Reports on projects which have involved U3AC members as active collaborators

A History of Histon and Impington.
Work has begun on this joint project with Histon and Impington Village Society. An outline of proposed chapters and tasks has now been drawn up and we welcome U3AC members who might study and write up a topic. Expert knowledge welcome but non-experts who are interested will be offered help with sources, editorial guidance and constructive criticism. Learn to be a historian! Those simply wishing to take part in seminars where contributors report back are also welcome.

Care of Older People.
This U3AC project now has working groups undertaking three studies: (1) A study of care provision and models in other countries. (2) An examination of current processes of assessment and setting up of care packages for individuals. (3) The management, organisation and quality of care and an assessment of best practice.

Both these projects are aiming at publication. For further information about these two research projects contact the coordinator, Dick Wilson via the office.

Understanding the status of the Italian Sparrow in Crete

The aim of the project was to understand the relationship between the House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow and the Italian Sparrows found in Crete. These latter share characteristics of the former two. At the inception of the project there was a variety of opinion about the relationship. It was felt that U3AC members could assist in the study initially by taking photos whilst on holiday in Italy and the Mediterranean islands.

This project is now complete. A full report can be found on here. In all 122 photographs were collected for analysis from Crete, Corsica, Malt, Sardinia and Italy. However, before a full analysis was completed a paper was published from Norway, which reported on a DNA analysis of 751 sparrows mostly from Italy. The conclusion of that study was that the Italian Sparrow is a hybrid of the House and Spanish Sparrows. The hybridisation occurred a considerable time ago and the Italian form now breeds true with little observed interbreeding with House Sparrows. There are still some questions with respect to the Italian Sparrows in Crete. These could only be resolved by DNA analysis, which is beyond the capability of a U3A research project. My thanks to all members who took photographs. Jeremy Clare