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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20211116T233221
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20211116T233221
DTSTAMP:20260830T125818
CREATED:20211116T233221Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
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SUMMARY:November 2021 - Hannah Gray - Hearing and Audiology
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday 16th November 2021\, \nHearing and Audiology – Hannah Gray \n \nHearing is often a sense which we take for granted until something starts going wrong. For a person born with hearing\, it is essential for everyday life. Most of our relationships\, both personal and professional\, rely in some way on our ability to hear. When I tell someone I work as an audiologist\, I often get asked “a what?” (often with no pun intended)! A lot of people haven’t heard of “audiologists” but we play a huge role in assessing people’s hearing\, providing assistance for those with hearing challenges\, giving advice about hearing protection\, helping people to manage tinnitus and in some cases helping with balance problems as well. In this talk I will guide you through how our auditory systems work\, what can sometimes go wrong with them and how these issues can be managed. I’ll touch on hearing\, tinnitus and balance to give you an insight into the world of Audiology. \nHannah Gray is an audiologist at Tripp Hearing in Oxfordshire. She studied Audiology at Southampton University and has worked in both the NHS and the private sector. She specialises in providing hearing care and auditory rehabilitation for adults; providing advice about hearing protection; performing aural care and wax removal services and giving advice about tinnitus management. She also enjoys playing music in a folk and ceilidh band. As you might imagine\, her fellow band mates have the best in musician’s hearing protection! \nFurther details to follow
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/november-2021-hannah-gray-hearing-and-audiology/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20211019T223605
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20211019T223605
DTSTAMP:20260830T125818
CREATED:20211019T213605Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1877-1634682965-1634682965@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:October 2021 - Mike Landy - COP26: humanity’s moment of truth?’
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday 19th October 2021 \n\n\nMike Landy \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nCOP26: humanity’s moment of truth?’ \n\n\n\n“Code red for humanity” declared the Secretary General of the UN following publication in August of the latest IPCC report on the status of climate science\, which drew from over 14\,000 peer-reviewed studies. Its verdict: human influence is “unequivocal”\, resulting in widespread and significant impacts. One need only follow the daily news for evidence of its increasing toll. \n\n\n\nThis November\, Glasgow hosts the 26th annual meeting of the almost 200 countries seeking to agree how to limit the resulting global warming and adapt to its impacts. Known as COP26\, this crucial meeting has already been delayed by a year due to the pandemic. The Paris Accord in 2015 (COP21) agreed that countries would seek to limit the global temperature rise to less than 2°C above pre-industrial\, and preferably to within 1.5°C. However the voluntary emission reduction pledges made so far by countries fall well short of what is required to achieve that. The scientific evidence says that the world must halve carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve “net zero” by 2050. COP26 is crunch time – humanity’s last real chance to agree how to reverse the remorseless rise in temperature and achieve the Paris goals.   \n\n\n\nMike’s presentation will summarise the current position and explain COP26’s pivotal role\, with the UK chairing the process. Can countries summon the political will in what often seems like a high-stakes poker game? Can humanity wean itself off its addiction for fossil fuels? Can it happen soon enough to avert runaway global warming? Who bears the costs of adaptation? There is no doubt now that the fate of future generations depends on it. \n\n\n\nMike Landy \n\n\n\nFollowing a chemistry degree from Bristol University\, Mike spent five years with the British Antarctic Survey as a glaciologist\, working on the continent’s climate and pollution history. After four years in the aluminium and chemicals industry he took an MSc in Energy Studies and spent the remainder of his career working on the energy sector’s transition to low carbon. Most of that time was in support of government renewable energy and energy efficiency programmes\, based at Harwell with the UKAEA and then AEA Technology. The last five years of his career were with renewable energy trade associations in London\, focusing on achieving a supportive policy framework for renewable energy technologies\, in particular solar energy. Since retiring in 2016\, Mike has closely followed the climate debate and indulged his love of the great outdoors.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/october-2021-mike-landy-cop26-humanitys-moment-of-truth/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210817T224327
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210817T224327
DTSTAMP:20260830T125818
CREATED:20210817T214327Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1875-1629240207-1629240207@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:August 2021 - Adela Garcia - A routine eye test? The technology helping us look after our general health through the eyes.
