David will be well known to many of you. He has worked in the Central Bank of Ireland, UBS Bank and Banque Nationale de Paris. He is a popular journalist, broadcaster and documentary maker and has published two books, “The pope’s children” and “The generation game”. His third book, “Follow the money” is published today (October 30th). His latest documentary “Addicted to money” has just finished its run on RTE and will be shown in Australia next month. More information is available on his website at www.davidmcwilliams.ie.

Given David’s popularity, we advise you arrive early on the night.

Paul O’Donoghue.

The speaker is Matt Parker who is best described as a stand up mathematician who does everything in his power to make more people excited about mathematics. He is a regular compere for the London Skeptics in the Pub meetings and is also involved with the charity “Sense About Science” and Simon Singh’s campaign against stupid equations.

We look forward to seeing you there.

We will soon announce details of our November lecture which will be given by the inimitable David McWilliams who will cast a skeptical eye over current economic issues.

Paul O’Donoghue.

Hopefully we will meet some of you at the TAM event in London in early October.

Paul O’Donoghue.

Nigel Monaghan, Geologist and keeper of the Natural History Museum will present on the above topic. Nigel has kindly sent us the following abstract:

The collection of bones of ice age mammals in the National Museum of Ireland reveal a great deal about the last 40,000 years. Climate changed in cycles as did the animals that inhabited the changing landscapes. For well over a century there has been evidence of the presence of woolly mammoths, giant deer and even spotted hyenas in our ice age faunas. Radiocarbon dating has been used to put these ancient faunas in context. Recent work using new techniques has allowed these bones to be examined for DNA, showing patterns of family relationships. New studies on our modern faunas are beginning to identify native animals from those introduced by our ancestors. Even today new animals are arriving, with as yet unknown impacts on our environment.

Admission is €3 for members and concessions and €6 for nonmembers.

Paul O’Donoghue.

Full details will be posted next week.

Paul O’Donoghue.

Despite an overwhelming scientific consensus regarding the human contribution to recent climate change, a significant sceptical community still exists. This talk will examine the basis for sceptical views and briefly examine the backgrounds of its adherents. The nature of global climate change will be discussed, together with techniques for downscaling global perspectives to an Irish scale. The impacts of climate change on various aspects of the Irish environment will be examined with a view to identifying where, when and by how much various sectors will be affected. Mitigation and adaptation strategies will be outlined in the context of national and international efforts to address what is likely to be the major problem facing humankind this coming century.

Admission: €3 for members and concessions. €6 for non-members.

Professor John Sweeney, Dept of Geography, Maynooth, will address us on the topic of assessing and responding to climate change in Ireland. Further details will be posted during the next few days.

Paul O’Donoghue.

The lecture will take place at 8.00pm on Wednesday February 11th in the Davenport Hotel, Merrion Square, Dublin 2. Admission for members is €3 and for guests, €6.

This presentation will review the early life of Charles Darwin and the circumstances that brought him to his theory of evolution by natural selection. His views on the origin of humans will be considered particularly in the light of the evidence available to him. Finally the rapid accumulation of palaeontological and genetic evidence since Darwin’s death and how it has shaped our current ideas on the origin and affinities of humans will be outlined.

We look forward to an enlightening and uplifting evening in contrast to the current economic doom and gloom and inclement weather. We hope to see many of you there.

Paul O’Donoghue.

Wednesday February 11th. Professor Tom Hayden,UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, will address us on the topic of Charles Darwin and Human Evolution. We are very pleased to host this lecture on the eve of Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday. The lecture will be held at 8.00pm in the Davenport Hotel, Merrion Sq., Dublin 2. Full details will be posted next week.

Wednesday April 1st. Professor John Sweeney, Department of Geography, NUI Maynooth, will address us on the topic of assessing and responding to climate change in Ireland. This lecture will take place in the same venue.

Wednesday June 10th. Geologist and Keeper of the Natural History Museum, Nigel Monaghan, will address us on the topic of ice age mammals, tales of survival and extinction. This lecture is in keeping with a broad Darwinian theme to which we will return during the remainder of 2009 and will also take place in the Davenport hotel.

The topics outlined above constitute working titles and full details and abstracts will be posted closer to the time of each presentation.

Paul O’Donoghue.

Paul O’Donoghue.