Thursday 25th September 2025
Title TBA
Speaker TBA
Join us to hear this talk.
Thursday 30th October 2025
Stonehenge
New Discoveries of Ancient Lives
Michael Parker Pearson
Michael Parker Pearson is Professor of British Prehistory at University College London and a Fellow of the British Academy.
Mike has worked on archaeological projects around the world from Madagascar to Syria, the United States and Easter Island as well as within Europe and Britain.
He has been investigating Stonehenge and its stones since 2003 and has written extensively on this and other archaeological topics.
In the last two decades research on Stonehenge has revolutionised our understanding of this iconic stone circle and the people who built it.
Archaeological excavations and a remarkable range of scientific methods have cast light on many new aspects of when, how and why Stonehenge was built.
Analysis of ancient DNA, isotopes and human osteology are providing new and often startling insights into who these people were and how they lived and died.
With some of Stonehenge's stones now known to have been brought from northern Scotland and west Wales, it is becoming apparent that the monument's purpose may have been connected with the forging of long-distance links across Britain.
Join us to hear Mike's fascinating story of the history and ancient purpose of this iconic monument.
Thursday 27th November 2025
Space Medicine
Dr Clive Sainsbury
Life first originated on Earth around 4 billion years ago.
Human physiology is therefore finely tuned to where we live, but space is a very different place.
In this talk, Dr Clive Saiinsbury will explore the physical, mental, and emotional challenges which are associated with living in the space environment.
Measuring, monitoring and management of the consequences of prolonged exposure to these challenges will be reviewed using evidence gained on location, dominantly in the International Space Station.
Dr Clive Sainsbury grew up and went to school in Gloucestershire before studying Medicine at Edinburgh University, qualifying in 1972.
Following pre-registration, Dr Sainsbury pursued a career in Paediatrics - training in Adelaide, Liverpool, Toronto, Edinburgh, and Cardiff - before being appointed as Consultant Paediatrician for Torbay and South Devon in 1986.
Clive always had an enthusiasm for "all things space", and in 2016 completed (and passed!) an Edinburgh University module on Astrobiology.
Over the next decade, and onwards, it is likely that humans will be travelling further away from Earth (to space habitats, the Moon and Mars), and spending longer away from home, for scientific, exploratory, and recreational reasons.
Good health is, of course, a very significant consideration for achieving success in the progress towards working, learning, and living in space.
Join us to hear Clive Sansbury's insights into this developing and technologically challenging branch of medicine.
Thursday 29th January 2026
Using LEDs to Stimulate the Production of Pharmaceutically Active Compounds in Plants
Professor Mick Fuller
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) has taken a massive leap forward with the commercialization of LEDs.
The high conversion rate of electrical power to light and low heat output means arrays of LEDs can be used efficiently in grow rooms coupled to hydroponic systems.
The narrow wavebands of LED lights also means that plants can be stimulated to produce certain bio-active compounds in a controlled manner - enabling the establishment of Agri-Pharmacy labs and companies.
Mick Fuller is Professor of Plant Physiology in the School of Biological & Marine Science, University of Plymouth.
His research seeks to optimize LED light arrays for controlled environment growth of plants both for food in Plant Factories and for pharmaceutical purposes.
Recent exciting results with plant extracts in the control of Mantle Cell Lymphoma in Cell Culture is hoping to move on to Phase 1 Clinical Trials.
Mick was formerly a Lecturer and Head of Department of Agriculture and Food at Seale-Hayne College, Newton Abbot.
He was Honorary Visiting Professor at the Leslie Research Institute, Australia and the Appalachian Fruit Research Station, USA, and was a Member the Plant Biotechnology Research Group (BPRG), King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia and a Master at the De Tao Academy in Shanghai.
This talk will demonstrate the exciting biology behind CEA and illustrate its potential for the future.
Join us to hear Mick's review of his research into these game changing techniques.
Thursday 26th February 2026
An Introduction to Dartmoor’s Geology
Josephine Collingwood
Josephine Collingwood is a Dartmoor aficionado, adventurer, rock climber, former Mountain Rescuer, wilderness addict, professional author and award-winning photographer!
Josephine graduated in geophysics from Southampton and later in photography from Plymouth.
When not rock climbing or adventuring she photographs architectural properties and designs unique infographics, maps and poster art about Dartmoor.
Josephine’s publications include the Dartmoor Tors Compendium and the Official Visitor Guide to Dartmoor National Park.
She will present an illustrated talk covering Dartmoor’s world-class geology; its formation, characteristics and mineral legacy.
There will be plenty of bespoke illustrations, photographs of features, and yes, there will be photographs of rocks!
The talk will take you on a journey through deep time from Dartmoor’s earliest geological history to the present day.
If your curiosity is piqued when looking at the tor formations, sparkles in the ground and odd coloured rocks, then this talk is for you...
Thursday 26th March 2026
Title TBA
Jim Galvin
Details of talk to follow
Thursday 23rd April 2026
TDMS Quiz Night
We will end the TDMS Season with our regular Quiz Night!
Entry will be £10 per person including a buffet, which will be available from 7:30pm, prior to an 8pm start.
The quiz will be a General Knowledge quiz - not a test of your medical knowledge - although there may be questions related to past talks given to the Society...!
Members are invited to form teams of up to 6 people to participate in the quiz.
If you do not have a team, or would like to top up with additonal team members, please let us know - or turn up on the night and we will make sure you are accommodated.
Please book your places in advance to help us manage the food requirements.