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday 17th August 2021 – Cafe Scientifique online \n\nA routine eye test? The technology helping us look after our general health through the eyes.\n\nMost of us take for granted our sight and only book an eye test when we struggle with vision. What we don’t realise is that through a routine eye examination we can detect a number of eye and general health diseases that otherwise go unnoticed until it’s almost too late; from diabetic retinopathy\, macular degeneration\, glaucoma to brain tumours and strokes. We will look into the different technology used in your high street Optician during a standard or enhanced sight test and how different machines give us different information about the patients’ general and eye health.\n\nAdela Garcia\nI am a Dispensing Optician and Retail Director in a local Specsavers Opticians. I have worked in optics for 16 years and I am a fellow of the British Dispensing Opticians. My day to day job involves a lot of problem solving\, from providing vision aids to patients with low vision\, children and adults with learning difficulties\, patients with facial disfigurement and dementia \, to providing more common solutions to customers with presbyopia\, myopia\, astigmatism and general eye conditions. I do not diagnose eye diseases or prescribe \, but help carry out tests to diagnose and provide optical solutions after diagnosis. As part of the NHS Enhance Optical Services it is also my job to advice and refer those that come to us with minor eye care conditions and DVLA tests.\nBeing an Optician in the UK means we have to commit to follow guidelines established by the General Optical Council and the NHS \,and to obtain a certain amount of points per year in advanced education to ensure we are up to date with all the new technology and changes in the world of optics\, making this career ever changing and very rewarding.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/august-2021-adela-garcia-a-routine-eye-test-the-technology-helping-us-look-after-our-general-health-through-the-eyes-2/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210720T221705
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210720T221705
DTSTAMP:20260830T125818
CREATED:20210720T211705Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1874-1626819425-1626819425@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:July 2021 - Ian Adsley\, My Nuclear Life
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday 20th July 2021 \nMy Nuclear Life\, Ian Adsley  \nI think many of you will know I organise most of the speakers for the Didcot Cafe Sci. I’ve always kept a reserve talk in the event that for some reason we ‘lose’ a speaker. This month we have ended up with such a gap and as a result\, it seems opportune to for me to present a reserve talk. \nIn the past\, I’ve focussed presentations on one particular element of my work and so have produced at least three talks – in fact\, many more – but recent events have made me package them all into one. The reason for this new talk is that my son ‘volunteered’ me to be interviewed in a podcast series entitled\, ‘My Nuclear Life’ and as I have to produce all of this information for this event I’ve just adapted it into a Powerpoint presentation as well. \nItems of interest are Marie Curie’s radium spoil tip\, the clean-up of the Olympic park site prior to the 2012 Olympics\, the purest gold ever produced\, surveying a sunken Russian submarine off Murmansk and of course Chernobyl and Fukushima. I have dealt with some of these in previous talks – but there is a lot of new information in this overall presentation as well \nI hope you enjoy the talk \n \nIan Adsley  \nI retired six years ago having undertaken research and development in nucleonic (nuclear) measurement methods. During my working career\, I worked on three main topics – coal industry research\, nuclear decommissioning\, and land remediation – based at the Harwell Nuclear Site\, and finally as a consultant on projects regarding the clean-up of the Cold War nuclear legacy issues in the Former Soviet Union.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/july-2021-ian-adsley-my-nuclear-life/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210615T100351
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210615T100351
DTSTAMP:20260830T125818
CREATED:20210615T090351Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1873-1623751431-1623751431@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:June 2021\,  Peter Allen - Black Holes
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday 15th June 2021  \n\n\n\nPeter Allen – Black Holes \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr Peter Allan is a space scientist and astronomer working at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL). He did a PhD at Manchester University on the subject of black hole models of quasars and subsequently held research positions in astronomy at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands and at Kitt Peak National Observatory in the USA. He has worked at RAL since 1990 on astronomical software systems\, Earth observation data systems\, satellite control systems and international standards for space data systems
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/june-2021-peter-allen-black-holes/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210518T220100
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210518T220100
DTSTAMP:20260830T125818
CREATED:20210518T210100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1872-1621375260-1621375260@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:May 2021\, Paul Steadman - Magnetic Attraction: a History and Description of Magnetism
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday 18th May 2021 \nMagnetic Attraction: a History and Description of Magnetism \n  \nFrom prehistory to the modern day magnetism has fascinated mankind. Since Thales first written discovery of the properties of lodestone\, the Chinese invention of the compass needle to magnetic recording magnetism has played an important role in technology. Despite this importance\, a theory that explains fully magnetism requires the complexities of not just an understanding of electromagnetism but in addition the complexities of the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics\, both of which were only discovered in the twentieth century. \nThe first half of this talk will be devoted to the history of magnetism from the ancients right up to the present day. Following this will be an informative but easy-to-follow description of what magnetism actually is which will include some examples from technology.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/may-2021-paul-steadman-magnetic-attraction-a-history-and-description-of-magnetism/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210420T114413
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210420T114413
DTSTAMP:20260830T125818
CREATED:20210420T104413Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1871-1618919053-1618919053@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:April 2021 - Dr Chris Pearson\,  ARIEL and ALIEN Worlds: Enabling planetary science across light-years
