I am extremely passionate about science outreach and public engagement. I have taken part in numerous events such as the Brain Box and Pint of Science and have led and coordinated outreach activities including a Skype lesson, the Beautiful Mind team at Manchester Pint of Science and numerous school visits. Here’s a short summary:

 Pint of Science

Pint of Science is an international festival taking place over 3 nights every year in 150 cities around the world. Pint of Science brings the latest cutting edge research to local pubs in the form of exciting talks and activities aimed at the general public.

I took part in organising Pint of Science in 2015 then took on a leadership role in coordinating the Beautiful Mind team in 2016 bringing world-leading research on epilepsy, addiction and suicide to the fore at a pub in central Manchester.

 

School talks

I’ve always found one of the most rewarding parts of my job to be outreach in local schools. I have attended to numerous local schools presenting my research in ways that can keep children energised but can also be suitably informative. Finding the combination of learning and fun is a hugely enjoyable challenge!

 

 

 

Work experience and Skype lessons

Getting out to schools is great but you can’t really show them how it’s done. We like to get plenty of schoolchildren into the lab to show them how it really works and even get them involved in research! Unfortunately not all schools have the opportunity or budget to visit the lab. However, what most schools do have is a projector, a webcam and an internet connection so we bring the science to them in the form of Skype lessons! I have run a hugely successful pilot of this and am currently aiming to do more to engage children who would otherwise be left in the dark on scientific research. The next Nobel Prize winner might well be out there!!