Regional Society: Northern Ireland

'Local groups usually meet once a month, slowing down in the alpine off-season at the height of summer. So if you’re a gardener of a different stripe, alpines are a fun way to extend your gardening season! Group meetings often involve a talk from a plant expert, a raffle and a plant sale. Groups also arrange trips out to gardens and places of interest throughout the year.'

'Committed to the conservation of native amphibians and reptiles and their natural environment by supporting the development of a network of independent volunteer amphibian and reptile groups ... Each Group works with the species in its locality, and these provide the "grass roots" of native herpetofauna conservation in the UK; undertaking survey and monitoring, practical conservation tasks, public events and outreach and liaising with stakeholders including local planning authorities, land owners, other conservation bodies, and the wider public.'

'Exists to promote and enhance the welfare, conservation and protection of badgers, their setts, and their habitats. We are the leading voice for badgers in England and Wales, with a network of around 60 local voluntary badger groups, and supported by thousands of supporters and followers ... They are a great way to get involved, meet other badger enthusiasts and make a difference to your local badgers.'

'Supports local bat groups across the UK and over 6000 members. We work with volunteers, scientists, industry and government both locally and nationally on a range of projects ... Whether you are a bat-beginner or an expert you are sure to find an event to interest you ... Year round the Bat Conservation Trust, local bat groups as well as conservation and community organisations arrange bat events across the UK from training courses to bat walks for families.'

At BCS, we’re on a mission to ensure everyone’s experience with technology is positive. It’s something we’ve been committed to since 1957 ... We're over 60,000 members in 150 countries, and a wider community of business leaders, educators, practitioners and policy-makers all committed to our mission ... Whichever your area of interest, our wide-ranging specialist and regional groups offer you a professional and friendly platform to share knowledge and experiences, debate ideas, grow your network and raise your profile.' Apart from the significant number of Events 'open to all' organized by the various BCS Groups, there are also the annual Karen Spärck Jones Lecture, Lovelace Lecture, Roger Needham Lecture, and Turing Talk.

'The principal objectives of the BCSS are to promote the study, conservation, propagation and cultivation of cacti and other succulent plants ... With over 70 branches throughout the UK meeting monthly you will have the opportunity to meet other enthusiasts and to learn more about growing these amazing plants.'

'During the past 60 years, criminology has emerged as one of the most dynamic and fastest growing disciplines. Today, it stands on clear commitments to methodological rigor, interdisciplinary theory and concepts of rights and justice. The British Society of Criminology continues as a meeting point for a growing network of supporters committed to critical dialogue within our multi-faceted and diverse discipline ... The BSC attracts criminologists from the four nations of the UK and across the globe. Regional groups and specialist networks means that there is always something going on and this helps to secure the dynamic future of the discipline.'

'The only organisation in Europe devoted to the conservation of all invertebrates. We’re actively working to save Britain’s rarest little animals, everything from bees to beetles, worms to woodlice and jumping spiders to jellyfish.'

'Butterflies and moths are a vital part of our wildlife heritage and are valuable as sensitive indicators of the health of our environment. The stark fact is that butterflies and moths continue to decline at an alarming rate, despite Butterfly Conservation's best efforts over the last 40 years ... Butterfly Conservation's strength derives from its Branches and the 40,000 members they embrace ... Branch members are some of Britain’s most enthusiastic volunteer conservationists. Public events are held all year round, including butterfly walks, moth events and countless conservation days.'

'Founded in 1944 for the "safeguarding of all kinds of archaeological material and the strengthening of existing measures for the care of ancient and historic buildings, monuments, and antiquities" and to improve public education about archaeology ... Whether you are a professional archaeologist, studying or skilling-up to work in the field, or just fascinated by archaeology and want to explore further, the Council for British Archaeology offers a range of ways to get involved.' CBA Groups 'run their own events programmes and hands-on training activities for members and everyone interested in finding out more about the archaeology of their area'.

'The Embroiderers' Guild exists to build awareness of stitch and textile art. We educate, encourage, inspire and promote the achievement of excellence ... We have a number of independent stitch groups who are affiliated to the Embroiderers' Guild.' (NOTE At the time of Review, the Guild no longer provided Links to the Websites of their affiliated Groups.)

'Our members come from across the physics community whether in industry, academia, the classroom, technician roles or in training programmes as an apprentice or a student. However our reach goes well beyond our membership to all who have an interest in physics and the contribution it makes to our culture, our society and the economy ... Activity organised by nations and branches includes physics-related events such as visits for members, physics talks, member visits and public engagement activities.'

'ICE supports civil engineers throughout their careers. We award professional qualifications that are the industry standard, lead the debates around infrastructure and the built environment and provide an unmatched level of training, knowledge and thinking ... ICE has around 65,000 members living and working across the UK. We are structured around 12 regional areas, each with their own dedicated office that supports our members.'

'We are the IET and we inspire, inform and influence the global engineering community to engineer a better world. As a diverse home across engineering and technology, we share knowledge that helps make better sense of the world in order to solve the challenges that matter. It’s why we are uniquely placed to champion engineering ... Local Networks are groups of members that come together to deliver a series of activities designed to promote the importance of science, engineering and technology to the general public, encourage young people to enter the profession and provide opportunities for engineers to share and develop knowledge and network with each other.''

