FutureLearn

FutureLearn is an offshoot of The Open University providing online courses in a wide range of subjects, many of a scientific nature. The aim is to connect learners from all over the globe with high quality educators, and with each other. Courses are delivered one step at a time, and are accessible on mobile, tablet and desktop, so you can fit learning around your life, rather than your life around learning.

 

Courses are typically from 2 to 8 weeks long and expect you to do between 1 and 4 hours work per week.

The list of courses currently running or soon to be run is here.

The Spectrum

Wednesday, 6th November – something a bit different!

This was a meeting inspired by a suggestion from Sylvia Dillon. Six members each gave a 10 minute talk on a different aspect of The Electromagnetic Spectrum:

Marguerita McBride set the scene with an overview of the spectrum, and the relation between wavelength and frequency.

Edmund Moynihan gave a potted history of early discoveries in relation to the spectrum, and of the scientists who made them.

Patsy Colvin concentrated on visible light and colour in chemistry.

Chris Procter talked about ultra violet vision in the animal kingdom, and how insects see the world differently to humans.

Alan Nolan outlined the use of electromagnetic radiation in communications – from long wave radio to microwave transmission.

Jack Brettle was last up to show us how modern astronomy benefits from observing the skies at different wavelengths, and combining the results to give a much fuller picture of the universe than simply using optical telescopes.

This was a somewhat experimental format, but most people seemed to enjoy it, and at least the frequent change of speakers kept the audience awake!

Bletchley Park visit (including Oxford and Cambridge)

For a brief report of the visit in the words of one who took part, Alastair Sutcliffe, see the separate page.

Visit to Bletchley Park

The planned trip to Bletchley Park, home of the British code-breaking effort during WWII, and the subject of an extremely interesting monthly talk about the German “Enigma” machine by Dr Mark Baldwin in May 2011, is now full.

The visit will include a guided tour of the park and buildings, entry to the Colossus and Tunny galleries and to the National Museum of Computing, situated inside Bletchley Park.

There are also many items of wartime memorabilia, a wartime mini cinema and an outstanding Churchill collection.

The visit is from Tuesday 19th to Thursday 21st June, and to make the trip even more interesting we are calling in at Oxford on the way down, and Cambridge on the way back. The visit, including 2 nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast, and lunch at Bletchley Park, will cost £179, plus a supplement of £40 for anyone wanting a single room.

Further details of things to see in Oxford and in Cambridge will be sent out to those booked on the visit in the weeks to come.