BlueSci Podcast

This week our guest is Sam Langford, an award winning science communicator who currently works as Science Learning Coordinator at the Glasgow Science Centre, and coordinator of the first global virtual science show on Twitter! We chat to him about what makes for good science communication, the biggest hurdles we face when communicating science to wider society, and what this pandemic can teach us about how our society feels about science.

We also ask him about the global virtual science show he hosted on Twitter, which can be accessed via this link: https://twitter.com/scottishscicomm/status/1243463072028770304?s=20

Every morning at 10am BST, you can tune in to the Glasgow Science Centre's Science At Home show, which is streamed via YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: https://www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/gsc-at-home?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn And you can find all their previous episodes via the link too.

The BlueSci Podcast is run by the Cambridge University Science Magazine, currently hosted by Ruby Coates and Simone Eizagirre. Visit www.bluesci.co.uk to access our free magazine, and find out how to get involved. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe! We welcome your feedback and suggestions via email: bluescipodcast (at) gmail (dot) com.

Our first episode recorded in self-isolation, focusing on the research of one of our co-hosts, Ruby Coates! She is a molecular biologist and her PhD focuses on Campylobacter jejuni, a nasty but resilient stomach bug on the World Health Organisations' watchlist. We also discuss the challenges of working from home as a lab-based researcher, how the pandemic affects us all, and its impact on those undertaking PhDs. Stay at home and listen to some podcasts!

The BlueSci Podcast is run by the Cambridge University Science Magazine, currently hosted by Ruby Coates and Simone Eizagirre. Visit www.bluesci.co.uk to access our free magazine, and find out how to get involved. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe! We welcome your feedback and suggestions via email: bluescipodcast (at) gmail (dot) com.

In this week's episode, archaeology meets parasites! We speak to Marissa Ledger, a PhD student (now Dr!) in Biological Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, who tells us how identification of parasite eggs found in ancient latrines, cesspits and human remains can tell us what ancient civilisations ate, how they lived and where they travelled.

The BlueSci Podcast is run by the Cambridge University Science Magazine, currently hosted by Ruby Coates and Simone Eizagirre. Visit www.bluesci.co.uk to access our free magazine, and find out how to get involved. If you enjoyed this episode, why not subscribe? We welcome your feedback and suggestions via email: bluescipodcast (at) gmail (dot) com.

Surprise! This week we have an BONUS episode to celebrate International Women's Day! In this special episode, we highlight the work being done by academics, student-led groups, and other voluntary organisations who advocate for equal opportunities, inclusion and diversity in science. 

Our guests include Professor Rachel Oliver  (04:48), leader of The Inclusion Group for Equity in Research (TIGER) in STEMM, Hope Bretscher (32:46), co-President of the student-led Cavendish Inspiring Women (CiW) group in the Cavendish Laboratory, and Raheela Rehman (53:20), chair of the Cambridge Association for Women in Science and Engineering (CamAWiSE).

Learn more about the organisations featured on the podcast: TIGER in STEMM - www.tigerinstemm.org, CiW - www.cavendishinspiringwomxn.co.uk  and CamAWISE - www.camawise.org.uk. 

The BlueSci Podcast is run by the Cambridge University Science Magazine, currently hosted by Ruby Coates and Simone Eizagirre. Visit www.bluesci.co.uk to access our free magazine, and find out how to get involved. If you enjoyed this episode, why not subscribe? We welcome your feedback and suggestions via email: bluescipodcast (at) gmail (dot) com.

Research at universities plays an important role in the development of new technology that can fight climate change, whether it's making better batteries, carbon capture systems, or cleaner fuels. But how sustainable are our laboratories? We chat to Martin Howes, coordinator of the Green Labs initiative at Cambridge University, about single-use plastic waste,  upcoming net zero targets, and how we can encourage the adoption of more sustainable practices in university laboratories and research institutes.

The BlueSci Podcast is run by the Cambridge University Science Magazine, currently hosted by Ruby Coates and Simone Eizagirre. Visit www.bluesci.co.uk to access our free magazine, and find out how to get involved. If you enjoyed this episode, why not subscribe? We welcome your feedback and suggestions via email: bluescipodcast (at) gmail (dot) com.

First episode of the second season, with new hosts Ruby Coates & Simone Eizagirre! Celebrating the launch of issue 47 of BlueSci, we invite issue editor Laia Sarratosa to walk us through the process of putting together a magazine. We talk about how to get started in science writing, the role that art can play in science communication, and the benefits of getting involved with science journalism as a student. We also catch up with writers Evan Wroe, Felix Opolka, and Hazel Walker about their experiences contributing to the magazine.

Find yourself a shiny free copy of the latest issue of Bluesci Magazine around the Cambridge University Campus or at www.bluesci.co.uk.

SECOND BONUS POD! 

The Cambridge Science Festival 2019 is in full swing! Roxy & Emma talk to Hugh Matthews from the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience about his upcoming talk on how to trick the visual system, and his views on the importance of public engagement with younger audiences. Emma also catches up with Emily Fisk from the Cambridge Science Centre to hear about special activities the Centre is putting on during the Festival! 

For more festival details, visit https://www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk/

BONUS POD! 

To celebrate the Cambridge Science Festival 2019, Emma has a quick chat with Ellen Nisbet and Liz Miller, two speakers at this year's festival, to hear about their upcoming talks, what other events they are looking forward to and why they think it is important to take part in science public engagement. 

For more festival details, visit https://www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk/

Seán is back! He and Emma talk to Alice Pullen from the British Antarctic Survey and Dr Delphine Larrieu, who works as a Group Leader in the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (CIMR). They also talk about bees doing maths and Emma makes Seán solve equations.

For the first show of 2019, Emma and new host Swastika bring you two interviews with scientists from the Gurdon Institute. Emma talks to group leader Dr Merixtell Huch, about her work on liver and pancreas progenitor cells. Swasti chats with Khayam Javed, a PhD student in Sir John Gurdon's lab, about his research on cell fate determination in frog embryos and what it is like to study with a Nobel Laureate. They also discuss mosquito dissections and antimalarial drugs!