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Astrophysics and the anthropic principle
Astronomers and other physicists are often asked questions such as ‘Why is the speed of light 299792458 ms-1 and not a little larger or smaller?’
One typical answer is ‘If it were different we would not exist in our current form to talk about the answer’.
Poster: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/south_east/lse/calendar/files/file_53051.pdf
(PDF, 200 KB).
Event Title: Astrophysics and the anthropic principle. Speaker(s): Dr Dirk Froebrich. Organised by: IOP London and South East Branch. Requires registration: No. Contact details: Dr C. Isenberg
Email: C.Isenberg@kent.ac.uk
Tel: 01227 832768.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Rutherford Lecture Theatre 1, University of Kent, Canterbury. CT2 7NZ.
The physics of superheroes
Everyone is familiar with at least one superhero. In this talk we shall discuss a wide variety of different superheroes and we shall show how their ‘unbelievable’ powers have a basis supported by the laws of physics.
The only concession that we shall make is that we shall assume that they have these powers, we shall not try to explain where they come from.
So, we’ll answer questions such as “how strong is the gravity on Krypton?” “where does Magneto get his levitation from?” “what is the secret of Wonder Woman’s amazonium?” etc.
To answer these questions we shall consider Newton’s law of gravitation, diamagnetism and some materials science. These are only three examples, most of your favourites will be there covering all areas of physics.
Free car parking near the lecture theatre.
Event Title: The physics of superheroes. Speaker(s): Professor Alan Davies. Organised by: IOP London and South East Branch. Requires registration: No. Contact details: Email: r.mackintosh@open.ac.uk or t.a.bartlett@open.ac.uk (secretary).
Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Berrill Lecture Theatre, Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA.
The end of the world in 2012? The astronomer’s perspective
What's all this about the end of the world in 2012?
In this talk Jocelyn Bell Burnell looks at the astronomical phenomena that reputedly will cause the end of the world in 2012, and reflects on what this has to say to us about science education and about the communication of science.
Tea/coffee from 18:00 and afterwards. Talk begins at 18:30.
Event Title: The end of the world in 2012? The astronomer’s perspective. Speaker(s): Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell, DBE, FRS. Organised by: institute of Physics London and South East Branch. Requires registration: Yes. Contact details: Branch secretary
Email: londonsoutheast@physics.org.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, London, W1B 1NT.
Do we owe everything to the stars?
The discovery of hundreds of extrasolar planets has raised the possibility of discovering life elsewhere in the next few decades, and yet the origin of life on Earth remains one of the key questions for science.
The talk will cover how stars play a key role, not only in producing the
elements for life, but also in providing the unique handedness in the building blocks of life.
Professor James Hough is former Director of the Centre for Astrophysics Research, University of Hertfordshire. This event is free but places may need to be reserved.
Do we owe everything to the stars? (Poster) (PDF, 390 KB).
Event Title: Do we owe everything to the stars? Speaker(s): Professor James Hough. Organised by: London and South East Branch. Requires registration: Yes. Contact details: Dr Diane Crann
Email: d.crann@herts.ac.uk.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Lindop Building College Lane Campus, Hatfield, AL10 9AB.
Visit to Centronic Ltd
10:15 - 10:45 Meet at Wimbledon Station, 10:45 - 11:30 Coach to Centronic followed by talk, lunch & tours.
Centronic Ltd started life as 20th Century Electronics Ltd. in 1945 making atomic radiation detectors. Gilbert Tomes became a single owner when the limited company was set up.
He had developed his own detector from the standard Geiger Muller tube. The company still supplies detectors for atomic piles etc and developed the BF3 neutron detector.
The cameras for use in high levels of radiation are still based on vacuum tubes but new types are coming along.
Costs £20. This meeting has been organised by George Freeman. This is a high security company because of its work and radioactive testing. No cameras please.
Event Title: Visit to Centronic Ltd. Speaker(s): Robert McKeag. Organised by: London and South East Branch Retired Members Section (REMS). Requires registration: Yes. Contact details: John Belling
Email: john.a.belling.secrems@gmail.com
Tel: 07986 379935.
