How did we come to be here? How did our bodies, our five senses and our exceptional brains evolve? Life emerged on our planet about 3.8 billion years ago as tiny sea dwelling bacteria: in a very real sense these are our oldest relatives! 1.5 billion years ago our ancestor was akin to an amoeba, 600 million years ago a miniscule jellyfish and then within about 50 million years a diminutive worm. Rapidly increasing in size, we evolved into fish, then dragged ourselves onto land where by 220 million years we had become mammals.  About 65 million years ago a small shrew decided to explore life in the trees; there we evolved binocular vision, mobile shoulders and opposable thumbs and became primates. Around 6 million years ago, a chimpanzee like ancestor moved from the forests on to the savannah, gradually transmuting into us.

This is an epic and thrilling tale, even more extraordinary than the origin stories told by our ancestors, so expect an exhilarating ride. This is the second of three related day schools which while complementing each other also stand alone. The third and final session will focus on the more recent development of our minds and culture

https://casaclevedon.org.uk/events/event/the-origins-of-us-the-deep-evolutionary-story-of-our-bodies/

How did we come to be here? According to current scientific understanding the Universe flared into existence 13 800 million years ago in an intense fireball. Within twenty minutes hydrogen nuclei had formed, and as the Universe cooled these were gradually transformed into atoms, stars, elements, galaxies, life and ultimately complex beings such as ourselves, capable of reflecting on the whole process.

This is an epic and thrilling tale, even more extraordinary than the origin stories told by our ancestors, so expect an exhilarating ride. This first day school focuses on the big picture: the Big Bang, the alchemical creation of the elements in stars, the formation of the Solar System, the emergence and evolution of life and ecosystems.

In the New Year the focus shifts to us: the 600-million-year evolution of our bodies, as well as the more recent development of our minds and culture. These day schools complement each other but also stand alone.

Further details: https://casaclevedon.org.uk/course-bookings/

This is a day school in two halves. In the morning, we explore the extraordinary 450 million-year evolution of plants and the inventive ways they solved the many problems arising from the move on to dry land – gravity, nutrition, desiccation and the particularly intractable and surprising issue of reproduction.

In the afternoon the focus shifts to how humans have adapted this bountiful heritage. We discover why, where and how agriculture was invented, and why this step has been described as “the worst mistake in history “. This is followed by an overview of the key discoveries and different approaches to food growing in places as diverse as China, the Americas, the Islamic World and Britain. We conclude with a look at the revolutionary changes of the twentieth century and the challenges and possibilities of the future.

The day should provide a fascinating new perspective on the plants that grow in your garden.

Sunday 23rd February 2025 10am-4pm

Davis Hall, Howell Hill, West Camel, BA22 7QX

Course Fee: £25 to include tea and coffee

Advance booking essential: contact Kim at kimbailey.mail@gmail.com

A Deep Time Walk combines an introduction to the story of life on Earth with a 4.6km walk in which every metre is a million years in time. Starting at the formation of the solar system and the creation of Earth, we’ll explore some of the most significant events and key revolutions in Earth's deep history, including the formation of the Moon, the origin of life in the oceans, the movement onto land, the emergence of reptiles, dinosaurs and mammals and right at the end, the origin of our own species, humans - just in the last 30 centimetres!

This is a free event, part of the new Somerscience Festival

Further details:

https://somerscience.co.uk/event/deep-time-walk-a-walk-through-the-story-of-the-universe/

‘A Global History of Money' is not a history of coinage, still less an introduction to Economics; rather it explores how world history has been shaped by the changing nature of money. We’ll discover how the Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians managed without it and how coins were then simultaneously invented in China, India, and the Mediterranean. We’ll learn how inflation in China, the greed of the Conquistadores, and the reimagining of money in England conspired together to change the world. Finally, we’ll explore what caused the Global Financial Crisis and discover why it’s still surprisingly easy to pay for the transition to a Zero Carbon future despite there being ‘no money left’.A Global History of Money' is not a history of coinage, still less an introduction to Economics; rather it explores how world history has been shaped by the changing nature of money. We’ll discover how the Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians managed without it and how coins were then simultaneously invented in China, India, and the Mediterranean. We’ll learn how inflation in China, the greed of the Conquistadores, and the reimagining of money in England conspired together to change the world. Finally, we’ll explore what caused the Global Financial Crisis and discover why it’s still surprisingly easy to pay for the transition to a Zero Carbon future despite there being ‘no money left’.

