National Science & Engineering Week, 9 – 18 March 2012

National Science & Engineering Week (NSEW) is the UK's widest grassroots celebration of all things science and engineering.

Last year, 4,500 events took place up and down the country, generating local and national media coverage with a value of £1.04 million.

This year, there are more reasons to get involved in NSEW than ever before with event awards, activity packs and the schools competition, which challenges pupils to design a multi-terrain renewable racer. New for 2012 is the ‘Prove it’ online video competition, giving budding science presenters a chance to showcase their skills.

Find more details of competitions and other NSEW resources at www.nsew.org.uk.

From the Branches: Science, diversity and culture

Throughout February and March 2012, the British Council have teamed up with a number of British Science Association Branches to run a specialist programme of events that aim to bring scientists in contact with local hard-to-reach communities.

Using innovative discussion techniques, the British Science Association’s Science in Society Team have been coaching Branch volunteers to reach new audiences and engage diverse communities in dialogue on a wide range of current science debates such as Africa & Conservation and Golden Rice.

Events are open to anyone. Visit www.britishscienceassociation.org/regions for more information on times, dates and locations, and to have your say.

Students and stem cells

The Science in Society team have run successful workshops for Key Stage 4 students from the Bridge Academy in Hackney, all about the latest in stem cell research.

Students saw real stem cells through a microscope, discussed the social and ethical implications of embryonic stem cells and examined the principles of cloning using eggs.

Aimed at enhancing the curriculum in the run-up to their exams, the workshops were run as part of ComScience, a European Commission project bringing the latest science and health research to audiences across the UK, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Sweden.

People & Science 2.0

As part of our commitment to creating a dialogue around important issues affecting the science communication industry, the British Science Association is proud to unveil its brand new website aimed at giving everyone an online platform for dialogue. The pièce de résistance of the new website is undoubtedly the new People & Science area, with all of your favourite content from the hard copy now featured in an interactive online format.

Readers are encouraged to visit the site and comment on the content from People & Science to really bring the content to the forefront of conversation.

Come and have a look at the Association’s new website at www.britishscienceassociation.org

Science Communication Conference 14 and 15 May 2012: Impact

Once again the Science Communication Conference will be returning to Kings Place in London for the biggest event in the science communication calendar. The programme contains numerous opportunities to network and gain new contacts, discuss the big issues in public engagement and attend thought-provoking sessions from a wide range of inspirational speakers.

Bookings will be open by the time you’re reading this, so be sure to book early to take advantage of the ‘early bird’ rate! For more information about the conference, including bursaries and resources from previous conferences, please have a look at the website.

www.britishscienceassociation.org/sciencecommunicationconference

Follow us on Twitter: @SciCommConf 

Big name sponsors and celebrities announced as Aberdeen prepares to host Europe’s leading science event
 
Major energy sector multinationals BP and Shell, and Scotland’s best-selling regional newspaper, the Press and Journal, have thrown their weight behind the national celebration of science which will headline Aberdeen in September 2012, for the first time in almost 50 years.