09 Oct 2017
SCI is pleased to bring you news from our Collaborative Partner Sense About Science.
Sense About Science works with scientists and members of the public to change public debates and to equip people to make sense of science and evidence.
They do this by running a variety of activities including campaigns and events. Details on their latest programme of activities can be found below.
Upcoming Events
Sense about Science are delighted to announce that their London Standing up for Science workshop (Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 30 November) is now open for applications. They are open to STEM and social science early career researchers (PhD students, post-doctoral fellows or equivalent) and are free to attend.
The workshop will be ahead of the awarding of the 2017 John Maddox Prize. This is an amazing opportunity for early career researchers, particularly those working in difficult subject areas, to meet researchers who promote science in the face of hostility and are recognised for their achievements.
Sense about Science are also running Peer review: the nuts & bolts workshop, where they explore how peer review works, how to get involved, the challenges to the system, and the role of peer review in helping the public to evaluate research claims.
-------------------------------------------------------------*****WORKSHOP******
Sense about Science is holding a Standing up for Science workshop at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society on Thursday 30 November 2017. This free full day event is for STEM and social science early career researchers (PhD students, post-doctoral fellows or equivalent).
Join us to find out how to make your voice heard in public debates about science. Meet researchers who promote science in the face of hostility and are recognised for their achievements and learn from respected science journalists about how the media works, how to respond and comment, and what journalists want and expect from scientists.
These workshops are very popular and places are limited. To apply, please complete the application form. If you are a member of or are funded by any of our partner organisations (listed on the website flyer), please include this on the application form - our partners hold five priority places for this workshop. For more details, get in touch with Ana Skamarauskas (ana@senseaboutscience.org)
Closing date for applications: 5pm, Monday 13 November.
-------------------------------------------------------------*****PEER REVIEW WORKSHOP******
Find out about peer review.
Debate challenges to the system.
Discuss the role of peer review for scientists and the public.
Peer review: the nuts and bolts is a free half-day workshop for early career researchers and will explore how peer review works, how to get involved, the challenges to the system, and the role of peer review in helping the public to evaluate research claims. It will be held at Glasgow Caledonian University on Friday 20 October 2017.
Should peer review detect plagiarism, bias or fraud? What does peer review do for science and what does the scientific community want it to do for them? Should reviewers remain anonymous? Does it illuminate good ideas or shut them down?
To apply to attend this workshop, please fill out the application form: http://bit.ly/2hBREAP. See our website for more info at: senseaboutscience.org/activities/peer-review-workshop/. For more details, get in touch with Abigail Jones (abigail@senseaboutscience.org).
Closing date for applications: 5pm, Friday 6 October.
Campaigns
In January 2016, Voice of Young Science (VoYS) members launched their latest campaign, a weather quiz called Haven't the Foggiest. VoYS members initiate campaigns when they become frustrated by the misrepresentation of a particular area of science in the wider public discussion. This latest campaign was launched to stop misuse of weather terms & to promote a more sensible discussion of meteorology.
So far, more than 3,400 people have taken the quiz and VoYS members and supporters have been busy talking about it:
- Andrew Barratt wrote about the quiz on Carbon Brief: Untangling fact from fiction warnings of extreme weather
- Georgina Glaser shared her thoughts on The University of Reading's Weather and Climate Discussion blog: Talking sensible science when wondering about the weather
- Hana Pearce was interviewed live on BBC Radio Sheffield's Rony Robinson's show (from ~1hr36).
- Cory Doctorow posted about the quiz on Boing Boing
You can take the quiz by clicking on the link below.
VoYS members have also been getting involved in the Ask for Evidence campaign this week, chasing down the evidence behind claims to do with sleep.
- Jessica Taylor exposed the lack of evidence behind a mobile phone app and supplement combo intended to help you have more lucid dreams.
- Leah Fitzsimmons helped examine the evidence that chamomile tea would help you drift off (it probably won't).
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