'We strive to improve the world through engineering by: * Developing engineers; * Promoting engineering; * Informing opinion; * Encouraging innovation ... Holding events, working on engineering initiatives, and raising the profile of engineering, the UK Region covers over 80,000 members and engineers across a broad spectrum of industries.'

'Through its meetings and its advice and information service, IFN, with its member bodies, helps make better known and understood the teachings, traditions and practices of the different faith communities in the UK and the pattern of their inter faith work and builds good relations between people of different faiths in the UK.'

A Record created to provide access to the Entries in Open Lectures and Talks for Area and Regional Federations of Local History Societies. Each Federation is given an Entry in the relevant BROWSE by LOCALITY Category on this Website. Click on the appropriate Tag to discover the Entry of interest.

'Founded in 1979 by a group of quilting enthusiasts and has grown from a founding membership of 300 to over 6,500 individual members today ... Each of our regions provide a programme of talks and events and every year at least two or three regions organise exhibitions and retreats. The five special interest groups cater for special interests with challenges, meetings, retreats and summer schools.'

'In the belief that many features of the traditional accounts of the character and career of Richard III are neither supported by sufficient evidence nor reasonably tenable, the Society aims to promote, in every possible way, research into the life and times of Richard III, and to secure a reassessment of the material relating to this period, and of the role of this monarch in history ... The Richard III Society functions at a local level, both within the United Kingdom and in other parts of the world, through its regionally organised Branches and Groups ... The activities usually combine a programme of meetings and talks and, in the UK and Europe, visits to Ricardian sites.'

'The Royal Society of Biology is a single unified voice for biology: advising Government and influencing policy; advancing education and professional development; supporting our members, and engaging and encouraging public interest in the life sciences. The Society represents a diverse membership of individuals, learned societies and other organisations. Individual members include practising scientists, students at all levels, professionals in academia, industry and education, and non-professionals with an interest in biology ... The RSB has a vibrant network of regional activity. Our branch committee arrange local events which are a great way to develop professional contacts and to share interests.'

'Chemistry is at the centre of everything you can see, smell, touch and taste. Whether studying the chemistry of life, or developing the advanced science behind modern technology, chemical scientists use their expertise to improve our health, our environment and our daily lives. Collaboration is essential. We connect scientists with each other and society as a whole, so they can do their best work and make discoveries and innovation happen.'

'We’re now the largest nature conservation charity in the country, consistently delivering successful conservation, forging powerful new partnerships with other organisations and inspiring others to stand up and give nature the home it deserves ... We have more than 140 RSPB local groups around the UK ... You can be as involved as you like with your local group - whether you take part in the extensive events program which each group organises, or get more involved with the everyday running of the group ... Be inspired at an indoor meeting, with illustrated talks, lashings of tea and coffee and the company of like-minded people.'

'SCI (Society of Chemical Industry) is a global network of innovators, formed in 1881 by prominent scientists, inventors and entrepreneurs, who went on to form the products, processes and companies that propelled society forward. SCI is the place where science meets business ... For over a decade, SCI has been delivering the free Public Evening Lecture Programme ... established to provide a means of communicating the latest developments in science and technology in a manner which is both interesting and informative ... Public Evening Lectures are free and open to all. They are part of an SCI’s charitable outreach that aims to reach members of the public and provide discourse on science-based topics and relevant popular subjects in an accessible way.'

'A leading arts education charity with a global network of over 380 local Societies, which bring people together through a shared curiosity for the arts. Our events provide welcoming places – locally, nationally and globally – to hear expert lecturers share their specialist knowledge about the arts.'

'The Wildlife Trusts is a grassroots movement of people from a wide range of backgrounds and all walks of life, on a mission to restore a third of the UK's land and seas for nature by 2030. We believe everyone, everywhere, should have access to nature and the joy and health benefits it brings. No matter where you are in the UK, there is a Wildlife Trust inspiring people about nature and standing up for wildlife and wild places. Each Wildlife Trust is an independent charity formed by people getting together to make a positive difference to wildlife, climate and future generations. Together we have more than 850,000 members, over 42,500 volunteers, 2,000 staff and 600 trustees.'

Normally, fortnightly meetings in Belfast (and Dublin), September to April, with breaks for Christmas and Easter.

'Formed in 1980 to maintain interest in the period 1914-1918, to perpetuate the memory, courage and comradeship of those on all sides who served their countries in France and Flanders and their own countries during the Great War. It does not seek to glorify war and is non-political ... Belonging to The Western Front Association provides you with the opportunity of meeting like-minded people to learn, share, explore and exchange information and knowledge in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.'

'Exists to arouse, stimulate and maintain interest in ships, shipping and related matters amongst the general public; to promote understanding of these subjects and their rich heritage by compiling, publishing and preserving records and illustrative material concerning ships and their part in mercantile and naval activity; and to promote and advance public education in current and historical nautical affairs ... Branch meetings, held throughout the world, allow members to share their knowledge, experience, and joy of the shipping and naval industries. From the young to the elderly, the membership is diverse and reflects a wide range of maritime or naval history. Yet all share an abiding love for the ships that travel the seas.'