Thursday, February 23, 2012, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
King Henry’s Drive, New Addington, Croydon, CR9 0BG.
For more info visit www.centronic.co.uk. What shadows we are and what shadows we pursue: medical imaging from roentgen to MRI
The development of medical imaging over a century or so represents one of the most important of all fields of practical application of physics.
This talk will examine various physical principles exploited with particular emphasis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Poster: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/south_east/lse/calendar/files/file_53051.pdf (PDF, 200 KB).
Event Title: What shadows we are and what shadows we pursue: medical imaging from roentgen to MRI. Speaker(s): Dr Peter Dawson. Organised by: IOP London and South East Branch. Requires registration: No. Contact details: Dr C. Isenberg,
Email: C.Isenberg@kent.ac.uk
Tel: 01227 832768.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Rutherford Lecture Theatre 1, University of Kent, Canterbury. CT2 7NZ.
The physics of superheroes
Everyone is familiar with at least one superhero. In this talk we shall discuss a wide variety of different superheroes and we shall show how their ‘unbelievable’ powers have a basis supported by the laws of physics.
The only concession that we shall make is that we shall assume that they have these powers, we shall not try to explain where they come from.
So, we’ll answer questions such as “how strong is the gravity on Krypton?” “where does Magneto get his levitation from?” “what is the secret of Wonder Woman’s amazonium?” etc.
To answer these questions we shall consider Newton’s law of gravitation, diamagnetism and some materials science.
These are only three examples, most of your favourites will be there covering all areas of physics.
Tea/Coffee at 6pm and afterwards.
Event Title: The physics of superheroes. Speaker(s): Professor Alan Davies. Organised by: London and South East Branch. Requires registration: Yes. Contact details: Branch Secretary
Email: londonsoutheast@physics.org.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, W1B 1NT.
Modern Cryptography
Traditional symmetric or secret key cryptography has historically been the province of government, diplomatic and military users with a requirement for confidentiality.
More recently asymmetric or public key cryptography has been developed and taken up to meet the requirements of life in cyberspace.
Private individuals are now using it, often unknowingly, to achieve confidentiality and authentication.
In this talk we describe how some of these requirements are met, and in particular how to reduce the need for an elaborate infrastructure.
Car park near the William Penney theatre.
The theatre entrance can be found on the A340 Basingstoke to Newbury road, just before the Heath End Roundabout at Tadley.
Tea/Coffee and Biscuits will be served from 7pm. The lecture is open to all, including non-members.
Event Title: Modern Cryptography. Speaker(s): Dr Richard Pinch. Organised by: IOP London and South East Branch. Requires registration: No. Contact details: David Parkes
Email: IOP.Lectures@awe.co.uk.
Monday, March 5, 2012, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
William Penney Theatre, AWE, Aldermaston, Reading, RG7 4PR.
Visit to the national air traffic control centre
Following the security checks the group will assemble in the 'Viewing Room', which enables a good overview of the main air traffic control units going through their normal control operations.
Since our first visit, the main control unit has been split into two separate units, one for ‘local’ traffic and the other for ‘long range’ traffic.
For operational safety reasons, the NATS have decided that only four visitors can be allowed in each of the operations rooms during the visit.
The whole group will be able to visit other parts of the facility which are not subject to these tight restrictions.
Identification: It will be necessary to have one’s passport or a new-style driving licence in order to gain entry.
Maximum party size: 12 Timings will be provided to those booked on the tour. This visit has been organised by Peter Murden. Cost £3 (lunch not provided).
Event Title: Visit to the national air traffic control centre. Organised by: London and South East Branch Retired Members Section (REMS). Requires registration: Yes. Contact details: John Belling
Email: john.a.belling.secrems@gmail.com
Tel: 07986 379935.
Thursday, March 8, 2012.
Sopwith Way, Swanwick, Southampton SO31 7AY.
Precision cosmology - the distance scale, the Hubble constant and the acceleration of the universe
Ground-based and Hubble Space Telescope studies of the distance scale finally achieved a consensus on the Hubble constant in 2001, just as WMAP studies of the microwave background fluctuations delivered high-precision estimates of the main cosmological parameters.