This course is hosted by WEA on Zoom and costs £20.40. Further details:

https://enrolonline.wea.org.uk/Online/2022/CourseInfo.aspx?r=C3534459

‘A Global History of Money' is not a history of coinage, still less an introduction to Economics; rather it explores how world history has been shaped by the changing nature of money. We’ll discover how the Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians managed without it and how coins were then simultaneously invented in China, India, and the Mediterranean. We’ll learn how inflation in China, the greed of the Conquistadores, and the reimagining of money in England conspired together to change the world. Finally, we’ll explore what caused the Global Financial Crisis and discover why it’s still surprisingly easy to pay for the transition to a Zero Carbon future despite there being ‘no money left’.A Global History of Money' is not a history of coinage, still less an introduction to Economics; rather it explores how world history has been shaped by the changing nature of money. We’ll discover how the Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians managed without it and how coins were then simultaneously invented in China, India, and the Mediterranean. We’ll learn how inflation in China, the greed of the Conquistadores, and the reimagining of money in England conspired together to change the world. Finally, we’ll explore what caused the Global Financial Crisis and discover why it’s still surprisingly easy to pay for the transition to a Zero Carbon future despite there being ‘no money left’.

The course is hosted by WEA on Zoom and costs £30.60 for six 1.5 hour sessions. Further details:

https://enrolonline.wea.org.uk/Online/2022/CourseInfo.aspx?r=C3534458

We all use money, many of us struggle to find enough of it, whereas a few seem to have more than they will ever be able to spend. But do we really understand what it is? This day school sets out to explain.

The course is not a history of coinage, still less an introduction to Economics; rather it explores how world history has been shaped by the changing nature of money. We’ll discover how the Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians managed without it and how coins were then simultaneously invented in China, India and the Mediterranean.  We’ll learn how inflation in China, the greed of the Conquistadores and the reimagining of money in England conspired together to change the world. Finally we’ll explore what caused the Global Financial Crisis and discover why it’s still surprisingly easy to pay for the transition to a Zero Carbon future despite there being ‘no money left’.

https://www.fromecommed.org.uk/courses/id/money-a-global-history

This is a day school in two halves. In the morning we explore the extraordinary 450 million-year evolution of plants and the inventive ways they solved the many problems arising from the move on to dry land – gravity, nutrition, desiccation and the particularly intractable and surprising issue of reproduction.

In the afternoon the focus shifts to how humans have adapted this bountiful heritage. We discover why, where and how agriculture was invented, and why this step has been described as “the worst mistake in history “. We continue with an overview of the key discoveries and different approaches to food growing in places as diverse as China, the Americas, the Islamic World and Britain. We culminate with the revolutionary changes of the Twentieth Century and the challenges and possibilities of the future.

Enrol here: https://enrolonline.wea.org.uk/Online/CourseSearchResults.aspx

This is a talk in two halves. It first explores the extraordinary 450 million-year evolution of plants and the inventive ways they solved the many problems arising from the move on to dry land – gravity, nutrition, desiccation and the particularly intractable and surprising issue of reproduction.

The focus then shifts to how humans have adapted this bountiful heritage. We explore why, where and how agriculture was invented, and why this step has been described as “the worst mistake in history “.

The talk should provide a fascinating new perspective on the plants that grow in your garden

Ever wondered how it all got started? This six-week course covers it all: from the Big Bang, through the first stars, to life on Earth and our own evolution. Get ready for an exhilarating journey!

