It all started while walking to poo sticks bridge at Easter, Granny's boat was launched and a few people came to watch. One group who stopped to chat had had a few drinks for lunch and were walking it off, they happened to mention one of them was giving a lecture in a few weeks time on the cosmos, he was entertained by wanting to call it "what have the Romans / Astrologists done for us?".
As always curious he emailed us an invite, as below
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Astronomy: Innovation, Inspiration and the Challenge of Big Data
With Professor Roger Davies, the Philip Wetton Professor of Astrophysics and Director of the Centre for Astrophysical Surveys at Oxford University
In this lecture, Professor Davies will discuss how reaching for the stars advances mankind and contributes to innovation, technology and the world of finance.
Professor Davies has worked in various areas of Astronomy, Physics and Astrophysics at Oxford University, conducting research into cosmology and the evolution of galaxies. Professor Davies' contributions span cosmology: the distance scale, large scale motions of galaxies and galaxies at high redshift; galaxy evolution: dynamics, stellar populations and galaxy clusters; and telescopes, instruments & techniques.
Introduction
Sir Michael Hintze, AM
Founder, Chief Executive and Senior Investment Officer, CQS
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so off to London John and I went, for john it was a social event, for me it was an opportunity to observe the some of the world of academia meeting the business world at the Royal Institute of Science in London and possibly learn something about aliens.
John quickly dressed me in dress pants and collared shirt, I drew the line at a tie.
The day was perfect sunny English weather as we set off on foot to catch the required string of bus's to the Royal Institute of Science in London some 3 hrs away. John in classic professor style lost his return bus ticket moments after entering the bus, after much discussion the bus driver wrote out a hand written note to get us home which looked like a mini thesis. The ticket reappeared the next moment he went to the toilet and unfortunately lost the opportunity to use the beautifully hand written letter.
The lecture was formal in a lecture theater steeped in history, the foyer was full of some amazing books and paintings. John the professor at every opportunity helped himself to another book to browse followed by an interesting explanation as to why that particular book was of importance to world history in some way.
I much enjoyed the one on synthetic metals of which i understood very little.
The introduction was elaborate and respectful fit for the Dalai Lama by Sir Michael Hintze, the cameras were on with their camera crews, the men in suites all seated, the lights dimmed.
I really connected in with the way Roger walked through history of astrology and the adjoining technology spin offs from this research from GPS to digital camera's. He had a easy way to put the size of things into perspective and how big the universe actually is as we know it. Although I didn't specifically learn a lot, it was truly amazing to hear it from someone leading the world in this topic, his focus quickly went into the massive telescope he is involved in and how this will bring new insights into dark matter and hopefully dark energy.
I walked away thinking and feeling how much intellectual property is walking around the streets here. A quick search on google maps show two Formula 1 teams based within 20 mins drive. Oxfordshire really is a hub of technology and thought for the world.
The whole lecture is published online here. http://www.cqscapital.com/
I appear at around 54 minutes in.
Boyd
As always curious he emailed us an invite, as below
-------------------------------------
Astronomy: Innovation, Inspiration and the Challenge of Big Data
With Professor Roger Davies, the Philip Wetton Professor of Astrophysics and Director of the Centre for Astrophysical Surveys at Oxford University
In this lecture, Professor Davies will discuss how reaching for the stars advances mankind and contributes to innovation, technology and the world of finance.
Professor Davies has worked in various areas of Astronomy, Physics and Astrophysics at Oxford University, conducting research into cosmology and the evolution of galaxies. Professor Davies' contributions span cosmology: the distance scale, large scale motions of galaxies and galaxies at high redshift; galaxy evolution: dynamics, stellar populations and galaxy clusters; and telescopes, instruments & techniques.
Introduction
Sir Michael Hintze, AM
Founder, Chief Executive and Senior Investment Officer, CQS
-------------------------------------------------------
so off to London John and I went, for john it was a social event, for me it was an opportunity to observe the some of the world of academia meeting the business world at the Royal Institute of Science in London and possibly learn something about aliens.
John quickly dressed me in dress pants and collared shirt, I drew the line at a tie.
The day was perfect sunny English weather as we set off on foot to catch the required string of bus's to the Royal Institute of Science in London some 3 hrs away. John in classic professor style lost his return bus ticket moments after entering the bus, after much discussion the bus driver wrote out a hand written note to get us home which looked like a mini thesis. The ticket reappeared the next moment he went to the toilet and unfortunately lost the opportunity to use the beautifully hand written letter.
The lecture was formal in a lecture theater steeped in history, the foyer was full of some amazing books and paintings. John the professor at every opportunity helped himself to another book to browse followed by an interesting explanation as to why that particular book was of importance to world history in some way.
I much enjoyed the one on synthetic metals of which i understood very little.
The introduction was elaborate and respectful fit for the Dalai Lama by Sir Michael Hintze, the cameras were on with their camera crews, the men in suites all seated, the lights dimmed.
I really connected in with the way Roger walked through history of astrology and the adjoining technology spin offs from this research from GPS to digital camera's. He had a easy way to put the size of things into perspective and how big the universe actually is as we know it. Although I didn't specifically learn a lot, it was truly amazing to hear it from someone leading the world in this topic, his focus quickly went into the massive telescope he is involved in and how this will bring new insights into dark matter and hopefully dark energy.
I walked away thinking and feeling how much intellectual property is walking around the streets here. A quick search on google maps show two Formula 1 teams based within 20 mins drive. Oxfordshire really is a hub of technology and thought for the world.
The whole lecture is published online here. http://www.cqscapital.com/
I appear at around 54 minutes in.
Boyd
Professor Roger Davies
The professor and I in St James Park in London enjoying a coffee.
