Monthly Archives: June 2012
Campaigning for libel reform
Guest blog from James Lush, Policy Officer at the Biochemical Society Is has been a very busy couple of weeks for openness. First there was the Government-commissioned Finch Group report on open access to research publications. Then there was the Royal Society report ‘Science as an open enterprise’. And on Wednesday, the libel reform campaign … Continue reading
Science, sport, and politics combine for Parliamentary Links Day
Around 250 MPs and distinguished scientists gathered at the House of Commons to discuss Science and Sport, as the Society of Biology hosted the biggest ever Parliamentary Links Day. House of Commons speaker Rt Hon Jon Bercow MP opened the event, telling delegates that although there was a ‘great distance to travel’ in terms of … Continue reading
Creating a bang!
Society of Biology volunteer Naomi Hartopp from the University of York describes her experience at the Big Bang Fair Even the most mature professionals couldn’t help showing their excitement at the spectacular exhibitions on show at the Big Bang Fair, and who can blame them? For a few days, the Birmingham NEC was transformed into … Continue reading
CATCHING THE EXOTIC PET BUG?
Guest blog from Elaine Toland FRSPH, Director of the Animal Protection Agency Although I personally don’t get to see wildlife as much as I’d like, wild animals and humans may be increasingly crossing each others’ paths as low-cost getaways to remote locations allow for greater access to biodiversity. Often, excursions into the relative unknown wilds … Continue reading
Whose Impact is it Anyway?
Guest post by Ceri Margerison, Policy Manager at the British Ecological Society ‘Whose Impact is it Anyway?’ was the question that the latest in the ‘Talk Science‘ series of events at the British Library tried to address on Tuesday evening. The event, a panel discussion chaired by William Cullerne Bown of Research Fortnight and in … Continue reading
The Biologist
Fellows, Members and Associate Members of the Society of Biology receive a new issue of The Biologist six times a year. For more information about joining the Society of Biology to receive your copy of The Biologist subscription please visit our website. You can also find details of what’s in the current edition, including medicine … Continue reading
How biology can save the world
From our Chief Executive Dr Mark Downs Belief in the ability of science to change things for the better is very often the motivation for choosing biology as a career. Jumping into the mysterious and far-reaching depths of any biological discipline will yield a bounty of treasures. Whether it is knowledge about a new disease … Continue reading
Tablets, podcasts and text messages in education
Guest post from Dr Neil Morris, University of Leeds lecturer I was thrilled to be named as the Society of Biology HE bioscience teacher of the year in May 2012. The Society are doing a great job of promoting excellence in learning and teaching in Higher Education, and taking on this award is a good … Continue reading
Species of the Week: the Coelacanth
Many species of Coelacanth, a primitive fish, are present in the fossil record, but they were thought to have gone extinct with the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Then, in 1938, a museum curator on a South African fishing trawler caught a living species: Latimeria chalumnae. Decades later, in 1998, a second species, L. menadoensis, … Continue reading
GM crop debate: where to go from here?
On Sunday I donned my ‘Don’t Destroy Research’ badge and joined Sense About Science at the Take the Flour Back protest. Take the Flour Back had pledged to ‘decontaminate’ a GM crop trial at Rothamsted Research by entering the field and destroying the crop. Our aim was to show support for the scientists who had … Continue reading