Monthly Archives: August 2014
Changing the world
Barbara Knowles is senior science policy adviser at the Society of Biology and compiles its science policy newsletter. She also volunteers for an NGO in Transylvania which focuses on conserving and understanding biodiversity, landscape and high nature value farming. Scientists working in biodiversity conservation and sustainability science go through stages of despair and recovery while … Continue reading
When science makes sweet music
Jon Kudlick is the director of membership, marketing & communications at the Society of Biology. You can’t carry out, plan or even suggest a science-based public engagement activity without someone saying the word “evaluation” a million times over. And there are two good reasons why. Firstly, with so many different factors to consider when doing … Continue reading
Intellectual property law – an exciting bioscience career away from the bench
Simon Bradbury is a patent attorney at Appleyard Lees specialising in biotechnology and genetics. Simon will be speaking about careers in intellectual property law at our Life Sciences Careers Conference at the Royal Veterinary College London. Have you ever thought about progressing a scientific career, away from the laboratory, in a more commercial or legal … Continue reading
Urban rust fungi: investigating a curious plant parasite
James Iremonger is a third year microbiology student at Heriot Watt University and is currently undertaking a summer mycology project funded by the BSPP. I’ve just finished my first week studying rust fungi with Dr. Stephan Helfer, a senior scientist and mycologist at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh (RBGE). We have been working in … Continue reading
Pacifying Paxman
by Anthony Martinelli Over the course of my life, I have achieved a couple of things on which I reflect with a particular sense of pride. The most recent was an appearance on television last Monday evening, when I had the privilege of captaining my College’s team on University Challenge, a program I have watched … Continue reading
Wallace: The most admirable man in all science?
To celebrate the place of Alfred Russel Wallace in the top ten biologists who’ve changed the world, Dr Elizabeth Rollinson, executive secretary at the Linnean Society writes about his achievements. Alfred Russel Wallace was a naturalist and explorer, born in 1823 in Usk, Wales. In 1852, he began a correspondence with Charles Darwin that would … Continue reading
Twitter: a guide for the sceptical scientist
Following her article in the latest Biologist, Rebecca Nesbit gives a Twitter introduction for scientists and shares some of her favourite hashtags. Twitter can be a daunting place for a new user, and my advice spiel which starts with hashtags and @ mentions can be rather a turn off. So before I get going on … Continue reading
Looking for a career after academia?
As someone who has survived the transition from research to the outside world, I’m always keen to hear how other people are making the most of the skills from their PhD. Vitae is doing a survey of ‘What do research staff do next?‘ and has some useful resources. These three videos caught my eye in … Continue reading
Dinosaur Trevor’s adventures in Winchester
Gabriele Butkute, events and administrative assistant at the Society of Biology, writes about attending Winchester Science Festival on the 25th July 2014 at the Discovery Centre in Winchester. The festival was buzzing all weekend, attracting over 3000 attendees on Friday alone! It was a great way for families to add variety to their summer holidays … Continue reading
Fred Sanger, double Nobel Laureate
Rebecca Nesbit celebrates the life of Fred Sanger, a scientist featured in the Biology: Changing the World top ten poll. As the only Briton to have been awarded two Nobel Prizes and the only scientist to have been awarded the prize for chemistry twice, Fred Sanger paved the way for huge advances in medical understanding … Continue reading