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday 20th April 2021\nDr Chris Pearson\nARIEL and ALIEN Worlds: Enabling planetary science across light-years\n\n\nLess than 30 years ago the only planets known to exist were those found within our own Solar System. From the first confirmed discovery in 1992 – of a pair of exotic planets orbiting around a dead star – the field of exoplanetary science has undergone nothing short of a revolution. Currently\, we stand at a staggering 4000+ confirmed discoveries of planets outside our Solar System. What we have found is that\, as usual\, our Universe is more diverse than we could possibly imagine\, throwing up a menagerie of weird and wonderful planets such as Jupiter sized worlds orbiting ridiculously close to their parent stars\, worlds made of ice\, lave\, and even diamond\, to rogue planets drifting alone in the vastness of space. With such a treasure trove of discovery\, the next logical step is to characterise the properties of these systems. We are at the dawn of a new age in exoplanet research where for the first time large samples of 1000+ exoplanets are not only being detected but also characterised by analysing the composition of their atmospheres. The European Space Agency’s ARIEL mission\, due for launch in 2028\, will become the leading facility in this characterisation process.\n\nDr Chris PearsomMy PhD was in “Galaxy Evolution and Cosmology” with Prof. Michael Rowan-Robinson Imperial College\, London. I have worked on cosmological galaxy surveys at infrared wavelengths for both ground based telesco\npes and space-borne missions. I worked for 7 years in Japan on the AKARI space telescope before moving to the UK to RAL Space to work on the SPIRE instrument on the Herschel Space Observatory where I led the team that produced all the nice maps from SPIRE. I now work on the ARIEL mission searching for exoplanets and the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope\, the largest scientific facility ever to be built.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/april-2021-dr-chris-pearson-ariel-and-alien-worlds-enabling-planetary-science-across-light-years/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210316T231900
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210316T231900
DTSTAMP:20260830T125818
CREATED:20210316T231900Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1861-1615936740-1615936740@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:March 2021 -  Hugh Warwick - Hedgehogs - why we should worry\, and what we can do
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday 16th March 2021 \nHugh Warwick\nHedgehogs – why we should worry\, and what we can do\nThe nation’s favourite wild mammal\, nature icon\, animal – the hedgehog always tops the polls – is under threat. Startling population declines have been recorded. This illustrated talk will explore the reasons why the hedgehog has suffered so badly and explore some of the ways in which we can help.  \nSpeaker – Hugh Warwick  \nHugh Warwick is an ecologist and writer with a particular fondness for hedgehogs. The first of three books (so far!) about hedgehogs was\, A Prickly Affair\, and this remains unique for having accolades from both Jeanette Winterson and Ann Widdecombe on the cover. The second hedgehog book was called … Hedgehog\, published in April 2014 by Reaktion Books. It is a monograph on the iconography of the hedgehog – niche\, yes\, but also full of fun and beautiful illustrations. Most recently\, in September 2020\, The Hedgehog Book – published by Graffeg. This looks at the hedgehog from both the scientific and the less scientific points of view – illustrated with oodles of gorgeous photographs. \nIn addition to writing\, Hugh also does a lot of public speaking (from primary schools to postgraduate research groups via the WI and Wildlife Trusts).  He runs day-long courses on hedgehog conservation and also lectures in creative writing. He is the spokesperson for the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. Thanks to his singing-son he became the photographer for Magdalen College Choir – which has now resulted in him covering many different choirs in Oxford and Cambridge\, as well as concerts\, plays\, weddings\, and bar/bat mitzvah.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/march-2021-hugh-warwick-hedgehogs-why-we-should-worry-and-what-we-can-do/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210216T230330
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210216T230330
DTSTAMP:20260830T125818
CREATED:20210216T230330Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1870-1613516610-1613516610@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:February 2021 - Martin Willet - Safe to Breathe? – A Short History of Gas Detection’
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday 16th February 2021 \nSafe to Breathe? – A Short History of Gas Detection’ \nSpeaker – Martin Willett  \nMartin’s talk will touch upon a historical point of view\, exploring the very old methods (canaries\, Davy lamps\, etc) as well as talking about the latest miniature sensors using semiconductor\, optical and electrochemical methods. \nMartin Willett \nAfter completing a BSc in Physics at Birmingham University in 1978\, Martin joined the UK National Coal Board research establishment to work on sensors for challenging underground coal mine environments. He was awarded a PhD from Nottingham University in 1987 for studies of the surface chemistry and electrical behaviour of tin oxide semiconductor gas sensors.  \nIn 1994\, he moved to City Technology in Portsmouth\, a world leader in electrochemical gas detection\, which was acquired by Honeywell in 2006. He has led development of successful optical\, catalytic and electrochemical sensor products for toxic and flammable gases and managed research programmes in Corporate Laboratories and Universities.  \nMartin has published over 40 papers and patents and is a member of the Institute of Physics\, holding both Chartered Physicist and Chartered Engineer status. He was appointed a Honeywell Technology Fellow in 2014.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/february-2021-martin-willet-safe-to-breathe-a-short-history-of-gas-detection/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210119T231832
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210119T231832
DTSTAMP:20260830T125818
CREATED:20210119T231832Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1869-1611098312-1611098312@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:January 2021 - Dr Geof Haigh\, 5G: What is it and Why all the fuss?”
DESCRIPTION:Dr Geof Haigh\, Technical Consultant – FiMoS Ltd \nTuesday 19th January 2021 – 5G: What is it and Why all the fuss?” \nWhat is 5G Mobile? \nHow is it different from 4G (or 3G or 2G)? \nWhy is it suddenly so important? \nWhat’s it got to do with Huawei? \nWill I be in the ‘digital slow lane’ if I don’t have it? \nThis presentation will attempt to answer these questions. \nGeof Haigh has spent over 40 years working in telecoms & IT\, all of it in industry\, and most of it working on fixed and mobile communications. Geof lives in Goring.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/january-2021-dr-geof-haigh-5g-what-is-it-and-why-all-the-fuss/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201215T232941
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201215T232941
DTSTAMP:20260830T125818
CREATED:20201215T232941Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1868-1608074981-1608074981@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:December - Dr Tom Hart\, Counting in the wild – using drones\, remote cameras and citizen science to observe penguins in a changing world.
