Biology Week
Fungal Sat Nav
Dr Alexandra Brand FRSB, Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen discusses her research into fungal cells with a built-in navigation system. As part of Biology Week, the British Mycological Society‘s UK Fungus Day is hosting events across the UK and Ireland around 10th & 11th October. Fungi are microbes that permeate the world around … Continue reading
Capturing Biology in Action
Billy Clapham is a zoology student at the University of Sheffield and won the Society’s amateur photography competition last year. Photography is a fantastic medium to explore and reveal the beauty of the natural world in all its forms. But beautiful photographs of animals and plants from all around the world, while no less special, … Continue reading
Science communication: a selfless task?
By Dr Kate McAllister, winner of the Society of Biology Science Communication Award 2014. A lot has happened in the year since I emailed off my entry for the 2014 Science Communication Award. Since then, I have handed in a thesis, started a job in the industry, left industry and run back to the familiar … Continue reading
Book review: Can Science Fix Climate Change?
Grace Paget, science writer, reviews ‘Can Science Fix Climate Change?’ by Mike Hulme (Polity Press). Nominations for our Book Awards 2015 are now open. Hulme effectively establishes the debate surrounding the issue of tackling climate change in his book Can Science Fix Climate Change? and explores the emerging technology that is set to resolve it. … Continue reading
Listen to the debate: Eradicating Malaria: Can we do it? Should we do it?
In 2007, Bill and Melinda Gates committed themselves to eliminating malaria worldwide. Today, it has been eliminated in 111 countries but can it be eradicated worldwide? If it can, would the resources be better spent on other developing world health initiatives? Would controlling the disease be more beneficial than elimination? During Biology Week 2014 we … Continue reading
Starling Survey: Not just blue skies research!
By Amanda Hardy AMSB, Schools and Colleges Officer at the Society of Biology. Having lived in Kent, I am familiar with the charismatic and sociable starling. I remember seeing starlings huddled in rows on rooftops in the autumn and watching as they fly down to a garden lawn to feed. They land in small groups … Continue reading
Can we outsmart malaria? A question of tactics
Dara Annett is a PhD student in the Deu group in the Department of Parasitology, currently at the NIMR until the move to the Crick Institute in 2016 Malaria is one of humankind’s oldest battles. Our understanding has increased rapidly in the last century but there are still around 200 million cases reported per year … Continue reading
Planning the future of UK science – ‘the best job in government’?
By Dr Supatra Marsh, BBSRC Policy Fellow at the Society of Biology At a Science and Technology Committee meeting last week, Chair Andrew Miller MP introduced the new Minister for Universities, Science and Cities, Rt Hon Greg Clark MP as having ‘the best job in government’. Greg Clark spoke passionately about his desire to ‘bring … Continue reading
Biology Week 2014 – was it all worth it?
Jon Kudlick is director of membership, marketing and communications at the Society of Biology The last time I blogged about Biology Week was two weeks before the start of our second one in 2013. Now with our third Biology Week in the bag, and before planning gets under way for next year, we need to … Continue reading
Species of the week: fly agaric
As part of National Fungus Day the British Mycological Society is asking people to take part in fungi spotting and let them know if you see a fly agaric. If you would like to hold an event as part of UK Fungus Day on the 12th October (part of Biology Week) please contact admin@britmycolsoc.info Amanita … Continue reading