Category: Science Group

Our first meeting of 2024 is a week earlier than usual on Friday 12^th January 10.00am in the main hall at JGC

The original plan was for everyone to create a fixed cyanotype ‘photographic’ image of selected objects but now the practical element will take place as part of the February meeting.

This month we will cover the theory of this process and learn the basics of how to carry it out.

As part of this we will be a look at how photography techniques evolved alongside advances in physics, chemistry and technology.

The 2024 Science Visit to Oxford is on Friday 19^th April

8.15am depart from Ogle Street   return from Oxford at 5.15p eta in Hucknall by 8.00pm

The cost is £23.00 each. £3.00 of this is to book group entry to the Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum which is on the same site.

More details at this meeting and bookings will start at this meeting.

 Following my master class with our treasurer Gary the payment by card machine will hopefully be available for use.

If you wish to pay by cheque please make it payable to ‘Hucknall and District u3a’

Please write your name and ‘Science Visit’ on the back.

David Rose

In November Ann and Ian Murray presented an illustrated talk about Volcanoes. They explained that a volcano is a rupture in the crust of the Earth, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface.

On Earth, volcanoes are most often found where tectonic plates are diverging or converging and most are found underwater. It is a topical theme as there are current concerns about the situation in Iceland.

They then described their visit to Pompeii where the destructive effect of the eruption of Vesuvius had on that city is well preserved.

After the break John Tedstone described a visit to W.Winters of Derby the oldest continuously working photographers in the UK. It is still a photographer’s studio and a heritage centre.

December- No meeting

January – Revised date Friday 12^th (To accommodate the Robin Hood pantomime at JGC on the 19^th)

We will be making some simple cyanotype ‘photographic’ images.

More details will be sent to the group in advance of the meeting.

Merry Christmas to all our readers

David Rose

Our October meeting began with Part 1 of a theme entitled  ‘The Greening of Nottinghamshire’ presented by David Vincent.

Following the Aberfan disaster new laws were passed regarding coal mining spoil heaps. David was part of the Nottinghamshire County team formed with the task of transforming and making safe the spoil heaps dotted around the county.

In Part 2 in February, David will explain how they set about this task of changing vast quantities of somewhat unstable and toxic waste into our country parks.

After the break we had an introduction to the history of photography which included looking at some ‘older style’ cameras bought in by members.

David Jackson explained how he approached photographing wildlife and gave the group some ideas of how to start from our own back gardens.

Some of David’s excellent photos were then viewed including this successful Kingfisher.

November 17^th

Volcanoes with a focus on Vesuvius -Ann and Ian Murray

How knowledge of physics and chemistry led the progress of Photography and a visit to the oldest working photographic studio in Derby – John Tedstone

(Did you know that David was the most popular boy’s name from the late 1940s through to 1974 when 1 in 20 boys were named David .We have 7 Davids in the Science Group.)

David Rose

At the September meeting we welcomed Isabel (Izzy) Ely a postgraduate researcher at the Nottingham University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Centre ofMetabolism, Ageing & Physiology (COMAP).

This is part of theAcademic Unit of Injury, Recovery & Inflammation Sciences School of Medicine who are based at Royal Derby Hospital.

She outlined the current research into the effect of ageing on our muscular system. Generally as we get older we exercise less and invariably eat less protein.

These factors can lead to muscular atrophy (wasting) and her research is looking at the effect of an amino acid supplement in reversing and slowing down this process with a focus on the older generation.

Next Meeting – Friday October 20^th 10.00am to 11.45 am

Part 1: ‘The Greening of the Nottinghamshire Coalfields’ by David Vincent

From his own personal and professional involvement David will explain why and how this came about.

Part 2: An introduction to the science and development of photography – DR

David Rose

We meet on September 15^th at 10.00am in the main hall at John Godber Centre. I am pleased to report that we have a guest speaker, Isabel (Izzy) Ely, who is a postgraduate researcher at the:

Centre of Metabolism, Ageing & Physiology (COMAP) Academic Unit of Injury, Recovery & Inflammation Sciences, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences University of Nottingham, Royal Derby Hospital Centre

In her own words this is the rationale of study that she is currently undertaking.

The loss of skeletal muscle mass (known as atrophy) is an undesirable feature of many disease and scenarios including ageing, cancer and reduced physical activity from illness, injury or increased sedentarism. One mechanism thought to influence age-related muscle mass loss is “anabolic resistance” which leads to a reduced muscle building ability in response to protein feeding and exercise. As such, the search for optimal exercise and/or nutritional strategies to combat this anabolic blunting effect remains a hot-topic in scientific research.    

The study focus

The study I am currently running is focused on a specific amino acid (the building blocks of protein) called leucine which is thought to be the most important amino acid for stimulating the muscle building process. We are investigating whether there is a dose-response of muscle protein building to “super whey” protein (a protein drink with a greater portion of leucine) at rest and during acute exercise.

I have to admit to a vested interest as I am one of the ‘specimens’ being tested.

David Rose