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday 15th December 2020 \nDr Tom Hart\, Penguinologist\, University of Oxford – Counting in the wild – using drones\, remote cameras and citizen science to observe penguins in a changing world. \nTom Hart uses a variety of approaches to study penguins and their response to changing environments. He’ll discuss how remote sensing and citizen science has changed how we can view the world; even in remote places like Antarctica. \nTom has a passion for wildlife in extreme environments and is working hard to conserve them in a changing world. He leads the Polar Ecology Research Group at the University of Oxford\, where he studies penguins to help conserve them\, but also shags in the Southern Ocean and kittiwakes and guillemots in the Arctic. Tom first went South during his PhD on Macaroni Penguin foraging behavior with the British Antarctic Survey\, where he instantly in love with South Georgia. His love of the Antarctic Peninsula came a few years later. He now tackles the data gaps that are needed to manage Antarctica head on; counting the Danger Islands\, the South Sandwich Islands and the need to understand and manage the krill fishery. He monitors penguin colonies all year-round using time-lapse cameras\, AI and citizen science (www.penguinwatch.org). Since it launched in September 2014\, Penguin Watch has had 8 million hits and changed the way we can monitor the Polar Regions. The point of all these new techniques is to better monitor remote areas and to prioritize those that are under strain in order to create effective protected areas and fisheries management. His main loves in the Polar Regions are South Georgia and macaroni penguins; South Georgia because it is amazing and macaroni penguins because they share his special outlook on life. In his spare time\, Tom sails and packrafts\, recently crossing Iceland by packraft and foot and cruising up the West coast of Greenland.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/december-dr-tom-hart-counting-in-the-wild-using-drones-remote-cameras-and-citizen-science-to-observe-penguins-in-a-changing-world/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201117T234647
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201117T234647
DTSTAMP:20260830T125818
CREATED:20201117T234647Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1866-1605656807-1605656807@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:November - Richard Bull 'Radiation-Hazards & Benefits'
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday 17th November – Richard Bull\, ‘Radiation-Hazards & Benefits’\nIf you would like to receive joining instructions for this online talk – please email cafesci@didcotfirst.org \nIntroduction to radioactivity and radiation\, explaining some of the terms like half-life and radiation dose that are frequently used. I’ll describe how radiation interacts with living tissue—how it causes harm and how it can be used beneficially\, for example in radiotherapy. Finally\, I’ll describe the most high-profile case of radiation over-exposure of recent times—the Litvinenko case. \nRichard got his BSc\, MSc & PhD degrees from the physics department\, University of Birmingham.  He worked for the Nuclear Power Company\, Leicester\, on operator exposure estimates for the Sizewell PWR and then worked at AWE Aldermaston\, on atmospheric dispersion modelling. Since 1983  Richard has been based at Harwell\, initially for the UKAEA and more recently for Nuvia Limited. He works mainly on internal dosimetry\, assessing internal doses for workers at Harwell\, Culham and Capenhurst. Since 2017 he has been involved in the Mayak workers dosimetry programme.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/november-richard-bull-radiation-hazards-benefits/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201020T225819
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201020T225819
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20201020T215819Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1867-1603234699-1603234699@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:October - Samuel Hatfield 'The quiet revolution of numerical weather prediction'
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday 20th October – Samuel Hatfield \nThe quiet revolution of numerical weather prediction \nOver the past 40 years there has been a monumental rise in the skill of weather forecasts. This has been achieved through a concerted international scientific effort and sustained investments in new technologies\, including weather-observing satellites and number-crunching supercomputers. As a result of these developments\, we have been able to extend the horizon of skilful forecasts by one day every decade. Now\, we are able to predict the effects of hurricanes and other storms\, such as Hurricane Sandy\, even 8 days before they make landfall\, and this has demonstrable value to a global society more and more exposed to extreme weather events in a changing climate. In this talk I will discuss the key developments in meteorological science that has allowed this so-called “quiet revolution” of numerical weather prediction. I will introduce the key characters of this 150-year old story\, including an algorithmically-minded Quaker and a Hungarian polymath\, and discuss the implications that chaos theory has on the ultimate limit of forecasting. \nSam Hatfield is a scientist at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in Reading. His day-to-day research focuses on how we can better exploit supercomputers to simulate the global climate system\, including the atmosphere and the ocean\, thereby improving forecasts of extreme weather events. He holds a DPhil in Atmospheric Physics from the University of Oxford.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/october-samuel-hatfield-the-quiet-revolution-of-numerical-weather-prediction/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20200915T223209
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20200915T223209
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20200915T213209Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1865-1600209129-1600209129@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:September - Fred Landeg 'Animal Disease Threats to Global Food Security’
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday 15th September  – Fred Landeg ‘Animal Disease Threats to Global Food Security’ \n“Food security exists when all people\, at all times\, have physical and economic access to sufficient\, safe\, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and. healthy life”. (World Food Summit\, 1996). \nInfectious animal disease invariably causes a degree of economic loss to livestock keepers.  Those diseases\, which are either communicable to man or so infectious and economically damaging\, they require Government intervention to prevent or control them\, are classified as ‘listed’ or ‘notifiable’ diseases.  If they go unchecked\, they can damage livestock industries to such a degree that Food Security is threatened.  Currently\, there is a global epidemic of the listed disease – African Swine Fever (ASF) – it is raging in China and the Far East with outbreaks in Eastern Europe and Belgium.  It is a serious threat to food security and to trade in animal and animal products. Aspects of the epidemiology of ASF\, its prevention and control will be discussed compared with Classical Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease. \nFred Landeg CBE BVetMed MSc MRCVS\nFred qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1971.  In 1975 after a spell in veterinary practice\, he joined the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF now Defra) as a Veterinary Officer.  He held several managerial posts concerned with operational delivery\, development of policy and advice to Ministers in the areas of public health\, animal health and animal welfare. \nIn 2004 he was appointed UK Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer and Director in Defra. He became acting Director-General and Chief Veterinary Officer in November 2007 and retired from public service at the end of April 2008. Until the Covid-19 pandemic\, he continued to carry out specialised consultancy work within EU member states.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/september-fred-landeg-animal-disease-threats-to-global-food-security/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20200818T180043
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20200818T180043
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20200818T170043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1864-1597773643-1597773643@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:August - Professor Chris Lintott.  'Frontiers of Astronomy' concentrating on what will be happening in the next twenty years both from missions and observations'
