The Lunar Society

Leonardo and You: 23rd February 2012

On Thursday 23^rd February 2012, at Birmingham Thinktank, Sally Hoban and Jon Wood will give a lecture on the inextricable link between scientists and artists over centuries. The lecture was originallly titled 'From Michelangelo to You' but, with the presence of Leonardo da Vinci's drawings in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, the title has been changed.

Scientists and artists have worked collaboratively throughout history but it is only in the 21^st century that we are returning to the values of the natural philosophersof the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This interactive Lunar Socieyt lecture will discuss how scientists and artists have influenced each other over the page 600 years. In order to be great scientists, do we also need to think like artists? How can the history of art illunminate apects of theoretical and applied scince and vice versa?

Sally Hoban is a freelance art and design historian, a writer and a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Birmingham. She is also the Heritage Training and Education Officer at Birmingham Assay Office.

Jon Wood is a cross-disciplinary academic at Aston University and a science communicator specialising in public engagement.

The lecture will take place at Thinktank Theatre. Arrival time is 18:30 for a 19:00 start, and the event will finish at 20:15.

[Thinktank, Millenium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG]

This event will be chaired by Dr Kenny Webster and is free to members and non members. A coffee shop is open in Thinktank if members and guests would like to purchase refreshments.

To book places, please click here

Friday 3rd February 2012

The talk to be given by Professor John Fender on the ‘Current Economic Issues in the UK” is now oversubscribed and there are no longer any places available.

On Saturday 11^th February 2012 at the Botanical Gardens Edgbaston, the Lunar Society presents its first Gala Dinner in aid of ‘Help for Heroes and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Military Charities’.

This is black tie and tickets are £65. To book please click here.

Future Energy Supplies: Professor Martin Freer

"What should be the role of nuclear power in a secure future energy supply?"

On Thursday 26th January 2012, Professor Martin Freer, head of the Nuclear Physics Group at Birmingham University and Director of the Birmingham Centre for Nuclear Education and Research gave a very interesting talk on the issue future energy supplies. A summary of the talk and discussion will be available on the website shortly.

Professor Freer explained that much of the existing electricity generating capacity is nearing the end of its useful life, and controversy surrounds many of the alternatives. Fossil fuels are becoming more scarce, insecure and expensive (and technologies to reduce their carbon emissions are still unproven), while renewable electricity depends on intermittent winds, tides and sunshine, and can be highly intrusive (both in itself and because of the transmission lines needed to shift power from where it can be generated to where it is used).

Nuclear power has had longstanding problems concerning safety and waste, but seemed to be making a comeback when the Fukushima disaster delivered a severe blow to confidence. The time taken to deliver generating capacity on a national scale is running out, and we must make some hard choices. In this context, it seems that we must look again at nuclear power.

Professor Martin Freer is well qualified to speak on the subject. He took his first degree in Maths and Physics at Aston University in 1987, followed by a PhD in Nuclear Physics at the University of Birmingham in 1991, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics. He is actively engaged in promoting research and educational programmes to support the UK's investment in nuclear power generation, and is also an expert in nuclear waste management and commissioning. He is a memberof the Birmingham Policy Commission on Nuclear Power.

Lunar Society Annual Dinner: Sir Richard Lambert

Sir Richard Lambert, Chancellor of the University of Warwick and former Director General CBI was the guest speaker at the Lunar Society Annual Dinner on the 9th November 2011 held at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. He spoke about the ideas that drove the Lunar Society of Birmingham in the eighteenth century, and why they are still relevant today. Experimentation, innovation and endless curiosity were the hallmarks of this remarkable group of individuals, who included in their number two of the greatest industrialists in the history of England - Matthew Boulton and Josiah Wedgwood. The canal system was their internet, steam engines their transforming technology. How might they have approached the challenges of today, and what can we learn from the way they approached their world?’ To obtain a copy of his presentation click here.

Policing in Austerity: Chris Sims, West Midlands Chief Constable

The Dinner with the West Midlands Chief Constable, Mr Chris Sims took place on Wednesday 12th October 2011, at the Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, B15 3TR. Chris Sims talked about 'Improving Policing in Difficult Times'. To read more on the discussion click here.

Boulton and Watt Commemorative Lecture 2011

On the 5th October 2011 Professor Rex Harris, University of Birmingham gave a talk about hydrogen, rare earth magnets, sustainability and the role of the city and region, past, present and future at Birmingham Metropolitan College. The Lecture considered two major threats facing our planet: resource depletion and climate change. Click here to view a demonstration hydrogen powered canal boat. To read more about the Lecture and view the presentation and film click here.

Annual General Meeting 2011

On Wednesday 13th July 2011 the Lunar Society AGM and Review of the Year was held in the Banqueting Suite of the Council House, Birmingham, followed by a Reception hosted by the new Lord Mayor Councillor Anita Ward who welcomed members and guests to the AGM.

Dr Peter Mayer was elected as Chairman of the Society. A long standing member of the Society and Executive Committee, Peter is looking forward to continuing to serve the Society in the future and his wishes are that the Society will over the next 2 years continue to strengthen its reputation as an indepdendent forum for balanced discussion about critical issues for the region and beyond; to stabilise its financial position and develop its fundraising capacity.

To download the papers presented please click here.

2011 Annual Lecture by Lord Adonis

Birmingham Unleashed - An Elected Mayor, High Speed Rail and Academies Lord Adonis

In this year's Annual Lecture eminent political thinker Lord Adonis addressed three topics of importance to Birmingham's economic and civic future. He chose to link the issues of a national High Speed Rail system and local governance and education and skills. In the previous Government Lord Adonis was Transport Secretary, now at the Institute for Government, he served 12 years in government as a Minister and special adviser .

The Society does not itself take positions, but provides a forum for stimulating ideas and broadening debate on issues critical to the future of the city and the region, inspiring its members to influence change. Action Chairman Peter Mayer said " the opinions of our members on these vital issues are as divided as those in the population at large. But the implications of these changes will fundamentally define this city and its region for decades ahead, and it is therefore the role of the Society to open them up for scrutiny - and for our members to test and challenge them at every turn".

Click here to read more on the Lecture

As a response to the three key challenges raised by the Lord Adonis at the Lunar Society Annual Lecture in March, Alan Wenban-Smith, Chairman of the Society’s Transport and Climate Change sub-Committee poses some issues for members of the Society to consider that were not covered by the Lecture but are pertinent to the ongoing public debate and consultation on high speed rail, elected mayors and school academies. Click here to download the paper.