Science and Technology
These meetings currently take the form of an hour long presentation on a suitable scientific or technological topic, followed by a 30 minute period of comments, questions and discussion. The presenter has been chosen as being someone knowledgeable on the subject, who has normally given the presentation elsewhere before and therefore comes "recommended". These meetings are open to all U3A members and occasional visitors and are held on the 4th Tuesday of the month.at 2.00 pm at Petersfield Community Centre.
The programme has a broad variation of topic, seriousness and intellectual depth which is intended to ensure the interest of our members. There is always a discussion after the presentation, so that we can learn more, or add to, the understanding.
Meetings are open to all members and a charge of £2.50 is made to cover the cost of the room and equipment hire as well as any fee for the speaker.
We are joined by members of the Liphook U3A who assist with the planning and running of the meetings. For the future it is hoped that the emphasis on "speakers and presentations" can be varied so as to give local members the opportunity to give short presentations themselves and to lead discussions on their chosen subjects.
At present the Group is led by Keith Hopper, with a Steering Group of members guiding the direction of the Group and volunteers are required to join those currently involved. Please e.mail Keith with your suggestions for improving the Group meetings, visits etc as well as ways in which we can get members more involved in what is being discussed, so as to be more of a learning experience.
The future programme of meetings is attached below:
| Dates for your Diary | |
|---|---|
| Tue Apr 23rd | Genetically Modified Crops and Europe - Euro sclerosis or intelligent precautionary principle? - With John Pidgeon, a retired agricultural scientist and former director of a BBSRC Research Institute. Dr John Pidgeon led the scientific team that produced perhaps the first evidence anywhere that, properly managed, a GM herbicide tolerant crop could be better environmentally than the same conventional non GM crop. This generated much controversy. John will briefly review this field experimental work, and consider how and why emotionalism triumphed over reason at the turn of the century and thereafter - the onset of the age of un-enlightenment. Specialist molecular biology knowledge is not needed, and John hopes the discussion will generate more light than heat. |
| Tue May 28th | Andrew Ryder ex Environment Lecturer at Portsmouth University - "Climate Change - Disasters and Coping with them" |
| Tue Jun 25th | Sara Langston of Southern Health NHS - A presentation on "Controlling anxiety and worry". How stress affects us physically and mentally. Relaxation skills and other practical ways to manage it. |
| Tue Sep 24th | Prof. Barnagi - "The Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Support for Health in an Ageing Population". To be confirmed. |
| Tue Oct 22nd | Keith Betton - "Hampshire's Special Birds". |
| Tue Nov 26th | The Battle of Britain - the making of the movie, with Phil Holt. |
| Tue Jan 28th 2020 | Prof. McGeehan of Portsmouth University - "Plastic Eating Bacteria / Enzymes". |
| Tue Mar 24th 2020 | Controlling 911 with Phil Holt |