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday 18th August – ‘Frontiers of Astronomy’ concentrating on what will be happening in the next twenty years both from missions and observations. \nChris Lintott is a professor of astrophysics at the University of Oxford\, where he is also a research fellow at New College\, working on topics from galaxy evolution\, transient detection and machine learning. As Principal Investigator of the Zooniverse\, he leads a team who run the world’s most successful citizen science projects\, allowing more than a million people to discover planets\, transcribe ancient papyri or explore the Serengeti. \nA passionate advocate of the public understanding of science\, he is best known as co-presenter of the BBC’s long-running Sky at Night program. His book\, ‘The Crowd and the Cosmos’\, is now available from Oxford University Press. \n 
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/august-professor-chris-lintott-frontiers-of-astronomy-concentrating-on-what-will-be-happening-in-the-next-twenty-years-both-from-missions-and-observations/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20200721T220311
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20200721T220311
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20200721T210311Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1860-1595368991-1595368991@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:July - Climate Change - when is an emergency really an emergency? Mike Landy
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday 21st July 2020 \nEvery day brings disturbing new stories and fresh evidence of the impact that climate change is having on the world we inhabit. Climate scientists have been highlighting the dangers for decades\, but it is the rise of the Greta Thunberg generation that has finally brought the issues to the forefront for the media and politicians. And the narrative has changed – it is no longer whether man-made carbon emissions are responsible\, but what should we do to address what is now widely acknowledged as a climate emergency. \nClimate science is complex and does not deliver the certainties requested by politicians. Yet the precautionary principle dictates that we must act\, and we must act urgently and decisively. Who should take the lead – individuals\, business or government? Should our responses focus on reducing carbon emissions or coping with their climatic consequences? \nMike’s presentation will explore the many issues raised by the climate debate and how humanity should respond in order to leave a liveable world to future generations. \nMike Landy  \nFollowing a chemistry degree from Bristol University\, Mike spent five years with the British Antarctic Survey as a glaciologist\, working on the continent’s climate and pollution history. After four years in the aluminium and chemicals industry he took an MSc in Energy Studies and spent the remainder of his career working on the energy sector’s transition to low carbon. Most of that time was in support of government renewable energy and energy efficiency programmes\, based at Harwell with the UKAEA and then AEA Technology. The last five years of his career were with renewable energy trade associations in London\, focusing on achieving a supportive policy framework for renewable energy technologies\, in particular solar energy. Since retiring in 2016\, Mike has closely followed the climate debate and indulged his love of the great outdoors.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/july-climate-change-when-is-an-emergency-really-an-emergency-mike-landy/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20200616T224152
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20200616T224152
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20200616T214152Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1863-1592347312-1592347312@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:June - "Electric Propulsion to replace Petrol & Diesel Engines in cars"  Peter Moss
DESCRIPTION:“Electric Propulsion to replace Petrol & Diesel Engines in cars” – Transport power from food for people and horses\, coal and oil in vehicle engines and electricity in the future. \nPeter Moss\nGraduated in Mechanical engineering at Imperial College\, Apprenticeship with Rolls Royce\, postgraduate study at Cranfield College of Aeronautics\, and with British Leyland until 1976 – then at Royal Military College of Science (now Defence Academy UK) at Shrivenham where I lectured undergraduate mechanical engineering students. My work included courses on military fighting and logistic vehicles – from “Motor Cycles to Main Battle Tanks” at postgraduate level. Also\, courses were provided for advanced training of staff officers Shrivenham as well as a similar course abroad. Venues included Australia\, USA\, Turkey\, Libya\, Singapore\, Jordan\, India. Occasional papers and lectures have been presented at home and abroad – including Germany and Poland. \nMost of my professional life had been involved with land vehicles\, with the latter part specialising in military vehicle mobility\, their engines\, and transmissions. \nDuring the second World War both protagonists built limited numbers of electric transmission tanks. In the last decade or so\, military vehicle designers have revisited ‘electric transmissions’ and ‘limited all-electric systems’\, especially for reconnaissance vehicles. I have been involved in discussions with military vehicle manufacturers at home and abroad\, for both traditional and electric propulsion systems and have taken a keen interest in the many electric cars coming onto the market – which the subject of this talk.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/june-electric-propulsion-to-replace-petrol-diesel-engines-in-cars-peter-moss/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20200519T225238
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20200519T225238
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20200519T215238Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1859-1589928758-1589928758@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:May  - Professor John Zarnecki  - The Cassini/Huygens Mission to Saturn & Titan - The Didcot Connection!
DESCRIPTION:Following on from the success of hosting our monthly Cafe Scientifique online\, we are delighted Professor John Zarnecki will be our speaker this month.  \nLog in details will be emailed through our mailing list. Should you wish to be added to our mailing list please email cafesci@didcotfirst.org \n \nTuesday 19th May 2020 | Professor John Zarnecki |  The Cassini/Huygens Mission to Saturn & Titan – The Didcot Connection! \n \nThe joint NASA/ESA mission to the Saturnian system was arguably one of the most ambitious missions of scientific exploration to date. Launched in 1997 and arriving at Saturn in 2004\, it delivered the Huygens Probe to the surface of Titan\, Saturn’s largest moon\, and spent 13 years studying the Saturnian system.  Looking at the data and results from Titan\, one of the most fascinating places in our Solar System\, we will see how many people knew that the first part of the Huygens Probe to touch the surface of Titan was built in Didcot! \nJohn Zarnecki studied Physics at the University of Cambridge\, followed by a PhD at the Department of Physics and Astronomy\, University College London. His PhD focused on the x-ray emission from supernova remnants\, and included the first ever high resolution detection of an x-ray spectral feature from a cosmic x-ray source. John’s experience of space research includes sounding rockets\, Earth-orbiting and interplanetary missions at British Aerospace\, The University of Kent and The Open University\, including the Hubble Space Telescope\, Giotto to Halley’s comet and Cassini/Huygens to Saturn & Titan. \nHe was President of the Royal Astronomical Society 2016-2018\, received its Gold Medal in 2014 and has been a member of various national and international bodies\, including Chair of the UK Space Agency Science Programme Advisory Committee. He holds awards from NASA and ESA and was an inaugural winner of the Arthur Clarke Award in 2005.   \nRetired from the Open University\, he chaired the European Space Agency’s Space Science Advisory Committee2017-2019 and was a Director at the International Space Science Institute in Switzerland 2013-2016.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/may-professor-john-zarnecki-the-cassini-huygens-mission-to-saturn-titan-the-didcot-connection/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20200421T220458
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20200421T220458
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20200421T210458Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1862-1587506698-1587506698@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:April - A virtual Cafe Scientifique. A talk on 'Repurposing old drugs against new targets: science's flurry of activity against CoVid-19' Dr Rachel Quarrell
