Christmas Lecture

On the 13th of December 2011 Animal and Plant Sciences played host to a major outreach event. One thousand Year 5-7 pupils and their teachers from around Sheffield came to the Octagon to participate in an interactive lecture packed with hands-on demonstrations, incredible video footage and live birds. The lecture, “Birds are Amazing” was given by Prof. Tim Birkhead, one of the University’s most eminent and inspirational speakers.

Following the lecture the children had the chance to look at a range of bird-related specimens and demonstrations up close and to talk to a our students and staff about science and what it’s like to come to University.

The talk was fascinating and truly inspirational, and the visual highlights were many and varied, including a live golden eagle, a flock of 1 day old chicks, incredible images of birds, video of peregrines diving at 200mph and owl chicks bringing up pellets.  Great fun was had by all who attended.

• Download a poster for the Christmas lecture (pdf 459KB)

Tim is a Fellow of the Royal Society and has studied birds for over 40 years. He has inspired generations of students with his enthusiastic lectures and was awarded the prestigious Senate Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching in 2007. He is passionate about bringing science to the public and inspiring the next generation of biologists.

• Link to photographs from the lecture