Beaming up

Readers of this column will know that the British Science Association was recruiting a web editor with special responsibility for developing an online presence for this magazine.  I can now report that Louise Ogden is fully installed in this role. Louise has an MA in science journalism.  She has created podcasts for the Naked Scientists, blogged for Nature Education, and edited science articles on the website Elements.

Lots of moving and shaking has been taking place at the British Science Association of late.  Ollie Christophers has left his role as Communications Manager to don Barbour jacket and Hunter wellies and adopt a new lifestyle of rural bliss in Devon, where he has joined the Met Office as their Brand Manager.  Ollie is replaced by Coralie Young who was previously a Senior Account Executive with Ketchum Pleon, where she managed the PR accounts for three major healthcare enterprises. 

Cecile Thiry has joined the Association as its new Marketing Officer for regional programmes. Cecile has moved down south leaving her former role as Communications Manager at the Aberdeen Arts Centre. Fiona Burford, former Manager of the National Science & Engineering Competition, has joined City and Guilds as their Corporate Relations Manager and is replaced by Jon Fitzmaurice who has made the unusual move from politics to science communication. He previously worked for a citizenship charity.

Other moves

Elsewhere, Melanie Washington has moved from the Royal Academy of Engineering to STEMNET as their Director of Programme Development. Will Greenacre has left the Science Media Centre to join the Wellcome Trust as a Policy Officer.  He has been replaced by former British Science Festival Press Assistant Robin Bisson. Policy Advisor to the Science and Society Team at the Department of Business Industry and Skills, Tom Wells has been seconded to the Foreign Office and posted to India (lucky fella).  

Edits at the BBC

After many years of hard labour making and producing science radio at the Beeb, Martin Redfern is shortly to retire. He reports being very happy about the decision, and says he looks forward to several projects he’s excited about.

Also at the Beeb: the beginning of the year saw David Shukman appointed as the BBC’s first-ever Science Editor.  He was previously Environment and Science correspondent. Some hacks smell sexism because Susan Watts was not appointed.  Others call such speculation ‘piffle’.

Exercising enthusiasm

Staff at the National Museum for Science and Industry were stunned to witness the somewhat un-orthodox work practices of their new Director of External Affairs, Roger Highfield.  Instead of the usual office set-up, the former New Scientist Editor has a desk over a treadmill and spends his workday conducting business whilst continually walking. 

Do get in touch if you hear any tales at the water cooler that you’d like us to include in the next edition of People & Science.