The Science Futures Fair is an annual event that provides a valuable platform for showcasing research and career opportunities in various scientific fields. This year, the fair was held at the UWE Bristol Enterprise Park and was attended by students across all years of study and numerous companies and professionals from across the country, making it an interesting and interactive experience for students to explore opportunities for the future.
One of the key benefits of the Science Futures Fair is that it provides a unique opportunity for students to explore different professional careers. With various stalls for students interested in fields like biomedical sciences, healthcare, and environmental sciences, there was something for everyone who attended. By interacting with different companies, I gained invaluable insights into potential career pathways.
During my visit to the Science Futures Fair, I was immediately drawn to the LearnSci stall, which showcased innovative teaching and learning resources for university science students. The team exhibiting at the stall were enthusiastic about the company and their products, and I took the opportunity to engage with them. During our conversation, I expressed my interest in science communication and digital illustration, which were well aligned with the company’s focus.
Summer Internship with LearnSci
Throughout my academic journey, I have been exploring how digital illustration can be applied in a scientific field. By creating posters and illustrations, I have honed my skills in this area. Following my interaction with the LearnSci team, I was thrilled to be offered an 8-week summer internship where I will create visual and informative media, such as infographics while working alongside the communications team at LearnSci.
Image taken from: https://www.learnsci.com/post/introducing-learnsci-our-new-brand
UWE Careers & Enterprise Session: Get the most out of Science Futures!
To prepare for the Science Futures Fair, I attended a talk organised by the Careers Team, which proved to be incredibly helpful. The preparation allowed me to develop thoughtful questions to ask the professionals and companies who attended the fair, which helped me to get the most out of the experience. By reflecting on my experiences and achievements at UWE, I was able to identify the key qualities that could be valuable to potential employers, which gave me the confidence to talk about my achievements and experiences.
Based on my own experience, I would highly recommend that students take the time to prepare for events like careers fairs. This could include researching the companies and professionals who will be attending, as well as exploring their LinkedIn pages and other social media platforms. By doing this research and preparation, students can come to the event armed with thoughtful questions and a better understanding of the companies they are interested in. This will allow them to make the most of their time at the fair and maximise the opportunities available to them.
In the Future
Attending the Science Futures Fair was an exciting and valuable experience that helped me discover potential career opportunities that I may have not encountered otherwise. Besides exploring the job and internship offerings, the fair provided a great networking platform to connect with other students in the science field. By participating in events like this, I gained a better sense of my career objectives and professional development as a student.
Overall, I strongly encourage other students to attend the Science Futures Fair in the future and to engage with the companies attending to explore the wide range of opportunities available. It’s also helpful to prepare for the event beforehand by researching the companies to make the most of the experience.
Enjoy reading and don’t forget to leave us a comment.
This article was written by Ilyssa Alagon, Second year undergraduate student in Biological Sciences at the School of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol.
If you have any question about this article or want to write for the blog, get in touch with us via LinkedIn and Twitter. You can also contact the Editor for details.
An image of people networking at an event. Imagine from Adobe Stock photos
Among the benefits of undertaking a science degree is the opportunity to network and connect with other scientists and to learn from experts in the diverse scientific fields. As students, you get to read articles published by authors from across the globe and your recommended textbooks are also written by scientists engaged in all sorts of cool stuff.
Before the days of online networking sites, apps and social media, it was much harder to connect with these leading figures and notable scientists.
What has changed?
We now have the internet and all the notable scientific professional societies have developed platforms where scientists from across the globe can connect, network and collaborate with others who share mutual interests.
Is there any value to being a member of a professional society as a student?
Yes, some of the courses on offer in the applied/life sciences field are accredited by professional bodies e.g. Royal Society of Biology, Institute of biomedical Sciences, Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences etc. For those that do not offer accreditation, there are many other benefits.
Regardless of your level of study or scientific field, it is of value to you as a student to be a member of a professional body. Firstly, it looks great on your CV and can often be a point of discussion during interviews.
Joining a professional society gives you access to magazines about the society, regular updates about events, conferences, volunteering opportunities, job opportunities and grants. Several UK societies offer summer bursaries of grants which allow second year students to undertake summer placements at their institution for about 8-12 weeks. For a student, this provides invaluable experience and many students who are successful in undertaking these internships/placements are able to demonstrate work experience and research experience on their CVs.
Better still, some of these internships lead to opportunities to present at conferences and can also contribute to published articles – imagine yourself as the author of a paper presented at a conference or on a journal article…this is for many what being a scientist is about.
