A list of all SciBar events in reverse chronological order

  • 8th December 2025 – Fading Fertility

    There is a global decline in total fertility rates – that is, the predicted number of children a woman has in her lifetime. Should we be worried? In this talk Dr Michael Carroll, Reader / Associate Professor in Reproductive Science continue reading

  • 10th November 2025 – Psychedelic-assisted therapy

    Psychedelics and mental health: hype, hope, and healing? There is growing interest in the use of psychedelics and their potential to help with problems that affect mental health. From depression and anxiety to trauma and addiction, psychedelic-assisted therapy is being continue reading

  • 13th October 2025 – The Secret Lives of Pollinators: Myths, Facts, and Flowers

    Dr. Jordan Ryder is a senior lecturer in Zoology and a Public Engagement & Involvement Champion for Natural Sciences at the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Chester. In May, he spoke at the Knutsford Bee Trail launch event on continue reading

  • 8th September 2025 – Impulsivity

    Why Do We Act on Impulse? Understanding the Urge to React Without Thinking Why do we sometimes speak without thinking, overspend, or react quickly in ways we later regret? In this talk, Dr. Afshi Yahya Khan will explore impulsivity, why continue reading

  • 21st July 2025 – Mapping the Universe to reveal its dark secrets

    Later than usual, at this month’s SciBar, our speaker will be Dr Steve Cunnington from the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, Universities of Portsmouth and Manchester. Steve says “We sort of understand how our Universe works and evolves. However, this continue reading

  • 9th June 2025 – Graphene update. Where are we with real applications?

    This talk will be given by Prof. Aravind Vijayaraghavan, Professor of Nanomaterials, Department of Materials, Head of Internationalisation, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Nano-functional Materials Group Leader, National Graphene Institute, University of Manchester. More Details to follow. Update: Prof. Aravind continue reading

  • 12th May 2025 – Parkinson’s Disease Research

    Our speaker for this event will be Alan Crossman, Emeritus Professor of Anatomy at the University of Manchester. He graduated with a B.Sc. in Physiology and Biochemistry and then a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Southampton University. He took up a continue reading

  • 14th April 2025 – The Science of Sleep

    We’re not just unconscious when we sleep – hear the facts and learn about the latest science Dr Jill McGarry is a Clinical Psychologist with 28 years of NHS experience in psychological support for people with mental health issues. Throughout continue reading

  • 10th March 2025 – Artificial Intelligence: its development, structure and use

    At this meeting, Knutsford SciBarian Adrian Fisher, who has previously told us about Blockchains, and 3D Printing, will talk to us about a topic that is increasingly likely to affect all our lives, in all sorts of ways – Artificial continue reading

  • 10th February 2025 – Using synchrotron radiation to design high performance materials – from the atomic structure to the finished product

    We welcome Robert Cernik, Emeritus Professor, Materials Engineering, Manchester University, who will tell us about synchrotron radiation, and will describe diffraction and imaging methods and what they give you. He will also give us some real examples, from jet engines continue reading

  • 13th January 2025 – A Lake’s Life in Time

    For the first session of the New Year, we welcome Dr John Boyle and his colleague Dr Maddy Moyle, who will talk about water quality, specifically about a project they have been working on involving the Tatton Meres. John and continue reading

  • 9th December 2024 ** SCIENCE BASED QUIZ **

    Unfortunately, our scheduled speaker has had to cancel for personal reasons. At such short notice, we have not been able to get a replacement speaker, but luckily one of the SciBar’s regular attendees has been able to put together a continue reading