oh my god, today is one of those days when everyone is conspiring against you to make you think your phd is rubbish and you are totally thick. what are everyones suggestions for chilling out after a long day writing?
XXXXX
Thursday 27 May 2010
Friday 21 May 2010
Synthetic life
Synthetic life? An oxymoron that is now a reality.
Wouldn't be a good science girl if this got left unnoticed. Read about the research in science:
doi:10.1126/science.1190719 (2010)
The guardian have posted a video interview with Craig Venter: www.guardian.co.uk/science/video/2010/may/20/craig-venter-new-life-form
Nature have asked 8 experts their thoughts on this discovery:
www.nature.com/news/2010/100520/full/news.2010.255.html
I'll share my thoughts later!
Sarah
Wouldn't be a good science girl if this got left unnoticed. Read about the research in science:
doi:10.1126/science.1190719 (2010)
The guardian have posted a video interview with Craig Venter: www.guardian.co.uk/science/video/2010/may/20/craig-venter-new-life-form
Nature have asked 8 experts their thoughts on this discovery:
www.nature.com/news/2010/100520/full/news.2010.255.html
I'll share my thoughts later!
Sarah
Sunday 16 May 2010
Oi, REF!
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the system that evaluates the quality of research ongoing in UK higher education institutions. The REF is the replacement for the RAE, the major difference being that ‘impact’ will contribute up to 25% of this grading. The addition of impact has been controversial as it is not clearly defined how this will be measured. Due to this the new Tory government has said it will put the REF on hold (it is due to go ahead in 2012).
The assessment of research output, research environment and indicators of esteem determine the rating of the institution and ultimately funding. Universities put forward 'research active staff' (an area itself of controversy and defined by the universities themselves) as part of this assessment.
Although I understand that some method of allocating funding does need to exist, I am not sure how well the impact of this assessment sits with me and how it will shape the path I take as an early career researcher. This process of assessment has been heavily criticised being deemed responsible for job losses, demoralisation, the undermining of teaching/ research relationship... One problem is that due to this new pseudo-corporate structure, university departments that do not have the same facilities as a more established department will be subject to a lower rating, struggle to attract researchers, struggle to make impact and overall, receive less funding.
Although I understand that some method of allocating funding does need to exist, I am not sure how well the impact of this assessment sits with me and how it will shape the path I take as an early career researcher. This process of assessment has been heavily criticised being deemed responsible for job losses, demoralisation, the undermining of teaching/ research relationship... One problem is that due to this new pseudo-corporate structure, university departments that do not have the same facilities as a more established department will be subject to a lower rating, struggle to attract researchers, struggle to make impact and overall, receive less funding.
The government is reluctant to spend money on research that does not have an economic impact. Of course, it is perfectly understandable that the government want to know what they are putting their/ our money into. Yet research that has a demonstrable economic goal will be lapped up by the private sector and this approach may also quash the serendipitous results that have been the muscles of research impact. Is this method of assessment also killing off curiosity? Frankie Boyle joked about scientists investigating how many fruit pastilles it took to choke a kestrel but academic freedoms are being limited. Research that may not give us any economic payback but further our understanding may become redundant. My romantic view of universities and research is slowly dwindling, maybe I'm just growing up? I hope not.
I do have sympathy for the arts and humanities. Science and engineering can prove themselves a lot easier in this system (We will cure bunions vs we will give you a history of them.) As much as I voice my fears and concerns, I struggle to offer a good solution that satisfies all.There is much more and many other issues to discuss with this subject.
We need to give our academics more credit, however, and not think the end is completely nigh. I have never known a research budget to go strictly to its grant proposal and this trick of juggling funding has been the means of a lot of successful research.
Tuesday 11 May 2010
moving on.....
well, the tories are in............ so lets get back to the science.
In six weeks time i will be attending the annual International Geobiology workshop, held by USC and sponsored by none other than the Agouron institute, NSF and NASA to name a few. The course allows 20 young scientist from around the world to attend an intensive 5 week introduction to early earth evolution, mixing field work, lab work and a lecture series into this extraordinary course.
The problem/challenge i've found i've always wanted help with was getting ideas into making travel fund applications stand out, especially when in times of hardship it may be that some funding is getting cut in societies and research councils. I've always wanted to start a good comprehensive list of places for young geoscientists to look to help with funding, so as its my blog, im gonna do it!