Further details: https://enrolonline.wea.org.uk/Online/2019/CourseInfo.aspx?r=C3530655

This talks tells the story of fluctuating climate over 4.6 billion years of Earth history and explores the lessons we can learn to help us face current challenges.

This talk explores the extraordinary 450 million-year evolution of plants and the inventive ways they solved the many problems arising from the move on to dry land – gravity, nutrition, desiccation and the particularly intractable and surprising issue of reproduction. We then discover how humans adapted this bountiful heritage in the invention of agriculture, why, where and how this happened, and why this step has been described as “the worst mistake in history “. 

It should provide a fascinating new perspective on the plants that grow in your garden.

If you've ever wished you had a better grasp of the broad sweep and patterns of human history, then this is the course for you. We'll be covering the whole span of history while asking, and trying to answer, some big questions.

Why, for example, did our ancestors survive when our cousins, the Neanderthals, became extinct? Why were plants domesticated in some places but not others?  Why did many places in different parts of the world experience very similar processes of urbanisation, centralisation of power and empire building? And why, in the nineteenth century, did Britain become the dominant global power rather than, say, China.

https://enrolonline.wea.org.uk/Online/2018/CourseInfo.aspx?r=C3530252

This talk explores the extraordinary 450 million-year evolution of plants and the inventive ways they solved the many problems arising from the move on to dry land – gravity, nutrition, desiccation and the particularly intractable and surprising issue of reproduction. We then discover how humans adapted this bountiful heritage in the invention of agriculture, why, where and how this happened, and why this step has been described as “the worst mistake in history “. 

It should provide a fascinating new perspective on the plants that grow in your garden.

Further details: Alan Lewis Tel: 01643 821236 Non-members £1 on door

During the last century cosmologists came to the seemingly bizarre conclusion that the Universe began in a ‘Big Bang’ 13.8 billion years ago.  We’ll begin by discovering what drove them to this odd idea, and how it built upon the 500 years of experiment and discovery sparked into life by thinkers such as Copernicus and Galileo.

After lunch we’ll explore the modern understanding of the Cosmic story - how primordial hydrogen has been transformed into stars, galaxies, elements and ultimately complex beings such as ourselves, capable of reflecting on the whole process.

We conclude by addressing the current mysteries of dark energy and dark matter.

https://enrolonline.wea.org.uk/Online/2018/CourseInfo.aspx?r=C3530226

This is a day school in two halves. In the morning we explore the extraordinary 450 million-year evolution of plants and the inventive ways they solved the many problems arising from the move on to dry land – gravity, nutrition, desiccation and the particularly intractable and surprising issue of reproduction.

In the afternoon the focus shifts to how humans have adapted this bountiful heritage. We discover why, where and how agriculture was invented, and why this step has been described as “the worst mistake in history “. We continue with an overview of the key discoveries and different approaches to food growing in places as diverse as China, the Americas, the Islamic World and Britain. We culminate with the revolutionary changes of the Twentieth Century and the challenges and possibilities of the future.

https://fromecommed.org.uk/courses/id/from-seed-to-fork

Or phone 01373 455420 book a place

During the last century cosmologists came to the seemingly bizarre conclusion that the Universe began in a ‘Big Bang’ 13.8 billion years ago.  We’ll begin by discovering what drove them to this odd idea, and how it built upon the 500 years of experiment and discovery sparked into life by thinkers such as Copernicus and Galileo.

After lunch we’ll explore the modern understanding of the Cosmic story - how primordial hydrogen has been transformed into stars, galaxies, elements and ultimately complex beings such as ourselves, capable of reflecting on the whole process.

We conclude by addressing the current mysteries of dark energy and dark matter.

https://enrolonline.wea.org.uk/Online/2018/CourseInfo.aspx?r=C3530239

This is a course in two halves. For the first three weeks we explore the extraordinary 450 million-year evolution of plants and the inventive ways they solved the many problems arising from the move on to dry land – gravity, nutrition, desiccation and the particularly intractable and surprising issue of reproduction.

