Hello from the VA UK office! I thought I would use the VA blog to give an international perspective on how science and research engages with the wider community. I am Esther Crooks and I will post regular updates on news, views and activities in the UK and beyond.
We are currently in the middle of National Science and Engineering Week here in the UK, an annual event celebrating science and coordinated by the British Science Association. There are hundreds of different events and activities, but a few in particular caught my eye…
There has been a number of science festivals organised in cities and towns across the country with many impressive events and innovative ideas for engaging with the public. Newcastle Science Festival for example, has put on events to appeal to most of the population, covering topics such as jokes (research to find the world’s funniest joke by psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman), magic (Potions and Commotions for young wizards, a look at the chemistry behind potions), beauty (a lecture on why beauty is important and what makes something beautiful). And perhaps most eye-catching of all, beer! A special festival beer has been brewed in honour of the occasion!
There is growing concern in the UK and worldwide about the plight of the honey bee, and a campaign for the public to plant bee friendly plants has been launched as part of festival. Free seeds have been given out all over the UK, and now they have run out – a sign of success I think! There have also been a lot of bee related events organised to raise awareness of the problem. Family planting days, make your own bee nest, watching real bees flying…
Darwin of course figures quite heavily in all science events this year. I was amused and interested to read of the competition Darwin in Space . School children are invited to imagine what Darwin would have found if instead of the Beagle sailing to the Galapagos Islands, it landed on a new planet where life exists. There are four planets to choose from, Sweatopia. Cloudopia, Cavernopia and Ice-otopia, all with there own particular climates. I am looking forward to seeing the drawings and ideas coming from this!
Finally I heard something interesting on local radio last week about a community experiment being carried out by the Royal Meteorological Society to measure ”Urban Heat”. Aimed primarily at school children, the project is asking local people to record the temperature of their gardens at certain times of the day. The aim is measure how much warmer the centre of cities are compared to their suburbs and surroundings. Apparently there is quite a difference! And communicating results is easy, you just text the researchers. This is a great example of how to involve the public in science!
