Launch of the Essex 2020 autumn programme

"A month of ideas on growing a sustainable Chelmsford" is how October is being labelled by Chelmsford City Council

The council is bringing together organisations from across Chelmsford to create Future City: a month of ideas on growing a sustainable Chelmsford. The mainly digital festival runs throughout October and tackles the themes of climate change, biodiversity and sustainability. The programme is intended to capture the moment as we think about life post-COVID-19, and it's hoped events and activities will encourage people in the city to make connections and provide fresh thinking about the future.

Read more: Future City: New Green Festival Begins in Chelmsford

Can you help with Essex Record Office's oral history project?

'Communicating Connections' is an oral history based community heritage project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with contributions from Essex 2020 and the Friends of Historic Essex. It will explore the heritage of the Marconi Company, a telecommunications and engineering company based in Chelmsford, by collecting and archiving oral history interviews with past employees of the company. Chelmsford is known locally as the 'birthplace of radio', so we want to share this heritage with the local and wider community.

We're still looking for oral history interviewers and interviewees.

Full training in oral history interviewing will be provided by the Oral History Society and further support will be available throughout the project so there's no need for prior oral history experience.

Read more: Volunteers and participants sought for Communicating Connections

Located in Great Baddow, the Chain Home Tower which helped provide early warning of Luftwaffe attacks during the Battle of Britain has been Grade II listed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

It is the only complete tower of its kind surviving in the British Isles.

Read more: Essex Battle of Britain Radar Tower Given Protected Status

Welcome to our 2020/21 season – our centenary year – and the Essex 2020 Autumn programme. We will be starting with a celebration event on our 'birthday' itself...

On 13 October 2020, CSES turns 100, and we are delighted to be holding a virtual conversation evening to celebrate this milestone and to look forward to what the next 100 years might bring. Please join us to talk about the past, the present and the future as our panel of guest contributors explore the pressing issue of sustainability.

And on 14 October, CSES will be taking part in the Big Education Conversation as we ramp up the Essex 2020 autumn programme.

We hope to see you there!

SEA-KIT is an Essex based company focusing on the development of Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs). Based in Tollesbury, the have developed a leading solution to remotely map under the sea. Their solution won the Shell Ocean Discovery X-Prize and recently completed a three week mapping mission in the Atlantic. SEA-KIT are currently looking for a network and systems engineer to join their team. The full job description can be found below.

Read more: Network and Systems Engineer Job Opportunity at SEA-KIT

From their base in Tollesbury, SEA-KIT International have successfully controlled their uncrewed surface vessel (USV) Maxlimer on a 22 day mapping voyage in the Atlantic Ocean. Using a multi beam ultrasonic sounder, the vessel mapped around 1000 km² of continental shelf to a depth of up to 1 km.

Maxlimer is a demonstration of over 'Over-the-horizon' control technology with the aim of showing that it is safe and practical. The boat was connected to the Tollesbury base via satellite where operators could see images from onboard cameras, listen in to its surroundings and access data from thermal imaging cameras and radar. The vessel was initially developed for the Shell Ocean Discovery X-Prize which it went on to win.

More information can be found on the article from BBC news here. A talk from Ben Simpson, managing director of SEA-KIT and original designer of the vessel gave a talk for CSES in early January 2019 when the craft was competing in the Shell X-Prize Competition.

Showcasing women in STEM and engaging children through music and song

Are you interested in learning more about incredible local women from the past and present working in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine industries? Chelmsford Theatres have teamed up with Electric Voice Theatre to bring you eight FREE weekly sessions with historian Dr Fara and a modern-day scientist, starting from Monday 27 July.

Read more: Echoes from Essex / Minerva Scientifica

Essex Cultural Diversity Project has teamed up with Chelmsford City Council, to create an opportunity for artists to creatively respond to the rich story of Chelmsford as a city and district, its heritage and ambitions for the future.

A key aim of this place-based commission is to celebrate diversity, as well as harness and explore digital innovation as part of Essex2020 – Year of Science and Creativity. We are particularly interested in looking at Chelmsford’s rivers and waterways; how they connect people and places, and form an integral part of the area’s environment and cultural, agricultural and industrial history.

UPDATE: We are delighted to announce that artist Sian Fan has been appointed for the Chelmsford & Essex2020 Artist Commission, a partnership between Chelmsford City Council and Essex Cultural Diversity Project.

Read more: Chelmsford Essex2020 Artist Commission: Calls for Proposals