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday 21st April 2020Virtual Cafe Scientifique\, 7pm for a 7.30pm start.Dr Rachel Quarrell\, from Oxford Cafe Scientifique will be giving a talk on “Repurposing old drugs against new targets: science’s flurry of activity against CoVid-19” \nDr Rachel Quarrell trained as an organic chemist at the University of Oxford.  She wrote one of the first UK doctorates on combinatorial chemistry before using those techniques in the field of medicinal enzyme chemistry and drug discovery with targets ranging from emphysema and malaria to HIV.  She moved out of research more than a decade ago and now combines teaching organic chemistry to Oxford undergraduates with involvement in college admin and student welfare. \nIn 2000 she was invited to co-found the Oxford Café Scientifique\, one of the earliest Cafés\, with a post-doc colleague and has run it ever since.  \n \nIf would you like further information on how to join this virtual meeting or to add your name to our mailing list\, please email cafesci@didcotfirst.org \nThank you.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/april-a-virtual-cafe-scientifique-a-talk-on-repurposing-old-drugs-against-new-targets-sciences-flurry-of-activity-against-covid-19-dr-rachel-quarrell/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20200218T232818
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20200218T232818
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20200218T232818Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1858-1582068498-1582068498@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:February - Science & Music\, Paul Steadman
DESCRIPTION:Science & Music – Paul Steadman – Tuesday 18th February\nRanging from the popular music of Ed Sheeran or Dua Lipa through to Jazz\, flamenco to the more classical music of Debussy or Beethoven it is obvious that most people will like some form of music. What is less obvious are the links between music and science and what separates music from other forms of sound or noise. With the help of some demonstrations I will attempt to explain these links by examining sound waves\, the structure of musical instruments and the construction of musical scales and why this caused so much controversy for hundreds of years. \nPaul Steadman\nPaul Steadman is an instrument scientist at Oxfordshire’s Diamond Light Source. He studied at the University of Leicester\, obtaining his first degree and PhD there. In 1998 he worked as a postdoctoral research associate at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility\, Grenoble where he studied surface crystallography of magnetic thin films. In 2003 he worked on a project to study the magnetic and structural disorder in magnetic thin films using mainly X-ray and neutron scattering techniques. He built and now leads one of the instruments which is dedicated to the study of magnetism. \nWhilst Paul’s main area of expertise are in X-rays and magnetism he is also a very keen musician and has\, for a number of years\, had a big interest in trying to understand the connection science and music.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/february-science-music-paul-steadman/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20200121T234023
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20200121T234023
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20200121T234023Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1857-1579650023-1579650023@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:January - Developing New Tests for Cancer using Single Molecule Imaging and Artificial Intelligence - Dr Ben Davis
DESCRIPTION:Developing New Tests for Cancer Using Single Molecule Imaging and Artificial Intelligence \nDr Benjamin Davis is a machine learning scientist and senior scientific software developer at the STFC Central Laser Facility\, Harwell Campus. He is working in a team developing novel single molecule imaging technologies to better understand the behaviour of cells at the molecular level and\, together with the use of recent developments in artificial intelligence\, establish novel diagnostic tests for cancer. \nBen studied a BSc in Biochemistry and Biological Chemistry followed by a PhD in Molecular Biophysics at the University of Nottingham\, where his thesis explored bacterial chemical communication systems and their interactions with human hosts. He then spent the next eight years in postdoctoral research at University College and Imperial College London\, working on a range of projects including nanotechnology based drug delivery systems\, understanding methods of anaesthetic activity and developing diagnostics for neurodegenerative diseases using the eye as a window to the brain. During this time he became interested in image analysis\, the spatial statistics of cell populations and automation methods and translate scientific discoveries from the laboratory to the clinic.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/january-developing-new-tests-for-cancer-using-single-molecule-imaging-and-artificial-intelligence-dr-ben-davis/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20191217T235931
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20191217T235931
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20191217T235931Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215341Z
UID:1856-1576627171-1576627171@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:December - Fusion Power: The Mission\, an Engineer and the way forward
DESCRIPTION:Fusion Power: The Mission\, an Engineer\, and the Way Forward \nDr Tom Barrett\,  UK Atomic Energy Authority\, Culham\, Oxfordshire \n17th December 2019 \nFusion power has for decades promised to be humanity’s perfect energy source: safe\, clean\, abundant\, sustainable and dependable as a baseload supply. Investment in experimental facilities has so far been focused on fusion physics\, but fusion is now said to be entering the “delivery era”. A net-power reactor\, ITER\, is under construction in France as an international project\, there are efforts across the globe on power plant design\, and there are an increasing number of private fusion start-up companies. At UKAEA\, Culham\, the last decade has seen the establishment of new centres of excellence for materials research\, remote handling\, technology\, and apprentice training. UKAEA has a rapidly expanding workforce of engineers\, and not only the type that fix equipment and operate machines – engineers with the creativity to design power stations of the future. To deliver fusion power is going to need considerable and increasing investment in facilities for fusion technology development. One such facility is named CHIMERA\, a device for testing large component prototypes under the harsh conditions of the fusion core\, which is currently under design and due to come online in 2022. This talk gives a recap of the merits of fusion as a power source\, gives an insight into the work of fusion engineers at Culham\, and describes how the community is moving forward with increasing focus on fusion technology development. \n \nDr Barrett has a 1st class masters degree in mechanical engineering and completed his PhD in the subject of Computational Engineering from the University of Southampton in 2007. He then joined the UK Atomic Energy Authority at Culham\, and has since worked on a range of projects\, notably leading a crucial upgrade of the neutral beam injection systems for the MAST facility as well as leading research on the fusion reactor divertor and other high heat flux plasma-facing technologies. He is line manager of the Engineering Design section at UKAEA and has supervised a number of PhD. students on topics relating to fusion power plant design. He is currently technical lead for a new facility for testing fusion technology named CHIMERA\, under design and to be constructed at a new UKAEA site in south Yorkshire. \nHe thoroughly enjoys the extreme challenges offered by fusion engineering and the inherent mix of “blue-sky” research and detailed component design\, as well as the diverse\, inclusive and friendly environment at UKAEA. \nHe is a Chartered Engineer and member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/december-fusion-power-the-mission-an-engineer-and-the-way-forward/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20191126T103634
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20191126T103634
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20191126T103634Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215342Z
UID:1851-1574764594-1574764594@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:*Remember this month Cafe Sci is taking place on Tuesday 26th November* - Translational Optometry: Turning Research Into Treatment In Genetic Eye Disease
