David Elder Lectures

Glasgow Science Centre is proud to host the David Elder Lectures in partnership with the University of Strathclyde's Department of Physics. The David Elder lecture series presents a line-up of fascinating talks by expert astronomers, spaceflight pioneers, award-winning science writers and broadcasters. This lecture series continues the tradition of monthly astronomy lectures in Glasgow which began with the first David Elder Lecture in 1905!

This regular monthly programme of talks runs over the winter months each year. Each lecture lasts approx. 1 hour and is best suited to older teenagers and adults.

• Month: Monthly from September to March
• Time: 19:00 GMT
• Duration: 1 hour

2022-23 Lecture Series

We are thrilled to announce the line-up for the 2022-23 series below! Booking for each lecture is now open!

• 22 September 2022 - Dr. Hannah Wakeford - Diving Through Exoplanet Atmospheres
• 26 October 2022 - Prof Lewis Dartnell - Origins: How the Earth Made Us
• 24 November 2022 - Andy Saunders - Apollo Remastered
• 22 February 2023 - Dr. Daniel Oi - Towards the Space Quantum Internet
• 22 March 2023 - Dr. Rita Tojerio – Mapping the Universe

Upcoming Lectures:

Tickets are available to attend the lectures in-person at The Planetarium. Tickets cost £6 per person, per lecture. Capacity is limited and pre-booking online is essential to avoid disappointment. If you are unable to join us in the Planetarium, the talks will also be live-streamed via YouTube. Those watching online are encouraged to also register in advance and donate what you can to support the continued success of the series.

Towards the Space Quantum Internet

22 February 2023

The future is quantum! By using the principles of quantum mechanics to process information, we are developing new technologies that may revolutionise applications like computing, sensing, navigation, timing, and communication. In this talk, learn about the Quantum Space Race to create the Space Quantum Internet and how small satellites are playing a big role in these efforts.

Speaker: Dr. Daniel Oi is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Strathclyde, studying quantum information theory and how it can be applied.

Book In-Person Tickets for 22 Feb

Register your interest in watching "Towards the Space Quantum Internet" live-streamed via YouTube.

Mapping the Universe

22 March 2023

On large scales, galaxies in the Universe are distributed in a vast three-dimensional cosmic web that results directly from the physical conditions of our Universe at very early times. Over the last two decades astronomical surveys have slowly but surely mapped the positions of millions of galaxies over extraordinary volumes, in an effort to understand the dynamics, composition and underlying rules that govern our Universe. In the final talk of the series, Dr. Rita Tojerio will review our progress, the state-of-the-art, and the future of mapping the Universe.

Speaker: Dr Rita Tojeiro is a Reader in Astrophysics at the University of St Andrews, where she studies the Universe on large scales and how galaxies evolve with it.

Book In-Person Tickets for 22 Mar

Register your interest in watching "Mapping the Universe" live-streamed via YouTube.