Science and Nature courses online & in London
Spanning weekdays, evenings, and weekends, City Lit's Science and Nature programme offers a wide range of courses and lectures across the fields of astronomy, geology, physics, chemistry, botany and horticulture, and ecology, conservation, and climate change.
Our science and nature courses will help you understand how our planet, its ecosystems, and humanity, has evolved up to the present day and the challenges we now face, whether looking at the plant kingdom, the animal kingdom, or our own societies. Our courses, including lectures, day courses, and longer-term study over several weeks, aim to inform you of the issues that interest you.
Our courses are taught by experts in their fields.
All our courses are intellectually rigorous and stimulating. Our tutors come from a range of backgrounds, our tutors include academic experts, experienced educators, archaeologists, conservationists, horticultural experts, and renowned guides.
Courses available both in-person and online
We offer a range of courses allowing you to choose between online and in-person learning. All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, you’ll receive the same great City Lit experience. See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.
- The physics of time
Course start date: Sat 2 Jul 2022 (and 2 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street (other locations are available)
Tutors: Gary RetallickWe will explore the various different conceptions of time within modern physics. The absolute time of Newtonian mechanics is contrasted with the relativistic time of Einsteinian gravity. The possibility that time is quantized, made up of discrete moments, is seen to emerge in some of the most cutting edge theories of physics, such as loop quantum gravity and string theory. The emergence of time in the big bang, the direction of time, and the possibility of time travel are all explored.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £30.00 - Chemistry of foodCourse start date: Sat 23 Jul 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Gary RetallickIn order to remain healthy, humans require a balanced diet of carbohydrates, lipids (which include but are not limited to fats), proteins, vitamins, minerals and water. Join us to learn more about the chemistry of food.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £26.00 - City of London gardensCourse start date: Sat 23 Jul 2022
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Letta JonesDiscover the delights of some small gardens in London's Square Mile, where rich planting enhances historic sites.
Special trees are a highlight. Practical plant identification will be provided at City Lit in the morning, with a guided
walk in the afternoon.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £30.00 - Astrophysics dayCourse start date: Sun 24 Jul 2022
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Radmila TopalovicA short introduction to the science of astrophysics which explores the physics of stars, galaxies, planets and black holes, as well as theoretical topics such as solar system formation. The course is taught by Radmila Topalovic, who holds a degree in Physics with Astrophysics and a PhD in Astrochemistry.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £30.00 - A taste of physicsCourse start date: Fri 16 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Radmila TopalovicGet a taste of the fundamental aspects of physics such as the nature of light, matter and energy and the physical laws governing the world around us and our universe.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - A taste of chemistryCourse start date: Sat 17 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gary RetallickChemistry is fundamental to life and the world around us. Natural chemical processes sustain biological organisms, shape the world as we experience it, and have been detected on distant planets. Join this course for a taster of the basic concepts of chemistry.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £8.00 Concession £7.00 - Introduction to tree identificationCourse start date: Sat 24 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Letta JonesThis practical course is ideal for those new to trees and provides a good introduction to the enthusiast. Get to know
the clues to look for when identifying trees, plus which books and guide sheets are helpful.Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £87.00 Concession £71.00 - CosmologyCourse start date: Thu 29 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Roger O'BrienDo you want to know about the origin and future of the universe? Will the universe expand forever? Discuss the evidence. Examine some current theories. Repeat the most important cosmological observation ever made!Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £85.00 - Physics: the fundamentalsCourse start date: Wed 5 Oct 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Radmila TopalovicExplore fundamental aspects of physics such as the nature of light, matter and energy and the physical laws governing our universe. Learn about the revolutionary discoveries of the world around us.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £70.00 - Natural history walks in autumnCourse start date: Wed 5 Oct 2022
Location on this date: Mixed Mode (Online and In Person)
Tutors: Brenna BoyleGlorious autumnal colours, fascinating fungi, migrating birds and the deer rut are just some of the natural history spectacles of autumn. Discover more through one introductory online session followed by four gentle, guided nature walks at a range of sites within London.
This course will be delivered online and in person. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £87.00 Concession £55.00 - Trees in winterCourse start date: Sun 9 Oct 2022
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Letta JonesDo you want to get to know some of the fabulous trees in Regent’s Park? These two guided Tree Walks in Regent’s Park are ideal for the tree enthusiast with an introduction to this absorbing activity.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Astronomy: a gentle introductionCourse start date: Sun 9 Oct 2022 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Roger O'BrienA leisurely walk through back garden astronomy. Learn how to find your way around the constellations, whether to buy a telescope, how to find planets and look safely at the sun. Find out why astronomy is good for you.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - The periodic tableCourse start date: Sat 15 Oct 2022
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gary RetallickThe periodic table is one of the most profound testaments to the advancement of human understanding of the physical world. In this two session course we will examine the periodic table in detail, uncovering the wealth of information stored within it.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Introduction to geologyCourse start date: Sun 16 Oct 2022
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Charles ClarkeGeology, the study of solid Earth, rocks and the processes by which they change, is a vast subject covering billions of years of history and offering insights into areas such as past climates and the history of life. Discover more about the underlying principles of this important science such as plate tectonics, how rocks are made and the evolution of life.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Genes, genomes and genetic manipulationCourse start date: Thu 3 Nov 2022
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Peter HumphreysWant to learn more about how genetics and DNA manipulation increasingly influence our lives? Join us to learn about the basics of DNA technology, its uses and how it affects us.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £35.00
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