For postgraduate and PhD students, professional societies play an important role in your career development.
Personally, I attribute a lot of my career progress to being connected to a wide network of researchers who I would not have been able to access without relevant professional society networking opportunities.
Several societies offer PhD studentships annually or grants for PhD students who are undergoing hardship or grants for self-funded students who need support. There are also many early career grants to help students at all levels to engage in research or scientific endeavour.
Meeting some of your scientific heroes or role models in the field is always exciting and a good reason to engage with professional bodies. I have met many of mine, I hope you get to meet yours as well through your professional society networks.
Do I need to be an expert to join?
No, many of these societies have different levels of membership starting from the student member category. This is really important as these societies and professional bodies recognise the value of having the future of the science among their ranks.
Students of today are the experts of tomorrow.
What if I don’t want to be a researcher?
Being a member of a professional society is not only relevant to those seeking research opportunities, most societies recognise that and cater for diverse member interests. While some students may not be interested in research, some may be creative or like to run school events etc. these societies welcome all types of members.
But there are many societies, how do I know which to join?
While there are many societies (which is great), for students this can also present some confusion as to which may be more relevant or not. My advice, speak to your personal tutor or your course leader and ask them to recommend a society or two based on your course or your interests. Many of your tutors are already members of professional bodies and maintain their membership.
Helping you decide
I have produced a list of professional societies (not exhaustive) which you can have a look at. If you are a student in the School of Applied Sciences, I would encourage you to chat to your personal tutor or any member of staff you interact with and ask for advice on which societies they recommend.
You may also benefit from an article I wrote years ago on why you should join a society. I include the link here for anyone who would like to learn more.
Enjoy reading and don’t forget to leave us a comment.
This article was written by Dr Emmanuel Adukwu, Deputy Head, School of Applied Sciences. If you have any question about this article or want to write a blog article, get in touch with us.
Science Futures is back! The Department of Applied Science welcomes you to our annual Science Futures fair taking place tomorrow (Wednesday 9th February 2020) online. This event brings together students and employers to discuss the diverse, wide range of roles available for life science graduates, internship opportunities, placements and more. Previously (pre-pandemic) Science Futures was held at UWE (see article) but similar to last year we will be online for 2022.
Not to worry, we have a great line up of employers engaging with our students on the virtual platform Handshake.
UWE Bristol Science Futures 2022
What to expect?
Science futures gives you (the student) the chance to ask questions, to learn about the types of roles on offer in different organisations and to ask as many burning questions that you may have about your career in the sciences or any other fields of interest. The attending organisations are sending delegates who understand what is like to be a student and are willing to provide ideas, suggestions and guidance on how you can develop your future plans and your career.
Engaging with Science futures 2022
Which organisations are attending?
We have a great list of organisations attending this year and interacting with students on the Handshake platform. They include
CatSci Ltd award-winning, fast-growing and agile innovation partner with a proven track record in developing economically and environmentally sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing processes
Cellmark provides wide-ranging, multi-disciplinary DNA and forensic casework services. In the world of forensic analytical services, the company is viewed as an innovator, with a proven international reputation for quality, reliability and service excellence.
Department for Education Get Into Teaching is a free service provided by the Department for Education to give information and advice to those who are looking at a career in teaching. The service provides expert advice and support to prepare a strong application to teacher training.
North Bristol NHS Trust the largest hospital trust in the South West of England, providing hospital and community Medical and dental care covering Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.
Black Pharma Social Enterprise with a vision to see greater representation of Black professionals across the Pharmaceutical industry. We provide support for black students, graduates and early career professionals to achieve their career ambitions.
Oncologica® provides precision oncology testing to address the growing demand for molecular profiling of cancer patients for targeted therapies and functions as a Contract Research Organisation to support biomarker and drug development programmes worldwide
SRG are a global STEM recruitment agency. We apply our specialist industry knowledge to the full spectrum of roles and talent solutions
IEMA the professional body for everyone working in environment and sustainability. IEMA supports students looking to pursue a career in the environment and sustainability sector.
Zimmer and Peacock Ltd national and international nanotechnology and biosensing company, that work on making diagnostic measurements for a variety of causes
Keyence UK Ltd world leader in Sensors, Safety, Vision, Measurement and Microscopes. Founded in 1974, Keyence has experienced rapid growth, now turning over more than $5 billion global sales per year operating on over 50% profit due to our Direct Sales model! We have been on Forbes “The World’s Most Innovative Companies” Top 100 for 8 consecutive years and hold over 300,000 clients worldwide including top blue-chip manufacturers.
