Earlier Lectures
From 2001 to 2015
Richmond Scientific Society Programme 2014-15 Covered in NL90, 91 and 92
2014
10 Sep, Climate, ocean and the hydrogen imperative, Mike Koefman, Planet Hydrogen
1 Oct, Graphene-based metrology, Preceded by the Annual General Meeting. Wine & Nibbles after the talk, Dr J T Janssen,National Physical Laboratory
22 Oct, Fisheries: predicting the consequences of ocean management, Dr Stuart Rogers, CEFAS, DEFRA, Lowestoft
12 Nov Optical radiometry in support of earth observation and climate measurement, Dr Nigel Fox, National Physical laboratory
10 Dec, The long carry: how stretcher bearers of the Great War transformed military medicine. (Christmas meeting with wine and nibbles), Dr Emily Mayhew, Medical historian, Imperial College
2015
21 Jan, Pollen and forensic science, Dr Michael Keith-Lucas, University of Reading, plant scientist (retired)
18 Feb, Adventures and advances in medical physics as seen from the viewpoint of a small local consultancy company, Dr Alan Calverd
18 Mar, Lecture for National Science Week, 100 years of aircraft from Kingston upon Thames, David Hassard, The Hawker Association
15 Apr, Pioneering laser anemometry in the wind industry, Dr Michael Harris, Chief Scientist, ZephIR Lida
13 May, Half Life: Bruno Pontecorvo, father of neutrino astronomy, but was he also an atomic spy? Prof Frank Close, University of Oxford
Richmond Scientific Society Programme 2013-14 Covered in NL87, 88 and 89
2013
11 Sep, Atmospheric measurements from small airborne platforms, Dr Keri Nicoll, University of Reading
2 Oct, The story of noise, Preceded by the Annual General Meeting. Wine & Nibbles after the talk, Dr Mike Goldsmith, science writer
23 Oct, 3D photography from 1841 to the present: an illustrated talk, Colin Metherell, Stereoscopic Society
13 Nov, A growing problem - invasive pests of plants in Britain, Dr Andrew Halstead, Royal Horticultural Society entomologist (retired)
11 Dec, Dinosaur sociality: crests, colours and signalling, (Christmas meeting with wine and nibbles), Dr David Hone, Queen Mary, University of London
2014
22 Jan, Life histories & evolution in Hawaiian lepidoptera, Dr Klaus Sattler, Natural History Museum
19 Feb, How do you know what the temperature is?, Dr Michael de Podesta, National Physical Laboratory
19 Mar, Lecture for National Science Week, Materials for fusion power, Prof Steve Roberts, University of Oxford
16 Apr, Fracking in the United Kingdom, Prof Peter Simpson, Imperial College London
14 May, Creativity in arts and science
Richmond Scientific Society Programme 2012-13 Covered in NL84, 85 and 86
2012
12 Sep. Autism, Dr. Emily Mayhew, Imperial College
3 Oct, Colour in Diamonds, Preceded by the Annual General Meeting, Wine and Nibbles, Douglas Garrod, Gemmological Association
24 Oct, Marine Life in action, Dr. Paul Naylor, marinephoto.co.uk
14 Nov, Alan Turing and the Cracking of the Enigma, Simon Singh, science writer and broadcaster
12 Dec, Cold Atom Clocks for Time and Space, Christmas meeting with wine and nibbles), Prof. Patrick Gill, National Physical Laboratory
2013
23 Jan, The Thames Tideway Tunnel, Jatin Seejore, Deputy Delivery Manager
27 Feb, The Impact of Lasers on the World, Prof. Stephen Sweeney, University of Surrey
20 Mar, Lecture for National Science Week, The Zoological Society of London's Citizen Science Programme: Monitoring of eel migration in the Thames, Joe Pecorelli, biologist
17Apr, Exoplanets, Dr. Patrick Josephs-Franks, Royal Astronomical Society
15 May, The Global Crisis in the Nutrition of the Brain, Prof. Michael Crawford, Imperial College
Richmond Scientific Society Programme 2011-12 Covered in NL81, 82 and 83
2011
14 Sep, Life on Mars, Steven Cutts, Surgeon and writer
5 Oct, Renewable Energy Programme in Richmond, Preceded by the Annual General Meeting, Wine and Nibbles, James Heather, Project Manager
26 Oct, The far future of the Sun and life in the Solar System, Dr Ian A Crawford, Birkbeck College, London
16, Nov, Science and Archaeology, Dr Caroline Cartwright, British Museum
14 Dec, Plants and People in the Amazon, (Christmas meeting with wine and nibbles), Dr William Milliken, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
