Soap-making fast, internet slow..

AT LAST! My name can be up there with Bear Grills, Ray Mears and Crocodile Dundee-soap from the most basic of materials and simplest of methods has been achieved. Not that I am claiming the invention, I’m just pretty chuffed I managed it.
Initially i had hoped to make soap from banana skins but this wasn’t as simple as first thought. First of all, unless I turned into the banana version of BubbaGump (banana salad, banana cocktail, banana soup...) I was never going to eat enough bananas. Secondly, storing all the banana skins was leading to my own fly farm and thirdly (and most importantly), the villages that we go to don’t have access to bananas. In fact, there was not much around in the way of fruit.
What the villages do have a lot of is hardwood ash. Mapani wood is used to fuel the fires and also gives off a wonderful incense like scent. We also use this wood on clinic to cook our food and so I have been collecting this once cooled to experiment with back at base.
After a few conconctions, some hard learnt lessons about fumes and some good luck I finally made a brown, pretty solid soap! If anyone wants the recipe, email me or message on the blog and I will send it. I have had to work in the very scientific cups for measuring to be able to replicate this in the bush but definitely hoping to develop this when I get back.
I passed my new found knowledge on to a group of 16 year old Zambian school kids. This was a very different teaching experience; the language barrier, the children are ridiculously well behaved and also they have not had any science lessons at this point in their education. However, what they lack in science knowledge they more than made up for in insight asking me great questions about health. I started with a deep breath knowing that science is a cruel mistress and may not work on demand. Once those frothy bubble came about, the kids were more than impressed and I could stop sweating! The school kids are now thinking of setting up a little enterprise, making soap for the village shop so hopefully they will learn business skills too. It’s exciting for me to see the project being taken on and developed by the kids.
My next group is going to be community health workers. These are people who are nominated to help the community to be healthy and as a port of call when someone is sick. Hopefully they are not too disappointed when they find out we are making soap and not soup, like they did last time (the home economics teacher turned up).

Update Part III: Science Girl in Zambia

So update nearly over! I am writing these posts from Livingstone, Zambia where I will be based for the next 6 months. All will become clear....
I have been given a great opportunity to take a leave of absence from my post-doc to work for a medical charity called On Call Africa (www.oncallafrica.org.uk) . This charity will provide mobile medical clinics, health education and try to improve the links with government, district offices and the rural medical outposts that we will be working in. My role will be to provide a basic lab facility which will function by using rapid tests. Not having a huge understanding of these tests, diseases, conditions it’s going to be a huge learning curve. I will be updating the charity website so if you want to find out more about that then please check it out. A lot of these villages are extremely remote and are very limited with regards to resources. A village I visited yesterday (Mapatezia) is only a 6 hour drive from a bustling city with shops and restaurants but because the “road” is so poor and transport is non-existant, little can get in or out, including soap. This is important as we want to provide health education so this is where my chemistry knowledge comes in. Well, I should be more honest than that..my chemistry have-a-go attitude and contacts. Through the networking breakfast, I have been put in touch with two chemists, studying PhDs in St Andrews. They are also establishing their soap making company, Darcy & Lola.
Over the next few months I hope to be updating you with my science adventures, as I try, with the generous help of Su and Lisa from Darcy & Lola, develop a soap using as basic materials as I can. Experiment number one: can I make potassium hydroxide out of banana skins and what can I contain it in? Remember everything has to be recreated in the villages so nipping down to Maramba market to get a stainless steel pot is out. Have a good think, you have time as internet access is not so easy. Then let me know your suggestions!

