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Various u3a members are willing to deliver talks to other groups around the country. Mostly this would be via video conferencing such as Zoom but, in some circumstances, speakers would be willing to travel. There would normally be no charge for such talks, but if travel is involved, speakers should be offered travel expenses.
An alternative might be for groups to make use of presentation materials that are available on-line, without the involvement of an external speaker.
Available speakers are listed below in alphabetical order, with their contact details. In addition, there are some presentations previously given by members.
There are of course innumerable potential speakers who are NOT u3a members. Experience shows that when approached most people with a particular expertise are happy to try and accommodate a request to give a talk. Academics, in particular, are often very willing as outreach may be part of their role.
During the pandemic, many people got used to using Zoom and whilst face-to-face meetings are still preferred by most, using video conferencing does open up the possibility of finding willing speakers from much further away.
Presentations available without a ‘live’ speaker:
A number of presentations given by u3a members and outside speakers are available on the u3a Climate Change & Environment Network website. Some of these are recordings of the actual talk, which can be replayed, others are simply a copy of the slides shown, which can be used.
Presentations given nationally (via Zoom) can be found at: Talks - Climate Change and the Environment
Presentations given to the on-line Climate Matters group (formerly known as the Countdown to COP group) can be found at: Climate Matters Monthly Meetings - Climate Change and the Environment
U3a groups can make use of these presentations but should note that they will become dated unless the authors update them, which we cannot guarantee will happen.
Last updated: July 2024
Available speakers from u3a membership
| Name (plus email address and background) | Subject(s) on offer | On-line only or willing to travel? |
| Brenda Ainsley b_ainsley@hotmail.com A u3a member and trained Climate Reality Leader. Has co-led the online climate group 'Climate Matters' (formerly 'Countdown to COP') and regularly delivers national learning talks for the u3a. | *The Climate Crisis – and Some Solutions | Available on zoom, and in-person in the East Midlands. |
| David Dundas david.dundas1@gmail.com Qualified chemist and oil/gas well engineer. Worked in refinery management, energy products marketing & consultant to EU on toxic waste disposal. Fellow of the Lunar Soc: Leader of their Climate Change Working Party | *Our energy future in the UK *Why hydrogen? *What can we do to help stop climate change? *Nuclear power, Fission & Fusion *Tidal power *Fracking oil and gas wells *Why is fossil carbon a problem? | On-line only |
| Ian Hawker ianhawker101@gmail.com Retired telecoms research engineer now runs the East Suffolk U3A Climate Change group. | *Climate Change Overview (60min), OR… *Specialist topics (45min each): - Adapting to climate change - Regenerative agriculture - Oceans and climate change - Buildings, concrete and steel - World health and climate change - Wind power - Climate tipping points - Energy storage - Biodiversity - Climate modelling - Nuclear energy - Hydrogen - Geoengineering - Net zero economics - Hydro, tide and wave power - Solar energy - Transport - Waste - Geothermal energy - Climate and AI | Zoom unless in East Anglia or Essex |
| Ann MacGarry annmacgarry@gmail.com Education officer at the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) for 28 years and still does occasional workshops in schools on climate related issues. | *Eco-footprinting The Eco-footprint is a very useful way of measuring our impact on the planet and of the limits of what we can do. It adds some common-sense realism to some of the suggested solutions. *Zero Carbon Britain CAT’s work on this shows a way of approaching decarbonisation and illustrates how we could move to a zero carbon future – lots to discuss about choices to be made. | Either, depending on where it is (based in Machynlleth in Mid-Wales) |
| Tim Mason timmahamason@gmail.com Bristol U3A Member of U3A National ‘Climate Matters’ Interest Group Tim has training from ‘Climate Emergency UK’ in the use of their climate action scorecards. | *Council Climate Scorecards How is your local authority approaching climate change? An introduction to the detailed scorecards produced by Climate Emergency UK. https://councilclimatescorecards.uk/about/ Almost every Council in UK is covered and given individual scores. Comparisons between councils provide ideas for best practice. | On-line only |
| Antony Turner antony@realworldvisuals.com Has lectured at major universities, given a TEDx talk, and worked with a wide range of private and public organisations. His visual story-based approach has inspired many people to set strategy, take actions and make a difference. | *Carbon awareness, climate change and how retirees can respond This talk is aimed at the wider U3A membership who may be interested but unaware of the issues. | Zoom unless travel from Teignmouth, Devon makes sense |
| Linda Wornes & Versha Jones (joint presentation) sec.ios.u3a@gmail.com Linda is secretary of the Isles of Scilly u3a and Versha is a Climate Reality Leader and coordinator of CR in the UK. | *The Isles of Scilly under threat from climate change Versha: Introduction and a positive message (if we can reach true Net Zero). Linda: The risks posed to the islands from climate change, and proposed adaptation measures. | On-line only |
Last updated: July 2024
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