2012
25 Jan, Nuclear Power - after Fukushima, Prof Paul Leonard, Brunel University
22 Feb, The Science of Multiple Sport Sprints, Dr Mark Glaister, St Mary's University College, Twickenham
14 Mar, Keynote Lecture for National Science Week, Titanium and Bone, Dr Dev Patel, Eastman Dental Institute, UCL
18 Apr, The World's First Computer - the Antikythera project, Dr Tony Freeth, Images First Ltd.
16 May, The IncredibleShrinkingLaboratory:,Microfluidics and Nanochemistry, Prof Andrew deMello, ETH Zurich, Imperial College
Richmond Scientific Society Programme 2010-11 Covered in NL78, 79 and 80
2010
15 Sep, Alkaline Sub-Ocean Vents: the Cradle of Life? Dr Nick Lane, University College London
6 Oct, Sustainable Urban Water Systems, Preceded by the Annual General Meeting, Wine and Nibbles, Dr Sarah Bell, University College London
27 Oct, Optical Fibres in Civil Engineering, Dr Binod Amatya, Halcrow Group
24 Nov, Mammoths, Prof Adrian Lister, Natural History Museum, London
15 Dec, Mountains Under the Sea, (Christmas meeting with wine and nibbles), Prof Tony Watts, Oxford University
2011
26 Jan, Global Warming: from first principles, Dr Michael de Podesta, National Physical Laboratory
23 Feb, Desert Margins - a modern botanical exploration, Prof Stephen Hopper, Director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
16 Mar, Keynote Lecture for National Science Week, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, Dr Stephen Hall, National Oceanographic Centre, Southampton
20 Apr, Pharmacy Then and Now: The Chelsea Physic Garden, Christine Hodgson, Garden guide
18 May, Redefining Time: Optical Atomic Clocks, Dr Anne Curtis, National Physical Laboratory
Richmond Scientific Society Programme 2009-10 Covered in NL75, 76 and 77
2009
16 Sep, The History of the Greenwich Time Service, David Rooney, Science Museum, London
7 Oct, NPL Timekeeping Today, Preceded by the Annual General Meeting, Wine and Nibbles, Peter Whibberley, National Physical Laboratory
28 Oct, What Is Colour and How Do We Measure It?, Andrew Hanson, Chairman, The Colour Group of Great Britain
25 Nov, Saturn, Titan and Enceladus: recent results from Cassini, Prof Andrew Coates, Mullard Space Science, Laboratory UCL
16 Dec, Saving the Planet with a Computer, (Christmas meeting with wine and nibbles), Dr Graham Higley, Natural History Museum
2010
27 Jan, A Journey through Space - From Infinity to Richmond in 40 Minutes, Dr Colin Hicks, Retired physicist
24 Feb, Solar Eclipses, Fantastic Events, Jerry Workman
Richmond & Kew Astronomical Society
17 Mar, Keynote Lecture for National Science Week, Plants, Animals and Time, Prof William Chaloner, Royal Holloway, University of London
21 Apr, Darwin: An Inspiration for the 21st Century, Prof Anthony Campbell, Wales College of Medicine, and director of The Darwin Centre
19 May, The Environmental Effects of Genetically Modified Crops, Prof Rosie Hails MBE, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Richmond Scientific Society Programme 2008-09 Covered in NL72, 73 and 74
2008
17 Sep Rainbows, Halos and Glories, Prof Alan Davies, University of Hertfordshire
1 Oct Brain and Cognitive Changes in Ageing Preceded by the Annual General Meeting, Wine and Nibbles, Dr Rebecca Charlton, St.George's Hospital, UCL National Physical Laboratory
22 Oct The Ecology of Richmond and Bushy Parks, Dr Nigel Reeve, Community Ecologist for the Royal Parks
12 Nov Desktop Manufacturing with Multiple Materials, Prof Julian Evans, University College London
10 Dec Gemstones (Christmas meeting with wine and nibbles), Douglas J Garrod, The Gemmological Association
2009
21 Jan, Shake, Rattle & Roll: vibration effects at Hampton Court festivals, Dr Ian Gibb, The Historic Royal Palaces
18 Feb The Tide is High: planning for future floods, Rachael Hill, The Environmental Agency
11 Mar Keynote Lecture for Science Week, Science and the Public - the priorities and pitfalls for public engagement, Sir Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the British Science Association