Update Part II: Science and the (Glasgow) City

A previous blog or two, I mentioned that, as part of IYC 2011, myself and some colleagues would be attempting to host a networking breakfast for women. It was a great success, we did get the freebies from the RSC as well as veet, tunnocks wafers, IYC badges, Glasgow nail files....Although our internet link with the University of Limerick failed, our own presentation and workshops (Women in Business and Women in Interdisciplinarity) were very successful.
Originally, we had thought we could get 250 people to come, then we cut it to 100 after some advice and costs. Seven days before ‘show time’ we only had 6 people sign up to it. Six. [Insert small panic.] Disappointingly not one of those 6 was a female academic from our own institution. After an aggressive advertising campaign, we had 96 people signed up by the end of the week and we breathed a huge sigh of relief-re-enactments from The Apprentice avoided. We did get a female academic attending for a brief while but what I don’t understand is why was it so difficult to get people to come. Was it because of the dreaded word ‘networking’ or was it because it was advertised as a ‘woman’s event? I personally loved the idea of women trying to support each other or just celebrating their position as a woman in science. Although every feedback form gave high praise some revealed that they would have preferred if there had been a similar event with men. Another said “this event has not changed anything.” What was the expectation? Overall, I think the workshops and discussion groups highlighted the problems that women felt they faced (some even admitted that we contributed to) and areas where action needed to be taken so maybe that has changed something. A discussion to generate an initiative and support is much better than an initiative on its own.

Update Part I: TerrificChem!

It’s been a while I know but where to start? It’s been a ridiculously awesome two months for science, girls and rocks! I will start at the beginning, with part one, which is the adventure of PacificChem 2010.
Once every five years this heeowwge conference is held and I had drawn the short straw and was forced to go to Hawai’i to attend it. Slightly overwhelming, approximately 250, 000 people attend this conference and are treated to great science, entertainment in the name of science and the opportunity to pop down to the beach between lectures.
I saw one of my science heroes, Prof Stephen Lippard, deliver a lecture with the backdrop of Waikiki beach. I had a sore face from smiling at him like he was Mother Theresa-I must have looked deranged but he seemed perfectly used to it. Quote of the conference :“My aim is to cure just even one person of cancer before I leave this planet.”
I could go on and I will drop stories in throughout my blogs no doubt (just to rub it in your safety specs!) but one chance encounter did leave me thinking...I bumped into an old colleague (who will be endearingly called The Nefarious Dr L ) and we decided to catch up over dinner with his other workmates. He now has a fantastic job in a sun soaked country and living his science dream. Upon trying to find out how he bagged this job, he said it was due to networking. Deciphered, this meant going out on the lash at conferences with lecturers. Now there is no doubt that The Nefarious Dr L is extremely intelligent and deserves said job but could I ever find myself in the same position; getting gin soaked with Prof Lippard to build a bond, pardon the pun? In short no, I don’t think so and don’t think I’m about to go on tirrade about women should allowed to get drunk and not get judged, not at all, but maybe there could be some sort of other opportunities to build relationships for those that cant hold their liquor- is it possible? Or is a wee imbibement required to let the PPE come off and really get to know the ones you want to work with? And that leads me nicely to installment number two...Women Sharing a Chemical Moment in Time: Glasgow.

Women Sharing a Chemical Moment In Time 2011

2008: The international year of the potato, 2009: The international year of natural fibres, September 19th, 2010: International talk like a pirate day and now 2011: The international year of chemistry!
I definitely want a slice of this action. I am immensely proud to be a chemist so one day whilst perusing the RSC news (Hello? Goodbye!, Closer? Back off! Cosmo? CosNo!), we saw that networking breakfasts were being held all over the world so that women could share a chemical moment in time. (http://www.chemistry2011.org/participate/activities/show?id=37) The credit has to go to a PhD student who I will now refer to as Pyro, who thought than rather attend one, we should hold one! So far we have assembled a crew of savvy lady chemists across the pharmacy and chemistry departments. Comparisons have been drawn to the first few episodes of the apprentice; there is probably the same amount of intolerable squawking BUT this squawking is going somewhere, it makes sense, it’s met with squawks of approval and we won’t charge you £1.82 for a bread roll.
Last week, we established the who (preferably chemistry ladies from all backgrounds, but boys are allowed), what (pastries, yes and a talk about Marie Curie and another from a contemporary woman in science, a goody bag (squawk!)), where (Glasgow) and why (bringing us ladies together for cakes and chemistry of course!). And now for the how....This is the difficult part. How are we going to cover our costs, meet our deadlines? If we build it, will they come?
In terms of advertising support, we’ve had a great response (please see this issue of RSC news) and as an event, people seem interested. I also couldn’t ask for more from our departments who have made technical and financial pledges. Next time, I hope to report that we are overwhelmed with tunnocks teacakes, the costs have been met, Michelle Mone is giving a talk on the chemistry of the Ultimo and our goody bags are rammed with Veet, Green & Blacks hot chocolate and those RSC temperature scale/ periodic table thingys. Watch this space!

