Bill Bryson speaks at 4th Ogden Science Forum

Over 90 delegates from schools, universities and science organisations attended the 4th Ogden Science Forum in Cambridge on 12 June 2008 at which Bill Bryson OBE was the principal guest speaker.  He gave the opening lecture based on his book  "An Even Shorter History of Nearly Everything".  Delegates received from The Ogden Trust an illustrated copy of the book signed by the author and Sir Peter Ogden.

Download the MP3 Audio File here
 
Bill Bryson Portrait
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The programme for the day was as follows:
 
                                                    4th Ogden Trust Science Forum
Thursday 12 June 2008 10.00 am – 5.00 pm
followed by drinks/dinner at 6.45 for 7.30 pm
The Møller Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge CB3 0DE 
                                                             
From 9.30         Arrivals and registration
 
10.30                Introduction and welcome from Prof Sir David Wallace and Sir Peter Ogden
 
10.45                Bill Bryson OBE:  “An Even Shorter History of Nearly Everything”
 
11.30                Signing of sponsorship agreements for the British Physics Olympiad
                         (Dr Cyril Isenberg, Dr Robert Taylor, Philip Diamond and Sir Peter Ogden)
                         and the Royal Society Ogden Trust Education Research Fellowships (Stephen Cox,
                         Executive Secretary of The Royal Society and Sir Peter Ogden plus Bill Bryson and
                         Michael Murphy)
 
11.45                Coffee
 
12.00                Where do physics graduates go after university and are they interested in teaching?
                         Professor Michael Pennington (Durham University ), Matthew Broome
                         (Warwick University) and Chris Dearden (Manchester University)
 
12.45                A case study of the Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme, Professor Ray d’Inverno
 
 1.00                 Lunch
 
 2.00                 Splinter groups
                         Teachers:  What do strong science schools have in common?
                         Chairs:  Dr Martin Symons and Colin Greenhalgh CBE
 
                         University Science Outreach Officers:  What works best in schools and how to
                         evaluate it? 
                         Chairs:  Barbara Grundy and Tony Bannard-Smith
 
                        University academics:  How do British physics students, graduates and researchers
                        compare in the world rankings?
                        Chairs:  Prof Carlos Frenk (Durham) and Prof Mark Warner (Cambridge)    
2.40                 Chairs of splinter groups prepare summaries for 4.20 pm
 
2.50                  Ogden Science Partnerships: Tim Simmons
                         School and university collaboration: an answer to shortage subjects?
                         Dr Sarah Pearce (Durham NHS) and Craig Hewitt (Finham Park School)
 
3.20                  Professor Derek Bell, Chief Executive, The Association for Science
                         Education:  “Engaging Teachers, Engaging Pupils, Engaging Science:
                         are we learning our lessons?
 
4.00                  Tea
 
4.20                  Summaries of key issues raised by splinter groups
 
4.50                  Closing remarks from Sir Peter Ogden
 
5.00                  End
                       
6.45                  Drinks reception, Tower Lounge Bar followed by dinner at 7.30 pm
 
If you are interested in receiving feedback or any other information about this event, please contact The Ogden Trust.