22 Apr The Experiences of a Concorde Pilot, Captain David Leney, (retired)
13 May Nuclear Power, Pollution and Public Assessment, Prof Paul Leonard, visiting at Brunel & Plymouth Universities
Richmond Scientific Society Programme 2007-08
2007
Wed 19th Sept Drug Free Sport, Michael Stow BSc, Science Co-ordinator, UK Sport
Wed 10th Oct, Measuring the Brightness of the Sun, Preceded by the Annual General Meeting, Wine and Nibbles, Dr Eric Usadi, National Physical Laboratory
Wed 24th Oct, Nuclear Fusion, Professor Chris Warwick, Culham Science Centre
Wed 14th Nov, Busy Bees at Rothamstead, Norman Carreck, Rothamstead Research Centre
Wed 12th Dec Palaeontology of Reindeer, (Christmas meeting with wine and nibbles), Professor Adrian Lister, Natural History Museum
2008
Wed 23rd Jan, U F Os the M O D Project, Nick Pope
Wed 27th Feb, The Time of the Sundials, Douglas Bateman, The British Sundial Society
Wed 12th March, Nanotechnology: Why all the fuss? Dr Richard Jackman, University College London
Wed 23rd April Wind Tunnel Testing of Structures, Tom Wyatt, Imperial College London
Wed 28th May, The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence, Dr John Ponsonby
Richmond Scientific Society Programme 2006-07
2006
Wed 27th Sept, The Expanding Universe and Dark Energy, Mike Goldsmith, National Physical Laboratory
Wed 11th Oct, AGM with wine and cheese, and bring-and-buy book sale, and Picture Restoration, a short presentation by Robert Mitchel
Wed 25th Oct, Stem Cells: Hope or Horror, Professor Chris Higgins, Hammersmith Hospital
Wed 15th Nov, Computer Consciousness, Professor Igor Aleksander, Imperial College London
Wed 13th Dec, Mistletoe (Christmas meeting with wine and nibbles), Tyrell Marris, Linnean Society, GLA Species Action Plan
2007
Wed 24th Jan, Mirror Images, Anti-Matter and Time Reversal, Professor I P Kalmus, Queen Mary's College
Wed 28th Feb, Population and Control: The Human Situation, Dr Bernard Soole,
Wed 14th March, Zeolites: crystal architecture based on nets and tiles, Robert Bell,The Royal Institution
Wed 25th April, Fluorescence: Lifetime Imaging for Biomedicine, Professor Paul French, Imperial College, London
Wed 16th May, Medicinal Use of Herbs, Monique Simmonds, Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
Richmond Scientific Society Programme 2005-06
Wed 28th Sept 2005, The Biological Basis of Belief. Prof. Lewis Wolpert FRS, University College London
Wed 19th Oct 2005, AGM with wine and cheese, and bring-and-buy book sale, and Brunel and the Thames Tunnel, a short presentation by Laura Weaver, Education Officer, Brunel Engine House
Wed 26th Oct 2005, Mobile Phones - is it safe to phone home? Dr Michael de Podesta, National Physical Laboratory
Wed 23rd Nov 2005, Underground Coal Gasification
Kenneth J Fergusson recently Chief Executive of the Coal Authority, now retired
Wed 14th Dec 2005, Aspects of Conservation in Book Binding (with Christmas wine and nibbles), Marysa de Veer, The Otter Bindery, Addlestone
Wed 25th Jan 2006, The Forensic Examination of Documents, Oliver Thorne, Laboratory of the Government Chemist
Wed 22nd Feb 2006, G M Crops - Friends or Foes?, Prof Peter Bramley, Royal Holloway College, University of London
Wed 22nd March 2006, Moral Messages of Science, Prof Helen Haste, University of Bath, the BA
Wed 26th April 2006, Geological Aspects of the Boxing Day Tsunami 2004, Dr John Gahan, Farnham Geological Society
Wed 17th May 2006, Images from Mars Express, Jerry Workman, Chairman Loughton Astronomical Society
Richmond Scientific Society Programme 2004-05
Wed 22nd Sept 2004, The Asthma Epidemic: victims of our own success, Dr Mark Larche, National Heart and Lung Institute
Wed 6th Oct 2004, AGM with wine and cheese, and bring-and-buy book sale, and a short presentation by the President, (All are invited)
