Esher College students are enjoying a series of science lectures during the autumn term organised by Cheryl Sacht, Head of Chemistry and her team of students. Dr David Read from Southampton University gave a thought-provoking and interactive talk to a packed theatre on “BioFuels: Fuelling the Future or Big Fraud?”. He concluded by quizzing the over 250 students present, each armed with hand-held lasers, which instantly displayed the often surprising results statistically.
On November 4th Professor David Phillips OBE (pictured left), from Imperial College, London, demonstrated the science of photo-medicine, with numerous entertaining, and at times explosive, experiments. His lecture entitled “A Little Light Relief”, looked into the truth and fallacy of the ancient belief held by all civilisations in the mystical power of sunlight to bestow good health upon recipients of its rays. He warned students to protect their skin from sun damage and in contrast demonstrated how light could cure a jaundiced baby.
Two further lectures are scheduled entitled “The Paleodetectives: Digging small molecules with big messages from the past” by Dr Fiona Gill of Bristol University and “Deep Impact and the Death of the Dinosaurs: the biggest bang in 100 million years” by Professor Mike Warner, Imperial College, London. Both promise to be as fascinating, enjoyable and informative as the first two events.