Has blogging changed science writing?

I gave a talk to students on the Science, the Environment and the Media course at American University this week. The actual talk was a reasonably long and sprawling event, so I’ve pared it down a bit for this blogpost. There’s an oft-made joke that the answers to questions in headlines is always ‘no’, and … Continue reading »

Considering science and children

I did my PhD on children’s science books. I happen to think children’s interactions with science – and the way adults decide to build such interactions for them – is a fascinating area of social analysis. I hope to spend much of the next few months (while I’m on research leave) going back to this … Continue reading »

Science Top Trumps

This is a picture of my small collection of science-themed Top Trumps. It’s one of those things you only remember you own when you are moving house (I have just packed up my possessions to store while I spend two months in North America*). Top Trumps, if you haven’t heard of it, is a card … Continue reading »

What’s this public ‘engagement’ with science thing then?

This is a linked-up blog-version of a talk I gave for Imperial’s grad school. It’s all basic stuff, but I hope it’s useful. A few months ago, a colleague asked for my ‘top ten tips for public engagement’. My first response was a bit curt, I only had three: There is no such thing as … Continue reading »