Wed 27th Oct 2004, The Perils of Scientific Journalism, a talk and discussion, chaired by Dr Alun Lewis, Royal Holloway, University of London
Wed 24th Nov 2004, Nanotechnology - What kind of genie is coming out of the lamp?, Dr Robert Potter, Johnson Matthey Technology Centre
Wed 15th Dec 2004, The Unconscious Shopper (with Christmas wine and nibbles), Dr Nigel Marlow, Dept of Consumer and Business Psychology, London Metropolitan University
Wed 26th Jan 2005, Life on Other Worlds?, Dr Alan, Longstaff, Freelance Science Writer
Wed 23rd Feb 2005, Bioactive Glass - toxic or turn-on?, Dr Ian Thompson, Dept of Materials, Imperial College
Wed 16th March 2005, From Anthills to Labyrinths Engineering sustainable architecture, Patrick Bellew, Consultant Environmental Engineer
Wed 27th April 2005, Nutrition and Health in the 21st Century, Prof Christine Williams, School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading
Wed 18th May 2005, A Guide to the End of the World: everything you never wanted to know, Prof Bill McGuire, Dept of Earth Sciences, University College
Richmond Scientific Society Programme 2003-04
2003
Wed 24th Sept, Cancer Genes: What do they do?, Prof. Chris Marshall FRS, The Institute of Cancer
Wed 8th Oct 2003, AGM with wine and cheese, and bring-and-buy book sale, (All are invited)
Wed 22nd Oct 2003, Propping up Pisa, Prof. John Burland FRS, Imperial College
Wed 26th Nov 2003, Reminiscences of the Docklands Light Railway, Kenneth J Fergusson, Ex Managing Director of DLR
Wed 17th Dec 2003, Glow Worms (with Christmas wine and nibbles) Robin Scagell
Wed 28th Jan 2004, The Scientific Detection of Fakes and Forgeries, Dr Paul Craddock, British Museum
Wed 25th Feb 2004, Deep Ocean Ridges, Prof Mary Fowler, Royal Holloway, University of London
Wed 24th March 2004, Steering Ahead with Hydrogen, Prof. Z Xiao Guo, Queen Mary, University of London
Wed 28th April 2004, Radiation - the Good, the Bad, and the Gray, Dr Martin Sene, National Physical Laboratory
Wed 19th May 2004, Alfred Russel Wallace in the Amazon - the making of a naturalist, Dr Sandra Knapp, Natural History Museum
Richmond Scientific Society Programme 2002-03
Wed 25th Sept 2002, The Bloody Truth, Claire Conlon Austin, Forensic Science Service
Wed 23rd Oct 2002, Military Geology in Peace and War, Dr Edward Rose, Royal Holloway University of London
Wed 27th Nov 2002, The Science of Climate Change, Dr Chris Gordon, The Met Office
Wed 18th Dec 2002, A photographer’s look at Richmond, Park Christmas Wine and Nibbles, Ron Teague & Joyce Bing
Wed 22nd Jan 2003, Space Debris, Dr Derek McNally, Retired Dir.of Uni.Lond.Observatory
Wed 26th Feb 2003, Scientific Aspects of a Bronze Age Project, Dr Nick Branch, Royal Holloway
Wed 26th March 2003, Richmond, Beagle II from Hertfordshire to Mars, Barrie Kirk, Astrium (Space) Ltd
Wed 23rd April 2003, Your life in your hands, Prof Jane Plant CBE, British Geological Survey
Wed 28th May 2003, Science and Engineering - What is the Difference?, Sir Peter Williams, President, the British Association Chairman of Engineering & Technology Board
Richmond Scientific Society Programme 2001-02
Wed 26th Sept 2001, M-theory - the theory of everything?, Dr Jerome Gauntlett, Queen Mary
Wed 24th Oct 2001, Why things go wrong in structural engineering?, Dr Tom Wyatt, Imperial College
Wed 28th Nov 2001, Palaeontology takes a sideways look at oilwells, Dr Haydon Bailey, Stratigraphic Consultant
Wed 12nd Dec 2001, The strange origin of the English apple, Dr Barrie Juniper, Plant Sci. Oxford
Wed 23rd Jan 2002, The conservation of public records, Mario Leppo, Public Record Office
Wed 27th Feb 2002, Diet and cancer - is there a link?, Dr Elaine Stone, World Cancer Res.Fund
Wed 27th Mar 2002, Lighting in London, Dr Brian Bowers, Science Museum
Wed 24th Apr 2002, Unusual applications of radar, Prof.Phil Williams, Racal Decca
Wed 29th May 2002, The History of the King’s Observatory, Dr Tom Blaney, NPL