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. 

Brain: a journal of neurology - the app

There is an app for the journal Brain. Birkbeck Library subscribes to this journal which you can access through the elibrary using your Birkbeck username and password. 
You can download and use the app for free from the App Store or Google Play to:

• Download articles and issues
• Read issues by swiping through articles

• Use the in-app search feature

• Add notes to your articles

• Bookmark your favourite articles

More information can be found at the Brain app page from Oxford Academic.

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. 

 

A perspective on science communication...

In his article, Scientists, Stop Thinking Explaining Science Will Fix Things,

Tim Requarth suggests that Scientists need to take a different approach to communicating the findings of their research in order for the public to understand and engage with it in a meaningful way. 

If you're studying a science then it might be an interesting read for you, encouraging you to consider how you communicate the key findings of your research and how you might do that more effectively, depending on your purpose and desired outcome. Do you want simply to inform? Entertain? Inspire? Change minds? All of those things?

Requarth, T. (2017) Scientists, Stop Thinking Explaining Science Will Fix Things.Slate. Accessed: 27/04/2017.

Science week study tip 5: Read, read, read!

As the events of Science week come to an end, I'll leave you with one final study tip and that is to read. Read and read well. 

Critical reading is an essential part of your study. You need to read the books, articles, blogs recommended by your lecturers to get a good understanding of your subject and to be able to engage in discussion as well as complete your assignments. If you have the time, go beyond the recommended reading to explore more. Your lecturers will always have more reading that they can suggest on a given topic. 

The amount of reading required for your course may feel overwhelming at times, so make the most of the resources available to help you manage your reading and do it more efficiently, such as the Birkbeck Learning Skills module and the Study Skills Resources in Birkbeck Library. The Open University also have a section about Critical Reading Techniques that you may find useful. 

Reading for your course will help you progress in your studies. Reading more widely will help you in pretty much any other aspect of your life. 

The Counselling Service at Birkbeck has put together a list of recommended reading addressing many different aspects of life in their Bibliotherapy section.

The Times Higher Education asked students for their reading recommendations, so take a look and see if there's anything there that will broaden your world and inspire. 

Remember that through the Library you have access to books, articles, programmes on such a wide variety of subjects. If you're interested in reading beyond your subject area, then the Library subject guides are a good place to start to learn about where to find information on different subject areas. 

Happy Reading!