This event is open to all Department of Applied Science students (undergraduate and postgraduate) including PhD students. It is also open to UWE Applied Sciences alumni. If you are or have studied any applied science courses from the department, this event is for you. The event is also open to staff who would like to engage with the attending organisations to find out more about the opportunities available in industry.
our colleagues in the careers team have also created a Wall of Work (WoW) with live job opportunities for you to apply for. Do check it out – it has lots of excellent opportunities.
We hope you have a fantastic Science Future 2022 and we look forward to connecting with you at the event
From the Science Futures organising team
To follow our updates, you can connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Remember, you can also write for us if you have any personal stories to share or any interesting Careers or Employability information.
Joseph, one of our team writers, has delivered yet another thought-provoking, inspiring article to help scientists elevate their thinking by thinking like designers. We hope you enjoy the read and challenge your thinking because of it!
Design thinking
I see design all around us, whether it be intentional or accidental, natural or human-made. Design is not limited to gizmos and gadgets, but also systems of organisation and interactions between them, the power structure when you envisage a countries parliament or a CEOs boardroom. None of these are free from the influence of design and this is shown in the Westminster system – a widely exported version of the UKs Parliament and is essentially a process for managing democracy.
Communication unconsciously utilises design: we highly regard individuals who have the ability to create patterns of language which communicates technical, emotional and spatial information. The formation, structure and material content of communication and also its quality is subject to the influence of design; therefore, in our own way, we have a major influence over the language we create. This is because everything from your laptop screen (or any other device you are reading this on), to the experiments conducted in the worlds research institutions, and the words typed on this page is the subject of, at one point or another, a design methodology.
Focusing in on academia, the processes of curiosity demand the highest quality of design as it is essential in order to create data outcomes which can withstand criticism. Therefore, the ways we create experiments, communicate visions and translate data into the real world is influenced by the ability for academics to use good design techniques at every point in the process.
As a second-year biomedical science student, I have learnt to criticise papers that haven’t been kind to the readers or left room for doubt. For me this raised the question: where does poor experimental/ paper design end and bad science begin? Was it the language, experiment, graphical abstract, spelling, use of overly technical language? – these are all things we pick out of each other’s work and rightly so – but could the creators of the science improve their work by employing a form of design methodology? I think they probably could!
I recently discovered the term design thinking. This is the process by which problems are solved by prioritizing the users of the systems needs above all else. It relies on observing, with empathy, how people interact with their environments, and employs an iterative, hands-on approach to creating innovative solutions (Graham Tuttle, 2021). As you can see, from the reference, I borrowed this definition from the WeWork website and modified it to give a more universal definition.
Now design thinking is cool because not only is it applicable to designing products, but also systems of government and everything in between. Therefore, it could, in theory, also be used to design good science and inform good practices within academic communities.
Fundamentally, design thinking is a way of designing around the human experience. There are some great books out there such as Tim Browns ‘Change By Design’ which I highly recommend keeping on hand for reference. This methodology is applicable to academics because it sets out a creative framework with certain guidelines to assure quality communication and quality development, which gives room for experimenting with ideas – all contributing to a quality end product. The obvious application of this in the sciences is in an idea that results in a human interacting product or service. More interestingly, design thinking can be applied within institutions and between scientific peers. This is because it promotes the use of prototypes, rough drawings, mimes and roleplay with a specific focus on quality communication and quality of understanding within the team – and this is a critical precursor to spectacular innovation.
Thinking like a designer encourages a process called ‘Blue sky thinking’ – where members of the group innovate without the limitations of existing technology or the stiflings of ones own thoughts. This enables free reign when tackling novel problems. Design thinking is powerful because in the ideation stages, before the processes of creation has begun, we are provided with a framework that increases the potency of a group of scientists and their highly reactive mixture of energetic ideas.
Final thoughts
I believe a take-home message of how to apply what is such a broad methodology into each of our behaviours starts with the two following questions:
Have I thought about the users and those who will interact with the idea, with regards to what I have planned or will create?
Have I collaborated, communicated, innovated and iterated to the best of my ability and used as many mediums as possible to communicate and plan?
Try to think about how colleagues and peers would engage with your ideas – are they accessible? Do they promote innovation and creativity? By asking yourself these two questions throughout the lifetime of a project, I hope you will reap some of the benefits of thinking like a designer.
Please comment some of your thoughts below – do you already employ these ideas? Let us know in the box or by sending us an email.
Thank you for reading.
