Big Bang Science Fair 2010!

Phew, I am late in posting this as this time last weekend it was all over! Many apologies for the delay, it was great fun but very tiring. This fair took place thursday 11th March to saturday 13th March at Manchester Central. I was there for 2 whole days on friday and saturday.



When I first walked through the door and had a walk round I was in total awe of the place and knew it was going to be exciting so much to see! I was here as a WISE woman rather than STEM Ambassador. Its the same thing really only we were encouraging young girls to think about taking up a career in science and they get to see that real female scientists exist. I spent most of my time working with 2 lovely indian girls and we all got to wear a lovely pink t-shirt.
                                                   

Flattered by the camera as usual! There were live shows going on but obviously I couldn't go to them so missed out on some good stuff and seeing/ meeting some well known shows and scientists. There was Brainiac Live, TED Talks, Bang Goes The Theory and The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures.
When I did get a chance to see some things there were all sorts of unusual and fascinating stuff, such as a coffee powered car! I got to make my own badge and do some welding too. I learn't that you can also weld with chocolate ;D I noticed a DNA model made entirely from pop tins, a great photo opportunity.

Its lovely to see everyone enthuse about science, having fun in what they do. I would do this again in a heartbeat. Nice to meet such lovely folks and to be involved in engaging the public in science! ;D I hope to do more of this.

Jeff Goldblum on Relativity and beer!

Love this ad from 1991



Apparently the Holsten Brewery is in Hamburg. I didn't know or realise this when I was holidaying there in 2007! All of the JG ads for this product were hilarious IMHO ;D

Sage advice and inspirational talk about achieving happiness

Hope you all enjoyed this talk as much as I did ;) xxx

Origin of The Faeces?

I thought it only fitting to post this around Darwin day ;p



( Thank you to Private Eye Magazine) Happy Darwin day  everybody ;D

My radio debut!

Last friday evening (Jan. 15th, 8.30pm) I was interviewed via phone about my role as a STEM Ambassador. This was the first time I've ever been on the radio and it was very exciting. The interview lasted 40 minutes in total. I should explain that this is an internet radio station who have have a very lovely blog and is ran by 2 amateur astronomers who are doing an amazing job. Their mission is outreach and promoting science education in the US. They are based in Florida. Their radio station is AstronomyFM or AFM .Go and check them out. My interview was first broadcast at 3am GMT/UT (9PM EST), Monday 18th January and is being replayed every 3 hours. http://astronomy.fm/
A huge thank you to Tavi and Rob for giving me this experience and opportunity and for the oportunity to talk about STEM, what it is, and how one becomes an ambassador ;)

Murray Gell-Mann: Beauty and truth in physics.

First of all Happy new year! Hope 2010 is great for all of us.

I came across and enjoyed this talk by the father of physics. I found it so interesting I wanted to have it here and hope you enjoy it too. Finally he does mention chemistry. He has such humour and is able to talk about his subject so easily for the layperson. I both admire and envy that as I would like to improve how I chat about equation based science such that it doesn't sound too complex or off putting to the non-scientist :)

Wow, I didn't even know I was going to get this. It arrived on xmas eve and I opened it in the car as I was on my way to the in laws for christmas. A nice surprise ;) I wish each and everyone a very merry xmas. Hugs xxx