After half term the focus shifts to how humans have adapted this bountiful heritage. We discover why, where and how agriculture was invented, and why this step has been described as “the worst mistake in history “.  We continue with an overview of the key discoveries and different approaches to food growing in places as diverse as China, the Americas, the Islamic World and Britain. We culminate with the revolutionary changes of the Twentieth Century and the challenges and possibilities of the future.

Runs Wednesdays until 13th March. No session on 20th February

https://enrolonline.wea.org.uk/Online/2018/CourseInfo.aspx?r=C3530243

Or phone 0300 303 3464 to book a place

This talk explores the extraordinary 450 million-year evolution of plants and the inventive ways they solved the many problems arising from the move on to dry land – gravity, nutrition, desiccation and the particularly intractable and surprising issue of reproduction. We then discover how humans adapted this bountiful heritage in the invention of agriculture, why, where and how this happened, and why this step has been described as “the worst mistake in history“. It should provide a fascinating new perspective on the plants that grow in your garden.

This talk explores the extraordinary 450 million-year evolution of plants and the inventive ways they solved the many problems arising from the move on to dry land – gravity, nutrition, desiccation and the particularly intractable and surprising issue of reproduction. We then discover how humans adapted this bountiful heritage in the invention of agriculture, why, where and how this happened, and why this step has been described as “the worst mistake in history“. 

It should provide a fascinating new perspective on the plants that grow in your garden.

This talk explores the extraordinary 450 million-year evolution of plants and the inventive ways they solved the many problems arising from the move on to dry land – gravity, nutrition, desiccation and the particularly intractable and surprising issue of reproduction. We then discover how humans adapted this bountiful heritage in the invention of agriculture, why, where and how this happened, and why this step has been described as “the worst mistake in history “. It should provide a fascinating new perspective on the plants that grow in your garden.

This talk explores the extraordinary 450 million-year evolution of plants and the inventive ways they solved the many problems arising from the move on to dry land – gravity, nutrition, desiccation and the particularly intractable and surprising issue of reproduction. We then discover how humans adapted this bountiful heritage in the invention of agriculture, why, where and how this happened, and why this step has been described as “the worst mistake in history “. It should provide a fascinating new perspective on the plants that grow in your garden.

If you've ever wished you had a better grasp of the broad sweep and patterns of human history, then this is the course for you. We'll be covering the whole span of history while asking, and trying to answer, some big questions.

Why, for example, did our ancestors survive when our cousins, the Neanderthals, became extinct? Why were plants domesticated in some places but not others?  Why did many places in different parts of the world experience very similar processes of urbanisation, centralisation of power and empire building? And why, in the nineteenth century, did Britain become the dominant global power rather than, say, China.

We'll conclude by exploring some of the big themes of the twentieth century, how they are affecting the present and how they might play out in the future.

Starts: Wednesday September 26th 3-5pm for 8 weeks

Location: The Shambles, Market House, Castle Cary, BA7 7AH

Cost: £80

Enrol: In person at the Market House or phone 01963 359631 (open Mon-Sat 9.30-12 noon)

This talk explores the extraordinary 450 million-year evolution of plants and the inventive ways they solved the many problems arising from the move on to dry land – gravity, nutrition, desiccation and the particularly intractable and surprising issue of reproduction. We then discover how humans adapted this bountiful heritage in the invention of agriculture, why, where and how this happened, and why this step has been described as “the worst mistake in history “. It should provide a fascinating new perspective on the plants that grow in your garden.

This talk explores the extraordinary 450 million-year evolution of plants and the inventive ways they solved the many problems arising from the move on to dry land – gravity, nutrition, desiccation and the particularly intractable and surprising issue of reproduction. We then discover how humans adapted this bountiful heritage in the invention of agriculture, why, where and how this happened, and why this step has been described as “the worst mistake in history “. It should provide a fascinating new perspective on the plants that grow in your garden.