Type Ia supernovae in distant galaxies demonstrated that the expansion of the universe is accelerating and the WMAP studies demonstrated the need for a cosmological constant. Is the cosmological problem solved?
Free car parking near the lecture theatre.
Event Title: Precision cosmology - the distance scale, the Hubble constant and the acceleration of the universe. Speaker(s): Prof Michael Rowan-Robinson. Organised by: IOP London and South East Branch. Requires registration: No. Contact details: Email: r.mackintosh@open.ac.uk or t.a.bartlett@open.ac.uk (secretary).
Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Berrill Lecture Theatre, Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA.
Exoplanets and How to Find Them
With the help of some fun demonstrations, Dr Norton will explain the techniques used to detect planets around other stars and give a brief summary of the recent discoveries in this area.
Tea/Coffee at 6pm and afterwards.
Event Title: Exoplanets and How to Find Them. Speaker(s): Dr. Andrew Norton. Organised by: IOP London and South East Branch. Requires registration: Yes. Contact details: Branch Secretary
Email: londonsoutheast@physics.org.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, W1B 1NT.
The contributions of photography to art and society
Some photographers adopted Pictorialism, emulating painting and etching, while others wanted to stress the aesthetic qualities of photographs stemming from photographic techniques.
The Presentation will discuss the relation between Art and Photography since the inception of photography in the 19th century and give examples of how the two artistic media influenced each other.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the development of photographic apparatus and techniques enabled photographers to tackle the subjects outside their studios.
This led to the development of Candid Photography Photojournalism and Street Photography. No other media was able to achieve the results like those of photographers such as Erich Salomon, Dorothea Lange and Henri Cartier – Bresson. The contribution the photographic medium had on society will be discussed.
Poster: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/south_east/lse/calendar/files/file_53051.pdf (PDF, 200 KB).
Event Title: The contributions of photography to art and society. Speaker(s): Professor Mohamed Sobhy. Organised by: IOP London and South East Branch. Requires registration: No. Contact details: Dr C. Isenberg
Email: C.Isenberg@kent.ac.uk
Tel: 01227 832768.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
Rutherford Lecture Theatre 1, University of Kent, Canterbury. CT2 7NZ.
A Collaboration based on Red Sprites
Red sprites are upper atmospheric optical phenomenon associated with thunderstorms that have recently been only documented using low level television.
The first images of a sprite were taken in 1989 and from 1990 to 1994 the space shuttle obtained twenty more images.
Despite nearly a century of anecdotal reports from airline pilots, most scientists didn't really believe in sprites until the first images were captured on high-speed video.
The blink of an eye last 250 milliseconds: sprites often last only ten. Cameras and computer models freeze sprites in time. Red Sprites were considered UFOs by pilots before their discovery.
Since 2001, Peter has been involved in a collaboration based on Red Sprites with American scientist Walter A. Lyons resulting in Lyons’s DVD titled 'The Hundred Year Hunt for Red Sprites' and also an interactive website.
Peter created the artwork in the 'The Hundred Year Hunt for Red Sprites' as well as his companion-six minute film titled 'Lightning’s Angels'.
Si…
Event Title: A Collaboration based on Red Sprites. Speaker(s): Peter McLeish. Organised by: institute of Physics London and South East Branch. Requires registration: Yes. Contact details: Branch Secretary
Email: londonsoutheast@physics.org.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, London, W1B 1NT.
For more info visit www.iop.org. How round is the electron and why does it matter?
How can you measure the shape of something so small that you can't even measure its size?
This talk will be about an experiment that measures the shape of electrons.
This shape is important in physics because it is connected to two basic symmetries of nature.
The first is a symmetry between the forward and backward flow of time, and the second a symmetry between matter and antimatter.
The talk will explore these connections, showing how extremely precise measurements made in a small laboratory experiment can answer some big physics questions.
Car parking near the lecture theatre.
Event poster: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/south_east/lse/calendar/files/file_52509.pdf (PDF, 243 KB).
Event Title: How round is the electron and why does it matter? Speaker(s): Dr Michael Tarbutt (Senior Lecturer in Physics at Imperial College London). Organised by: London and South East Branch. Requires registration: Yes. Contact details: Dr Diane Crann
Email: d.crann@herts.ac.uk.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Lindop Building College Lane Campus, Hatfield, AL10 9AB.
