Events at The Manchester Museum
26 Jun 2012
Creativity in tough times: Turing and Manchester University after the Second World War (28 June) * Magic Carpet (29 June) * Urban Naturalist (30 June) * Anansi the Spider (1 July).
Creativity in tough times: Turing and Manchester University after the Second World War
Thursday 28 June, 6-7pm
Book on 0161 275 2648, free, adults
With Professor John Pickstone, The University of Manchester. The impact of Alan Turing is indisputable, so too the tragedy of his suicide. In many ways, his ideas on computing changed the world, but how did he interact with Manchester University – his home for his last six years? This lecture will explore his work here and the mathematicians, physicists, chemists, biologists and medical men with whom he worked. Many of the staff had been employed on secret projects. You are invited to join them in the years around 1950, when Manchester was recovering from the War. Let’s see how they renewed the University in a time of hope, how they created new machines and new lines of scientific research. Let’s listen to their debates on machine intelligence and the problems of organic form. Let’s dissect ‘Post-war Science’ – to see how big ideas were formed as part of the history of Manchester.
Magic Carpet: Spiders
Friday 29 June, 10.30-11.30am & 11.30am-12.30pm
Book on 0161 275 2648, free, under 5s and their families/carers
Storytelling and activity session for under 5s and their families/carers.
Museum Meets: Urban Naturalist
Saturday 30 June, 2-3pm
Book on 0161 275 2648, £3, adults
Moths. Cabbage whites were spotted in the Museum allotment last year. Our moth experts Phil Rispin and Michael Dockery will be putting out the moth traps on Friday night - the workshop on Saturday will give you top tips on how to identify moths found in Manchester’s gardens and parks.
Urban Naturalist is a programme of friendly, practical workshops for adults run by leading naturalists. From wild food-foraging and composting to bird song and insect identification, explore biodiversity on our doorstep.
Anansi the Spider
Sunday 1 July, 11am-4pm
Drop-in, free, all ages
Anansi is a spider who stars in stories told in Africa and around the world. Weave a web of stories about spiders and add your story to our giant spider book.
Part of the Manchester Children’s Book Festival. www.mcbf.org.uk
Tours of the Vivarium (live animals)
Every Tuesday & Thursday (except school holidays), 12-1pm
Book on 0161 275 2648, free, 13+
Meet the Museum's live animals and learn about the education and conservation work taking place beyond the displays.
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