Symposium - Why Public Engagement with Science Matters to Universities!

Programme is available here

We are holding a Symposium called "Why Public Engagement With Science Matters to Universities!" on 9th May 2007 in Lecture Theatre T250, The School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, King`s Buildings. The focus of this symposium is to explore the benefits to universities, their staff and students of being involved in public engagement with science activities. Scientists and non-scientists from all disciplines are welcome!

Invited speakers include:

John Emsley (writer, broadcaster and author of “Elements of Murder”; “Molecules at an Exhibition”; “Vanity, Vitality and Virility” and other titles)
Graeme Jones (former NESTA Dreamtime Fellow who led the team which built the Guinness World Record making model of DNA)
Bruce Davies (recipient of a John Logie Baird award for innovation and featured inventor in the Science Museum in Kensington and in Royal Society Millennium exhibitions)

More details on the speakers are given below. There will also be short talks and demos from the Chemical Connection Team and friends. Registration is free and lunch is provided. We would appreciate it if you could register on-line beforehand - you can do that here. If you have any specific questions or requests please contact us!

	John Emsley Dr John Emsley DSc FRSC was a lecturer, then reader, in chemistry at King’s College London for 22 years and produced more than 100 original research papers. He became a full-time science writer in 1990, and became Imperial College’s Science Writer in Residence from 1990-97, during which time he wrote a column for The Independent newspaper. From 1997-2002 he held a similar position in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. He also has several popular science books to his name, including The Consumer’s Good Chemical Guide which won the Science Book Prize of 1995, Nature’s Building Blocks, The Shocking History of Phosphorus, Vanity, Vitality & Virility, and The Elements of Murder His most recent book is Better Looking, Better Living, Better Loving. His books have been translated in most major languages, and in 2003 he won the German Chemical Society Writer’s Prize. In 2006 he became the first recipient of the Science Communications Award of the Society of Chemical Industry. He has also taken part in many radio and television programmes.

	Graeme Jones Graeme Jones is chemical ecologist who has a passion for public science. In 2002 he led the team that built the Guinness World Record making model of DNA in Stoke. He then moved on to create Molecular Mardi Gras a street level science carnival in 2005 using massive molecular models complete with a sexy Mr and Miss Molecular and Molly Cool. Since then he has created Molecules Matter an exhibition of molecular sculptures at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, interpreting the plants through the molecules they make; Sacred Molecules an exhibition in Norwich Cathedral including the world record making DNA model and together with Edinburgh University Chemical Ceilidh a Scottish Molecule parade, part of Edinburgh Fringe Cavalcade. In 2005 he was awarded a NESTA Dreamtime Fellowship to develop his talents as a science entertainer, see www.makeitmolecular.com. He now splits his time between Science Communication, a Senior Lecturership at Keele University and being Mr Mum.

	Bruce Davies Dr Bruce Davies is currently Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Heriot-Watt University and was chairman and founder of IceRobotics Ltd, Technical Director of Balmore Hydraulics Ltd and senior development engineer on agricultural tractors for Leyland Tractors Ltd. Dr Davies holds 7 patents and has been the recipient of a John Logie Baird award for innovation for a patented an intramedullary nail for fracture reduction. His inventions have been featured in the new Wellcome Wing of the Science Museum in Kensington and in Royal Society Millennium exhibitions in both London and Edinburgh on the occasion of the “Frontiers of Technology” exhibition. Dr Davies contributed to the Edinburgh International Science Festival since 1995 as a member of the “Brains Trust” panel with Heinz Wolfe. presenting lectures and organizing science and engineering demonstrations. He presented portions of the televised millennium Royal Institution Christmas Lectures on Robots and is a regular contributor to radio and television programmes and in 2006 delivered the RSE lectures on “Mathematic Matters” at the Aberdeen annual Tech Fest.

	Colin Johnson OBE Colin Johnson OBE is a mentor for the EPSRC programme, Partnerships for Public Engagement. He is a Vice-President and trustee of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. From 1997-2004, he was the Chief Executive of Techniquest, the UK`s first purpose-built science discovery centre, having been involved with the project from its inception in 1986. He was the founding Chair of ECSITE-UK, the national science and discovery centre network, and has served the sector internationally in a number of capacities. His earlier background is in the formal education sector. After taking chemistry degrees at Oxford, he was a science teacher for twelve years and then a university lecturer in science education for twelve years, with responsibility for the pre-service and in-service training of chemistry teachers. During this period he led a number of curriculum developments and published a widely adopted textbook for school chemistry.

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