Biology Week
Ecological adventures during Biology Week
As we start to plan Biology Week 2013 here at the Society of Biology we take inspiration from some of the successes of 2012. Here Nick O’Connor, a teacher at Highcliffe School, describes his A level field course in Dorset The Year 13 A level Biologists spent a superb 3 days along the Jurassic Coast … Continue reading
Even chance favours the panda
Zara’s last blog introduced the “Save a Species” election that was held at our Parliamentary launch during Biology Week. I now share the highs and lows of my experience representing the spoon-billed sandpiper in an attempt to save this critically endangered bird from extinction. As a quick reminder: Six candidates were chosen, each to represent … Continue reading
Don’t forget fresh water
by Zara Gladman, Society of Biology Mid-way through Biology Week we held a launch night in Parliament, to highlight the importance of biology to decision-makers. The climax of the evening was our very own ‘Save a Species’ election. Six candidates – each representing a different endangered species – did their best to persuade the guests that … Continue reading
Is panda PR a good idea?
by Rebecca Nesbit, Press Officer, Society of Biology Panda conservation is not ‘greenwash’ read the headline of BBC Nature’s thought-provoking write-up of the Biology Week debate ‘should we save the panda’. This referred to the evening’s extensive discussion about the use (and misuse) of pandas in conservation PR. Whether or not you think it is … Continue reading
I promise you really said that!
By Rebecca Nesbit, Society of Biology As this blog goes live, a record attempt is taking place for the world’s largest memory game. This is the climax of Biology Week and involves hundreds of children and adults. It is designed to be fun, but also has a serious side, collecting data for Professor Bruce Hood … Continue reading
ScienceGrrl calendar launched
by Rebecca Nesbit, Press Officer at the Society of Biology Not only is this week a very successful first Biology Week, it is also a good week for gender equality in science. In 2010 UKRC/WISE reported that only 12.3% of the skilled workforce in science, engineering and technology are women, a disturbing figure. The problem … Continue reading
Farming and the environment: Biology Week Q&A
Dr Frances Downey, Public Liaison at Sense About Science, writes about the Biology Week event: Environmental scientists answer your questions: How does farming affect the environment? This summer, when plant scientists from Rothamsted Research appealed for discussion not destruction when their GM wheat crop was under threat, the public came out in support. More than … Continue reading
Podcast: should we save the panda?
by Rebecca Nesbit With just five days to go until the Biology Week debate, ‘Do we need pandas? Choosing which species to save’, the votes on the Society of Biology website poll are swinging in favour of the panda. To help me decide which way to vote, I produced this podcast in which I interview … Continue reading
Bioethics video competition: ideas
There vast array of biological research going on around the world is throwing up some challenging questions for the whole of society to tackle, not just scientists. To explore these issues, the Nuffield Council for Bioethics is running Box Office Bioethics, a video competition for young people. School pupils and undergraduates are invited to submit … Continue reading
The Everyday Brain
by Zara Gladman On Friday 19th October 2012, schools, universities and individuals across the country will attempt to set a record for the World’s Largest Memory Game. Guided by neurobiologist Dr Daniela Peukert, I stuck on my thinking cap and took a journey around this highly complex organ . . .