Meet the VoYS writing team
Our VoYS writing team consists of early career scientists who feel passionately about the importance of good science in public debate and wanted to get more involved in standing up for science. Here is a little bit more about them and why they think it is important for early career scientists to promote evidence and good science for the public.
Sheena Elliott
Sheena did her undergraduate degree in physics at Bath with a placement year at CERN, Geneva and then spent a year working in industry. Sheena is now finishing her PhD in Cambridge, studying semiconducting polymers. She has been involved with outreach work including being a ‘Researcher in Residence’ at a local school and demonstrating experiments on The Naked Scientists radio show.
“It is vital that scientists communicate their research to as wide an audience as possible if they expect to receive financial backing from public funds, particularly in fields which are seen as more controversial for ethical reasons or “blue sky” research where the benefits may not be so apparent. I think younger scientists have to be involved in this in order to connect with the younger community, and also to become more aware of how the public perceive their work.”
Haley Gomez
Haley has a degree in astrophysics from Cardiff University and recently completed a PhD in the origin of cosmic dust also at Cardiff. She is currently a research fellow with the Commission for the Royal Exhibition of 1851. She has been involved in media not only regarding her research but also in discussions about women in science and prospects for young scientists.
“I think it’s very important for young scientists to be involved with the media. We can provide a different point of view on research (possibly breaking stereotypes), as well as what it means to be a scientist. I also believe that the stronger the links we build between science and the media, the closer we get to the public. “
Julie Huxley-Jones
After finishing her degree in genetics at Manchester University, Julie is continuing her love of all things science by doing a PhD in molecular biology and evolution (also at Manchester). She can be contacted at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
“To be a great scientist you need to be able to communicate both your work and your enthusiasm for why you do what you do. When most people think of scientists they don’t think of younger people. This is re-enforced when science is represented in the media, usually by professors and others higher up the career path. I think communication from young scientists works on multiple levels. Firstly it begins to dispel the caricature image of the scientist (older, crazy hair, glasses!) and it can encourage other young people to do science too. It is imperative that young researchers take part in science debates, communication and representation, especially regarding the work that is being done out there as it is usually performed by them!”
Richard Newell
Richard gained his BSc in physics from King’s College London in 2004. Following this he briefly worked within the financial industry before deciding to return to King’s College to undertake a Masters in x-ray optics for which he is currently studying.
“In an increasingly technology driven society science necessarily affects all aspects of peoples lives, so any method of tackling the ongoing trend amongst the populace of apathy toward the sciences is worthwhile. Amongst the most important defenders of science and the scientific method must of course be scientists themselves, so it is good to see the voice of young scientists being presented to the general public.”
Lorna Nichols
Lorna Nichols studied for a degree in chemistry at the University of Durham. She is currently in the final stages of completing a PhD in inorganic synthetic and structural chemistry at the University of Southampton and she will start a career in scientific research and the development of household products in September.
“I think it is very important to help make science more accessible to people and to help create a greater understanding between the general public and the scientific community. Many scientific research projects are funded by public money and as scientists we have a duty to explain how this is of benefit. I believe we can help to do this by being more transparent and by communicating our research to the public using terminology that is comprehensible to non specialists whenever we get the opportunity.”
Kate Oliver
Since graduating in pathology at Cambridge University, Kate has tried her hand communicating in labs, health and education, and has now found her calling explaining animal biology at London Zoo, where she gets to see tigers every day.
“Much of the public doesn’t think ‘young scientists’ exist, preferring to imagine that the balding men with glasses reproduce themselves by some form of asexual fission. But the young scientists that you don’t see in the media can actually be the easiest for people to relate to: nearer the edge of the scientific community, more in touch with ‘normal people’. Most of us are also bursting with enthusiasm for what we do, which brings people the message that science isn’t just important, it might even be interesting! From giving fresh perspectives in debates to showing kids why science is relevant to them, young scientists can educate and entertain the public, if only we tell them we exist!”
Dr Nicola Powles-Glover
Nicola has a joint honours degree in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of London and a Masters degree in biological research methods at the University of Exeter. She studied for a PhD from the University of Reading and currently works as an investigative scientist in the Early Development Group at the MRC Mammalian Genetics Unit.
