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Salient. Victoria University of Wellington Students' Newspaper. Volume 31, Number 13 June 18, 1968

Science for all students

Science for all students

A hydraulic jack was used to demonstrate the strength of pre-stressed concrete at the first Winter Term science lecture.

"Crystal ball and slide rule —new developments in civil engineering" was the topic discussed by Mr R. G. Norman, former Chief Design Engineer for the Ministry of Works.

The winter term lectures were instituted in 1964 by the Professorial Board at the request of the Students' Association.

Each annual series of lectures is organised around a theme which would appeal to students of all faculties.

Speakers are asked to talk on new developments in their fields that are of general interest.

Mr Norman talked about the various materials used in construction, comparing the stones and timbers of last century with the high tensile steels, synthetics and prestressed concrete of this century.

An example was the new Thorndon over-bridge where pre-stressing enabled the placing of girders from each supporting column without disruption to rail or road traffic.

Mr Norman explained that the development of these two factors along with a greater awareness of art in design has occurred because of an inequality between supply and demand and cause and effect in construction.

Slides were used to illustrate new methods and design in engineering.

New Zealand's role in the development of aerial photography as a means of survey, and the use of seismic refraction method to measure the depth and content of the earth, were also discussed.

"The future development of engineering will rely on the realisation that taste as well as reason require enterprise as well as education," he concluded.

Dr F. B. Shorland, Director of Food Chemistry Division, will be the next speaker.

He is noted for his recent disclosure that wool can be turned into food.

Dr Shorland said he will bring samples of this synthetic food for members of the audience to taste.

Other speakers will be: Prof. G. A. Vignaux, the University's newly appointed Professor of Information Science.

Dr Alec Wilson, Associate Professor of Chemistry at this University, who is known for the variety of his scientific interests, which include the constitution of the surfaces of the moon and the hot lakes of Antarctica.

The availability of phosphate in the soil is the basis of his wide-ranging Winter Term lecture.

Dr Tony Taylor, who has had experience as a psychologist in penal institutions.

Some of the examples of recent research, on which he will speak, will come from research carried out in such institutions.

Mr B. G. Barratt-Boyes, C.B.E., who is surgeon-in-charge of the cardiothoracic surgical unit at Green Lane Hospital Auckland.

Internationally known for his success in the transplantation of heart-valves, Mr Barratt-Boyes will speak on the recent developments in replacement surgery.