REMS: The Fishmongers’ Hall and Organs
The Fishmongers’ Company is one of the ancient guilds of the City of London and the history goes back 700 years.
After lunch our guide will be Ian Shaw, the official organist at St Mary Abchurch and St Clements, Eastcheap and visiting organist at St Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge.
He will take us into these churches which were rebuilt after the 1666 Great Fire by Wren and have pipes and cases from that date.
St Magnus the Martyr has been much altered over the years with a major work in 1924. It has very fine woodwork.
The peal of 12 bells was installed in 2009 (Whitechapel Foundry).
St Clement, Eastcheap, organ is 17th century by Renatus Harris.
St Mary, Abchurch, has a unique painted dome of 1708 and a Grinling Gibbons reredos.
The organ case is 1717 and the works were installed by Noel Mander in 1954. Here we will be able to go into the organ to see how it is constructed.
Those who wish to can play this historic organ (any one with keyboard skills is welcome – do not…
Event Title: REMS: The Fishmongers’ Hall and Organs. Speaker(s): Ian Shaw. Organised by: IOP London & South East Branch. Requires registration: Yes. Contact details: John Belling
Email: john.a.belling.secrems@gmail.com.
Monday, April 2, 2012, 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
The Fishmongers Hall, London Bridge, London, EC4R 9EL.
For more info visit www.london-city-churches.org.uk. REMS: Renewable Energy Systems and The Paper Trail
Programme:
11:00 - Tour of Renewable Energy Systems (2 hours)
13:00 - Lunch
14:30 - Tour of the Paper Trail (2 hours)
16:30 - End of visit
RES (Renewable Energy Systems) is a specialist company involved in the planning of wind energy farms, together with other forms of renewable energy.
The wind turbine visible from the M25 in Hertfordshire is on their site.
After lunch at The Paper Mill, a Fullers pub, we will visit the Paper Trail, which illustrates the history of paper making in the Gade Valley, under the Victorian entrepreneur John Dickinson.
The museum contains the first Fourdrinier production machine still in working order, and dating from 1895.
Travel arrangements:
By train: To Kings Langley on the London Midland from Euston. The 10:05 from Euston arrives at 10:30.
The return will be from Apsley, the next station down the line. Turn right on leaving Kings Langley station and then turn right again after 250m into Egg Farm Lane and RES.
For transport to lunch and between th…
Event Title: REMS: Renewable Energy Systems and The Paper Trail. Organised by: IOP London & South East Branch Retired Members Section (REMS). Requires registration: Yes. Contact details: John Belling (REMS Secretary)
Email: john.a.belling.secrems@gmail.com.
Thursday, April 12, 2012, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Renewable Energy Systems Ltd, Beaufort Court, Egg Farm Lane, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, WD4 8LR.
Optical sensing in medicine
Throughout human history, light has played an important role in medicine. New optical technologies are revolutionizing many fields.
Applications of such technologies are primarily focused upon the understanding, development and applications of instrumentation, sensors and physiological measurements to facilitate the prognosis, diagnosis and treatment of disease or the rehabilitation of patients.
Optical sensors in medicine might be described as being in an adolescent stage, where their power and potential can be recognized but are still developing rapidly.
The development of optical sensors is a current strength of the UK.
This talk will mainly focus on the application of optics in the development of medical sensors and will demonstrate how such technologies can be used as medical "tools".
Examples of challenges from various clinical specialities will be presented.
Free car parking near the lecture theatre.
Event Title: Optical sensing in medicine. Speaker(s): Professor Panicos Kyriacou. Organised by: IOP London and South East Branch. Requires registration: No. Contact details: Email: r.mackintosh@open.ac.uk or t.a.bartlett@open.ac.uk (secretary).
Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
Berrill Lecture Theatre, Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA.
REMS Visit to Holland
The timing has been chosen to match the popular “bulb” parade on the 21 April, which starts from Noordwijk at 9:30. “On Saturday April 21 at 9:30 hours, the annual Flower Parade will leave Noordwijk to travel its 40 km route, along the main roads, to arrive in Haarlem at about 21:00 hours.