Do more with less? Really?

Just a month after Vince Cable gave his ‘do more with less’ speech about science budget cuts, the Nobel Prize for medicine went to British scientist, Robert Edwards, for his pioneering work on IVF treatment. Also,the Nobel Prize for physics has been awarded to a researchers from the University of Manchester, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov who were reported to have used a block of carbon and some sticky tape to create sheets of carbon, a single atom thick, called graphene. This material has extraordinary strength as well as other unique properties.(Science, 2004, 306, 666-669)
Would this research have been approved had Vince Cable been in charge of the science budget then? Well maybe, it sound pretty cheap but aside from this, this ‘basic research’ has yielded results that will have an economic return for Britain as well as providing the basis for a lot of interesting science.
Some would say that it was despite of and not because of our research funding system, that Britain has fared well in the honours. Whilst 30 % of UK GDP comes from science and technology intensive areas, only 0.55 % of GDP is invested back into research.

Whilst other countries such as India, China and the USA are investing in science to improve the economy, Vince Cable has said that tax payers should only back research that will have an economic return or is academically exceptional. I have tried to find out what the criteria for this is but I am not entirely sure. Dr Cable alludes to investing in intellectual property, regenerative medicine, plastic electronics, fuel cells and composite materials. He also highlights the importance of immigration. I don’t really understand how exactly we will attract world class scientists, if we can only give them pocket money to work with.

And what are the choices for scientists already in the UK:

• Leave?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/sep/30/science-research-spending-cuts

• Do nothing?

• Make diamonds out of tequila? (Darn it)
http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0806/0806.1485.pdf

I understand that it is difficult for those that require support from the government e.g. cutting winter fuel allowance for the elderly that investment in science may not give a return before the snow sets in but we invest so little just now anyway, does it have to be a case of one or the other? Pulling funding from science will ruin the momentum that has already been invested in current research. It is encouraging to see on the ‘Science Is Vital’ petition that has been launched to try and protect science funding so many people signed up that are not scientists and that non-scientists appreciate the impact that research has on all our lives. And with that I urge you to go to the ‘Science is Vital’ website and add your name to the list.
http://scienceisvital.org.uk/

Science Mis-communication?

Down the pub of a Friday evening and I get chatting to a biology teacher. I explain what it is that I do, we have a bit of science chat and he asked if I would come and speak to his pupils about being a research scientist 1) because a lot of his students only take science to get into medicine and 2) because I was so enthusiastic.
This made me think a number of things:
A. How often outside of work or a classroom do I chat about science (with the exception of those ‘and what is it you do ?’ moments at dinner parties/ meeting the Queen (not really the Queen))
B. I am enthusiastic about what I do when I am not in work or a classroom.
C. Do I want to go and tell a bunch of high achieving school kids to try research science instead of guaranteed well paid job of a doctor?
Let’s take these in turn.
A. I have enjoyed science communication activities for about 4 years now, giving me another forum to talk about science but it’s not something that I do ‘socially’. Recently, around a dinner table, I was asked to explain nanotechnology and broke out into a cold sweat. I wasn’t prepared, even though I have been involved with this concept for the last 6 years of my life. I got through it and think I gave them satisfactory answers but these events did make me think, it would be beneficial for scientists and the public, if we got a bit more chatty about it. So much of our research is a precious little secret but non-researchers really are interested, have great questions and to be able to break down what we researchers do into concepts that can be understood (and have confidence in this), can do wonders all round. This is something that maybe experienced researchers will nod their heads at in remembrance, “been at that stage”, the stage of fulfilling an expectation. I rather enjoyed it.
B. Generally when you speak in front of an audience, you’re projecting your voice and its quite a high energy thing. In work, you want to appear competent and enthusiastic too, so when I wasn’t in any of these modes, I was delighted when I was asked to talk to the school kids because of the pleasure I took in explaining what I do. And it’s true. Despite at times, how much I gripe about CHNs that are out, supervising students etc., I really love research. (Please don’t be sick.)
C. I always get this pang of guilt when I talk to school kids about careers. I feel like I’ve not told them the whole truth even if I do put a pro’s and con’s list in. My partner is a doctor, all his friends are doctors (just about) and they have lots of money and guaranteed work, and work that they talk about down the pub. Research may not pay as well as NHS doctors but if you love it like I do, then it really doesn’t matter. It doesn’t pay a pittance, you get out what you put in and it can take you anywhere. My worry is the lack of permanent contracts, continuous work and this is a worry that I neglect to pass on. Noone likes a party pooper and because I have my own unanswered questions about this, because I am not quite at the stage of my contract to test the job market out there, it’s something I am not ready to open myself up to. It is however, great for kids to know that there are other ways to use science to help people and have an impact.
Anyway, I will definitely be going into the school as I think it is very important for researchers to answer their public! And to show school kids other options. Research science was something I knew nothing about 12 years ago, it was the stuff of movies (namely Back to theFuture, Jurassic Park and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.)
In other news, I will be going to see Roger Tsein speak so will let you know how that goes. Ali has moved to Germany to start her post-doc which is why she has been off the radar. I’m sure she’ll be updating us soon. I have been in Zambia which made me want to write about science in Africa. This has taken longer to research than expected but hopefully this is what I’ll blog about next. If not, it’ll be my CChem PDP. All thoughts on any of these things, especially the latter, are welcome!
Sarah x

A Nobel Cause

I could aim to get my own series on BBC 2 (watching and learning Coxy) or my own snazzy radio show (I am loving Material World on Radio 4, Thursdays, 16.30) but why aim so small? I want the respect and favourable notoriety of no less than a Nobel Prize. I want scientists screaming for me and holding their ears, throwing their GSK solvent impurities table at me to autograph...
It’s not the 10 million Swedish Krona that attracts me, nor the personal diploma and not even the bling of the medal: it’s that I have fulfilled the requirements to be awarded the honour. The Nobel Prize for Chemistry is awarded for ‘the most important chemical discovery or improvement.’

Now as an early career researcher, I think it would be rather nano-minded of me to think that I was working on the most important chemical discovery/improvement (well, I’d be stupid to say it out loud) so I need to work on how to fast track myself to getting my nitrile gloved hands on the prize. After a little bit of research, I have made a short list of how to improve my chances.
• Get involved with a group of people that are within sniffing distance of the most important chemical discovery or improvement but only if that group has a total of two people in it. A Nobel Prize cannot be awarded to more than 3 people. Must still be nice to get an acknowledgment though, eh Rosalind?
• Must stay alive, at least until you been notified of your award.
• Must get more manly. This could be tricky but only 4 women have won the award for Chemistry so need to get those odds up.
• Must get more American. I have more chance of getting manly; my New Yoik accent is not great.
• A middle initial seems to help. I gave myself one of these on publishing, to make my rather common name slightly less common.

I have went from Sarah and become Sarah D. Behold the difference.

Roger Y. Tsein, American, Nobel Prize winner 2008, is giving a talk in Edinburgh as part of the Faraday Discussion 149 conference in September. Perhaps I will go and be inspired. Must pack sharpie and solvent impurities table, just in case.

What's new pussy cat?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/25/oscar-cat-artifical-paws-pioneering-surgery

I read this article and just marvelled at the wonder of science, medicine, engineering. The cat might look slightly like something out of Terminator 2 but I just love how they called this article 'Kitten Heels'.


Sarah

"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?"

Much and many developments in the life of this science girl and I will divulge them in somewhat chaotic order, with the only common thread that is me....
• Paper trail: I submitted a paper recently-ish. This was based on work that I completed in my PhD and every word I wrote myself. The real learning curve was trying to put it in paper format and submit it. On rejection (sniff, sniff but no real surprise), I had to reformat it for another paper. Piece of cake, I thought. An old hand at it now, I scoffed. Yet another ruddy rigmarole was the reality. Why is it so hard? Why are there so many rules? Why if I downloaded one template, does my laptop become fiercely loyal and refuse to work with others. Anyway, watch this space to see if it gets published.
• Career Development Course: As mentioned in networking instalment of blog, I went to a course which wasn’t right for me but I did see it helping other people that had turned up. I met a career advisor who had come to observe the course. I spoke to her about my lack of experience working outside of UK, outside of Glasgow! She told me about exchanges funded through the Royal Society of Edinburgh (these have established links with existing universities) and the Royal Society-links have been added. I am very lucky to have a supervisor that gives my ideas consideration and is supportive of my proposed secondment. I am now making a list of people that I would like to work with, or a skill I would like to learn.
• Knowledge Exchange: Today I am off to find out about becoming a project champion for technology that has been patented by the university. The government, as spoken about in last blog, wants universities to commercialise more of its technology and has allocated money to train up post-docs to help with this. It does sound like a great opportunity for me and my C.V.-I will be learning parts of the masters in business, will be networking, learn more about I.P. etc. I am just worried that I am taking on too much! Will go along today and take it from there.
• Serendipity: Don’t you just love it when things work and you don’t know why, you don’t know how and ultimately you don’t really care. Due to some random boiling water I had on the go, I managed to make the compound I have been in a rut with for months. Delighted. Now writing paper.
• Oh! I’m going to Hawaii: Abstract got accepted for Pacific Chem 2010. Hawaii here I come...if I can figure out how to book it all and pay. Ruddy Hawaii-YAAAAAASSSSS!!!!
• Global Poverty Project: A friend of mine studied economic development and hosted a presentation called 1.4 billion reasons. This had a profound effect on me and it wasn’t all happy clappy, wasn’t pictures of people dying of starvation, wasn’t a plea for money. I don’t want to give too much away but maybe encourage you to have a look: http://globalpovertyproject.com/. Yet again, I spoke to my boss this time about the possibility of me taking unpaid leave to do something to contribute to the fight against poverty and yet again, my super boss said yes! Having being given the gift of time, I need to think about using this wisely.
Updates will follow on all of the above!
Sarah

writingwritingwriting

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

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

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.

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.

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

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..............

*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.......

*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?!

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.

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

Voting scientifically

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/24/bad-science-evidence-voting

Ben Goldacre highlights some ways of disseminating data to help those struggling to decide who to vote for.

He also points out what a plonker David Cameron is.

Jack of all trades and master of none?

Things you may not know about me: I speak a little french, I have attended acting classes, I have taken a short course in swedish massage, I have a cooking magazine subscription, I have just started sewing classes (so I can do dress making in Summer), and plan on starting a DIY course in October. Or I am a bilingual drama queen with strong hands that does a mean morrocan chicken, wearing old cushion covers as a shirt, eyeing up your plumbing. But am I any good at any of them or does being distinctly average at many things give me the upper hand?

I mention all this with reference to interdisciplinary research projects. A recent survey published in Science Careers (L. Bonetta, The Evolving Post Doctoral Experience, Science Careers, 2009) revealed many interesting statistics which I could blog lyrical about. The one that struck me the most was that 39% of supervisors said that there current postdoc is what they would consider 'outstanding.' Now Science Careers say that 'only 39%' are considered outstanding and I'm not sure personally if that over a third being outstanding is a bad or good number. The point that they made is that this was a drop from the previous survey in 2007 from 45 %. One explanation for this drop was explained by David Kreil, Boku University, Vienna, "It is rare to find postdocs with really strong skills in both life sciences and in a technical area."

Is it right that postdocs should not been deemed excellent because they are no longer specialists but gleaning a limited amount of various skills across disciplines? Is this not the fodder of grant proposals and the aid to a flurry of ideas? Should there be a more factory line process e.g. chemist, biologist, pharmacist, it didn't work, start again?

With regards to my own research, I think it is imperative to understand my work completely, to create a flow of good ideas and how the research translates. Being capable of doing that to the level I want to is extremely challenging. I have tried attending undergraduate pharmacy classes but it is not always possible to fit them in and I have been trying to read pharmacology and physiology textbooks (Cheers G-is the liver really that important?). I need to be realistic about what I need to know, form some questions, talk to the specialists and hopefully get pointed in the right direction.

My biggest worry about being a jack of all trades is when the time comes to move to a new job: sum yourself up in 3 words...'good all rounder.' Employable?

I particularly like knowing a wee bit about all the areas to do with my research. My task over the next 2 years is to become outstandingly non-specialised!

Sarah