Science and technology

Lifelong learning

Lifelong learning is an area of particular relevance to U3A organisations. We have several groups in this faculty, details of which can be viewed using the buttons at the foot of the page. We hope there will be a few that appeal to you.

To contact the convenors for the two groups below directly, please send an email as follows:

Environment and Us group - u3abasingstoke.environment1@gmail.com

Literature group - u3abasingstokeliterature@gmail.com

If you would like to contact the leader of any other group, please use the Contact us form. Your enquiry will then be forwarded to the convenor of the group in question.

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Science and technology

Our friendly meetings cover a wide range of topics presented by members of the group, with some visiting speakers. Whilst the presentations will have some technical content, the speakers know that audience members will rarely have specific knowledge of their field, so presentations are never difficult to understand. Hence, you just have to have an interest in science/technology to enjoy them.

Recent presentations covered:

· DNA in genealogy

· Galaxies, quasars, and the Big Bang

· 50+ years of high-speed trains around the world

· The development of radar

We also enjoy some interesting visits to sites (e.g. research centres) related to our studies. Recent visits have included:

· the Diamond Light Source at Harwell and

· the de Havilland Aircraft Museum, near St Albans

During lockdown, we held meetings on Zoom, followed by a Q&A session.

However, we now plan to hold future meetings in a face-to-face environment at Queen Mary's College in Basingstoke, where there is free parking. Our meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month, starting at 10.00am, with coffee and tea available from 9.45am. Click here for maps and direction.

Our aim is to for the presentation to last about 45-50 minutes, with time for questions afterwards. Also, there is the opportunity to chat with colleagues and the presenter before and after the presentation. We plan to record the sessions so that those who may not be able to attend in person can view them later.

A full programme of speakers has been arranged for 2021-22, but if you have a topic that will be of interest to this group, please let one of the group leaders know and we will aim to fit your presentation into the schedule.

Upcoming presentations are:

• 5th October: Dr. Tamara Howard – Astrology

• 2nd November: John Delafield – 66 Years in the Cockpit

• 7th December: Geoff Hick – Coastguards and finding people

Members of the S&T group will receive an email reminder about a week before each presentation, giving details of the venue (a room in Queen Mary College), the speaker and the presentation.

Links to the groups:

Venue

Queen Mary's College, Cliddesden Road, Basingstoke, RG21 3HF

Click here for website

Date