The Lunar Society

Does Birmingham Appreciate its Heritage?

Panel Discussion at Ikon Gallery 24th May 2012

On Thursday 24^th May 2012 at the Ikon Gallery, Dr Malcolm Dick will chair a panel of speakers, consisting of Professor Rex Harris, Sally Hoban, Jahan Mahmood & Dr Chris Upton who will explore different aspects of heritage such as the social, cultural and economic history of the City of Birmingham and how these are considered in its current and future planning/design and development. This will be followed by a question and answer session.

Unfortunately due to personal circumstances, Professor Carl Chinn is no longer able to participate, however Dr Chris Upton, Senior lecturer of History at Newman University College has kindly agreed to join the panel.

The event will be hosted jointly by the Ikon Gallery and the Centre for West Midlands History. Refreshments will be available on arrival. The event takes place from 7pm-9pm.

Café Ikon – Sharing Supper
Start your evening by meeting fellow attendees in Café Ikon for a special pre-talk sharing supper: tapas and a drink for £10, available 5.30 – 6.30pm.
Booking and pre-payment is essential, please call Café Ikon on 0121 248 3226.

This event is £3 for members and £5 for non members.

For further information and for bookings please click here.

Lecture on William Withering - 21st June 2012

Withering - the English Linnaeus and the flowering of pharmacology"

On the 21^st June 2012, a lecture will be given by Dr Peter Sheldon, on William Withering a member of the original Lunar Society. William Withering was a physician, but also a learned botanist. He published his translation of Linnaeus' classification, translated into English. Thus there was a close link between the work of Linnaeus and the Lunar Society. The event will be held at Birmingham and Midland Institute (BMI) arrival time 18.30 for a 19.00 start.

Dr Sheldon is Senior Consultant Rheumatologist to the University Hospitals of Leicester, based at the Leicester Royal Infirmary. He is retired Clinical Senior Lecturer in Immunology to the Leicester Medical School. Like William Withering, he was schooled in Wellington Shropshire, and like Withering, became a physician. Withering trained in Edinburgh, but practised in Birmingham. Dr Sheldon trained in Birmingham, where he first was made aware of Withering. It was this which stimulated his interest, culminating in his book 'The life and times of William Withering, his work, his legacy.' It also awoke his interest in medical flowers, including the foxglove, and later, meadowsweet and wintergreen, which led to his book on aspirin.

This is a joint event with The Linnean Society of London, which is the world’s oldest active biological society. Founded in 1788, the Society takes its name from the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) whose botanical, zoological and library collections have been in its keeping since 1829. As it moves into its third century the Society continues to play a central role in the documentation of the world’s flora and fauna – as Linnaeus himself did – recognising the continuing importance of such work to biodiversity conservation.

For further information and booking 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. For further information click here.

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. For a summary of the talk please click here. (PLEASE NOTE: This may take some time to upload). For a summary of the discussion please click here.

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.