The (2011) procession comprised of 20 large floats and more than 30 decorated luxury cars, interspersed with marching bands.”
18 April - Arrive at Hotel in Noordwijk aan Zee Coach from Schiphol (15:00) or train to Leiden, bus 40 to Noordwijk
19 April - ESTEC, ESTEC space museum, Keukenhof gardens Coach hotel to ESTEC & Keukenhof, service bus to Noordwijk (?)
20 April - Floriade - Coach there and back
21 April - Parade at Noordwijk, Zaanse Schans (see http://www.zaanseschans.nl/) Coach to Zaanse Schans, return by public transport
22 April - Valkenburg am Meer narrow gauge museum, Amsterdam. Coach to museum, then Amsterdam, return by public transport
23 April - Depart - Coach to Schiphol (departing at 10:00)…
Event Title: REMS Visit to Holland. Organised by: IOP London and South East Branch Retired Members Section (REMS). Requires registration: Yes. Contact details: David R Pick
Email: david.pick@physics.org.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012 – Monday, April 23, 2012.
The recommended hotel is the Golden Tulip Beach Hotel Noordwijk aan Zee.
How round is the electron and why does it matter?
How can you measure the shape of something as small as an electron?
This talk will explore the connections between the shape of the electron, the direction of time and the existence of anti-matter, showing how extremely precise measurements made in a small laboratory experiment can answer some big physics questions.
Tea/Coffee 6:00pm & afterwards. Talk begins 6:30pm.
Event Title: How round is the electron and why does it matter? Speaker(s): Dr Michael Tarbutt (Senior Lecturer in Physics at Imperial College London). Organised by: IOP London and South East Branch. Requires registration: Yes. Contact details: Branch Secretary
Email: londonsoutheast@physics.org.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, London, W1B 1NT.
Maths and the making of the modern world
Nearly all of modern technology relies on maths but its applications can sometimes be a bit hidden away.
In this talk I will open the lid on this technology and show you some of the maths behind Google, the Internet, Mobile Phones, Credit Cards, Facebook and Sat Nav devices.
Car parking near the lecture Theatre. This event is free but places may need to be reserved.
Event Title: Maths and the making of the modern world. Speaker(s): Chris Budd. Organised by: IOP London and South East Branch. Requires registration: Yes. Contact details: Dr Diane Crann
Email: d.crann@herts.ac.uk.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Lindop Building, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, AL10 9AB.
For more info visit www.iop.org. REMS visit to Finchcocks Musical Museum at Goudhurst, Kent
Finchcocks is a fine Georgian manor set in a beautiful garden, surrounded by parkland. It now houses a celebrated collection of over 100 historical keyboard instruments, of which more than forty are in full working order.
Meet 11-11:30 (coffee), 11:30 introduction and a look round the museum and the pleasure garden exhibition. Lunch 12:45. 14:00 demonstration recital in the hall.
Cost with a main Course for lunch £26, otherwise £16. Lunch would be in the Cellar Restaurant with the main course chosen in advance.
Event Title: REMS visit to Finchcocks Musical Museum at Goudhurst, Kent. Organised by: IOP London & South East Branch Retired Members Section (REMS). Requires registration: Yes. Contact details: John Belling (REMS Secretary)
Email: john.a.belling.secrems@gmail.com.
Thursday, April 26, 2012, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Finchcocks, Goudhurst, Kent, TN17 1HH.
For more info visit www.finchcocks.co.uk. How do we see colour?
Colour Vision involves Physics, Physiology, Psychology and Neurology.
It is not enough to relate each colour to a specific wavelength as may be implied by studying the visible spectrum.
The presentation will explain, through demonstrations and examples, how humans perceive colours.
Free car parking near the lecture theatre.
Event Title: How do we see colour? Speaker(s): Professor Mohammed Sobhy. Organised by: IOP London and South East Branch. Requires registration: No. Contact details: Email: r.mackintosh@open.ac.uk or t.a.bartlett@open.ac.uk (secretary).
Tuesday, May 1, 2012, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Berrill Lecture Theatre, Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA.