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Lecture Reports

Below you will find reports from our lectures.  Either click the title to view the report online or download a copy by clicking on the file name next to 'Download report'. Use the search box on this page to find a particular report.

The EarthCARE Mission
The EarthCARE Mission

The EarthCARE Mission

The talk presented to the Cirencester Science & Technology Society by Dr Nigel Wright, Recently Retired Programme Manager at Thales Alenia Space UK, on the subject of the EarthCARE mission.

Read more …

  • Date: Wednesday, 11 Dec 2024
  • Dr Nigel Wright, Recently Retired Programme Manager
  • Thales Alenia Space UK
Dr Nessa Carey
Dr Nessa Carey

Epigenetics: DNA Is Not Your Destiny

The talk presented to the Cirencester Science & Technology Society by Dr Nessa Carey, International Director of Praxis Unico (epigenetic technology transfer), Visiting Professor at Imperial College, London, on the subject of Epigenetics, its mechanism, effects and importance.

  • Date: Wednesday, 13 Nov 2024
  • Dr Nessa Carey, International Director
  • Praxis Unico, Visiting Professor at Imperial College
SMR aerial
SMR aerial

Introduction to the Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor

A talk presented to the Cirencester Science & Technology Society by Dr. Jason Swan and Dr. Iwan Grech of Rolls-Royce SMR, about their design of Small Module Reactor.

  • Date: Wednesday, 9 Oct 2024
  • Dr. Jason Swan and Dr. Iwan Grech
  • Rolls-Royce SMR
Professor Emily Rayfield
Professor Emily Rayfield

Digital Fossils: Using X-rays to Uncover Secrets of the Past

Or rather, how do  they know that?

Thanks to Jurassic Park, Walking with Dinosaurs and other computer-generated imagery, we are all familiar with dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals brought to life on our television and movie screens.  But how do scientists know anything about how dinosaurs moved, fed, the sounds they made and their colouration?

Read more …

  • Date: Wednesday, 11 Sep 2024
  • Professor Emily Rayfield, Professor of Palaeobiology
  • School of Earth Sciences University of Bristol
The talk presented to the Cirencester Science & Technology Society by Professor Adam Hart on the subject of the interactions between predator species and humans.
Professor Adam Hart

Predators and People: a Deadly Balance

The talk presented to the Cirencester Science & Technology Society by Professor Adam Hart on the subject of the interactions between predator species and humans.

  • Date: Wednesday, 12 Jun 2024
  • Professor Adam Hart

Alpine F1 Aerodynamics

The talk presented to the Cirencester Science & Technology Society by Jeroen Geltink, Deputy Principal Aerodynamicist for the BWT Alpine F1 team at Enstone, about working on the aerodynamic design of the Alpine F1 racing cars.

Read more …

  • Date: Wednesday, 8 May 2024
  • Jeroen Geltink
  • Deputy Principal Aerodynamicist for the BWT Alpine F1 team at Enstone

The Plague of Justinian and the End of the Ancient World

The talk presented to the Cirencester Science & Technology Society by Professor Peter Sarris, Professor of Late Antique, Medieval and Byzantine Studies, University of Cambridge, on the Reign of Justinian and the Plague.

Read more …

  • Date: Wednesday, 10 Apr 2024
  • Professor Peter Sarris: Professor of Late Antique, Medieval and Byzantine Studies
  • University of Cambridge

Meat and Two Veg: How Your Sunday Roast Affects Bowel Cancer Risk. Recent Research on Dietary Iron

A talk presented to the Cirencester Science & Technology Society by Dr Daniel H. Stones BSc, MSc, MRes. PhD, FHEA on the effects of dietary iron on bowel cancer.

 

Joint lecture with Royal Society of Chemistry, speaker selected by RSC

  • Date: Wednesday, 13 Mar 2024
  • Dr Daniel H. Stones BSc, MSc, MRes. PhD, FHEA
  • Senior Lecturer in Biosciences, University of Gloucestershire

Hypochlorous acid ….. a drop of hope?

A talk presented to the Cirencester Science & Technology Society by Dr Hugh Martin and Dr Christopher Wise about Hypochlorous Acid and its wonderful antibacterial properties.

Read more …

  • Date: Wednesday, 14 Feb 2024
  • Dr Hugh Martin and Dr Christopher Wise
  • Honorary Fellow of the RAU, and CSTS Member
Dr. Nigel Wright

Rosetta – Space Mission to a Comet

A talk presented to the Cirencester Science & Technology Society by Dr Nigel Wright, recently retired Programme Manager at Thales Alenia Space UK.

 

The talk discussed the various technical challenges facing the engineering team during the design phase which were driven by its unique journey around the Solar System, and some of the results and discoveries which it gave us.

  • Date: Wednesday, 10 Jan 2024
  • Dr. Nigel Wright
  • recently retired Programme Manager at Thales Alenia Space UK

Why does Rudolf have a Shiny Nose?

A talk presented to the Cirencester Science & Technology Society by Professor Chris Budd OBE which explains why Rudolf has a shiny nose, and many other important mysteries relating to Christmas.

The reasons turn out to be mathematical, and therefore obviously true!

  • Date: Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023
  • Professor Christopher Budd OBE
  • Professor of Applied Mathematics, University of Bath

The Herschels in Bath - Music, Science and Social Climbing

A talk presented to the Cirencester Science & Technology Society by Dr Michael McEllin, a member of the Society.

Read more …

  • Date: Wednesday, 8 Nov 2023
  • Dr Michael McEllin
  • CSTS Member

Chasing the Dragon: Moon Power and Tidal Bores

Sir Michael Berry reviews the history of tidal bores, explains why they happen and shares some records from around the world.   He advises us how and when to best enjoy the severn tidal bore.

  • Date: Wednesday, 13 Sep 2023
  • Professor Sir Michael Berry FRS FRSE FRSA
  • Melville Wills Professor of Physics (Emeritus), Bristol University

The Hands Free Hectare

A talk delivered to Cirencester Science & Technology Society by Kit Franklin in June 2023.

Kit explains the mission and mechanics of his world-leading small-scale farm machinery automation, and talks about the Hands-Free Hectare, which produced a harvest without humans venturing onto the land.

  • Date: Wednesday, 14 Jun 2023
  • Kit Franklin MEng, CEng, MIAgrE
  • Senior Engagement Fellow - Engineering, Harper Adams University

Deep Learning

A talk presented to the Cirencester Science & Technology Society by Professor Chris Budd OBE, on the current state of machine learning and artificial intelligence, weighing up the benefits and risks.

  • Date: Wednesday, 10 May 2023
  • Professor Christopher Budd OBE
  • Professor of Applied Mathematics, University of Bath
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Forthcoming Events

Lecture

Psychology and Magic

Date: Wednesday, 9 Dec 2026
Time: 7:30 pm

Lecture

What is Geoarchaeology?

Date: Wednesday, 27 Jan 2027
Time: 7:30 pm

Lecture

Professor Stephen Hawking & the Exhibits at the Hawking Building, Science and Innovation Park, Science Museum Group, Wroughton, Swindon

Date: Wednesday, 10 Feb 2027
Time: 7:30 pm

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