Previous societities i have been successful with, and who have been extremely helpful with all my requests in the past include:
UKRC- Women in SET - Travel/Training Grants
British Mass Spectrometry Society - Student Travel Bursaries
Geochemical Society - for help attending Goldschmidt conference
Mineralogical Society - Travel Grants
i'll add more as i go along, feel free to mention more and ill keep adding to the list! ill make a separate list for other science funding too
Axxx
In six weeks time i will be attending the annual International Geobiology workshop, held by USC and sponsored by none other than the Agouron institute, NSF and NASA to name a few. The course allows 20 young scientist from around the world to attend an intensive 5 week introduction to early earth evolution, mixing field work, lab work and a lecture series into this extraordinary course.
The problem/challenge i've found i've always wanted help with was getting ideas into making travel fund applications stand out, especially when in times of hardship it may be that some funding is getting cut in societies and research councils. I've always wanted to start a good comprehensive list of places for young geoscientists to look to help with funding, so as its my blog, im gonna do it!
Previous societities i have been successful with, and who have been extremely helpful with all my requests in the past include:
UKRC- Women in SET - Travel/Training Grants
British Mass Spectrometry Society - Student Travel Bursaries
Geochemical Society - for help attending Goldschmidt conference
Mineralogical Society - Travel Grants
i'll add more as i go along, feel free to mention more and ill keep adding to the list! ill make a separate list for other science funding too
Axxx
Thursday 6 May 2010
The morning after.......
well, we are heading to a hung Parliament! I can see the benefits of this system especially when it really would represent the views of everyone within the country, rather than a very slim majority...
so a definite hung Parliament, but does this mean a fair vote or infighting with no decisions being made........
Policies in all parties seem to focus around 1. the better education of school stage students in SET subjects by relocating funds for better science teachers, by removing the golden handshake deal young teaching students receive and replacing this incentive with the payment of student loans in an effort to retain teachers to stay in the profession for longer......
2. ensuring budgets to research councils are maintained over a multi-year arc in order to encourage and maintain a level climate for the next term, and engaging in the Haldane principle that allows research monies to be allocated where science experts believe it best to be utilised, not determined by the government. Both Lib Dem and Conservative seek to freeze the REF assessments in order to assess the advantage of linking university funding to research, and the impact this has on blue skies research at a basic level.
The importance of women in science and research has also been focused on, with a push from the lib dems to increase the support for young female students looking to take up SET roles within universities, with also support and research into the gap between young female scientist requiring to take career breaks, and the impact this has on career.
Questions remain over other factors such as the widely publicised closure of science departments are the country with less enrollment into physics and chemistry than ever before. This leaves the community in limbo, as a cycle of weakening recruitment from school level to university level to postgraduate and doctoral level leaves a gap in experienced, knowledgeable, motivated scientists which will drive the field on. there is a split between encouraging PHD projects to become more industrial friendly, with a wider application to entrepreneurship, but there must also be a focus on those willing and motivated to stay within the confinds of a university research laboratory pushing the bounds of pure science. Would it not be sensible to engage the separation of those willing to lecture and those who intend to stay in research and support each individually?
the next days are to make very interesting waiting..............
so a definite hung Parliament, but does this mean a fair vote or infighting with no decisions being made........
Policies in all parties seem to focus around 1. the better education of school stage students in SET subjects by relocating funds for better science teachers, by removing the golden handshake deal young teaching students receive and replacing this incentive with the payment of student loans in an effort to retain teachers to stay in the profession for longer......
2. ensuring budgets to research councils are maintained over a multi-year arc in order to encourage and maintain a level climate for the next term, and engaging in the Haldane principle that allows research monies to be allocated where science experts believe it best to be utilised, not determined by the government. Both Lib Dem and Conservative seek to freeze the REF assessments in order to assess the advantage of linking university funding to research, and the impact this has on blue skies research at a basic level.
The importance of women in science and research has also been focused on, with a push from the lib dems to increase the support for young female students looking to take up SET roles within universities, with also support and research into the gap between young female scientist requiring to take career breaks, and the impact this has on career.
