Reducing your carbon footprint – air and ground source heat pumps

Posted on: July 13th, 2022 by mlpAdmin

How can air and ground source heat pumps reduce emissions of greenhouse gases?

This online seminar will begin with an interview of Florence Collier by Lit & Phil member Dr Brian Tyler. The discussion will aim to describe types of heat pumps, their availability, installation and implementation, costs and general aspects of use in the UK.

David Heaton, an experienced mechanical engineer, will then talk about his experience of living with an air source heat pump.

In the second half of the meeting, the speakers will form a panel to answer questions from attendees. So come prepared with your questions to get the most out of this seminar.

Good to know: the meeting will be online using the BlueJeans meetings app, allowing all users to be seen and join the discussion.

Global Citizen: reporting for duty

Posted on: July 13th, 2022 by mlpAdmin

What role will today’s and tomorrow’s innovators play in helping us survive and thrive?

The global climate crisis. Famine and drought. Population growth. The battle for diminishing resources. These are no longer visions of some future nightmare. We are facing these challenges today.

Scientists have modelled where we are heading and it doesn’t look good. Protesters have taken to the streets. International targets have been agreed and Governments have laid out their plans.

But will they be enough? Pandemics and conflicts soon knock us off course; deadlines are missed and targets slip. So what can we do to protect our future, deal with today’s issues and learn to live with the extra challenges that are coming down the line?

Our world is evolving quickly. Engineering and Technology are right at the heart of the huge transformation we are experiencing. A career in STEM is becoming more than a career. It is a way of life – a consistent source of boundless creativity.

Yewande Akinola will share her discovery of the roles Innovative Engineering and Technology play in bringing progress and true Sustainability to our world. From the development of our built environment to more specific and intentional problem-solving.

This is a hybrid event, that can be attended in person or watched live online.

Pandemic resilience: how to control a virus

Posted on: July 13th, 2022 by mlpAdmin

What role does the environment play in the transmission of respiratory diseases? And how do our interactions in indoor spaces determine the risk of infection?

COVID-19 has presented us with the most difficult healthcare and societal challenge we have faced in living memory. As a new disease, we have had to rapidly build the knowledge base on every aspect of the virus.  To understand the mechanisms of transmission we have had to draw on experiences with other respiratory viruses. And the growing evidence based on the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Understanding the routes of transmission is challenging. But modelling of aerosols, droplets and indoor airflows can play an important role in identifying mechanisms.

Catherine Noakes’ talk outlines some of the approaches used to understand mechanisms for transference and the effectiveness of mitigation strategies.  She will highlight some of the scientific understanding and how that has changed as we learned more about the disease.

How is scientific advice used to support policymakers and public messaging? And what are the challenges and complexities in this process?

This is a hybrid event, that can be attended in person or watched live online.

Reducing your carbon footprint – electric vehicles

Posted on: July 13th, 2022 by mlpAdmin

How can electric vehicles reduce emissions of greenhouse gases?

This online seminar will begin with two short talks from external speakers. The first talk will cover the types of EVs, availability, costs and general aspects of use in the UK.

The second will cover the infrastructure required for re-charging, both at and outside of the home.

Two Lit & Phil members will then briefly summarise their experience with their own EVs.

In the second half of the meeting, the speakers will form a panel to answer questions from attendees.

Good to know: the meeting will be online using the BlueJeans meetings app, allowing all users to be seen and join the discussion.

The Glass Menagerie – Theatre Group discussion

Posted on: July 13th, 2022 by mlpAdmin

Find out more about Tennessee Williams as a playwright, the context in which he was writing and the themes he tackled.

This member-led discussion will consist of a short, informal introduction to Tennessee Williams’ play, The Glass Menagerie, prior to our visit to see the production at the Royal Exchange Theatre.

A presentation will be given by Tony Jackson, with additional input from Joanna Lavelle. As well as providing the background to the play and Williams, some questions and talking points will be suggested to consider when attending the performance.

The session will be 45-60 minutes long and will include ample opportunity for questions and discussion among the participants.

All welcome, whether or not you can attend the production at the Royal Exchange.

Good to know: the meeting will be online using zoom, allowing all users to be seen and join the discussion.

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