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BLACK HOLE AT THE GALAXY’S HEART
King Street Halls, KirkwallMost large galaxies, like our own, seem to contain a supermassive black hole, and some of these, called Active Galaxies, give out so much energy they outshine all the stars. Prof. Ian Robson of the Royal Observatory of Edinburgh tells all.
£3 – £5
EVOLUTION: COMPETING OR COLLABORATING?
King Street Halls, KirkwallDoes selfishness drive evolution, in a struggle where the strong survive? Or is evolution more about a diverse interacting web of life? Molecular biologist Prof. Ford Doolittle of Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, opens up the possibility of bringing together the two approaches.
£3 – £5
THE ORIGINS OF LIFE ON EARTH
King Street Halls, KirkwallJohn D. Mackay Memorial Lecture The first living creatures can be traced back to more than 3 billion years ago. But how did they form? Prof. Karim Labib of the University of Dundee looks at the latest evidence.
£3 – £5
THE STARLINGS’ SONG
King Street Halls, KirkwallMessy, friendly, bully... threatened? How much do you really know about the common starling? Conservationist and writer Rachel Dowse explores these birds with an award-winning talk from the Hay-on-Wye Festival. In collaboration with ASLE - the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment
£3 – £5
BUT OH MY LOVE! THE CHAIN OF TIME
Orkney Theatre, KGS, Kirkwall[one_fourth last="no"][/one_fourth]The 19th-century Irish mathematician Sir William Rowan Hamilton reshaped physics in a visionary language of waves and light, on which quantum theory later drew. A master of many languages in childhood, he was friends with Coleridge and Wordsworth, and wrote poems of lost love. Howie Firth tells his story with music from the Lorcán Mac Mathúna Quartet and readings by Dave Grieve. With the support of EventScotland and Culture Ireland
£3 – £5
HOY EVENING
Hoy KirkTake the 5.45 pm ferry from Stromness to Hoy to hear of the art and science of brewing and distilling from Rob Hill, Marie Stanton, Eric Walker, Tim Dolan. See the spectacular mountain-themed performance ‘Orographic’ from the group Oceanallover with music and costume design. There’s a light supper too - and admission is free. Friday evening ferry from Stromness 5.45 pm, back from Moaness in Hoy 10 pm, book from Orkney Ferries 01856 872044.
IN SHACKLETON’S FOOTSTEPS
Orkney Theatre, KGS, KirkwallHe led his men through the harshest conditions of Antarctic seas and brought every one to safety. Polar historian Dr Maria Pia Casarini tells the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton, and Martin Gray and Dr Alison McLure show scenes of places on his route.
£3 – £5
MUSIC FOR MEADOWS AND STORMY SHORES
Orkney Theatre, KGS, KirkwallSt Andrews New Music Ensemble with music for the natural world – from Hildegard of Bingen and Gabrieli, Handel and Haydn, Schubert and Liszt, to Malcolm Arnold and a new work by Emily Doolittle. With accompanying images from Orkney shores to Newfoundland waters and polar ice. Tickets £8 & £5.
£5 – £8
