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Showing posts with the label post-doc science communication

Social Media and the PhD

I am a social media lover. I love using twitter , facebook and I am even getting the hand of Google +..  In November I am going to be speaking at the PhD Journey conference (set up by students, for other students)  in Aberdeen about social media and the PhD.  I have done a number of things that simply would not have happened if social media did not exist. Like being invited to be an official blogger at an international conference (that also helped me raise money to attend the conference, and present some of my research work). I have also been able to keep up to date with research and network using social media. I wanted to share a couple of ways in which using social media can help during the PhD. Including the use of support networks like #phdchat , #ecrchat and twitter journal clubs.  I don't want to bore people with stories just about me so I wanted to know if people were willing to share any of their success stories, or find out what/why people have diffic

Does the PhD process need changing?

Just so you are aware, there is a conversation happening on the Nature Soapbox Blogs website and on twitter hashtag #phdelta about the PhD process and if it needs changing. There are lots of reflections, thoughts and comments coming into the debate. I have written a post about science communication and the PhD and this has sparked the question, should science communication activities be compulsory in a PhD? You can read it here . Also, I spotted this fab post about why blogging during the PhD is good and how to get started :-) Join twitter. If you need help getting started with twitter, this might be useful !

Prove it in 30 Seconds

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Can you explain an aspect of our world in motion in 30 seconds? My friend and fellow PhDer Gina Maffey can.. If you enjoy the video, please 'like' it on youtube to help support her in the  British Science Assiciation's Prove It! competition. It was filmed on Aberdeen beach. You can find more about Gina here  and she is on twitter @ginazoo and is also part of the Au Science Magazine team :-) This competition was set for National Science and Engineering week and is open for anyone to submit an entry!

Cosmetic Science - Looking Behind the Formulations

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Beauty is big business. You may snigger at the promises in cosmetic adverts but in reality the majority of cosmetic manufacturers take science very seriously. Procter and Gamble, the biggest consumer goods company in the world, invest $2bn yearly into research and development of consumer goods. L’OrĂ©al, the biggest cosmetics company in the world, employ over 3,000 researchers around the globe and have a grant programme specifically designed to support female scientists. Science is at the heart of these companies, and it shows in their financial reports. They encourage and invest in scientists and research in the hope of making the next great breakthrough. The biggest areas of growth for the cosmetics industry are developing markets, male cosmetics and the ever-ageing world population. The L’Oreal annual report from 2010 estimates that the global cosmetics market is worth 144 billion Euros and of that, 32% is skincare. If these manufacturers could crack the science and inven

How to get involved in public engagement / science communication if you are a PhD student / post-doc

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I see/hear get asked this question quite a lot, here are some tips and some examples of things I have been involved with  Periodic Table cupcakes at the Freshers Fair 2011 for Au Science Magazine 1) Before you do anything , find out what public engagement and science communication activities are already going on at your university/place of work and in your area. There are a number of ways you can do this. Search the Internet , find out if there are any bloggers/tweeters in your area. Find out if there are any meet ups/tweet ups scheduled (usually advertised on Facebook and Twitter) Get on google, find the bloggers, tweet them, message them, comment on blogs you find interesting. I have found that the sci blogging and Internet community are very friendly and incredibly helpful Car Boot Science at Techfest Aberdeen 2010 Find out who the key people are in your area (by key, I mean the ones with lots of connections and ones that organise events and know what is going on) Spe