For the whole family
CSES is pleased to announce a packed season of family-friendly activities for Summer 2022, in partnership with Chelmsford Festival, ARU and others.
TEXPO and Photographic Competition still open
Firstly, a reminder that our TEXPO 2022 (17 June) and Centenary Photographic Competition are both still open for entries until Fri 10 June. Please do consider entering these – there are cash prizes available!
During the Chelmsford Festival, join CSES and its partners for a full weekend of FREE hands-on discovery across the city of Chelmsford. Taking place in the high street, at the university and at KEGS, we invite you to Do some experimenting and creating, and Discover the wonders of science, technology and opportunities in Chelmsford.
With fun and interesting things to Do and Discover from CSES, ARU, Make Happen, Teledyne e2v / Women@Teledyne, Essex Steamettes, Essex Young Engineers and more, there truly is something for everyone. See our events pages (linked above) for full details. All activities are completely FREE and open to all.
Star Wars revisited... A FREE talk and informal discussion led by Mr Steven Cutts, doctor, writer and familiar face to CSES members.
Café Scientifique is a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology. Steven's talks are always fun, informative and really get the discussion going!
Book your FREE place via our website.
Following the success of our 2021 Ask Me Anything (AMA) event on Reddit, we will be hosting another one this year. If you are not familiar with the AMA format, it is where notable groups and individuals invite the community to ask them any question, which they will do their best to answer in near real-time. Read our invitation here.
Chelmsford has been a world-renowned centre of scientific and technological innovation for well over 100 years, and still is today. This exhibition at ARU will tell a part of that story, revealing how household names such as Marconi are echoed in the modern age.
The exhibition is free and open to all. There will be fun themed activities for children too, including over Do and Discover weekend on 25 and 26 June with a family day and tours of the campus.
Book your FREE slot via Eventbrite.
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In May 1922, the world's first radio station started in Writtle. Called 2MT ("Two Emma Toc"), this humble – and somewhat experimental – enterprise operating from a small hut ultimately became the BBC as we know it today.
Marconi Company engineers sat in the snug of the old Cock and Bell Inn – now the site of Pakwaan Indian Punjabi Cuisine, Writtle – and planned the first ever scheduled radio broadcasts in the form of concerts to be aired by 2MT. The success of this station, under Captain Peter Eckersley, led directly to the start of the BBC.
Exactly 100 years later, Heritage Writtle put on a season of celebrations for this significant milestone in our history, including a parade, history walks, talks, and a weekend of family activities and exhibitions. As well as presenting at the weekend festivities, CSES held its annual dinner at Pakwaan on 23 May, where an excellent meal and evening was had by all. Guests were also treated to an exclusive walking tour of the significant sites by Tim Wander and Alan Pamphilon.
Tim also presented a commemorative display to the restaurant to record and celebrate the significant history of their premises; you can read more about the story on our website.
We intend to return to our social programme in the 2022/2023 season, with meet-ups on Thursday 13 October and Thursday 15 December.
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A special exhibition showcasing innovation from the last 100 years to the present day
Chelmsford has been a world-renowned centre of scientific and technological innovation for well over 100 years, and still is today. Among other things, Chelmsford is home to the world's first wireless (later radio) factory, the world's first river water treatment plant and the world's first colour digital camera – and that's just from within the last century. Today, companies in Chelmsford continue to build the technology of the future, with high-tech developments in fields as diverse as space, medicine, communications and defence. The impact of industry in Chelmsford on all of our lives is incredible.
A collaboration between ARU, CSES, Chelmsford Civic Society and the Marconi Veterans' Association, this exhibition will tell a part of that story, revealing how household names such as Marconi are echoed in the modern age. It will take place in ARU's Marconi building, which was opened by Princess Elettra Marconi Giovanelli, the daughter of Guglielmo Marconi, in 2010, on ARU's Chelmsford campus.
The exhibition will open on Wednesday, 22 June and will run on specific days until Friday, 15 July. Attendees need to book their place – more information and full details of times can be found at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chelmsford-innovation-marconi-and-beyond-tickets-324804377637.
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We know that many of our members would like to know when we will be returning to 'in-person' activities. The short answer is: now.
We are delighted to announce three talks (one accompanied by a new book!) and our 2022 annual dinner, all coming up in the next few weeks.
We have several school and family activities planned for summer and then intend to return to a full programme in the autumn (restrictions permitting). Read on for more details...
An exciting free evening talk, to be held at Anglia Ruskin University, with the Cambridge University Eco-Racing Team. Book now via our website.
An illustrated lecture by Tim Wander to be held in Writtle, celebrating 100 years since radio broadcasting first began there. Book now via Eventbrite.
Accompanied by a new, limited edition book – only 300 copies – published in in the centenary year of the 2MT radio station (and the BBC!). Each book signed and numbered by the author – 208 Pages Full Colour A4.
With many new, previously published and colourised photographs (see full article for example).
The complete story of Britain's first regular scheduled radio station that changed the world.
Visit 2mtwrittle100.co.uk to order your copy.
Our annual dinner for 2022 takes the form of a celebratory curry at Pakwaan Indian Punjabi Cuisine in Writtle to mark the centenary of radio broadcasting. Book now via our website.
Also at Anglia Ruskin University. Book now via our website.
Looking forward to the summer, we will be holding the CSES TEXPO (formerly the Schools' Engineering and Technology Competition) and announcing the winners of our photographic competition. Both are open now – enter via our website.
We will also be holding a full weekend of fun experimental activities for all the family (Do and Discover) as part of the Chelmsford Festival in June.
Assuming all remains well with Covid restrictions, we expect to return to a full calendar of talks and regular socials in the autumn. We look forward to seeing you there!
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