Wisdom vs Knowledge – The Untapped Potential of Non-Academic Experts in Research

What makes an expert?  Science is traditionally built on “specialism”; from an early age we are all forced to make decisions about what we want to dedicate our limited brain power to, from GCSEs, and A-levels (or the equivalent) in schools, to perhaps undergraduate degrees, training and vocational courses later in life. For researchers, this […]

Read More Wisdom vs Knowledge – The Untapped Potential of Non-Academic Experts in Research

Only the Lonely

You may be surprised that the level of social integration and the number of close relationships a person has is one measure of their life expectancy, but with reports suggesting loneliness is on the rise, are we facing a new epidemic? And are there specific social, demographic, or economic factors that are contributing to this […]

Read More Only the Lonely

The demise of over-technical language – The Death of Jargon

The utilisation of overly technical terminology when communicating scientific hypotheses and theories to the general populace can actually hinder a person’s comprehension of the subject and is more of a deterrent than an advantage when it comes to public engagement and scientific literacy. Translation…. When communicating science, the use of overly complicated words can actually […]

Read More The demise of over-technical language – The Death of Jargon

Citation needed

Ethics and open science – Plagiarism “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” You have probably heard this phrase, commonly attributed to Sir Isaac Newton, describing how progress is a collaborative process, learning from those who have come before you, and building upon their ideas, and this continues […]

Read More Citation needed

Learning from your mistakes

Science is all about mistakes, trial and error are key aspects of the scientific method and discovery. However, no one really cares to admit this, and it’s understandable, there is a significant stigma associated with making a mistake. No one wants to admit that they were wrong, or that they wasted time and effort on […]

Read More Learning from your mistakes

The Rise of STEAM

Why you should consider adding art to your next public engagement event Over the past few years, there has been an increasing interest in exploring the relationship between Science and the Arts, especially when it comes to public engagement and science communication. Science has gone through a number of “rebrands” over the past few decades; […]

Read More The Rise of STEAM