109T115845Z
CREATED:20231016T141316Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231109T115845Z
UID:2182-1683714600-1683720000@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:An Introduction to Quasars
DESCRIPTION:by David Youll (Basingstoke u3a). After a long career in IT\, David now spends his spare time doing research to broaden his interest in galaxies and quasars (he has a PhD in Astronomy from Imperial College). His latest project has been aided in no small part by the huge body of observational data gathered by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey\, embracing millions of galaxies and over 700\,000 quasars. As we’ll hear today\, quasars are truly fascinating objects with many unusual and unique characteristics\, but David also hopes this presentation will demonstrate what can be achieved by amateur astronomers in their own homes using publicly available data. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Quasars’ video  \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch \n 
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/an-introduction-to-quasars/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20230412T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20230412T120000
DTSTAMP:20231111T104903Z
CREATED:20231017T085549Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231111T104903Z
UID:2197-1681295400-1681300800@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Mycorrhizal fungi: The Hidden Networks beneath our Feet
DESCRIPTION:by Emily Magkourilou (University of Sheffield). If you’ve been watching David Attenborough’s BBC series ‘Wild Isles’\, you’ll already know that our woodlands are home to largely unseen\, but amazingly complex underground networks of fungal threads\, which associate themselves with tree roots in a symbiotic relationship that benefits both. And it’s even been suggested that trees can use this mycorrhizal network to send messages to each other\, in a co-operative arrangement colloquially dubbed ‘the wood-wide web’. But does the evidence actually support it? Emily\, our speaker today\, is currently researching the functionality of fungal networks for her PhD in Soil Ecology\, so she’s ideally placed to reveal what’s really going on right under our feet. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Mycorrhizal Fungi’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/mycorrhizal-fungi-the-hidden-networks-beneath-our-feet/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ST-meeting-12-Apr-23-image-for-webpage.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20230308T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20230308T120000
DTSTAMP:20231111T105540Z
CREATED:20231017T091005Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231111T105540Z
UID:2200-1678271400-1678276800@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Fusion Energy: Could the long wait soon be over?
DESCRIPTION:by Leigh Edwards (Exeter u3a). As the Earth’s ultimate energy source\, nuclear fusion – the process that powers the Sun – has long been touted as the ‘Holy Grail’ of humanity’s endless quest for a technology that can provide cheap\, emissions-free energy for everyone. It’s been promised for over seventy years now\, but the old joke – that fusion energy is thirty years away… and always will be – still seems as true as ever! But maybe not for too much longer. With research efforts intensifying\, and spending by governments\, international collaborations\, and private companies now higher than ever\, there is renewed optimism that power from fusion may finally be within reach. In this presentation\, Leigh will discuss the current state of fusion research\, and the progress now being made. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Energy from Fusion’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/fusion-energy-could-the-long-wait-soon-be-over/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ST-meeting-08-Mar-23-image-for-webpage.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20230215T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20230215T153000
DTSTAMP:20231109T120925Z
CREATED:20231017T092520Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231109T120925Z
UID:2208-1676469600-1676475000@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:The Rise of EVs... and the Fall of ICEs
DESCRIPTION:by Dr Mike Hodges (Kingsbridge u3a). Of the 1.6 million new cars registered in the UK last year\, around 17% were EVs\, a record high\, up from 12% the year before. There are now more than half-a-million of them on our roads\, but this still leaves at least thirty million ICEs (internal combustion engine cars)\, all of which will eventually need to be replaced if we are to meet our long-term zero-emission targets. With the cut-off date of 2030 for new ICE sales now less than eight years away\, time is short\, but further progress towards full transition is still being hindered by those familiar EV concerns – cost\, range\, and lack of charging infrastructure. In this talk\, Mike will consider the technical\, economic and social factors which will determine whether and how these barriers can be overcome. \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/the-rise-of-evs-and-the-fall-of-ices/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ST-Bonus-meeting-image-15-Feb.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20230208T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20230208T120000