DESCRIPTION:Translational Optometry: Turning Research Into Treatment In Genetic Eye Disease \nThe first gene therapy for the eye has now been approved by NICE for use in patients. This talk discusses the processes involved in translating therapies developed in the lab into patient clinical trials and ultimately new treatments for patient use. The current gene therapy trials in Oxford for choroideremia\, a genetic eye disease\, are used to illustrate the process and highlight work still required for the future. \nJasleen Kaur Jolly is an optometrist and vision scientist working between the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Wellcome Integrative Neuroimaging Centre\, University of Oxford\, and Oxford Eye Hospital. She studied at Cardiff University and the University of Manchester\, working across the world in various settings to gain a wide range of experience. She is actively involved in clinical research in the fields of genetic eye disease\, gene therapy\, low vision\, and the connections between the eye and the brain in eye disease. She is currently undertaking an NIHR Clinical Research Doctoral Fellowship entitled\, “Development of novel tests to assess visual function in patients with inherited retinal degeneration.” This project aims to investigate vision in inherited retinal degeneration by integrating psychophysics\, retinal anatomy and brain imaging of the visual cortex.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/remember-this-month-cafe-sci-is-taking-place-on-tuesday-26th-november-translational-optometry-turning-research-into-treatment-in-genetic-eye-disease/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20191015T092755
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20191015T092755
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20191015T082755Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215342Z
UID:1850-1571131675-1571131675@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:October - Spaceships in Oxfordshire
DESCRIPTION:Spaceships in Oxfordshire \nWant to learn about the exciting space innovations taking place here in Oxfordshire? From rocket engines to satellites to applications… come explore with Stephen Ringler of the Satellite Applications Catapult what is going on in the UK Space Sector in 2019 and how it may even be affecting your everyday life. \n  \nStephen is passionate about space and linking people and businesses to space\, having worked in the industry as a business developer\, precision pointing system engineer\, programmatic analyst\, and cluster development manager for nearly 20 years. Stephen’s experience includes working with government\, commercial\, and international space organizations with previous roles at the Science and Technology Facilities Council and The Aerospace Corporation. Stephen is now employed as the Head of Future Business for the Satellite Applications Catapult\, helping to further bolster Space activities within the UK Space Sector. He is the Managing Director of Spacetime Development and Space Store\, both successful companies based in Oxfordshire
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/october-spaceships-in-oxfordshire/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20190916T232843
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20190916T232843
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20190916T222843Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215342Z
UID:1852-1568676523-1568676523@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:September - Pain and the opioid crisis - a community pharmacist perspective
DESCRIPTION:Pain and the opioid crisis – a community pharmacist perspective \nRosie Adsley gives us an overview of the current treatment of pain and will also look at how the opioid crisis developed in the US and the current situation in the UK \nRosie Adsley qualified as a pharmacist in 2008 and completed her PhD entitled ‘Visualisation of the cellular uptake of nanoparticles’ at the Laboratory of Biophysics and Surface Analysis at the University of Nottingham.  Following this Rosie worked in community pharmacy for 5 years where she became involved in the provision of a palliative care syringe driver service which sparked an interest in the treatment of pain.  In 2017 Rosie began working as a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice at De Montfort University in Leicester.
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/september-pain-and-the-opioid-crisis-a-community-pharmacist-perspective/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20190716T123823
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20190716T123823
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20190716T113823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215342Z
UID:1847-1563280703-1563280703@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:July - Keeping the lights on at an affordable cost\, Eoin Lees
DESCRIPTION:Keeping the lights on at an affordable cost in a low carbon world \nThe costs of producing electricity from renewable energy have been falling rapidly in recent years.  This is good news as we move to a world where we must reduce the CO2 emissions associated with providing the energy services that the world requires while mitigating the worst effects of climate change.  This talk will begin with an update on the latest costs for low CO2 electricity production. \nIntermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are often criticised as being unreliable at the electricity peak demand times which occur during winter peaks – the problem politicians often call “keeping the lights on”.  However\, in the 21st century there are more options available to achieve this and this talk will outline some of these and their current actual and planned deployment.  Some international examples of successfully meeting peak demand in a “smart way” will be reported.  These will include 3 examples of approaches that did not play a major part in “keeping the lights on” in the last century.  \n  \nEoin Lees has worked in sustainable energy for over 30 years\, particularly in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy.  Since 2003\, he has been an independent consultant and worked with a wide range of clients including UK and overseas Governments\, the EU\, trade bodies and the private sector.  From 2008-15\, he was European senior advisor to RAP (an organisation devoted to furthering energy efficiency in regulated energy industries around the world). \nHe was the founding Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust (EST) from 1993 to 2003 and built the organisation from 1 employee to 110 in that period.  He was responsible for the introduction of the energy efficiency obligations on UK regulated energy companies in 1994 and which grew to an annual expenditure by such companies of around €1.3 billion per year in 2012.  He also broadened EST’s remit into greener road transport and into household and community renewable energy sources.  Prior to that he was the Director of ETSU\, which was then the UK Government’s agency for research and promotion of energy efficiency\, renewable energy sources\, fuel cells and strategic energy studies. \nFrom 2001 -11\, he was a member of Ofgem’s Environmental Advisory Group and also a Board Member and vice-President of the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.  He is chair of the Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative (the first co-operative to build a wind farm in the UK) which has produced electricity from a 6.5MW wind farm in rural Oxfordshire since 2008. He is also a shareholder in the neighbouring 5MW Westmill Solar cooperative which has produced electricity since 2014. \nA physicist by training\, he is married with one grown-up son. \n  \n 
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/july-keeping-the-lights-on-at-an-affordable-cost-eoin-lees/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20190618T225254
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20190618T225254
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20190618T215254Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215342Z
UID:1849-1560898374-1560898374@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:June - The Evolving Universe (rescheduled from January 2019)
DESCRIPTION:The Evolving Universe – Professor Robert Lambourne \nThis Cafe Scientifique examines our current view of the nature of the physical Universe\, and the evolutionary process that enabled it to emerge from the hot\, dense conditions of the Big Bang. \nThe speaker\, Professor Emeritus Robert Lambourne\, directs the public programme in physical science for the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education and was\, until his recent retirement\, Professor of Educational Physics at the Open University. A former Vice-President of the Institute of Physics\, and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society\, Professor Lambourne’s books include An Introduction to Galaxies and Cosmology (with Mark Jones and Stephen Serjeant) and Relativity\, Gravitation and Cosmology both published by Cambridge University Press. \nThis month’s Café Scientifique will be held in the Auditorium at Cornerstone. \nTickets (Adults £2/Under 18s free) are available at the Cornerstone box office\, on the Cornerstone website (https://www.cornerstone-arts.org) and in person on the night.  
