For Your Inspiration – Earth Extremes (Royal Institute) (8 Nov 2024) – organised by the Grantham Institute
From the icy cold arctic to the blistering heat of a volcano, animals and plants have adapted to live in these spaces. With our climate becoming more extreme, humans will also need to adapt, with the use of science! But how do we go about exploring these environments safely?
Join us for an evening of exploration into how we can build for a changing climate and also how scientists and researchers begin to study these harsh climates.
The evening starts in the Theatre with talks from experts in the field. You’ll then get the chance to ask our panel of experts all the questions you can think of. You’ll then be free to explore the range of demonstrations and activities around the building with scientists working in a range of different areas of STEM and discover leading-edge scientific research from around the UK.
This event is in partnership with the Grantham Institute.
About For Your Inspiration events
These events are designed for young people aged 13+, and offer an exciting hands-on experience of a huge range of scientific topics. Featuring scientists from Universities and companies from across the UK, these events give young people the chance to explore in depth a topic, talk to scientists working in this field, and discover the wide range of different jobs available. Adults are also welcome and encouraged to come along too, together with their young people.
The event starts at 6.00pm in the theatre with talks and a Q&A session. Attendees will then explore the libraries on our first floor, where they will find interactive exhibits from a range of research groups and companies working in the sector. This gives you the chance to get hands-on with active research, chat with scientists, and discover what it is actually like working in science.
By booking to attend events at the Royal Institution, you confirm that you have read and accept the Ri’s event terms and conditions. You also agree to abide by our code of conduct, and help to create a great experience for yourself and your fellow participants.
Speakers
Gina Charnley
Postdoctoral fellow at Barcelona Supercomputing Centre in the Global Health Resilience Group and an honorary research associate at Imperial College London and University College London.
I gained my PhD in epidemiology from the Grantham Institute in 2023, my thesis focussed on modelling disaster-related infectious disease outbreaks. I currently work as an epidemiologist of climate-sensitive infectious diseases at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.
Vishnu Nair
Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Grantham institute and the Space and Atmospheric physics research group at Imperial.
My research focuses on building numerical models for cloud microphysics, volcanic ash aggregation and simulating lightning in volcanic clouds. Currently I work with satellite observations to understand the physical mechanisms behind aerosol-cloud interactions.
King Heng Lau
Imperial PhD candidate with the department of Physics
I am a third year PhD student studying the physics of tropical cyclones (aka hurricanes), with a focus on the relationship between the rainfall produced by tropical cyclones and environmental conditions. I finished my Bachelor of Science in Hong Kong.
Ashraf Nayel
Imperial PhD candidate with the department of Civil and Environmental engineering
I am pursuing a PhD on the protection of historical masonry structures against extreme loads at the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. I hold Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Egypt, and I have interest in keeping our infrastructures and the built environment sustainable and resilient.
Stall holders
Grantham Institute Art
The Grantham Institute sits at the heart of Imperial College London’s work on climate change and the environment. We drive forward discovery, convert innovations into applications, train future leaders, and communicate academic knowledge to businesses, industry, and policymakers to help shape their decisions. At our stall, we will be getting creative, exploring our 9 things you can do about climate change through art.
(MRC Centre in Environment and Health) How old am I really? How molecules can reveal your biological age
As part of the METAGE project, based within the MRC Centre for Environment and Health at Imperial College London, we are developing new methods to measure “biological age” using large molecular datasets and machine learning. Biological ageing refers to changes at the molecular and cell level that underlie the ageing process and relate to health at older ages. People may be biologically older or younger than their actual (calendar) age. We are investigating how environmental factors influence biological ageing.
Our stall will include assessing people’s “face age” with an iPad app and measuring grip strength, which is an important indicator of physical ageing. Participants will be able to discuss with scientists how biological age is assessed and used in research, and what their face and physical measurements can tell them about their own biological age.
(MRC Centre in Environment and Health, Emerging Chemical Contaminants (ECC) team) Identifying Chemical Pollution Sources in Water Sources Group
In these activities, you will have the opportunity to better understand the sources and types of water pollution. In this interactive activity, you will learn about what chemicals have been found across the River Thames, their levels of contamination, and what it means for the environment and human health.
Music of the Earth Challenge Team, VR Headsets
The climate and the environment have vastly changed over the course of history, and so have the soundscapes that capture each point in time. From the calls of birds long extinct to the roar of traffic, explore in VR how our world has evolved and what it could be like in the future.
Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires (in collaboration with Imperial Hazelab)
Wildfires can be extreme events, devastating the environment, property, and lives, but fires can also be an important part of natural processes and land management. This stand will reveal different dimensions of fire on Earth – from the extreme to the controlled – through art, photography, and an exciting fire demo, Sirocco. You can also have a chance to contribute to participatory art!
Sirocco (fire tornado) demonstrates how flow conditions influence fire behaviour, with the enclosure’s side slits causing a vortex that enhances air mixing. As a result, the flame inside Sirocco twists and grows three times taller, while the flame outside burns for twice as long.
The Royal Meteorological Society
The Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) is the UK’s Professional and Learned Society for weather and climate, delivering a broad range of activities and events for the benefit of all. RMetS will use their 3D model of the Central England Temperature record to explore the UK’s weather, climate, and recent changes in extremes.
British Antarctic Survey and SWAIS2C Project
Antarctica is an enigmatic continent at the bottom of our world, covered by thousands of meters of ice. This ice, and the rocks below it, contain a precious record of the climate of the past. The SWAIS2C project is an international project that aims to collect such climate records. We target the discovery for our lifetime by figuring out how much ice will melt in a warmer world. We can only do so by embarking on an expedition to the middle of the Antarctic ice sheet.
(Emerging Structural Technologies Research Group) Earthquake Table
Join the Emerging Structural Technologies Research Group for a hands-on activity to discover the science and art of keeping buildings safe during earthquakes! With a focus on extreme loading conditions, both on and off Earth, our research group leads in the areas of earthquake engineering and structural dynamics at Imperial. Explore the key principles engineers use to protect buildings and put your own ideas to the test on our shake table.
RAL Space, CloudCatcher and Remote Sensing
RAL Space is the UK’s national laboratory for space science and technology, and we make measurements of the Earth from space to better understand the climate. Test your skills in our satellite image matchup game, see yourself in the infrared, spot some clouds from space with CloudCatcher, and see the amazing information we can retrieve from satellites using our visualisation tool.
Timing
The doors will open at approximately 5.30pm, with a prompt start at 6.00pm. There will be time for questions after the talk.
After the talk finishes at 7.30pm there will be hands on activities around the building until 9.00pm.
Accessibility
The event will take place on the first floor and there is step-free access from the street via lift.
The closest underground station is Green Park, which is step-free.
There is space at floor level in the theatre for wheelchair users.
Seating is usually unreserved for our events. If you and your group require seating reservations, please do let us know by emailing us at events@ri.ac.uk, and we’ll be more than happy to help.
Carers can receive a free ticket to an event by emailing events@ri.ac.uk.
Our theatre is equipped with an Audio Induction Loop.
