There were six of us from our WI who attended this meeting in Aylesbury on 14th March. The numbers were down on previous years either because of worries about covid or the weather or the new booking system. As usual it was a treat for those who made it.
We started with a talk about the art work generated by animated films on posters and in advertising from Richard Holliss, a broadcaster and journalist. Richard concentrated on Harryhausen who produced the models for King Kong and many dinosaur adventures. His models were made of latex with hinges for joints. The one I liked best was a gorgon with eyed snakes as hair. It was painstaking work with some 6 minute scenes taking months to film.
When you are told that the next speaker is a heavy metal marine biologist and ambassador you know you are in for something rare and special. Tom “the blowfish” Hird did not disappoint. He set out to prove that conservationists should be concentrating on Planet Wet not Planet Earth because the seas form the greatest part of our planet and it is in great danger and therefore so is mankind. With boundless energy and enthusiasm, Tom set out all the activities that are polluting the oceans and then tried to cheer us all up with the good news of schemes which were working to redress the balance. Stop having black and white opinions and go for a sensible grey instead: small personal changes in our personal daily lives can cumulatively make a difference. It was good to know that two of his major concerns had been addressed by BFWI in resolutions taken to past National General Meetings eg. plastic seas and deep sea trawler fishing.
The afternoon speaker was Professor Clara Mancini who heads the Animal Interaction Laboratory at the Open University. Using photos and videos, Clara detailed her research with computers into animal behaviour when helping in the tracking of endangered species and working with disease diagnosis. We were also shown the ways in which systems may be set up to help the animals to aid those with sight and mobility problems. She stressed that her work was designed to assist the dogs in their work as much as the human beings: society owes it to the dogs that they are happy and comfortable in their work.
A stimulating day. All credit to the Science and Society sub-committee.