Science and society

I enjoy promoting the public understanding of science, and as such participate in the Junior Cafe Scientifique scheme, which organises informal discussions between practising scientists and school students, and the STEMNET Science and Engineering Ambassador scheme. I offer summer science projects in my lab to local sixth-formers through the Nuffield Foundation bursary scheme.
I often talk about vision science or neuroscience to schools or other interested public groups in the Newcastle area. If you would like to organise something like this, please get in touch.

I am also interested in learning about the interactions between science and society, for example with regard to science policy and education. In particular, my Royal Society fellowship has provided me with several opportunities which I’ve taken advantage of, including the MP-scientist pairing scheme. I keep a public engagement scrapbook here.

Since taking up my fellowship, I’ve undertaken training and engaged in activities in this area as follows:

For schoolchildren

November 22 2007	Cafe Scientifique on “Neurological disorders” to sixth-formers at Sacred Heart High School, Fenham.
March 18 2008	talked to sixth-formers at a SETPOINT careers fair at Heaton Manor School.
June 11 2008	talked to Year 4 children at St Aidan’s Primary School, Newcastle.
June 18 2008	talked to Year 6 children at a Connections careers fair at North Fawdon Primary School, Newcastle.
July 9 2008	talked to Year 5 children at a science “taster” day at Seaton Burn Community College.
March 12 2009	Science Week talk to sixth-formers at Royal Grammar School, Newcastle.
March 12 2009	Science Week talk to Year 11 at Kenton College, Newcastle.
July 30 2009	talked on face recognition to Japanese school-children aged 11-17 at the Summer Science Programme of the International Union of Physiological Sciences Congress in Kyoto.
October 21 2009	Science Week talk to 13 to 18-year-olds with autism and other disabilities at Barbara Priestman School, Sunderland
October 29 2009	public lecture “A Visionary Experience with the Eye and the Brain”, with Michael Clarke, Newcastle Mini Medical School 2009, at the Centre for Life.
December 15 2009	Cafe Scientifique at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Comprehensive School, Newcastle.
January 28 2010	Ran 5 50-minute neuroscience workshops at “Inspiring Science, Inspiring Scientists” inter-schools event at St James’ Park, Newcastle.
June 23 2010	STEM Day at Hill Top School, Gateshead, ran 5 45-minute workshops for 12 to 17-year-olds with autism and other disabilities.
July-August 2010	Hosted two sixth-formers (from Gosforth High School and Central High School) in my lab under the Nuffield summer placement scheme (report in Central High School newsletter)
July 30 2010	Hosted two sixth-formers on work experience in my lab.
August 3 2010	Speaking at Girl Guiding Association Centenary Camp, Harewood House, Leeds (camp newspaper, p 8, issue 9 of Science City York News).
September 17 2010	Shadowed for the day by a sixth-former interested in neuroscience.
January 31 2011	Lecture on “The Visual Brain in Health and Disease” at Central High School, Newcastle.
February 16 2011	Gave two talks on visual illusions to primary school children at Preston Grange school, North Shields.
July-August 2011	Hosted three sixth-formers in my lab under the Nuffield summer placement scheme.

For the public

January 20 2009	co-deliverer (with Adrian Rees) of Holmes Lecture on “My brain and I: Where am I?” to 10-14 year olds at Newcastle University.
March 20 2010	Public lecture for Newcastle Science Festival.
June 25 2010	Participated in Identity Masquerade event at Newcastle Centre for Life.
January 18 2011	Speaker at “Knit a Neuron” event at Tyneside Cinema.
March 14 2011	Gave public lecture on optical illusions for Newcastle Science Fest event at Centre for Life.
June 2 2011	Gave public lecture on visual neuroscience for Mini Psychology lecture series at Centre for Life.
March 18 2012	Public lecture “Inside 3D”, on science behind 3D films, preceding a screening of the 3D film “Hugo” at the Tyneside Cinema.
April 24 2012	Talk on visual illusions to NU-Think, Newcastle University student society

 

Other events

October 23 2006	attended Royal Society strategy discussion day and speech by the Rt Hon Alastair Darling MP, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
October 26 2006	participated in “Influence the Future: A level Physics” conference at the National Science Learning Centre at York University.
November 3 2006	attended speech on science policy by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Tony Blair MP, at Oxford University; part of a series of talks on “Our Nation’s Future”.
November 23-26 2006	spent 4 days in Westminster shadowing David Anderson MP, as part of the Royal Society’s MP-scientist pairing scheme. my diary of this experience.
January 26, February 3 2007	shadowed David Anderson MP in his Blaydon constituency.
January 30 2007	spent a day at the Royal Society attending MP-scientist pairing scheme wrap-up, Scientists Meet the Media event, and Michael Faraday Award lecture.
February 13 2007	hosted visit by David Anderson MP to Psychology Division.
May 1 2007	spoke at “Breaking into the university sector”, 15 minute talk to postgraduates on my career: changing discipline, doing a postdoc overseas & combining a research career with a family.
April 26-28 2008	National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts’ Crucible Lab 1: engaging with the media and policy-makers.
June 29 2009	Co-hosted (with Quoc Vuong) visit by psychology teacher on professional development day.
July 1 2010	Attended Tomorrow’s Giants, a major one-day conference on the future of science, co-hosted by the Royal Society and Nature.
Nov 11 2009	Attended MRC Neurosciences and Mental Health Board (NMHB) Strategy Meeting
June 18 2010	Spoke at Royal Society research funding information session at Newcastle University.
June 23 2010	Presented poster at Patient Information Day for patients with mitochondrial disease, The Sage Centre, Gateshead.

Undergoing training

December 7 2005	attended Royal Society Media Training Course, taught by Judith Hann and John Exelby
March 16 2006	attended Media Skills Workshop, Newcastle University Staff Development Unit.
April 30-May 1 2007	attended Royal Society Scientist workshop at the National Science Learning Centre, learning how to communicate science effectively to school children.
May 24-25 2010	attended 2-day Story Seminar given by Robert McKee
Feb 11 2011	seminar on “Proactive Media Relations”, Staff Development Unit, Newcastle University.
April 25 2012	Training for “Bright Club”, on using comedy to present science, at Newcastle Centre for Life

See here for other training I’ve undertaken as part of my continuing professional development.