2024

12 Feb: Extinctions through geological time

11 Mar: Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland.

8 Apr: Insects and climate change.

13 May: Plants and plant lore. Medicinal plants, poisonous plants, their use in herbal medicine, traditional tales of the properties of plants, the symbolism of plants.

10 Jun: Trees: Famous trees, favourite trees, native trees and/or trees brought into the UK by gardeners and plant hunters, uses for trees, trees and climate/climate change

12 Aug: Visit to Almondell Country Park to see the plants, bridges of varying construction and the astronomical Kirkhill Pillar.

9 Sep: Science quiz

14 Oct: The Periodic Table: Discovery and naming of elements, invention of the Periodic Table, similar properties of elements in the same Group, artificial (transuranic) elements, radioactive elements 

11 Nov: Artificial Intelligence (AI): This is becoming a big part of modern life. This session included the Turing Test (to see whether you are interacting with a robot or a human), AI in transport, and software such as ChatGPT.

9 Dec: The Science of Traditional Festivals: In the past we looked at science and Christmas, including the Star of Bethlehem & Christmas plants. This session included Easter, Beltane and the Stonehaven Fireball Festival.

2025

13 Jan: Artificial Intelligence (continued): Further aspects of AI, including robots and software to identify humans online.

10 Feb: Time: Time in the Theory of Relativity, how we measure time, calendars, the connection with the Longitude problem.

10 Mar: Waves: electromagnetic waves, water waves & sound waves

14 Apr: Psychology 1 - Confucius, child psychology, psychological experiments, adult learners, body image

12 May: Psychology 2 - the Ancient Greeks & Medieval ideas, autism, isolation

9 Jun: Construction 1 - Canals, bricks, earthquake proofing, tunnels, arches

11 Aug: Construction 2 - Concrete (used by the Romans), building & design of churches, the Forth Bridges, mines, roads

9 Sep: Trip on the steam powered Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway, with a visit to the Museum of Scottish Railways

13 Oct: Anthropology - the evolution of modern humans, where they lived and how they coped with the Ice Age.

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