CLIMATE CHANGE

The speaker at the lunchtime meeting of the Rotary Club of Cambridge on the 5th June was David Barnes from the British Antarctic Survey, who entertained us all with an in depth study of his work in the Southern Ocean.

Despite being the smallest of our oceans, what happens there has a profound effect on the climate of the whole of planet Earth.

There has been a pronounced change in sea ice in the Southern Ocean in the last 70 years, much greater change than in previous periods

Put in perspective, such changes in the Earth’s temperature are very unusual as the planet is subject to gradual change owing to orbit, tilt, and wobble, all of which take millions of years and four different timescales.

More dramatic change is being brought about by the growth in greenhouse gases such as Carbon Dioxide and Methane, a third of which is being absorbed by the sea, especially around the continent of Antarctica.

The sea surrounding the continent is deep and super cooled a property that permits it to be full of oxygen. Only the top layer of water is affected by temperature changes.

Unfortunately, most maps feature Antarctica as a white strip on the bottom of the sheet whereas it is a huge ice and snow capped island surrounded by an extremely wild and at time windy sea that because of its situation has an effect on all the three largest oceans.

David left us all with the feeling that we are all fortunate to have such a world class research organisation as British Antarctic Survey keeping a watchful eye on things. 

We can only hope that world leaders are able to take heed of the dangers caused by climate change.

Rotarian John Holroyd.  

President's Night at Fitzwilliam College

This was an informal debate on the evening of 22 May with wine and buffet supper in the Upper Hall, Fitzwilliam College.

"What is the future of music in state schools"

It was acclaimed an unbridled success by the large audience who attended.

Those taking part included:

Suzi Digby OBE, Lady Eatwell who is an internationally renowned Choral Conductor and Music Educator. She has trail blazed the revival of singing in UK schools and the community over two and a half decades. 

Sally Alexander, founder and Principal of Kimichi School Birmingham who started her own music school in order to escape the state system.

 Ryan Kelsall, principal of Impington Village College.

We help with mock interviews..

A group of members recently conducted Mock Interviews with students on the Foundation Course at Cambridge Regional College. These are students whose previous educational experience has been unsatisfactory, many leaving school with few or no qualifications, and consequently with very low self-esteem and little confidence in their ability. In the Foundation Year, they focus on improving their English Language and Maths, usually with the intention of trying a GCSE at the end of the year, and also developing their personal and social skills with a view to being able to apply for a College FE course/apprenticeship and/or part-time or full time work. 

The purpose of these Mock Interviews was to help students overcome their fear of an interview and improve their presentation of themselves to people they didn’t know. Rotarians interviewed in pairs, interviewing students for 15/20 minutes and then giving the students feedback and advice. Subsequent feedback from the students suggested they had appreciated the experience and learned from it. We will be undertaking a further session of Mock Interviews on 25 April. 

John Barrett, Chair, Youth Service Committee

MAGPAS AIR AMBULANCE

Rotarian Philip James, member of the Rotary Club of Cambridge, received a letter from MAGPAS AIR AMBULANCE on 27 February warmly thanking him for donations totalling £1,060 from the Club and inviting him to visit their helicopter base at RAF Wyton.

"Every pound you give helps Magpas Air Ambulance bring essential lifesaving care by land and air to patients in life-threatening emergencies....."

Rotary supporting young people  click to find out more