Atmosphere ezine: Global Warming Affects Irish Tree Growth Cycle

Science.ie

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A t m o s p h e r e
Science for a Successful Ireland
http://www.science.ie

Issue 5 - November, December 2001

THIS MONTH:
1)...News - Dick Ahlstrom named as S&T Journalist of the Year
2)...Irish Scientist - Kathleen Lonsdale (1903-1971)
3)...Events - Christmas and New Year Lectures

A t m o s p h e r e is the free monthly Science, Technology and
Innovation ezine from science.ie.

To all our subscribers, we wish you a happy and peaceful holiday
season and look forwards to being in touch again in January 2002.

The STI Awareness programme would like to thank everyone for
taking part in and supporting Science Week Ireland 2001 which
took place from 11th to 18th November. Over 180 events took place
nationwide, including Science Fairs in Carlow, Limerick and Sligo.
The week was a great success.

If you find this ezine useful, please forward it to a friend.
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* How to Subscribe *
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1)...N E W S A N D I N F O

>>>GLOBAL WARMING AFFECTS IRISH TREE GROWTH, SWALLOW ARRIVAL
Irish researchers have found evidence that global warming is
affecting the growth of Irish trees. Their research shows that
the growing season is beginning earlier than in recent decades.
http://www.science.ie/news_info/index_articles.html


>>>SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY JOURNALISM – A VITAL PUBLIC SERVICE
Dick Ahlstrom of the Irish Times has been named as Science and
Technology Journalist of the Year during the presentation of the
Third Annual Science and Technology Journalism Awards in Dublin.
http://www.science.ie/events/journalism-awards/index_s-t.html


>>>NEW CENTRAL GOVERNMENT BIOTECHNOLOGY WEBSITE TO BE LAUNCHED
A new Biotechnology website to be launched in early 2002 will
provide Ireland's decision makers, journalists, students and
public with dependable and easily accessible information on
consumer issues, research, products, regulations and more.
http://www.science.ie/news_info/index_articles.html


>>>IRISH KIDS ATTRACTED TO PRIMARY SCIENCE DAY
On Tuesday 13th November, children in 3,200 Irish primary schools
were experimenting with magnetism and exploring science in
celebration of Primary Science Day 2001 - an educational first.
http://www.science.ie/news_info/index_articles.html


>>>LUCENT CHIEF JOINS SCIENCE FOUNDATION IRELAND
Dr. Alastair M. Glass (formerly of Lucent Technologies), has been
appointed as Director, Information and Communications Technologies
Division of SFI. He will help shape both SFI and the research base
underpinning key sectors of Ireland's social and economic development.
http://www.sfi.ie/

More Science and Technology Headlines at:
http://www.science.ie/news_info/index.html
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* Fact of the Month *
Newgrange in Co.Meath is the oldest astronomically aligned
building in the world, so you could say that the Irish were
the first astronomers on planet Earth!
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2)...IRISH SCIENTIST - KATHLEEN LONSDALE (1903-1971)

Kathleen Lonsdale was born in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, but her
family later emigrated to Essex. At the age of just sixteen,
she started a Bachelor of Science at Bedford College for Women
in London, specialising in Maths and Physics. She came first
in her class when she graduated in 1922.

After graduating she worked with Nobel prize Winner William
H. Bragg at University College London, and later at The Royal
Institution, London.

Her life’s work was in studying the structure of chemicals
and X-Ray crystallography. She had a profound influence on
the development of this technique, as well as other fields
in chemistry and physics.

She confirmed experimentally the structure of benzene in 1929.

In 1956 she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the
British Empire, despite the fact that she had spent some time
in Holloway prison in 1943 after refusing to register for civil
defence duties during World War II and refusing to pay the
subsequent 2 pound fine.

She achieved a number of other remarkable things during
her lifetime - in 1945 she was the first woman, along with
microbiologist Marjory Stephenson, to be elected Fellow of
The Royal Society (London).

She was also the first female professor of University College,
London, and, in 1967, became the first woman president of the
British Association for the Advancement of Science (BA). She
was one of the founders of the Young Scientists’ section of
the BA, and made the following note to herself:

"Never refuse an opportunity to speak at schools."

In her honour, a rare meteoric diamond has been named Lonsdaleite.

http://www.irsa.ie/Resources/Heritage/KLonds.html
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* Link of the Month *
The Irish Energy Centre has as its responsibility to promote
the development of a sustainable National Energy Economy. This
website provides lots of information about energy at home, in
school and in industry. Covers the environment, technologies,
costs, frequently asked questions, publications, case studies.
http://www.irish-energy.ie
Also: 'Smart.E' website for children and teachers:
http://www.irish-energy.ie/smart_E/index.htm
Also: 'Energy Linked' website for secondary schools:
http://www.irish-energy.ie/energy_linked/index.htm
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3)...E V E N T S

Christmas Lecture - 'Is There Life In The Universe?'
Dramatic new discoveries, and the Irish woman who made them
possible.
Speaker: Leo Enright (RTE/BBC), broadcaster and author.
Venue: Henry Grattan Building, Dublin City University
>>>Monday 10 December at 20:00


New Year Public Lecture - 'Cosmic Ireland'
Ancient astronomy in Ireland.
Speaker: Anthony Murphy, journalist.
Venue: Henry Grattan Building, Dublin City University
>>>Monday 14 January 2002 at 20:00
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...W H A T T O D O T H I S M O N T H

Watch...
'The Secrets of Life' Royal Institution Christmas Lectures.
Sir John Sulston, who spearheaded Britain's role in the Human
Genome Project and who was the guest speaker at the RTE Millennium
Lecture as part of Science Week 2000, explores human genetics in a
series of 5 lectures to be broadcast on Channel 4 during Christmas.
>>>http://www.ri.ac.uk/Christmas/

Surf...
A new Science, Technology and Industry website launched by
the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD).
>>>http://www.oecd.org/sti

Visit...
The Mathematics Genealogy Project - a tree where the relationship is
'phd-supervisor'. The objective is to compile information about all
the mathematicians of the world. As it is an American project, Irish
Mathematicians are under-represented. Submit your own data online.
>>>http://mathgenealogy.mnsu.edu/

Read...
'Sky-High 2002' Guide to wonders of the night sky visible by naked
eye and binoculars from Ireland during the year ahead. Available for
2.36 pounds or 3 Euro from the Irish Astronomical Society.
>>>http://www.esatclear.ie/~ias
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Next Issue - January 2002
http://www.science.ie/

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