“Public engagement is a skill that is fundamental to our development but is often forgotten in general training. It is essential to ensure that public engagement work becomes an intrinsic part of a scientist’s life. I strongly believe that it is an important responsibility of our work as scientists to bridge the gap between our knowledge and the general understanding of science. Scientists need to be encouraged to be more open and accessible about their work.”
Harriet Teare
Harriet Teare is just starting her second year as a chemistry DPhil at the University of Oxford, in the research group of Veronique Gouverneur. Her research involves Fluorine-18 labelling in Positron Emission Tomography. When not in the lab she can often be found kick-boxing or on the river.
Carolyn Tregidgo
Carolyn is currently doing a PhD at King’s College London, investigating fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy and it’s applications to biomedical sciences. Before coming to King’s she did her undergraduate degree at Imperial College London and spent a year abroad in Spain completing her Masters project as part of the MSci Physics with a year in Europe. She is also the editor for the Sense About Science web based Reading Room.
“I think it is important for young scientists to get involved in public debates about science as it gives an important perspective on topical issues and encourages them to be aware of how important their work is on a wider level and how to communicate it to a wider audience.”
Alice Tuff
Alice Tuff completed a degree in cell biology and pathology at St Andrews University. She has been working as an intern at Sense about Science for the last 3 months before taking a break to go travelling. She intends to pursue a career in Science Communications.
“Everyday the public is bombarded with information about new scientific discoveries in all manner of areas which will affect their lives. It is the duty of all scientists to ensure that the best information is provided to them because public opinion can have a huge influence on scientific policies. It is easy to become so immersed in the science of a subject that we forget our results will often be thrown into the public domain.”
Sander van Kasteren
After his chemistry degree at Edinburgh University, Sander is currently in the final stages of his DPhil at Oxford University where he works in the field of carbohydrate chemistry and its implications in disease.
“We are currently living in one of the most exciting times Science has seen for a very long time. Amazing discoveries are made on a near weekly basis. Yet the non-scientific public seem not to realise, or care, about this very much at all. To a lot of people, Science is something slightly nerdy that they have spent a lot of time avoiding at school. Everybody is happy to utilise the fruits of our labours, but not to accept and acknowledge the work and sacrifice that has gone into achieving these. Giving people an understanding not just of what the amazing results are, but how amazing and challenging getting these results has actually been will hopefully teach people a new found respect and love for this beautiful subject.”
Richard Van Noorden
Richard has a Masters degree in chemistry from Cambridge University, specialising in pharmaceutical materials chemistry. He now writes for Chemistry World, the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Check out the Chemistry World blog for which Richard writes
Listen to the Chemistry World podcast for which Richard is a member of the presenting team
“I think it’s important for young scientists to communicate with the media so that science is seen as fresh, exciting, and understandable. This will encourage people to take an active interest in the scientific research shaping all of our futures.”
Dr Debbie Wake
Debbie studied medicine at Edinburgh University and has just completed a PhD looking at the role of steroid metabolism in obesity. She also masquerades in cyberspace as Dr Pod with her own science and health podcast series and writes regularly for The Scotsman newspaper. Debbie can also be found on our Contributors page.
Listen to Debbie’s weekly podcast ‘Dr Pod’
“We rely on public support and awareness of science for ongoing funding and appropriate ethical guidance. Further, good communication of science is essential to educate and change practice. We need the media for mass public communication but often feel let down when the wrong message is conveyed. Better working relations and mutual understanding between scientists and the media is required and young scientists should be encouraged to engage with the media and bring science to the public arena whenever possible.”
Petra Wark
Petra has an MSc in biomedical health sciences from Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands. She will defend her PhD thesis in cancer epidemiology (diet, lifestyle and colorectal cancer) at Wageningen University, the Netherlands in January 2007. Petra is currently working as a research fellow in cancer epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
“Even if a scientist is not interested in contacting journalists directly him/herself, I believe it is important that they are prepared to be contacted by the media as one day a journalist may just give them a ring after a study of theirs has been published. If this happens and the scientist knows what to expect and what to do and what not to do, it increases the chances of the content of their research being reflected well in the article written.”
Last updated: October 29 2007