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/june-the-evolving-universe-rescheduled-from-january-2019/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20190521T225141
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20190521T225141
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20190521T215141Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215342Z
UID:1848-1558479101-1558479101@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:May - The Satellite Revolution
DESCRIPTION:**Unfortunately Mark Jarman is unavailable to speak at this month’s Café Sci and Steve Spittle has kindly offered to stand in for Mark**  \n  \nThe space industry is undergoing its 4th revolution\, and satellites are at its forefront. With 2\,000 live satellites orbiting our world we are now gaining unprecedented information about the Earth around us. This talk will explore how new and future innovations in the satellite technologies will create meaningful change to our day to day lives. Using high resolution satellite imagery to help save lives with rapid disaster response\, to gaining new efficiencies within agriculture and the mining sector. \nSteve Spittle is a Satellite Solutions Architect\, using state of the art satellite and terrestrial technologies to create meaningful user driven solutions across the global extractive industry. Prior to this role Mr Spittle was the Emerging Technology Lead in Digital at the Catapult where he facilitated close engagement in leading-edge satellite development projects. As part of the Emerging Technology Group\, Steve focuses on activities\, including smart analytics (both vision and natural language focused)\, next generation visualisations\, new computing architectures and IoT technologies. In addition to his work at the Catapult\, Steve mentors innovative space start-up companies across Europe as part of the EC funded Copernicus Accelerator Programme. \n 
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/may-the-satellite-revolution/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20190416T225939
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20190416T225939
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20190416T215939Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215342Z
UID:1843-1555455579-1555455579@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:April - Gone in 60 Microseconds: The Muon's Journey from Mistaken Identity to Tool of the Sciences
DESCRIPTION:Dr Peter Baker\, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) – Gone in 60 Microseconds: The Muon’s Journey from Mistaken Identity to Tool of the Sciences \nThe muon is a fundamental particle rather like the electron\, but 200 times heavier. This talk will describe its convoluted history\, what we now know about the muon\, and some of the wide range of discoveries it has helped to make from particle physics to pyramids\, frustration to fusion \nDr Peter Baker has worked as an muon scientist at the ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory for the past 10 years. Before that he studied and did research in the physics department at the University of Oxford. His research has mostly covered magnets\, superconductors\, and batteries\, almost always using antimuons. He is also the secretary of the International Society for Muon Spectroscopy. \n  \n\n 
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/april-gone-in-60-microseconds-the-muons-journey-from-mistaken-identity-to-tool-of-the-sciences/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20190319T235934
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20190319T235934
DTSTAMP:20260830T125819
CREATED:20190319T235934Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T215342Z
UID:1846-1553039974-1553039974@didcotfirst.org
SUMMARY:March - When things go wrong: Chemical incidents then and now\, Tom Johnson\, The National Chemical Emergency Centre
DESCRIPTION:Whether we realise it or not\, chemicals are a vital part of our everyday lives. From the weed killer in your shed to the bleach under your sink\, even the flavouring in your squash\, chemicals are everywhere. With such a large industry it is inevitable that something will go wrong\, and when it does it can go very wrong indeed.  Join us as we take a look at examples of both historic industrial incidents and everyday occurrences as explained by an emergency responder from the UK’s National Chemical Emergency Centre. \nTom Johnson graduated with a master’s degree in chemistry from Newcastle University in 2016\, soon after he joined the NCEC as an emergency responder. Over the past two and a half years Tom has handled calls on behalf of numerous chemical companies and has assisted the UK emergency services through our dedicated line. As well as handling emergency calls Tom also provides case studies of the calls handled by the emergency responders\, these are used to inform training standards and in our company newsletters. He also authors articles disseminated to the emergency services on various emerging challenges. He is keen to engage more people in STEM and also presented to the Royal Society of Chemistry in November 2018. When not handling the emergency lines Tom often writes\, practices Jiu Jitsu and enjoys cooking. \n 
URL:https://didcotfirst.org/event/march-when-things-go-wrong-chemical-incidents-then-and-now-tom-johnson-the-national-chemical-emergency-centre/
LOCATION:Didcot Civic Hall\, Britwell Rd\, Didcot\, OX11 7JN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Cafe Scientifique
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