Details of past Space Lectures:
|
10th Sept 08 PAST |
Voyage to the Edge of the Universe... and Beyond Lecture: One of the most surprising discoveries in cosmology is that most of the Universe's contents are dark - i.e., 25% of the "cosmic recipe" is made of the mysterious dark matter, while 70% is in the form of an even more puzzling "dark energy", which appears to be ripping the Universe apart. Recent cosmological observations have revealed the existence of this "dark Universe", and shown that the stuff we are made of is only a tiny fraction of the cosmos. This spectacularly illustrated lecture will take you to the edge of the visible Universe, and beyond, into the mysterious realm of the Multiverse. Join the astronomers' and particle physicists' quest to shed light on the nature of the dark matter and the dark energy of the Universe! |
|
8th Oct 08 PAST |
Galaxy Zoo Before the lecture: as part of World Space Week, satellite engineers from EADS Astrium are bringing displays and objects to INTECH and will be available to chat to visitors before the lecture. Find out how satellites navigate, their part in your daily life, and how to design and build something to survive 15 years in space without any maintenance. Lecture: There are hundreds of billions of galaxies in the Universe, each one different. A telescope photographed a million of them and the Galaxy Zoo team invited the public to help them classify the pictures. It now has over 150,000 volunteers and has been so successful that other science projects might start using volunteers in the same way. What have they discovered? And how can you take part in this project - and be part of real science? Alice Sheppard got into astronomy not by qualifications but by interest - and so can all of you. She looks after the discussion forum of the Zoo, answers questions and hopes to help make citizen science available for everyone |
|
12th Nov 08 PAST |
Are we Star-dust or Nuclear Waste? The Story of the Birth and Death of Stars Lecture: Stars are the origin of almost everything around us and their deaths, either by slowly fading away or in giant explosions, represent the ultimate triumph of gravity over matter.
|
|
11th Dec 08 PAST |
A (Potted) History of the Telescope As an experiment, the INTECH cafe will stay open until 6:30pm this evening. Come early for hot and cold food and drinks. If there is demand, this may be repeated on other lecture dates. Lecture: The telescope is the tool of astronomers, but was it Galileo who invented it? How did it develop and where is it heading? Ninian will guide you through the myths and reality of this most extraordinary and versatile of scientific instruments. Ninian Boyle is an experienced astronomer and Equipment Expert for the BBC Sky at Night Magazine. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a member of the British Astronomical Association, and runs the telescope dealership 'Venturescope' based here in the South. |
|
14th Jan 09 PAST |
The Search for Extraterrestrial Life in the Universe The cafe will be open before this lecture. Please note this is a trial and will not be repeated unless there is sufficient demand! Hot and cold food and drinks will be available from 5pm to 6:15pm. Lecture: Perhaps the biggest question facing humankind is whether or not life exists elsewhere in the Universe. In the last 10 years there have been huge strides by astronomers and others towards answering this question….but we are not yet quite there. Probes to other parts of our Solar System, astronomical observations of planets around other stars, and theoretical understanding of how stellar systems evolve are all greatly helping in this quest. This talk will provide the latest scientific ideas and thoughts on this important topic. Professor Malcolm Coe obtained his PhD in astrophysics from Imperial College, London before going off to work for NASA at the Goddard Space Flight Center for several years. Subsequently he moved to Southampton University where he has been since. He has given over 200 talks to non-specialist audiences of all ages. |
|
11th Feb 09 PAST |
