2025/2026 Talks
Our talks are usually held in person in the Trevithick Theatre at Cardiff University.
Booking is not required, however, if you are new to the Society please let us know when you arrive so we can give you a warm welcome. We kindly ask current members to bring their membership cards or membership number.
There is no requirement to wear a mask whilst on the premises; however, you are welcome to wear one should you wish.
Our talks usually start at 7.30 p.m. and are hosted by the School of Physics and Astronomy at:
Cardiff University
Queen's Buildings
The Parade
Cardiff
CF24 3AA
All attendees are kindly invited to sign the visitors' book upon arrival!
Next Talk:
5th March 2026 - "Astronomy and Art: Universal Appeal?" - Dr Andrew Newsam, Liverpool John Moores University
Talk Description: For centuries science and art went hand-in-hand, but more recently they seem to have diverged into two distinct "cultures". In this talk Andy will describe some forays by an astronomer into the world of art to explore challenging concepts with unsuspecting audiences. Covering art forms from computer music to dance, theatre to gardening shows, and looking at scientific concepts as diverse as Dark Matter and the physics of breakfast we will see some ways in which art and science can work together and ask if the two cultures are really as different as they might seem.
Biography: Andy is Professor of Astronomy Education and Engagement at Liverpool John Moores University and Director of the Schools' Observatory. After studying Computational Physics at Warwick University, he moved to Glasgow to get his doctorate in Astrophysics. After a short period in Southampton, where he discovered all the delights of professional observing (sleep-deprivation, altitude etc), he moved to Liverpool John Moores University in 1998 to help set up the Schools' Observatory (www.schoolsobservatory.org). His varied roles combine work with schools with research, undergraduate teaching, and public engagement. All of this is fun, and all of it lets him play with big telescopes around the world.
| Date | Description | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ||
| 4th September | The Chemistry of the Universe | Professor Mike Edmunds |
| 18th September | The History of Sir Fred Hoyle | Dr Simon Mitton, St Edmunds, Cambridge |
| 2nd October | CAS Museum Exhibit - Private Showing | Tiffany Kew, CAS |
| 16th October | Why Chile is the best place in the world for astronomy | Dr Roger Wesson, Cardiff University |
| 30th October | Second Star to the Right: a History of Celestial Navigation | Phill Wallace JP FRAS |
| 13th November | Exoplanets with high dynamic range | Prof Hugh Jones, University of Hertfordshire |
| 27th November | The Original Orion | Dr Nik Whitehead, Uni of Wales Trinity St Davids |
| 11th December | The sixty-four-trillion-mile tape measure | Dr Jane Clark, CAS and David Bennett, BAS |
| 2026 | ||
| 8th January | Trapping nanoparticles and what we can learn about space weather | Dr James Bateman, Swansea University |
| 22nd January | Wales In Space | Dr Rosie Cane, Space Wales |
| 5th February | How to design a space telescope | Dr Lorenzo Mugnai, Cardiff University |
| 19th February | From the South Pole to Outer Space: Concordia research and ESA astronaut training - ZOOM EVENT | Dr Meganne Christian, UK Space Agency |
| 5th March | Astronomy and Art: Universal Appeal? | Dr Andy Newsam, Liverpool John Moores University |
| 19th March | Phosphine on Venus | Professor Jane Greaves, Cardiff University |
| 2nd April | Keeping Space Safe: How Advances in Space Domain Awareness and Space Traffic Control could affect you | David Sulley, UK Space Agency |
| 16th April | AGM | CAS Trustees |
| 30th April | Astrophotography, Astronomy and Telescope Making | Martin Budzynski, Crewkerne & District Astronomical Society |
| 14th May | Gravitational Waves (Title TBC) | Dr Vivien Raymond, Cardiff University |
| 28th May | Space Weather: What it is and how it can affect systems on Earth | Dr Biagio Forte, University of Bath |
| 11th June | Micro-Meteorites | Emma Wride, Director of AstroCymru |
| 25th June | Living with a star: solar activity and space weather - ZOOM EVENT | Professor Lyndsay Fletcher, University of Glasgow |
| 9th July | The Drake Equation | Dr Jeni Millard |