Day 1 is here, and Day 2 is here.
A RAINBOW VIEW OF THE ANDROMEDA GALAXY, DR KAREN MASTERS
Karen showing us Ice coming up black on an InfraRed camera – she was building up to explaining what we see when we view Andromeda using different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.
- Apparently Andromeda is about twice the size of our galaxy
- In our galaxy there is still lots of star formation going on, but not so much in Andromeda
PHYSICS GETS TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER, DR HEATHER WILLIAMS
Heather takes us on a fascinating tour of the various ways that are available for viewing the human heart … and no, cutting it out was not on the list, this was all about ultrasound, X-rays, Computed Tomography and Nuclear Medicine imaging.
This was not just, “here are the tools we have”, but rather, “here is how they work”.
LAUGHTERLAB, PROF SOPHIE SCOTT
Why do we laugh and what happens when we do – Sophie Scott had a few insights for us.
DR DEATH AND THE MEDI-EVIL MEDICINE SHOW, DR SIMON WATT
A fascinating romp through the history of medicine and how doctors in the past would often, with the very best of intentions, end up killing you instead of curing you.
SCIENCE MISADVENTURES, DR FRAN SCOTT
Fun with Fran as she blew things up … literally.
ENDANGERED SPECIES: HOW FAR DO WE WANT TO GO TO SAVE THEM? GRRLSCIENTIST
GrrlScientist asks the probing questions and tells us what it takes and what it costs to save the endangered from the very edge with examples of bird species that only had several left, literally just one or two, and then somebody smart stepped in.
DARWIN, THE BEAGLE PROJECT AND GALAPAGOS NOW, DR KAREN JAMES
Karen, inspired us with the store of her involvement in the Beagle project, her passion for Darwin, and also her passion for NASA. She applied, made it to the shortlist, but not into the final selection, but intends to keep trying. Oh, and she in the only individual I know who has even received a call on her mobile from the International Space station. Least you wonder, the number that came up on her iPhone was “000000”, and no you can’t call back … she did try it.
Finally …
The ultimate test of anything like this just has to be its ability to successfully communicate wonder, and to inspire the next generation into action. Well, this all gets a very big thumbs up, I had my 13 year old daughter with me, it motivated her to keep coming back with me for each of the three days.