Tour of the Universe This lecture will use our planetarium system to provide stunning visuals! Also the cafe will be open for one last trial run before it's decided whether there is adequate demand to repeat this regularly. Hot and cold food and drink available. Lecture: Go on a mind-expanding journey through space and time. From Earth, we travel through the solar system, out of our galaxy and beyond. As we go, Maggie gives details of the objects observed, considers the probability of finding life, and undertakes demonstrations with the audience. A great overview of the wonders of the Universe. Dr Aderin-Pocock has spent her career making bespoke instrumentation ranging from land mine detectors to telescopes systems. Maggie works for Astrium Ltd where she leads the optical instrumentation group, where she works as a space scientist monitoring the variables of climate change. Maggie received a fellowship from the STFC enabling her do more science communication, and was recognised in this year New Years honours with an MBE. She is a great speaker who simply oozes enthusiasm. |
|
11th March 09 PAST |
What Can We Know About the Universe? Lecture: An introduction to the remarkable advances that have been made in our understanding of the universe, and also to the questions that remain - some of which might never be answered. Professor Russell Stannard is Emeritus Professor of Physics at the Open University. A high energy nuclear physicist, he has carried out research at CERN in Geneva and at other laboratories in USA nad Europe. He is a trustee of the John Templeton Foundation - an organisation promoting better relationships between science and religion. A prolific writer for both adults and children, his books are translated into 20 languages and have been shortlisted for many religious and scientific book prizes. He is particularly known for his "Uncle Albert" books. He has been a frequent broadcaster on TV and radio and has been a regular contributor to Radio 4's Thought for the Day. |
|
8th April 09 PAST |
Black Holes, Black Magic and Interstellar Travel Please book ahead - we expect this lecture to sell out. Tickets still available (54 spaces left at 9am Monday 6th April). Lecture: Addressing the topics of gravity and relativity, their role in various cosmic bodies including black holes and their implications for travel over cosmic distances, illustrating some of the issues using magic effects. Professor John Brown is Regius Professor of Astronomy and leader of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Group in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. As Astronomer Royal, he gives frequent planetarium shows and talks for schools, the public and amateur astronomical societies, and is also involved in using conjuring and other art forms to promote interest in science. |
|
13th May 09 PAST |
Impacts from Space and the Death of the Dinosaurs Lecture: What killed the dinosaurs, and should we be worried about going the same way? Astronomers regularly discover huge lumps of rock (asteroids) and ice (comets) hurtling past the Earth. If any of them were to actually hit us, the consequences would be terrifying - tidal waves hundred of metres high, massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and disruption of the atmosphere, with dramatic consequences for all life on Earth. Dr Paul Roche is Director of the Faulkes Telescopes Project, and the UK National Schools’ Astronomer (funded by the STFC research council). Based in the School of Physics & Astronomy at Cardiff University, he has spent almost 20 years researching massive stars, neutron stars and black holes. After studying for a PhD at Southampton, he was a Lecturer at Sussex University and Head of Education at the National Space Centre, Leicester. His current role involves promoting educational use of robotic, Internet-based telescopes, and developing better links between researchers and schools. |
|
10th June 09 PAST |
Toys in the Sky: The Challenges of Space to the Human Mind Lecture: Our exploration of the Final Frontier is almost entirely reliant on our skills in engineering & design of spacecraft; sometimes manned, sometimes unmanned, but always autonomous. So we will take a brief look behind the scenes. Some spacecraft fly low, usually looking at our planet; others fly high and provide us with incredible quality TV pictures or with mobile phone communications; some even travel the Universe in search of the Ultimate. All are ultra reliable. But how do you design structures when there’s no gravity? How do you point spacecraft in the right direction when there’s no north or south? And how do you control them? Neville Poulton is a Systems Team Leader at EADS Astrium Services located at Portsmouth. He has been designing spacecraft, both scientific and telecommunications, for over twenty years. Most recently he has designed a spacecraft infrastructure for the EU to provide communications in times of distress and for peace-keeping intervention. It will cost you about £20billion! Neville also lectures at university, sixth-form colleges, and provides career guidance for those who feel challenged!
