We will follow the coastal path North from Burwick, up the west coast of South Ronaldsay with stunning views over Scapa Flow, the islands and of course the Pentland Firth and Caithness. This area can be a good place for seeing cetaceans, seals, seabirds and wildflowers. ...
The world of the dinosaurs included some flying reptiles – pterosaurs. But some of the smaller dinosaurs had feathers, and it’s now turning out that some of these feathered dinosaurs could also fly under their own wing power. Prof. Michael Pittman of the University of Hong Kong tells the story of the origin of flight for the ancestors of the birds of today.
Fire on the Amazon, fire in the Arctic, heatwaves in India, drought in California – around the world reports are coming in of weather extremes and changing climate patterns. What is it like for people directly involved? Prof. Peter Wadhams of Cambridge University brings stories from varied places, from melting permafrost to parched farmland, and shows the direct impact on many lives.
The little shingly beach by Stromness Museum is the setting for an introductory workshop with artist Lin Chau, exploring ways of producing paper using natural resources around us. All equipment will be provided, and material as well, and you can feel free to bring along some small decorative items – such as stamps, string, images or text – to create layering effects and individual style. ...
It happens so often in social work and in mental health and many other areas. The professionals say the people don’t understand, and the people say they’re not being understood. A new strategy seeks to bring everyone together to tackle problems. ...
The Peedie Kirk are back in action and look forward to welcoming you. Come along and enjoy the company and the opportunity to catch up, with a story as well at 3.30 pm.
It’s often suggested that artificial intelligence (AI) will eventually take over all the skilled tasks that humans carry out. However, argues Prof. Iain Alasdair MacLeod of Strathclyde University, a key ability in human affairs is to successfully manage complex uncertainty. ...
They’re everywhere in our bodies, from the keratin in our hair and nails to the enzymes catalysing the wealth of processes in our cells, like thousands of little molecular machines. And although they’re often big molecules, they’re folded into complex three-dimensional shapes, and the precise details of such shapes have a critical impact on the way in which each protein operates.
Despite more than a century of research the nature of animal navigation remains mysterious. Many animals seem to have a magnetic sense, but this cannot explain their navigation abilities. If you were parachuted into an unknown place and given a sensitive compass you’d know where north is but not where home is. ...
To bolster team spirit on his Antarctic expedition of 1907, Sir Ernest Shackleton personally ordered 25 cases of a Highland malt whisky. A century later, three cases were discovered, frozen into the ice beneath his base camp. The whisky was excavated and flown to New Zealand to be thawed out. ...
Join the Festival team as they sit back after intensive weeks of work on the Festival, with time for discussion and breaks to hear some music in varied style. Just follow this Zoom link [to be provided] to join. They’re looking forward to welcoming you!