Questions remain over other factors such as the widely publicised closure of science departments are the country with less enrollment into physics and chemistry than ever before. This leaves the community in limbo, as a cycle of weakening recruitment from school level to university level to postgraduate and doctoral level leaves a gap in experienced, knowledgeable, motivated scientists which will drive the field on. there is a split between encouraging PHD projects to become more industrial friendly, with a wider application to entrepreneurship, but there must also be a focus on those willing and motivated to stay within the confinds of a university research laboratory pushing the bounds of pure science. Would it not be sensible to engage the separation of those willing to lecture and those who intend to stay in research and support each individually?
the next days are to make very interesting waiting..............
*ELECTION!!!!!*
here we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
..................... Labour win in Houghton and Sunderland South!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
one down, 649 to go.
so who says what........ive tried to compile a list of each parties science policies.......
..................... Labour win in Houghton and Sunderland South!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
one down, 649 to go.
so who says what........ive tried to compile a list of each parties science policies.......
*ELECTION!!!*
.......its a miserable night for an election, im cosied up in bed watching the bbc 1 coverage!
bets are on.
Even though there have been debates over the debates, making the party leaders personable has been key to engaging youth into politics, X Factor? yes, Increasing youth votes? DEFINITELY!
i wonder how much the BBC spend on those awful graphics.........
Exit pole says Hung Parliment!!!! conservative in!!!!! labour into second, libdems into third.......
now for proper results please.
Will the maccams be the first constituency in with the count?!
bets are on.
Even though there have been debates over the debates, making the party leaders personable has been key to engaging youth into politics, X Factor? yes, Increasing youth votes? DEFINITELY!
i wonder how much the BBC spend on those awful graphics.........
Exit pole says Hung Parliment!!!! conservative in!!!!! labour into second, libdems into third.......
now for proper results please.
Will the maccams be the first constituency in with the count?!
final countdown.....
well..........the time is finally here!
in just under one hour polling stations across the land close and a maddash of counting begins, heralding what is being seen as one of the biggest changes to british politics in over 30 years. It is a time of mass enthusiasm from a young generation who are finally being engaged into the world of politics, being made aware of who does what for our country and why, and personally i have never been included in so many discussions about politics in all the years ive been able to vote (ill keep that one secret...), and i have never had felt such strong will to vote from this countries youth, its an exciting time indeed.
along with stong feelings and enthusims comes stong divided opinions on the right leaders for this country. it would be improper to blog from a bias point of view, but more pressing is the need to discuss the importance of these parties views on Science, Engineering, Technology, British Research Council funding, University Research funding and jobs for young science graduates.
ill be posting throughout the night (whilst writing my thesis) about the main policies Labour, Lib Dem and Conservatives have dicussed in recent debates.
What i can tell you from young researchers and scientists within my community is that people are worried for the future of research, about funding cuts and the place britain will retain in an international community of science. but as long as there are strongly opinionated people will for a positive change to happen, a new generation of scientists may be the strongest to come out of britain yet!
Ax
in just under one hour polling stations across the land close and a maddash of counting begins, heralding what is being seen as one of the biggest changes to british politics in over 30 years. It is a time of mass enthusiasm from a young generation who are finally being engaged into the world of politics, being made aware of who does what for our country and why, and personally i have never been included in so many discussions about politics in all the years ive been able to vote (ill keep that one secret...), and i have never had felt such strong will to vote from this countries youth, its an exciting time indeed.
along with stong feelings and enthusims comes stong divided opinions on the right leaders for this country. it would be improper to blog from a bias point of view, but more pressing is the need to discuss the importance of these parties views on Science, Engineering, Technology, British Research Council funding, University Research funding and jobs for young science graduates.
its hard to deciefer how wide and varied parties will spread their science policies, it is important to remember the area covers all manor of scientific disciplines; drug control, ethics of stem cell research, the environment, climate change and of a more local issue , flooding, nuclear power and energy.....the list goes on....
ill be posting throughout the night (whilst writing my thesis) about the main policies Labour, Lib Dem and Conservatives have dicussed in recent debates.
What i can tell you from young researchers and scientists within my community is that people are worried for the future of research, about funding cuts and the place britain will retain in an international community of science. but as long as there are strongly opinionated people will for a positive change to happen, a new generation of scientists may be the strongest to come out of britain yet!
Here is a fantastic link to a website arguing the case for the ScienceVote http://blog.sciencecampaign.org.uk/
Ax
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