What is, I wonder, the equivalent of Noel Coward's lyric 'only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun,' which might encapsulate the phenomenon that is the Virgin Money London Marathon? This morning tens of thousands of runners will set out from Greenwich Park as they do every year with high hopes of finishing two, three, four... Continue Reading →
The public interest argument must extend beyond open access…here’s a sort of lay summary
Good Guardian blog yesterday giving a lay summary of the 'open access' debate vis a vis papers published in scientific journals. There's also been a healthy exchange of letters in The Times this week but ironically that's behind their paywall. However, at least The Times is available in all good newsagents at a reasonable price. Unsurprisingly, I... Continue Reading →
Exortic science goes kryptonite, perhaps
Today's headline is taken from the menu for my Indian take away last night which talked of 'exortic sauces.' A spelling mistake it might be but I was rather taken with the idea of my curry sauce exorting me to savour its spices. In a similar fashion do I feel the desire to devour all... Continue Reading →
mICRA, PROSPERO, Beddington and Bell
Announcements are like buses. There are none for what seem like days and then several come all at once. My job is to make sure you get on the right one... NIHR has several announcements out today which AMRC and its members have had some involvement or interest in. The first is the launch of the new... Continue Reading →
It's time to seek out the real citizens in science
Alice Bell has written a good piece today with her reflections on this week's Science and Citizenship conference. Its worth a read and has certainly given me something to ponder over the Christmas holidays. Alice finishes her piece by saying that the public engagement 'industry' - if I can call it that - needs to take a... Continue Reading →
Science in the Big Society
A quick post. I meant to mention, and link to, this interesting post and discussion thread on Alice Bell's excellent blog on Wednesday. It was prompted by a Royal Society blog by Jack Stilgoe. In a nutshell it is a discussion of the relevance of the Big Society to science. I notice that the British... Continue Reading →
