Science Society

Perhaps the most hopeful stand point of the Society has been the formation of a Middle School Section operating in conjunction with Queen Anne's; meetings are regularly held on a Thursday afternoon with discussions on topical questions. The discussions vary in quality but do on occasions prove most interesting. It would be marvellous if this were to become more popular because it would provide not only valuable experience for those concerned, but also would aid the Senior Section of the Society. For their efforts so far in this field, credit must go to Peter Strachan, Peter Finegan and David Village. Finally, with more support a Society such as this can prove to be most valuable; it is to be hoped that in the future this support will be gained. S.R.

CHRISTMAS TERM, 1971

At the first meeting of the term, Professor Woolfson of York University gave an excellent talk, illustrated with slides and a computer-made film, about the origin of the solar system. Professor Woolfson described many early theories and finished by describing his own theory which was backed up by the Atlas computer at Leeds.

Dr. Lewis from the Marine Biology Research Station at Robin Hood's

Bay came to tell us about his work, and all the fascinating marine life that he mentioned was illustrated in a beautiful set of coloured slides.

Dr. Marsden. from the Biochemistry department of York University, lectured to the Society on 'Synthetic Food'. He began by listing various facts and statistics about existing food and energy supplies, and then went on to discuss the need for synthetic food in the future and its sources.

The fourth meeting was a film meeting, and the final one consisted of two 'home-made' lectures; one by the girls of Queen Margaret's School on cosmetics and one by Sam Taylor on synthetic sound with many noisy but amusing demonstrations.

EASTER TERM, 1972

After an appeal by various members of the committee for a talk on

Social Science, Mr. Dixon, a lecturer in Sociology at York University, kindly agreed to come and give us a talk on the subject. It was a very refreshing and interesting change from the usual meetings and Mr. Dixon very successfully explained the objects and methods of the science.

Mr. Moran, a post-graduate biology student from Hull University currently teaching in the School, gave us a very good talk on transplants, the problems involved and the methods employed in carrying them out.

His talk was illustrated by slides and various specimens including a heart ,and two kidneys. , The third meeting of the term was given by Mr. Ball from I.C.I. and was entitled 'Explosives'. Mr. Ball carried out many experiments and demonstrations, and we now have a lot more knowledge of their makeup and uses together with a healthy respect for even the weakest ones.

At the final meeting of the term, Professor Bijl from Leyden University gave a talk on 'Low Temperature Physics'. This proved to be a highly entertaining and enlightening talk incorporating the lighter side of this branch of science with such amusing experiments as 'frying' an egg with liquid Nitrogen.

Finally I would like to thank the Queen Margaret's secretaries and committee for their assistance during the two terms. D.W.G.