Science in a Flash: How to give a successful flash talk

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology invites you to attend a free webinar on 12th March, 7pm GMT, UK (2pm EST, USA).

Effective communication skills are critical to your success as a scientist. We often have only a few minutes, or a few sentences, to impress employers, influence granting agencies, or provide a quote to journalists. So, what if we gave you one figure, three minutes, and a microphone to describe your research – could you do it?

Learn tips and tricks for giving a fast, informal presentation in this webinar.

Register at: https://www.asbmb.org/career-resources/webinars/science-in-a-flash-how-to-give-a-successful-flash

The Great Science Publishing Scandal

A 28 minute radio programme in which Matthew Cobb, Professor of Zoology at the University of

Manchester, explores the hidden world of prestige, profits and piracy that lurks behind scientific journals.
If you want to know about how the business of academic publishing works, then this programme provides an insight. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0004l7k

WomeninSTM Reading List from Oxford University Press

Oxford University Press have put together some reading about women that have contributed a wealth of knowledge and experience in the Science, Technology, and Medicine fields (STM), to help the progression of society.

Explore a collection of chapters online featuring just a few of these women in medicine, such as Marie Curie, Florence Stoney, Cicely Saunders, Rosalyn Yalow, and Mary Broadfoot Walker.

http://oxfordmedicine.com/newsitem/477/womeninstm-reading-list

Lab notebooks - handwriting at the core of science - British Library blog post

23rd January was world handwriting day, the British Library took this as an opportunity to look at examples of lab note book past and present. How does yours compare? Do you still hand write your lab book or make use of online tools like Benchling?

https://blogs.bl.uk/science/2019/01/lab-notebooks-handwriting-at-the-core-of-science.html  

Nobel Prizes in the Sciences 2017

It's an exciting time as the Nobel Prizes are announced for 2017, here's a summary of those awarded in the Sciences. 


The Nobel Prize for Chemistry 2017
This was awarded to Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson "for developing cryo-electron microscopy for the high-resolution structure determination of biomolecules in solution"

For an overview of the topic, it's worth having a read of ACS article Breaking the Crystal Ceiling: Cryo-electron microscopy goes high resolution.

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2017 
This was divided, one half awarded to Rainer Weiss, the other half jointly to Barry C. Barish and Kip S. Thorne "for decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves". 

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2017
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2017 was awarded jointly to Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W. Young "for their discoveries of molecular mechanisms controlling the circadian rhythm".



If you're inspired by these scientists and want to find more examples of their work, you can do an author search using a database like Scopus, as shown in this short screencast - do an author search in Scopus. 

From this search, you can see how many articles this author has published, who they have worked with, where they have published. You can also set up alerts to be notified when this author publishes a new article. Fancy. 

Who knows, one day you might be receiving the Nobel Prize for Chemistry one day!

Start of term library things - welcome to new and returning students and happy national poetry day!

Happy New Academic Year!

I hope summer has been a good one and that you're ready to start, or continue with your studies here at Birkbeck.

Here are some library things to help you get to grips with your studies in Science, whether you're a new or returning student. 

Orientation Day 
Ideal for new students. The Library features as part of Orientation Day this coming Saturday 30th September, with talks, an information stand and library tours and I'll be around so do come and talk to us. 

Library tours and workshops
Don't forget about the Library tours and workshops happening, they can be a really good way to get an idea of how you can make best use of the library and the resources.

Using the library
This section of the website gives you all the useful information about opening hours, how many items you can borrow, 

Subject guides

These guides aim to bring together the most relevant resources for your subject area.

• Biological Sciences
• Chemical Sciences
• Earth and Planetary Sciences

You can make an appointment with me, through your subject guide, about any aspect of making the best use of the Library. 

As it's National Poetry Day, I thought I'd leave you with a poem about using the library and making the most of having me (Emma Illingworth) as your Subject Librarian. 

Welcome to Birkbeck Library...

If you’re wondering what the library is about,

These things are for certain, so be in no doubt, 

That we are open 7 days a week,

Come and visit here or online, for the information you seek.

Your student ID is a wonderful thing,

It’ll get you in the library, no alarm will ring,

Your Birkbeck username and password are also key,

With them, all the electronic resources you’ll see.

Be it a journal article, film or a book you’re looking for,

Come along to the Library, it won’t be a chore,

There is space to study individually or as a group,

What’s your research topic? The biopsychology of a dance troupe?!

School of Science students, remember you have me,

To help you use the library, whatever your topic might be,

Grab your subject bookmark for shelfmarks to make a good start,

Make use of your online subject guide, it will play its part…

...To help you make sense of all the resources there are,

Use all of these things and you’re bound to go far.

Don’t forget you can also photocopy print and scan,

When you’ve visited us once, hopefully you’ll be a fan,

For we want to help you achieve and succeed,

So make use of the library; research, write and read. 

JoVE: Film your Research contest

JoVE creates and publishes videos that increase productivity in scientific research and learning. We subscribe to various sections of it that you can access through Birkbeck's elibrary.  

JoVE are holding a 'Film your Research' contest in an effort to get scientists connected with

the concept of “visual science” by making a 2-minute video featuring yourself or a lab member performing a scientific experiment/technique in the lab or in the field. There are four cash prizes available. 

All applicants must currently be pursuing scientific research in an academic institution and fit the following criteria:

• Undergraduate student pursuing scientific research
• Graduate student (M.S./Ph.D.) pursuing scientific research
• Post-doctoral researcher
• Scientist who has received his/her highest degree within the last ten years and currently pursuing research (e.g. research professors, research associates, lab managers, etc.)

For more information and to apply visit the JoVE 'Film your Research' contest.

Event: What does it mean to decolonise Science?

Birkbeck's Centre for Transformative Practice in Learning and Teaching has organised an

event with Chanda Prescod-Weinstein (University of Washington) as the main speaker. The topic being presented is: What does it mean to decolonise Science? 

The event is free and is happening on Friday 5th May, 15:00-17:00 at Birkbeck in room MAL 416. Please register to attend the lecture. 

 

There's a march for Science...

Twitter tells me that there is a March for Science happening across the USA and the world at some point soon. You can find out more at their blog, Facebook , Twitter #ScienceMarch
You can even have a go at knitting a brain hat from @StudioKnitSF to show support, thanks for sharing @JohnDupuis The UK has a presence too if you're keen to be involved @ScienceMarchUK 

Top Ten Trends Driving Science from ACS Axial

The American Chemical Society (ACS) Axial team has written a report: Top Ten Trends Driving Science which is an introduction to 10 of the biggest ideas affecting scientists today. Have a read and see if you agree with them...

How to read a book without opening it

Imagine, reading a book without opening it!

A team at MIT have developed a new method which used terahertz radiation — light with wavelengths that are between microwave and infrared waves — to view the text of a closed book.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/how-read-book-without-opening-it 

Women in Science - Picks from Brain Pickings

Maria Popova curates Brain Pickings, which is where we found this: Your Body is a Space That Sees: Artist Lia Halloran's Stunning Cyanotype Tribute to Women in Astronomy. 

You may also like: Pioneering Astronomer Vera Rubin on Women in Science, Dark Matter, and Out Never-Ending Quest to Know the Universe.

Enjoy.