Your guide to key STEM events in the region and throughout the UK.
Start of International Year of Astronomy 2009
During the first weekend of National Science and Engineering Week 2009 (Sat 7 – Sun 8 March) the British Association for the Advancement of Science (the BA) will be co-ordinating the UK Save Our Bees Campaign. This will include a mass participation activity to get as many people as possible involved in helping save honeybee populations.
To complement the national effort we will run a series of regional events across the country, one of which will be held in the Midlands. The BA Regional Officer will work on the events alongside the venue and our PR company and the BA press officer will be able help promote the event both regionally and nationally.
We anticipate that this will be a great media opportunity for those involved. We are not able to offer large amounts of cash to those involved but, depending on the event, we may be able some funding towards the direct costs of the event. Essentially, we would be looking for donations in kind from venues in exchange for publicity – although there are no guarantees with press coverage. The event will be topical, engaging, be suitable for family audiences, hands-on and should be an opportunity for the general public to make a contribution to health and wellbeing of the bee population.
Planning Event
This is the first planning event in which those interested will be able to express their ideas for how the event (and other associated events) might develop. We want to get as many local beekeepers as possible involved. Bee friendly planting and bee spas (if we can use this idea) should be used within the event to tie it with the national mass participation activity.
Please feel free to pass the link (http://savemidlandsbees.eventbrite.com/) to this invitation to anyone in the Midlands interested in helping save bees.
10.30-11.30am
We will be welcoming guest speakers Neil Raven and Carla Herbert from Aimhigher in the East Midlands, who will be introducing the ‘Your Future East Midlands’ website www.yourfuture-eastmidlands.co.uk followed by a Q&A session.
8.00-10.00 pm
Prof. Forsythe and Dr. Brown will discuss the chances of life elsewhere in the Universe. The presentation will focus on exo-planets and whether they are astrophysically capable of supporting life. Following this will be a look at the biological requirements for life and how it can be searched for in the Universe. The evening will include a tour of the night sky from the NTU observatory.