DTSTAMP:20231109T122210Z
CREATED:20231017T093329Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231109T122210Z
UID:2211-1675852200-1675857600@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Energy Storage
DESCRIPTION:by Ian Hawker (East Suffolk u3a). The intermittent and unpredictable nature of wind and solar has long been used to justify our continued reliance on fossil fuels to generate our electricity\, which needs to be accessible 24/7\, at the flick of a switch. The limitless ‘green’ energy potentially available from renewable sources has so far been constrained by the difficulties of storing that energy cheaply\, efficiently\, and on a large enough scale. No wonder\, then\, that the world currently has amassed only around 0.2% of the storage capacity it would need to replace fossil fuels entirely. But all that may be about to change. In this talk\, we’ll hear about some of the exciting new\, cost-effective storage technologies now being developed\, which may at long last enable us to ditch coal\, oil and gas forever. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Energy Storage’ video  \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch \n 
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/energy-storage/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20230111T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20230111T120000
DTSTAMP:20231109T121831Z
CREATED:20231017T094800Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231109T121831Z
UID:2215-1673433000-1673438400@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Sir Humphry Davy: His Life\, Letters and Notebooks
DESCRIPTION:by Dr Andrew Lacey (Lancaster University). Best-remembered today for his invention of the miners’ safety lamp\, Davy had many other claims to fame\, including the isolation of no fewer than seven new chemical elements\, and his research into the therapeutic use of gases – he was the first to inhale nitrous oxide (laughing gas). But science was only a part of his life – he also wrote poetry\, philosophical dialogues\, and accounts of his travels. When he died\, in 1829\, he left behind a large number of letters and notebooks\, most of which had remained unpublished ever since. That was until Dr Lacey\, a Senior Research Associate at Lancaster University\, collated all the letters into a four-volume anthology\, which was published in 2020 by OUP. \nNow he’s taking on an even bigger challenge\, the ‘Davy Notebooks Project’ – to digitise all of the 70+ notebooks – a mammoth task for which he’s been recruiting an army of transcribers from\, among other places\, the U3A. In this talk\, he’ll explore the key periods in Davy’s life\, illuminated by selected passages from those letters and notebooks. Maybe some of you might like to take part in his project. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Sir Humphry Davy’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch \n 
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/sir-humphry-davy-his-life-letters-and-notebooks/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ST-meeting-11-Jan-23-image-for-webpage.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20221214T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20221214T120000
DTSTAMP:20250729T062739Z
CREATED:20231017T101343Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250729T062739Z
UID:2220-1671013800-1671019200@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:The IBM Toyshop
DESCRIPTION:Ever since Charles Babbage began work on his first mechanical calculating machine 200 years ago\, in 1822\, the prospect of rapid\, automated data processing has been a key driver of technological progress. But it wasn’t until WW2\, and in particular the urgency of cracking enemy codes\, that electronic\, rather than mechanical solutions became feasible. And\, in the years that followed\, one company in particular – IBM – would become synonymous with this quest. The computer age was born\, and\, along the way\, countless other applications and innovations have followed at breakneck speed. In this fascinating talk\, retired IBM senior software engineer Tom Holloway\, of Headington u3a\, will share his reminiscences of an eventful career with the pioneering multinational technology corporation. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘The IBM Toyshop’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch \n 
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/the-ibm-toyshop/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Charlie-Chaplin-IBM-PC.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20221109T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20221109T120000
DTSTAMP:20231109T123218Z
CREATED:20231017T103953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231109T123218Z
UID:2226-1667989800-1667995200@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:'ELISA': It's all in the name!
DESCRIPTION:When a health professional takes a sample of blood or urine\, have you ever wondered what happens to it when it’s sent off to the lab for analysis? What are they looking for\, how do they detect it\, and – most challenging of all – how do they measure accurately how much of it there is\, when the quantities present are often vanishingly small? That’s where ‘ELISA’ comes in. Former analytical biochemist Carol Barrett\, of Cardiff u3a\, will reveal the secrets of the amazing science behind the acronym. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘ELISA’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch \n 
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/elisa-its-all-in-the-name/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ELISA-image-Nov22.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20221012T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20221012T120000
DTSTAMP:20231109T123556Z
CREATED:20231025T141511Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231109T123556Z
UID:2366-1665570600-1665576000@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:'Get Rid of that Stink!' - How Bazalgette Cleaned up London
DESCRIPTION:by Mike Trevethick (Thanet u3a). In 19th century London\, everybody’s sewage\, as well as the city’s commercial waste\, was simply dumped into the river Thames. As a result\, deadly diseases such as cholera were rife\, and the river stank. Eventually\, by the 1850’s\, Parliament had had enough\, so they appointed the engineer Joseph Bazalgette to find a way to clean it up. The brand-new sewage system he designed and built was revolutionary for its time\, but did it really cure the problem? \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘The Great Stink of London’ video  \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch \n 
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/get-rid-of-that-stink-how-bazalgette-cleaned-up-london/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Get-rid-of-that-stink-image.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20220914T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20220914T120000
DTSTAMP:20231109T135741Z
CREATED:20231028T131726Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231109T135741Z
UID:2453-1663151400-1663156800@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Whatever Happened to Influenza?
DESCRIPTION:As this year’s seasonal flu vaccination campaign gets under way\, you may be wondering what all the fuss is about.  After all\, the dire warnings of rampant winter flu outbreaks issued at this time last year\, and the year before\, never actually materialised.  Could it be that our fixation on the Covid pandemic actually did us a favour?  Former clinical virologist Dr Jane Sellwood\, of Reading u3a\, will explain why influenza continues to surprise us\, and still remains a significant public health challenge. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Influenza’ video  \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch \n 
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/whatever-happened-to-influenza/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Influenza-meeting-banner-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20220729T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20220729T163000
DTSTAMP:20231112T141821Z
CREATED:20231112T141821Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231112T141821Z
UID:3041-1659106800-1659112200@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:The Lunar Society
DESCRIPTION:Britain\, as we know\, was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution\, and nowhere played a bigger part in this great leap forward than the West Midlands. And it was here\, in the second half of the 18th century\, that an extraordinarily talented group of men – some famous\, others now forgotten – came together to pool their collective genius and produce many of the ideas and innovations on which this nation’s emerging intellectual and commercial pre-eminence was founded. Once a month\, at the time of the full moon\, they met in Birmingham to share their visions for the future. They called themselves ‘The Lunar Society’\, and in this talk\, Barry Zussman (Torridge u3a) tells their fascinating story. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Lunar Society’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/the-lunar-society-2/
CATEGORIES:History Meeting,Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Lunar-society-Jul22.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20220713T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20220713T120000
DTSTAMP:20231109T142228Z
CREATED:20231109T142228Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231109T142228Z
UID:2785-1657708200-1657713600@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:A Whiff of Disease: Using Dogs to Sniff Out Medical Conditions
DESCRIPTION:Ever since the dog was first domesticated\, thousands of years ago\, our ancestors exploited its acute sense of smell for tracking and hunting.  More recently\, we’ve enlisted them as crime-busters\, by teaching them to locate drugs & explosives.  And now\, man’s best friend can be trained to detect our diseases – like cancer\, diabetes\, epilepsy\, malaria\, even Covid-19 – earlier than conventional screening techniques\, and often before we even know we’re ill… incredible but true!  In this talk\, David McLellan (Torridge u3a) will be exploring dogs’ extraordinary sense of smell\, and considering its medical diagnostic potential. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Whiff of Disease’ video  \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/a-whiff-of-disease-using-dogs-to-sniff-out-medical-conditions/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Whiff-of-disease-image.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20220629T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20220629T120000
DTSTAMP:20231109T143900Z
CREATED:20231109T143812Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231109T143900Z
UID:2790-1656498600-1656504000@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Genetically-engineered Food
DESCRIPTION:Back in the 1990s\, a new phrase entered our vocabulary – ‘Frankenstein Food’ – the emotive term given by the media to products\, made from genetically-modified plants & animals\, which would soon be appearing on our supermarket shelves.  The public were horrified\, pressure groups were formed\, people took to the streets to protest\, and some went as far as to invade research establishments to destroy the GM crops that were being tested there.  Governments cowered\, and many (including the EU) passed new laws which have effectively prevented GM products from entering the human food-chain ever since. \nBut all that may be about to change.  A new generation of genetically-engineered plants and animals is just around the corner\, created using a revolutionary new technique which\, say the experts\, can overcome all the shortcomings of previous approaches.  In this talk\, Barry Zussman (Torridge U3A) will explain how this scientific breakthrough could potentially solve the global food crisis\, especially given the adverse effects of climate change on traditional agriculture. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Genetically-engineered Food’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/genetically-engineered-food/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GE-food-image.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20220511T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20220511T120000
DTSTAMP:20231109T151909Z
CREATED:20231109T150947Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231109T151909Z
UID:2793-1652265000-1652270400@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Forty Years of S&T Milestones - with a Few Smiles along the Way!
DESCRIPTION:Leigh Edwards (Exeter u3a\, and former National u3a Science Subject Advisor) looks back at some of the truly amazing discoveries\, inventions\, and achievements in science and technology over the past 40 years\, and also a few speculations about the future\, in the light of the latest developments. And along the way\, he’ll share some of his own humorous observations on this amazing period of scientific innovation. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘S&T – the Last Forty Years’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/forty-years-of-st-milestones/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Forty-years-of-ST-image.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20220413T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20220413T120000
DTSTAMP:20231111T120450Z
CREATED:20231111T120300Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231111T120450Z
UID:2919-1649845800-1649851200@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Suck it and See - Memoirs of a Path-Lab Girl
DESCRIPTION:Mary B Lyons (Yateley u3a) shares with us some of her fascinating reminiscences of working in a pathology lab in the 1960’s – not just blood and guts\, but also Amazonian toads\, three witches\, and some extraordinary ‘health and safety’ horrors! So prepare to be amazed\, amused\, and entertained… all in the best possible taste! \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Suck it and See’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/suck-it-and-see-memoirs-of-a-path-lab-girl/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Marys-talk-image.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20220309T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20220309T120000
DTSTAMP:20231111T121700Z
CREATED:20231111T121700Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231111T121700Z
UID:2924-1646821800-1646827200@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Eureka! The Unlikely History of some of our Greatest Inventions
DESCRIPTION:The legendary tales of Archimedes and his bath\, and Newton’s encounter with the apple\, may only be fictional\, but there have been plenty of less well-known ‘Eureka’ moments like these which certainly did happen. In this talk\, Barry Zussman\, of Torridge U3A\, will reveal the surprising stories behind some of the important discoveries and inventions which owe their existence to unexpected twists of fate\, and the innovators who had the genius to exploit them. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Eureka!’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/eureka-the-unlikely-history-of-some-of-our-greatest-inventions/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ST-meeting-9th-March-image-for-webpage.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20220228T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20220228T160000
DTSTAMP:20231112T142346Z
CREATED:20231012T095933Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231112T142346Z
UID:1923-1646060400-1646064000@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Change in the science and practice of pharmacy - 1920 to 2020
DESCRIPTION:Apprenticeship to Masters Degree (and beyond) as illustrated by a family’s story \nIn the late 1920’s a farmers daughter from Hertfordshire qualified as a pharmacist\, after a three year apprenticeship and an academic years study\, and later\, in 1933 opened her own pharmacy. In the early 60’s first her son and then her daughter joined the profession\, although the route was more academically demanding. Now her granddaughter is a Professor of Pharmacy\, teaching students on the Master course needed to Register. Miall James of U3A Witham describes the journey.
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/change-in-the-science-and-practice-of-pharmacy-1920-to-2020/
CATEGORIES:History Meeting,Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/pharmacy900.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20220209T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20220209T120000
DTSTAMP:20231111T142721Z
CREATED:20231111T142721Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231111T142721Z
UID:2928-1644402600-1644408000@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Zoonoses - Past\, Present and Future
DESCRIPTION:Zoonoses are infectious diseases\, caused by viruses\, bacteria or other pathogens\, that are transmitted from animals (livestock\, pets and wildlife) to man either directly or through vectors or food. In this talk\, Diane Newell\, from Test Villages u3a\, will explain that\, of the 1400+ infectious diseases known in man in 2001\, over 60% were zoonotic. Covid 19 is the most recent\, but many\, such as plague\, flu and malaria are old and well known. However\, over 75% of new and emerging diseases are zoonotic. The control of such disease emergence is essential if we are to prevent future pandemics\, but progress is hampered by man’s encroachment on wild life habitats\, global travel and food production\, and the loss of biodiversity. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Zoonoses’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/zoonoses-past-present-and-future/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Zoonoses-image.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20220119T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20220119T120000
DTSTAMP:20231111T144142Z
CREATED:20231111T144142Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231111T144142Z
UID:2932-1642588200-1642593600@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Cracking Cholera - a Victorian Detective Story
DESCRIPTION:Mike Trevethick\, of Thanet U3A\, tells the fascinating story of Dr John Snow\, the pioneering London physician who in 1854\, faced with yet another of the recurring cholera epidemics which had blighted the city for so long\, finally discovered the source of this terrible disease\, and how to prevent it. In doing so\, his meticulous approach to data collection and analysis would become the founding principle of epidemiological investigations ever since. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Cracking Cholera’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/cracking-cholera-a-victorian-detective-story/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ST-meeting-12th-Jan-image.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20211110T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20211110T120000
DTSTAMP:20231112T105137Z
CREATED:20231112T105137Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231112T105137Z
UID:2964-1636540200-1636545600@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Body Clocks and Circadian Rhythms
DESCRIPTION:In the modern world\, we often feel that our daily lives are governed by the relentless ticking of a thousand clocks\, all clamouring for their share of our precious time. But there’s another clock – an internal\, biological one – which we never hear\, but is nonetheless vital for keeping us alive\, and in good health. This ‘body-clock’\, finely tuned to the 24-hour cycle of day and night\, determines when we sleep and when we wake\, when we eat\, and much more besides. \nScientists now believe that these ‘circadian rhythms’ are not unique to mankind\, but are shared with many\, and possibly all living organisms\, given that the day-night cycle has been ever-present during the evolution of life on Earth. In this presentation\, David Tordoff\, of Wolverhampton U3A\, discusses body clocks in plants\, insects and birds\, before moving on to look in detail at our own body clock\, and how circadian rhythms affect so many facets of our daily lives. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Body Clocks’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/body-clocks-and-circadian-rhythms/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ST-meeting-10th-Nov-image-for-webpage.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210908T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210908T120000
DTSTAMP:20231112T110314Z
CREATED:20231112T110314Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231112T110314Z
UID:2967-1631097000-1631102400@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Artificial Intelligence
DESCRIPTION:It was back in 1950 that the great Alan Turing published his ground-breaking analysis of the principles of AI\, embodied in what became known as the ‘Turing Test’ – could a machine ever be able\, consistently\, to fool skilled interlocutors into believing that they were conversing with a real human being? Today\, the challenges faced by AI researchers are vastly more complex\, but the basic goal is still much the same – to create machines that can emulate the power of the human mind\, or even surpass it. In this presentation\, Leigh Edwards\, of Exeter U3A\, discusses the technologies behind the various different types of AI (termed ‘Narrow’\, ‘General’\, and ‘Super’)\, the progress that has been made so far\, and the potential risks and benefits to the human race. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘AI’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/artificial-intelligence/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210804T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210804T120000
DTSTAMP:20231112T111426Z
CREATED:20231112T111426Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231112T111426Z
UID:2971-1628073000-1628078400@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:The Virology of Covid-19: Looking behind the Headlines
DESCRIPTION:Why are viruses so successful at replicating themselves\, how do their hosts react to infection\, and how do they evolve to outwit our best efforts to combat them? Never have these questions been so crucial as they are right now. Our two speakers – Dr Jane Sellwood\, of Reading U3A\, a former Consultant Clinical Virologist at the Royal Berkshire Hospital who has also worked for the Health Protection Agency\, and Dr David McLellan\, of Torridge U3A\, a retired university lecturer in Biomedical Science – cast their expert eyes over what’s really going on behind the lurid headlines. Jane’s talk delves into the life-cycle of viruses in general\, and Covid-19 in particular\, then David focuses on some of the variants that have emerged\, and how they’ve influenced the progress of the pandemic\, with regard to both transmission and the effectiveness of the vaccines. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Virology of Covid-19’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/the-virology-of-covid-19-looking-behind-the-headlines/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210714T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210714T120000
DTSTAMP:20231112T112812Z
CREATED:20231112T112812Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231112T112812Z
UID:2975-1626258600-1626264000@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:The Victorian Information Super-Highway
DESCRIPTION:Mention the information super-highway\, and we automatically think of the internet. But actually\, messages were already being sent back and forth around the world\, by wire\, as long ago as the Victorian era\, thanks to Samuel Morse’s electric telegraph\, and the vast network of undersea cables laid down by the British\, to connect our far-flung colonies. It was called\, appropriately\, the ‘All Red Line’ (red being the cartographers’ code for the British Empire). \nIn this talk\, Mario Greening of Cardiff U3A presents a brief history of communications technology\, which culminated in the planning\, financing\, and construction of the cable network by British entrepreneurs and engineers. He also reveals the little-known story of ‘Room 40’ at the Admiralty\, where\, during WW1\, code-breakers intercepted messages sent by the Germans on their network\, while protecting the security of our own. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Victorian Information Super-highway’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/the-victorian-information-super-highway/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210609T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210609T120000
DTSTAMP:20231112T114104Z
CREATED:20231112T114104Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231112T114104Z
UID:2980-1623234600-1623240000@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:The Scale of the Universe
DESCRIPTION:We’ve all heard of planets\, stars\, and galaxies\, but their relative sizes\, and especially the vast distances between them\, can be difficult for us non-astronomers to grasp. In this talk\, David Youll (Basingstoke & Old Basing U3A) takes us on an incredible journey\, from our own planetary home\, right out to the most distant galaxies\, so that we can really appreciate the scale of the Universe\, its structure\, and the relationships of its constituent parts. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Scale of the Universe’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/the-scale-of-the-universe/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210512T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210512T120000
DTSTAMP:20231112T123638Z
CREATED:20231112T123638Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231112T123638Z
UID:2986-1620815400-1620820800@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:"Benford's Law" and "Using Viruses to Cure Cancer"
DESCRIPTION:Benford’s Law (by Max Beran\, Didcot & District U3A)\nTake any large set of numerical data\, like those on the financial pages of the newspapers. The digits themselves may appear to be entirely random\, but are they really? You’ll be amazed by what Benford’s Law tells us about the hidden patterns within these numbers\, how it can help with data verification\, and even how it thwarted Donald Trump’s bid to overturn the US election results! \nUsing Viruses to Cure Cancer (by David McLellan\, Torridge U3A)\nAfter the traumas of the pandemic\, another virus story is perhaps the last thing you’d want to hear about. But wait: the same technologies that gave us the vaccine may soon deliver something even more far-reaching – a cure for cancer. Oncolytic viruses\, which have a natural ability to target cancer cells more avidly than healthy cells\, can now be genetically engineered to attack only these cells\, opening up exciting new possibilities for safer and more effective treatments. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Benfords Law’ & ‘Oncolytic Viruses’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/benfords-law-and-using-viruses-to-cure-cancer/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/May21-image.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210414T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210414T120000
DTSTAMP:20231112T135033Z
CREATED:20231112T135033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231112T135033Z
UID:3008-1618396200-1618401600@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Understanding the Human Perception of Colour
DESCRIPTION:Leigh Edwards (Exeter u3a) explains how our eyes and brain perceive and interpret the colours of light and pigments in the world around us\, and just how easily we can be fooled by them. \nTo view the recording\, click here… ‘Colour Perception’ video \nTo contact us about the Science & Technology group\, click here… Get in touch
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/understanding-the-human-perception-of-colour/
CATEGORIES:Science and Technology Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Perception-of-colour-image.png
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