Stempra newsletter - Summer 2010
From the Chair
Katrina Nevin-Ridley reports on Stempra's own election results from this year's Annual General Meeting. Needless to say science featured in a big way on the agenda, babies were kissed, hands heartily shaken, it was a close-call right up to the finishing post and (almost) everyone's a winner.
News:
Upcoming events
New members
Sci Comm news
Eurochat
Feature:
In science we trust
"Climate change; give us science we trust!" rang out the Daily Telegraph, following last year's so called climate-gate affair. But how has the community responded to these calls for greater transparency? Not so well, says Bob Ward from LSE's leading climate change research institute, and the media sure aren't going to do it for us either. But is there still a chance to change our ways?
Event Reports:
Statistics; part deux
You would have thought we had learned all there was to learn
about statistics last time round. But it turns out not to be the case.
In another of our useful and informative sessions that, I assure you,
are nothing like being back at school, Stempra members found out even
more tactics for pin-pointing the accuracy of the research they're
supposed to be communicating.
Nutts about UK drug policy
Who says drug and alcohol policy is boring? Not us! At Stempra's successful and highly over-subscribed event this year, a room packed full of lucky members grilled Professor David Nutt over his clash with Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and the fallout from his equestrian-related comments. I gather we then had some wine, but to be honest I can't really remember.
Interview:
Laure Thomas, Chief Press Officer at the Department for Business
In a career that has seen her up at the crack of dawn keeping an eye on Lord Drayson's tweet-habit and challenges of promoting the business of science, Laure Thomas gives some fascinating insights into the life of a government press officer.
Last Word:
While the nation was obsessed with the election, what were you doing?
In a new section for Stempra newsletter, we have been finding out more about the secret lives of our members. It will become more of a regular feature, and you can submit your own suggestions for questions. One day we hope it will be a major BBC television series, hosted by David Attenborough.
This newsletter is edited by Laura Nelson, with help from Simon Levey
and Ruth Francis. For feedback, comments or suggestions of topics to
cover, please contact newsletter@stempra.org.uk |
