Science for everyone

Mid-Northumberland u3a member Terry talks about the u3a Science and Technology group he co-leads, where the only requirement for joining is curiosity.

In 1988, there was a BT advert which showed Maureen Lipman speaking to her grandson Anthony, who got only pottery and sociology in his exams. She famously dredges up encouragement from the depths, "He gets an Ology and he says he's failed. You get an Ology, you're a scientist.” Spot on, Maureen! For the most part, she was right, professions ending in “-ology” are connected to the systematic study of a subject, which often leans towards science. But let’s get something clear. To join the Mid Northumberland u3a Science and Technology Group, you don’t need an Ology. You don’t have to know much, if anything, about science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. What you do need is a wish to know more about the hows, whats, and whys of life. From the smallest invisible particles to the incomprehensible vastness of space (and everything in between), that’s what interests us.

Starting with a nucleus of four, the SciTec group began life in about 2007. (Nucleus: something regarded as a basis for future development and growth; a word widely used in science and biology.) Beginning in the Joiners Arms hostelry, it later moved to the Tap and Spile pub, where we have a room free of charge in return for whatever refreshments we wish to purchase. (Science and drinks - a winning combination!) The group operates with two coordinators to share the workload - Chief writer upper of the meetings (me) and an Agenda & Administration Coordinator.

Meetings are held every month. One long or two short presentations are normal. Topics may be offered in advance or following requests from our group administrator, David. Every topic is of interest to the group and always produces thought-provoking and often curious facts. Some recent examples:

• From Aspirin to Zantac: The tablets in your medicine cupboard don’t just arrive from the pharmacy—they’ve been on a very long journey. Our speaker outlined some of the many paths needed to get your prescription discussed, developed, and delivered. A major issue is the complexity of human biology. The intricate interactions within the body make it difficult to design drugs that target specific proteins or pathways without causing unintended side effects. Diseases like cancer can evolve rapidly, making them particularly challenging to treat. Artificial Intelligence is likely to speed up the recognition of promising molecules for development.
• The story of sand, silica, and glass: At first glance, sand might seem like an ordinary substance - something you brush off your shoes after a walk on the beach. But hidden within those tiny grains is one of the most important materials of the modern world: silica, or silicon dioxide. What was once seen as simple grains beneath our feet is now the foundation of our digital age. Extraordinarily pure Libyan desert glass is used in everything from computer chips and smartphones to advanced weaponry and specialized plastics. Ultra-pure silica glass for fibre optic cables now forms the backbone of global communication. The story of sand, silica, and glass is one of transformation. (Who knew the beach was so high-tech?)
• Earth crust movements: This talk explored how modern GPS-based techniques have revolutionised the way that scientists monitor earth crust movements. We learnt that we’re basically surfing on giant tectonic plates over a bubbling lava jacuzzi. Such measurements aren’t just academic - they’re how we try to avoid surprise volcanoes and earthquakes. So far, with limited success.

These talks are always followed by ‘SciTec Chat’, short informal exchanges on any random topic of a sciency nature. Such informality has been known to virtually fill a meeting of two hours, so we never get stressed if the official programme looks a bit light.

Over the past year, we have discussed topics such as: how to find lost hearing aids, pollution and how to fix it, climate change, collapsing bridges, cosmology, atoms and subatomic particles, the chemistry of life, the science of ageing, local flood prevention, space dust, atomic clocks, optical illusions, the strange characteristics of water, implantable devices that allow blind people to see again, and oddities like how nature makes glue and how to stabilise your wheely bin in high winds. Some of these we were discussing before they became more widely known.

Like most groups, ours is a social occasion in which new friends are made. The span of knowledge is wide - the members having come from many varied professions. The groups breadth of experience means that we get a new perspective on a wide range of subjects. While the specialist expertise is welcomed, no less appreciated is the level of personal interests and hobbies, from Astronomy to Model aircraft building.

The possibility for questions to answer is endless and nothing is off limits. If we don’t know, we say so - and try to find out for next time. (Curiosity didn’t kill the cat; it just made it smarter.)