|
|
8th July 09 PAST |
They Really Did Land: Apollo at Forty Lecture: In this stunningly illustrated talk, Piers Bizony, one of Britain's leading space historians, talks us through the momentous events leading up to the first lunar landing in July 1969. Using high-definition photos taken during the mission, Bizony explains why Apollo 11 was such an amazing achievement. he also looks at NASA's plans to send people back to the moon by the year 2020. THEY REALLY DID LAND is a truly thought-provoking cultural exploration of this great adventure. Piers Bizony is the author of Atom, the best-selling book linked to the recent BBC TV series. His other books include The Man Who Ran the Moon, an investigation into the politics of the space age, and 2001: Filming the Future, an award-winning account of the making of the world's greatest space fiction film - Stanley Kubrick's 2001. |
| No August lecture | |
| 16 Sept 09(PAST) |
Looking for the Invisible - the Birth and Rise of Dark Matter Astronomy Lecture: Modern telescope and satellite technology has allowed astronomers to study the Universe in a completely new light: from infrared to gamma rays, from microwaves to X-rays, the cosmos looks very different than it does in visible light. We are now on the verge of a new revolution in astrophysics, one that will exploit new messengers from the Universe to try and unveil some of its deepest mysteries: neutrinos, gravitational waves and dark matter particles are about to become part of the astronomers' toolbox. In this lecture we will explore some of the exciting new possibilities that dark matter astronomy brings for our understanding of the Universe. Dr Roberto Trotta studies the characteristics of the Big Bang and works to determine the properties of dark energy and dark matter in the Universe. He takes part to many public engagement with science activities, involving children, students and adults and he regularly gives talks about astronomy and cosmology to very diverse audiences. He is a very experienced lecturer and presenter, and his science communication activities have won several awards, including the BA Lord Kelvin award and the Michelson Prize at Case Western Reserve University. |
|
14 Oct 09 PAST |
Our Dynamic Sun Lecture: the Sun, our nearest star, provides just the right environment for life on Earth. However, the Sun is not constant, it goes through cycles of activity. During an active phase, the Sun produces violent explosions, solar flares, which can impact on the Earth's environment. The nature of the Sun has been studied both from the surface of the Earth and from space. The talk will include some amazing images and movies of the Sun taken in X-rays and UV. The intimate relationship between the Sun and the Earth is explored, together with space weather and climate change. Dr Helen Mason studies the Sun and its effect on the Earth's environment. She has worked on many solar space missions - Skylab, Solar Maximum Mission, SoHO and more recently Hinode. |
|
11 Nov 09 PAST |
Telescope Amnesty Special: a tour of the Night Sky The November lecture will be at the later time of 8:30pm and will be a full planetarium show about our view of space from Earth and different objects you can view using your eyes and amateur equipment. This lecture will be preceded by an unticketed FREE Telescope Amnesty event where you can bring your telescope/binoculars to get advice and support from regional astronomy societies, or use their equipment to take a look at objects visible at this time of year. The cafe will be open all evening so come anytime from 6:30pm to explore how you can develop your interest in astronomy. |
|
9 Dec 09 PAST |
Are We Alone Lecture: We live in a galaxy of one hundred thousand million stars, many with planets and yet it is possible that we are the only self-aware observers of our Universe. Come and hear the arguments for and against and why this may be so. Dr Robin Catchpole, another popular lecturer back from last season, recently retired as Senior Astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. He spent much of his career in South Africa, has used the Hubble Space Telescope and done research on stars and galaxies. |
|
13 Jan 10 PAST |
Our Mysterious Moon Lecture: We have looked at it since the dawn of man, studied it through telescopes for 400 years and walked upon its surface 40 years ago but how well do we know our moon? Dr David Whitehouse, author of “The Moon: A Biographyż traces the moon’s history from the Stone Age to the Space Age revealing many strange and previously unknown facts. Using archaeology, artists, astronomers and astronauts Dr Whitehouse will tell the remarkable story of the moon and its influence on our lives. Using the latest spaceprobe data he will also ask when and how will we return. |
|
10 Feb 10 PAST |
The Violent Universe: the search for Black Holes Lecture: Black Holes represent some of the most extreme conditions that exist anywhere in the Universe. Material falling on to a Black Holes gets heated up to 10-100 million degrees before falling inside the Event Horizon. This talk presents the fundamental properties of Black Holes in terms that are easily understood. It also presents the overwhelming observational evidence for their existence. Professor Malcolm Coe obtained his PhD in astrophysics from Imperial College, London before going off to work for NASA at the Goddard Space Flight Center for several years. Subsequently he moved to Southampton University where he has been since. He has given over 200 talks to non-specialist audiences of all ages and we had audience members specifically requesting that we should invite him back this season. |
|
10 Mar 10 PAST |
In Pursuit of Pulsars Lecture: an accessible introduction to pulsars (pulsating radio stars), and their amazing properties. Like lighthouses in the sky they may one day be used as navigation beacons for interstellar travel. Meanwhile they have stretched our understanding of the behaviour of matter and serve as very accurate clocks to check out Einstein's theory of relativity. Jocelyn Bell-Burnell, as a postgraduate student, discovered the first radio pulsars with her thesis supervisor Antony Hewish, for which Hewish was awarded a Nobel Prize. Since this time she has had a successful academic career studying stars and astronomical bodies, has championed women in science, been president of the Royal Astronomical Society and is current president of the Institute of Physics (IOP). She has received many honours for her scientific research and for engaging the public; she was made a CBE in 1999 and a Dame in 2007. This evening is run in association with the IOP. |