FameLab - Video entry deadline 31 Dec

If you are interested in entering this year's FameLab competition then you still can - the deadline for entering the video heat isn't until 31st Dec. More information about the competition can be found here.

Can you Explain this? Access to understanding: a new science-writing competition

Access to Understanding is a new science-writing competition aimed at early career researchers and PhD students, developed by Europe PubMed Central and The British Library – please enter or encourage your group to do so.

The winner will receive an iPad and have their entry published in eLife. Read on for more…

Cafe Scientifique - 5th December - for all researchers!

I would like to invite you all to the first Café Scientifique evening of this academic year! It is on Wed 5th December, from 6pm (until 8 or 8:30ish) in The Shield on the Charterhouse Square campus.

Café Scientifique evenings are regular events for PhD researchers and research staff. The idea of the event is to create an informal, relaxed atmosphere where researchers from all disciplines can meet and chat, and also present their work and ideas to a general, friendly audience. A typical evening would consist of short presentations from researchers, wine/soft drinks and pizza, and other activities such as a quiz, a debate or a creative challenge. The event on the 5th will have a festive theme, with mince pies, mulled wine and a seasonal quiz!

 The talks at this event will be:

Ping-pong neutrons Dominic Carter, Physics
Bedtime stories: the lilliputian who helped the giants Daniela Aflorei, William Harvey Research Institute
Giving up the Ghost: Hoping for a miracle in the Dhofar Mountains James Borrell, Biological & Chemical Sciences
 Accounting for Carbon and Commitment: the case of the FTSE 100 John Malamatenios, Business & Management

If you would like to come, please can you book a place here. This is so I know how many people to order drinks and pizza for! Hope to see lots of you on the 5th.

Welcome to the new academic year!

Welcome to all PhD students who have recently started at Queen Mary, and a welcome to the 2012-13 academic year to current students. If you're new to this blog you can find out a bit more about me in the sidebar. The Learning Institute programme of workshops for this year has started. You can see the calendar of what's coming up at the top of this page. I will also be using this blog to advertise other events that are running, both within Queen Mary and outside. If you want to find more out about the Learning Institute, what it offers and how to book on courses, please visit the main website, and the pages specifically for research students. You can find my contact details on the site - please get in touch if you have any questions, or any suggestions for things you would like to see on the blog or the website. You may notice that posts on this blog have been a bit thin on the ground recently, which is because I have only just returned from maternity leave. This year I will try and post more often! Hope to see you all at some workshops or events soon! Jo

Junk the Jargon 2012

Can you communicate your research topic to a broad audience in 3 minutes?
Can you make it interesting, engaging and fun?
Do you want to win £500?!

If you think so, you should enter “Junk the Jargon”, the annual competition for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.

Heats will be held in each faculty in early February (details below), and successful participants will go through to the final, held on Wednesday 15th February, from 5pm. Anyone not participating in the competition is encouraged to come and watch and support the finalists. A drinks reception will be held afterwards.

The final will be judged by a panel of experts, including Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Principal (Research and International Affairs); Prof. Peter McOwan, Vice-Principal (External Partnerships and Public Engagement); and Tracey Letts, Outreach Officer at the Science Museum. Prizes of £500, £250 and £100 will be awarded for the top three presentations.

You can read about and view videos from previous year’s competitions to inspire you!:

2010 competition
Write-up in the Bulletin
2011 competition

Both competitions were really enjoyable, and I’m sure this year’s will be too.

Details of your faculty’s heat:

Humanities & Social Sciences: Monday 6th Feb, 5pm in the Arts One lecture theatre.

School of Medicine & Dentistry: Tuesday 7th Feb, 5pm in the Perrin Leacture Theatre, Blizard building, Whitechapel

Science & Engineering: Wednesday 8th Feb, 5pm in the David Sizer lecture theatre, Francis Bancroft building.

If you would like more details or are interested in taking part, please e-mail Jo Cordy

The Oxbridge-London Biotech Roundtable - upcoming events

Oxbridge-London Biotech Roundtable Presents:

Confessions of a Bio-Entrepreneur: Stem Cell Entrepreneurship
WHAT: Serial entrepreneur Dr Yen Choo of Plasticell Ltd and Progenitor Labs Ltd will share his experiences and advice for budding entrepreneurs in biotech and beyond.
WHEN: 19 Jan 2012, 6.00pm
WHERE: Stamford Street Lecture Theatre, King’s College London (Waterloo campus)

Please signup here

Upcoming OBR-London events:
How IP turns scientific breakthroughs into profitable ventures (Feb 9)
Risky Business: The Pharma Game (Feb 21, 22, 24)
The biotech debate: “This house believes UK biotech is dead” (Mar 16)