Author Archives: Guest Blogger
The attack of an army ant
Student Samantha Hodgson studies at the University of Gloucestershire, and is writing about the swarm raiding technique of army ants ahead of our 24 hour lecture on ants and bees, hosted by Professor Adam Hart. Army ants are unparalleled in the animal world when it comes to raid strategy. They are capable of capturing tens … Continue reading
“Genetic Art”- using science to save species
Guest post from Darrin Grandmason, founder of genetic art company DNA on a SHIRT. Grandmason is currently using his genetic art to help save the endangered cheetah. A common conversation ice-breaker is “What do you do?” After answering this question too many times, I figured out the best answer. That is what I tell people: “I’m … Continue reading
Behavioural Genetics: who are you?
Dr Claire Hastings introduces the field of Behavioural Genetics ahead of the Royal Institution debate entitled: “The good, the bad, and the genetically predetermined” on the 15th October, during Biology Week 2013. Your genome contains all the instructions for building you. This includes genes that affect your behaviour: from learning and memory, eating and sleeping … Continue reading
Run for your life: the Saharan silver ant
Guest post by Mel Evans, a student at the University of Gloucestershire. Read carefully – hidden in here is an answer to one of the pub quiz questions which will be asked during Professor Adam Hart’s 24 hour lecture On the surface, ants don’t always seem like the most extreme of animals. Not so with … Continue reading
A year in industry/the real word
By Rachel Argo, work experience student at the Society of Biology I am a Biochemistry undergraduate student at the University of Bristol and have just come to the end of a 12 month industrial placement with GlaxoSmithKline. Bristol’s Biochemistry with Study in Industry degree was one of the first UK degrees to achieve accreditation by … Continue reading
Why climate change will likely be worse than the models predict
Dr Aaron Thierry is a quantitative ecologist who recently graduated from The University of Sheffield’s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences. He is extremely concerned about the level of understanding of the urgency of large scale carbon reductions and feels that scientists are morally obliged to raise awareness of the risks we now face. In … Continue reading
Allergies: what are they?
A guest post by Michael Ravitsky of FactoryPure.com I have had a sensitive system for as long as I’ve been alive – I had to have my tonsils and adenoids removed when I was 5 – and I have always been very allergic to dust. I have got quite used to keeping a pack of … Continue reading
The Lightyear Foundation: bringing science to life in Ghana
In June, Dr Yalda Javadi, postdoctoral scientist at the University of Cambridge and Editor for Ionic Magazine, spent two weeks in Ghana with a team of volunteers from the Lightyear Foundation, developing practical science classes in Ghanaian schools. The aim of Lightyear is to make science come alive through engaging, hands-on experiments using materials easily … Continue reading
My week at space camp
Madeleine Kavanagh is a BioNet member of the Society of Biology, this summer she won a sponsored place at ISSET‘s Mission Discovery. Further information on BioNet membership can be found on the Society of Biology’s website. I was lucky enough to be able to attend Mission Discovery Space Camp last week, thanks to the Society … Continue reading