SciBar Online

Following our successful and incredibly popular transition to online events during the COVID pandemic, we are continuing to host our physical Didsbury SciBar events simultaneously online. We genuinely had no idea how this would pan out and, expecting dwindling numbers, we exceeded expectations, hosted over 35 online events and grew a wider audience as a result.

Now back at our spiritual Didsbury SciBar home, The Albert Club in Didsbury, Manchester, and based on the incredibly positive feedback received during lockdown, we have adopted a hybrid model and are simultaneously streaming our physical events online.

As an online participant, all we ask is that you register in advance with Eventbrite in order to receive the livestream link to the event.

We are currently hosting our events via Zoom. Online participation currently remains FREE to join but any nominal donation to cover our costs would be very much appreciated.

If you’ve not used Zoom before, it requires you to perform a one time download of a lightweight app to your PC, iPhone or iPad then just click the link that you receive from us via email when registering in order to access the event. You can also join directly from a web browser of your choice with limited functionality.

You can watch a selection of our previous online events over on our YouTube channel featuring some fantastic speakers, great audiences and a few ‘warts and all’ technical issues along the way!

If you have any questions, please drop us an email or find us on the socials – Facebook and Twitter.

Join our mailing list to get our event details delivered directly to your Inbox.

Didsbury Scibar 2024 Events Online

Our scheduled online events currently planned for 2024 are listed below.

These are physical events hosted at our Manchester venue that will be livestreamed enabling you to participate online.

Registration for online participation will be available via Eventbrite closer to the date.

This list may be subject to change – join our mailing list for full information directly to your inbox or follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

20th January – Thomas Paine & The Age Of Reason – Paul Fitzgerald

Paul Fitzgerald explores the extraordinarily dramatic life and revolutionary ideas of Thomas Paine, one of history’s most neglected heroes of democracy, science and freethinking.

16th December – Sports Engineering – Dr Thomas Allen

Dr Thomas Allen, Senior Lecturer in Sports Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University presents at Didsbury SciBar in December 2024.

18th November – Stretched to breaking point. When is this a good thing for Polymer Materials? – Dr Niamh Fox

Dr Niamh Fox discusses Polymer Materials at Didsbury SciBar in November 2024.

Blue Marble: How we first saw the whole Earth – Prof Robert Poole

The Apollo lunar programme of 1968-72 brought the first photos of the Earth from space. How were those pictures taken in pre-digital days?

16th September – OSIRIS-REX: The journey to Bennu and back – Dr Sarah Crowther

Dr Sarah Crowther, Research fellow at University of Manchester, Dept of Earth and Environmental Sciences discusses the OSIRIS-REX mission at Didsbury SciBar in September 2024.

19th August – How Your Home Affects Your Health – Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson from getenergysavvy.info returns to present at SciBar in August 2024.

15th July – Standing Up To Sepsis – Dr Stephen Katona

Can an ordinary blood pressure machine be used by health professionals and the public to exclude sepsis and several other serious conditions? Dr Stephen Katona presents…

17th June – The Science of Comics – Marc Jackson

LATER THAN ORIGINALLY ADVERTISED – 19:45 START

Cartoonist Marc Jackson joins us at Didsbury SciBar to discuss the science of comics.

20th May- The Evolution of the Penis – Dr Michael Carroll

Animals have evolved many physical traits and strategies to survive long enough to reproduce. The sexual organs of many species are some of the most varied, specialised, and bizarre, which have evolved to enable them to compete in the battle of the sexes. Dr Michael Carroll, Associate Professor at MMU joins us at Didsbury SciBar in May 2024.

15th April – Urban Astrophotography – Gary Gilbert

Gary Gilbert returns to talk Astrophotography at SciBar in April 2024. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced, find out what you can do from your back yard.

18th March – Reducing Animal Usage in Cardiovascular Research – Dr Sarah Jones

Dr Sarah Jones,
Reader in thrombosis and haemostasis, Department of Life Sciences at
Manchester Metropolitan University presents at SciBar in March 2024.

Sarah will discuss the approaches that we are taking to develop new experimental models of arterial thrombosis as an alternative to animal experiments. These include vessel on a chip technology as well as using blood vessels isolated from human placentas.