By Joseph Myatt
Edited by Jessica Griffith
Joseph Myatt
Joseph Myatt, one of our writers, is a 2nd year Biomedical Sciences student at UWE, Founder and entrepreneur at WRENt.
His main field of interest/ research through university and into masters/ PhD is in relation to torpor and improving our understanding of inducing, maintaining and managing torpor and its applications within space flight and medicinal benefits.
From the editor: We love articles that challenge us, especially how we think and Joes article has done just that. Thank you for taking the time to read this and we hope you find ways to employ the nuggets you have just been given to elevate your own scientific practice (this is for students and professionals!).
We always welcome new articles and so hope you will also consider either joining our team or writing an article for us to be featured on our blog. If so and/ or you have any other queries, please get in touch via and also be sure to follow us on social media!
Enjoy the lovely summer weather (for the most part) and see you next time!
References
Featured image: Photo by Daria Nepriakhina from unsplash.
Following the March Department of Applied Sciences Monthly Employability seminar, Sophie, one of our writers, has excellently summarised and captured the essence of the talk delivered. If you are in search for or are suspecting you may need funding in the future, this article is definitely for you. Enjoy and be enriched as you read.
An essential part
Funding. The dreaded F word in the world of science and the topic of the March Monthly Employability Seminar. This talk was hosted by Dr David Fernandez – a primatologist and conservation biologist, and Dr Alex Greenhough – a cancer biologist and principal investigator on projects funded by a number of institutions, as well as being a frequent grant reviewer himself. Both lecturers were well versed in what it takes to be awarded funding, having both received grants from a vast number of various sources.
Places to start
Dr Fernandez started off the talk by explaining the different types of funding available from charities, government bodies and international organisations having various money pots. He then listed the steps for a successful proposal, which, as someone who loves writing lists, is very useful for, and of which I will keep for, any future applications (so that I can satisfyingly tick each section off one-by-one).
Writing a funding bid is all about selling your story. You are probably, and hopefully, extremely passionate about your research proposal and this is more than likely the biggest setback you are facing in launching your project. Use your passion to convince the organisation that this project is exciting, innovative and needed.
You must have a clearly defined goal that is achievable so funders can easily understand what you intend for this project to accomplish. In addition to this, there needs to be a consistent message throughout; keep your idea simple and strong – don’t let them forget what the project is about.
You also need to demonstrate your ability to prove you can actually conduct the work.Do you have experience on this topic or will you be bringing in collaborators who do? Having experts involved reassures funders that you will be able to achieve what you set out to do. Therefore, if you are just starting out in the research world, using someone who already has a name for themselves will most likely provide you with an advantage. Your budget also needs to be feasible and realistic; make sure to check what can and can’t be covered by the funding and that you can justify every expense you deem as being necessary (you may want to get some insight on this from those who have had experience with funding before).
The final few stages bring the whole bid together by making sure your writing is clear, can be understood by non-experts of this topic, and ensure that you have adhered to the grant application guidelines. This applies even to things that may seem trivial, such as using a specific font size, layout etc. Funding is almost always highly competitive and if you can’t follow instructions, you probably won’t get the funding (first impressions of your application really do matter!). Finally, linking back to the first point, be convincing. You understand why your project is one of the most incredible things in the world, but they don’t, so tell them.
Both Dr Fernandez and Dr Greenhough expressed other important factors that are required for a successful funding campaign. One examples of this is finding the right funding body. This may seem obvious, but often projects do not meet all of the funding requirements and so this will waste yours, and the reviewer’s time.
The second top tip was about writing the proposal. These things, like everything in science, take a lot of time. Everything mentioned in your bid has to have a purpose and be completely accurate. There are questions you need to ask yourself: have you met their criteria? Are there any spelling or grammatical errors? Is your proposal reasonable, realistic, and correct? Dr Greenhough reiterated all of these points in his top tips for getting funding and provided us with an insight into how the grants are assessed and why they fail. These were simple, yet crucial, things such as checking if the project has already been done or assessing whether it is unrealistic – such as when someone asked for too little money for their project!
As an undergraduate looking for a Master’s degree, information like this is invaluable. Unfortunately, from personal experience I have found it to be near impossible to obtain funding for a Master’s project. Despite this, I know there will be many times in my life where I will have to spend my evenings calculating costs and filling out forms, trying to persuade people that my project is a worthy investment.
Finding funding is a long, tedious and potentially frustrating experience. Dr Greenhough touched on the fact that you will get rejections, everyone does, but with everything in life, you have to keep persevering. This is the most important lesson I took away from the talk. Having the structure to write a funding bid is extremely important, but being prepared for reality and rejection is not only necessary, but reassuring to know it’s just an extra hurdle you have to face.
