25 April 2024 is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Guglielmo Marconi, inventor of radio and to whom the city of Chelmsford owes much of its industrial heritage.
Marconi set up the first factory for his Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company in Hall Street, Chelmsford in 1898. The work that took place there (and other sites subsequently) changed the world, completely revolutionising how we communicate with each other, entertain the population and sense the world around us. Find out more by reading this BBC article by CSES member Tim Wander.
The history of CSES, which had its centenary in 2020, is closely linked to the history of the Marconi Company. In its earliest days, the society was a meeting of engineers from the major companies based in Chelmsford, including Marconi's. You can read more about our history here.
We mark this occasion in collaboration with the Museo Marconi, Bologna, Italy, who are holding a special celebration event, further details of which can be found here.
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A packed programme for everyone to look forward to
We are delighted to announce that our 2023-2024 season is taking shape, with (nearly) all the talks for the year now confirmed, the socials for the remainder of 2023 in the diary (more to follow!) and other highlights such as the Chelmsford Science Festival on the horizon.
We are also pleased to be jointly hosting a STEM Conference with Drapers' Academy at Chelmsford Cathedral (15 Nov), and to be able to offer a unique opportunity for students to hear a talk by the former Head of Technology at British Cycling (6 Dec)! Looking forward to 2024, we will be running TEXPO and Do & Discover as usual, and at various careers fairs and other events.
Keep an eye on the events page of our website for the latest programme. Members can receive email updates with all the latest news and invitations, so if you haven't yet joined the society but are thinking about it, we would encourage you to do so now! It's an easy, online process – free for students/teachers and only £12 a year for everyone else.
Read on for the events in the calendar so far.
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Our flagship weekend returns for the Chelmsford Festival
Do & Discover 2023 • ARU & The Meadows • 17-18 June
Click here to find out all the details
Our weekend of fun experimental activities for all the family is back! Join CSES and its partners for a full weekend of FREE hands-on discovery across the city of Chelmsford. Taking place across both days at ARU and the Meadows Shopping Centre, we invite you to Do something fun and Discover the wonders of science and innovation in Chelmsford.
There will be loads of hands-on activities for families and children, including AI music, live satellite tracking, a full Raspberry Jam (tech and coding), science experiments, engineering challenges, craft activities and making your own radios.
Pre-booking is advised for Make Your Own Radio – see the event page to book
An exhibition (featuring a live link between the two locations!) will tell the amazing story of how Chelmsford connected and changed the world.
And this year, we are delighted to feature a Hearing Lab and Brain Hub, where you will get to find out what it's like to wear a hearing aid, control a phone with your mind and test yourself with some dementia-friendly games.
Pre-booking is advised for the Saturday Brain Hub – see the event page to book
To round off the Saturday, ARU will be hosting the finale of the Chelmsford Radio Drama Festival in the evening. Just over 100 years ago, Chelmsford introduced the concept of radio entertainment to the world. Come and listen to the premiere of an exciting new work being recorded for broadcast later this year.
So tell everyone, bring your family and friends, and join us for a weekend of doing and discovering!
Spread the word – download the event poster here: PDF • PNG
Click here to find out all the details
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Vic Leverett OBE, Past President
Vic Leverett, who has died aged 78, was a former President, recent trustee and active committee member of CSES. From 2009 until his death, Vic was instrumental in modernising the society, raising its profile and building partnerships across Essex to bring science and technology to everyone. His work has had a lasting impact, felt by a lot of people in both the public and private sectors.
After sponsored studies, Vic enjoyed a long and illustrious career at the English Electric Valve company (EEV), now Teledyne e2v, from where he became involved with CSES.
Roger Pittock, a colleague of Vic's at EEV and latterly a good friend and fellow CSES trustee, reflects on their time together, in a celebration of Vic's life.
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