19th February – The Future of the Airspace Around Us – Dr Sunday Ekpo

Dr Sunday Ekpo,
Senior Lecturer in Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
Manchester Metropolitan University will explore the past, present and future of the shared airspace around us and the modern attempts to enable smart living and rebuild a sustainable green environment for all.

15th January – The Future of Manufacturing and the 4th Industrial Revolution – Dr Rob Ward

Rob Ward from University of Sheffield discusses The 4th Industrial Revolution at Didsbury SciBar in January 2024.

18th December – Misinformation about Climate Change – Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson from getenergysavvy.info returns to Didsbury SciBar to discuss misinformation about climate change and decarbonisation, how to spot it and how to deal with it.

20th November – The End of Everything – Dr Steve Barrett

Following on from a incredibly popular event in 2022, we are delighted to welcome Dr Steve Barrett from University of Liverpool back to Didsbury SciBar. Although it took only three minutes to make our Universe (see Steve’s previous talk –… Read More »20th November – The End of Everything – Dr Steve Barrett

16th October – Get Energy Savvy – Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson from getenergysavvy.info joins us at Didsbury SciBar on 16th Oct 2023 to discuss energy efficiency in the home.

18th September – Nucleic acid-based medicines – new tools for old diseases – Prof Peter Simpson

Prof Peter Simpson joins us at Didsbury SciBar to delve into the fascinating world of nucleic acid-based medicines. The Covid-19 vaccines are estimated to have saved more than 20 million lives during the pandemic. Two of these vaccines used a revolutionary… Read More »18th September – Nucleic acid-based medicines – new tools for old diseases – Prof Peter Simpson

21st August – Flourish – Michael Hardie

Michael Hardie from The Leprosy Mission presents at Didsbury SciBar discussing the people affected by leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) in Bangladesh and the efforts the Leprosy Mission is making to prevent any more cases of Leprosy.

17th July – The Drake Equation – Gary Gilbert

Is there anybody out there..? This question – summed up in the famous Drake equation – has for a half-century been one of the most intractable and uncertain in science.

Gary Gilbert presents at Didsbury SciBar discussing the science and thoughts behind a possible answer to life in the universe.

19th June – The use of embryonic stem cells in clinical treatments – Prof Sue Kimber

Prof Sue Kimber joins us at Didsbury SciBar on 19th June 2023.

Sue is Professor of Stem & Developmental Biology, Division of Cell Matrix Biology & Regenerative Medicine at the University of Manchester.

15th May – Metaphysics, the art and science of Astrology – Deborah Maw

Deborah Maw joins us on 15th May at Didsbury SciBar discussing Metaphysics using both quantum physics and the memory of water.

17th April – The Wonders of Nature revealed with X-ray CT Scanning – Dr Elizabeth Evans

Dr Elizabeth Evans from NXCT presents at Didsbury Scibar in April.

We will take tour into the sublime, the spooky and the stunning of the natural world and beyond through the medium of 3D X-ray scans.

20th March – Materials Challenges in Nuclear Energy – Dr Alex Carruthers

High levels of radiation make nuclear reactors a uniquely challenging environment for the materials that they’re built from. But Why? The short answer is; radiation tends to make metals weak and brittle. But again, why? In this free science event,… Read More »20th March – Materials Challenges in Nuclear Energy – Dr Alex Carruthers

20th February – Solar Flares – the most powerful explosions in the solar system – Prof Philippa Browning

Solar flares are dramatic explosions in the outer atmosphere of the Sun – the solar corona. They produce electromagnetic radiation and beams of high-energy charged particles, which can have serious detrimental effects on space instrumentation and on power systems and… Read More »20th February – Solar Flares – the most powerful explosions in the solar system – Prof Philippa Browning

21st November: Terahertz Radiation – a new tool for scientists and engineers – Dr Darren Graham

The terahertz (THz) region of the electromagnetic spectrum, which lies between microwave and infrared, offers a number of exciting opportunities for scientists and engineers. Already we are seeing new airport security scanners, medical diagnostics, tools for process monitoring in manufacturing,… Read More »21st November: Terahertz Radiation – a new tool for scientists and engineers – Dr Darren Graham

17th October – UnSupervised – Tasos Asonitis

UnSupervised is a new project and concert series created by the Machine Learning for Music (ML4M) Working Group – a community of composers and audiovisual artists exploring the creative use of emerging Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies. It combines expertise… Read More »17th October – UnSupervised – Tasos Asonitis

15th August – New Ways To Measure Coastal Wave Hazard – Dr Jenny Brown

Defending the coast from flooding is a challenging job, especially with the uncertainty of climate change and rising sea level. To improve coastal flood hazard forecasts and how our coastal schemes are designed, we need to be able to observe… Read More »15th August – New Ways To Measure Coastal Wave Hazard – Dr Jenny Brown

20th June – The Next Blink of a Cosmic Eye: Astronomy in the next 200 years – Dr Megan Argo

In 2020 the Royal Astronomical Society celebrated its 200th anniversary. From the first meeting, when fourteen gentlemen sat down to dinner at the Freemason’s Tavern in London in January 1820, the Society has grown to a diverse membership of more… Read More »20th June – The Next Blink of a Cosmic Eye: Astronomy in the next 200 years – Dr Megan Argo

21st March – Transport Futures: e-mobility and the decarbonisation of travel – Dr Richard Waller

With the climate crisis, urban air pollution and energy security constituting some of the most significant challenges facing society, a wholesale transformation to “e-mobility” is considered a solution of global relevance. In exploring the carbon footprint of different modes of… Read More »21st March – Transport Futures: e-mobility and the decarbonisation of travel – Dr Richard Waller

21st February – Maintain your zinc intake – A way to improve memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease? – Dr Catherine Lawrence

Inflammation is a response of our immune system that occurs following infection or tissue damage to help us fight infection and promote tissue repair. However, too much inflammation or inflammation that occurs under inappropriate circumstances (e.g. in the absence of… Read More »21st February – Maintain your zinc intake – A way to improve memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease? – Dr Catherine Lawrence

17th January – Invasive Plant Species: Bogeyman or Ecological Disaster? – Dr Arthur Broadbent

Invasive plants have a bad reputation. Is this notoriety well-deserved, or have they been misunderstood? In this talk, Dr Arthur Broadbent from University of Manchester will lay out the charges against invasive plants, followed by a rebuttal that may be… Read More »17th January – Invasive Plant Species: Bogeyman or Ecological Disaster? – Dr Arthur Broadbent

15th November – The Beginning Of Everything – Dr Steve Barrett

The Beginning Of Everything – A brief description of the origin and the very early history of the Universe. After the Big Bang it took about three minutes to make all the constituents of the Universe and give it a kickstart.… Read More »15th November – The Beginning Of Everything – Dr Steve Barrett

20th September – Medical Cannabis in the UK: From principle to practice – Dr Anne Katrin Schlag

In this talk Dr Anne Katrin Schlag will speak about medical cannabis in the UK and its long road from principle to practice. November 1st 2021 will mark the third ‘anniversary’ of the rescheduling of cannabis as a medicine –… Read More »20th September – Medical Cannabis in the UK: From principle to practice – Dr Anne Katrin Schlag

16th August – Coping With Stressful Waiting – Dr Clare Jonas

Life is full of stressful waits, from the delay between taking exams and getting your results, to organisational restructures at work, to the long, grinding experience of living through a seemingly unending COVID lockdown. In this talk, I’ll cover research on… Read More »16th August – Coping With Stressful Waiting – Dr Clare Jonas

19th July – Above and Beyond: Drones are changing the way we monitor volcanoes – Dr Emma Liu

New technologies are changing the way we collect data across the geosciences, and none more fundamentally than the introduction of unoccupied aerial systems (or drones). Suddenly, we can not only see the Earth from a new perspective, but also collect… Read More »19th July – Above and Beyond: Drones are changing the way we monitor volcanoes – Dr Emma Liu

21st June – Something In The Way You Move- Understanding human movement with biomechanics – Dr Jo Reeves

Dr Jo Reeves completed her BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Bath in 2013 and PhD in biomechanics at the University of Salford in 2019. Jo has worked in labs around the world in the… Read More »21st June – Something In The Way You Move- Understanding human movement with biomechanics – Dr Jo Reeves

17th May – The Pluto Story – Prof. Ian Robson

Prof Ian Robson joins us to talk about Pluto, how it was discovered and how discovery and observations of KBOs eventually led the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006 to declassify Pluto from being a planet. Although ‘what is a… Read More »17th May – The Pluto Story – Prof. Ian Robson

19th April – The behaviour, biology, ecology, and conservation of Pelagic thresher sharks in the Philippines – Dr. Simon Oliver

This is a continuation of Simon’s original talk in November 2020. Pelagic sharks are poorly understood because of limitations inherent in studying them in situ. Knowledge that pelagic thresher sharks (Alopias pelagicus) regularly visit specific locations in the Philippines presented… Read More »19th April – The behaviour, biology, ecology, and conservation of Pelagic thresher sharks in the Philippines – Dr. Simon Oliver

15th March – Splice up your life! RNA Splicing in Health and Disease – Prof Raymond O’Keefe

RNA splicing is an essential process in all human cells. RNA splicing takes bits of information from our genes and combines them together to make many different proteins required for correct organismal development and function. The RNA splicing process can… Read More »15th March – Splice up your life! RNA Splicing in Health and Disease – Prof Raymond O’Keefe

15th February – Synaesthesia And The Psychology Of The Senses – Dr Clare Jonas

Did you know that some people see music as they listen to it, taste the words they speak, or feel it on their own body when someone else is touched? These people are synaesthetes, and I’m one of them! I’ve… Read More »15th February – Synaesthesia And The Psychology Of The Senses – Dr Clare Jonas

18th January – Psychedelic Medicine: past, present and future – Prof Jo Neill

RESCHEDULED DATE – 18th JAN 2021 Prof Jo Neill will discuss psychedelic medicine. She will focus on psilocybin (the active component of magic mushrooms). Together we will explore the history of its use, the drug laws that impede research at… Read More »18th January – Psychedelic Medicine: past, present and future – Prof Jo Neill

21st December – Personalised Medicine: putting the bling in medications – Dr Doug Steinke

It is not a fashion show, but how medicines are being tailored to certain people depending on genetics and other characteristics making mediations safer and patient centered. Dr Doug Steinke, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacoepidemiology from University of Manchester joins us… Read More »21st December – Personalised Medicine: putting the bling in medications – Dr Doug Steinke

21st September – Atomic Anthropocene: Nuclear Culture from Bananas to Bombs – Dr Becky Alexis-Martin

In this talk Dr Becky Alexis-Martin explores how nuclear science and culture have merged since 1945 – from the Pip-Boys of Fallout gamers to the Kataribe tales of Hiroshima survivors. Becky will present a pit-stop tour of international research into… Read More »21st September – Atomic Anthropocene: Nuclear Culture from Bananas to Bombs – Dr Becky Alexis-Martin

20th July – Cosmological and Biological Evolution – Andrew Planet

Evolution has become a byword ever since its inception into the scientific paradigm after Charles Darwin informed us of the concept through his phrase “descent with modification” when in 1859 he published On the Origin of Species. That entails biological… Read More »20th July – Cosmological and Biological Evolution – Andrew Planet

15th June – Alzheimer’s Disease – What goes wrong in the brain? – Dr Michael Harte

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a physical disease that affects the brain. It is named after Alois Alzheimer, the doctor who first described it in 1906. AD is a chronic neurodegenerative (loss of brain cells) disease that usually starts slowly and… Read More »15th June – Alzheimer’s Disease – What goes wrong in the brain? – Dr Michael Harte

18th May – Did The Universe Really Start With A Big Bang? – Kieran Finn

WHY ARE WE HERE? This question has been argued about by people in pubs throughout history. But now, thanks to cutting-edge telescopes, we can start to address it in a rigorous, scientific way. In this talk Kieran Finn from the… Read More »18th May – Did The Universe Really Start With A Big Bang? – Kieran Finn

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Didsbury Scibar 2024 Events Online

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