Finally, thank you to David and Alex for taking the time to share their insider knowledge, and to the Department of Applied Sciences for organising such a useful talk.
Thank you for reading.
Written by Sophie Harris
Edited by Jessica Griffith
Sophie Harris
Sophie is in her third and final year at the University of the West of England studying Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science. She is the creator of Peculiar Pangolins, a blog dedicated to all things pangolins related and has been invited to Uganda to see Chester Zoo’s Giant Ground Pangolin project.
Whilst on a six-month internship monitoring wildlife on a game reserve in South Africa, she fell in love with the world’s most trafficked mammal, the pangolin. After being fortunate enough to see one in the wild, she decided to apply to university, to help these illusive creatures. She was also the creator and President of the Wildlife & Environment Society in my first and second years.
In Sophie’s spare time she can be found in nature reserves, mostly looking for birds to add to her list, or climbing, either indoors or out, depending on the weather.
Note from the editor: Thank you for taking the time to read this article. We hope you feel more informed and assured that whilst the journey to obtaining funding in launch of your project can often take some time, with perseverance, you can successfully secure funding and lift your project off the ground.
As always, we welcome new contributions to our blog, whether it’s by sending us an article or joining our team of writers. If you are interested, please do get in touch with us by emailing ScienceFutures@uwe.ac.uk. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter!
If you’ve ever been curious about entrepreneurship or even wondered how to get started, this is the article for you! Izzy Rodriguez, one of our writers, has written an excellent summary of the key ingredients she needed and the steps she took to running her own business as an entrepreneur. We hope you enjoy the read!
Introduction
To me, a year ago, becoming an entrepreneur sounded like something you would do later in life, with considerable investments and a lot of knowledge on how to run a business. Little did I know that, one year later, I would be running my own business during university – “winging it” and learning as I go. Despite the stereotypes, business, for example, does not require middle-aged men in suits with a company car to be working ‘9-5’ in an office, but creating a profit from a single ‘side hustle’ – that’s it.
Drive and passion
Drive and passion are the two ingredients, in my opinion, required to ensure a business is successful. In my case, I wanted to educate people, young women in particular, on good nutrition and how to lose body fat sustainably.
With the rise of social media, misinformation spreads like wildfire. This happens especially in diet culture, alongside trends recommending new supplements, “detoxes”, and fitness regimes almost every second. Having become a victim of such trends throughout my teens, I felt resentment towards diet culture, which heavily impacts people’s lives and health who don’t possess the knowledge to know what is true and what is not. I decided I wanted to make a positive change and start producing educational content to try and curb the hidden epidemic of eating disorders.
Knowledge
Firstly, I needed a credible qualification and to be educated on evidence-based nutrition. Fortunately, I still had a job during lockdown and was able to save up enough money to pay for an online course.
With the extra time that resulted from the pandemic, I completed an accredited level 4 diploma in nutrition and weight-loss management and became an online nutrition coach. Whilst completing this course, I built up a social media following by posting nutrition facts, recipes and workouts on Instagram. This is where I learnt how powerful social media really was – with its algorithms favouring misinformation and diet trends, gaining followers was a slow, but steady process.
Learning and adapting
Understanding what does and doesn’t work and why is crucial for any business. In my case, I had to learn how people liked information to be presented, what content was popular and what was not. Followers tended to love my recipes but not my workouts, so I stopped posting workouts. Controversial nutrition videos tended to be more popular than food pictures, so I stopped posting food pictures. The cycle is a never-ending process and the ability to adapt, accept failures and create solutions is not easy, but incredibly important for progress.
Asking favours
During this process, the biggest thing I’ve learned is not being afraid of asking for help or favours when you need it. Having contacts skilled in areas you are not will help you in building a business.
I was lucky enough to have a friend who designed my logo for free – so I gave him some nutrition advice and recipes in return. I also had a friend whose parents own a gym; I asked them if I could set up an online nutrition course for beginners in cooperation with them. They warmly welcomed the idea (still being developed) and also gave me some valuable business advice. If you ask nicely, most people are willing to help!
Profit
The great thing about this kind of online business is that the costs are low. I also learnt that I didn’t need hundreds of thousands of followers to monetize my business, but just a few who trusted me. Afterall, I can only balance university with a maximum of four clients at a time; no number of followers would change this.
I started to think about how I could make my knowledge and services accessible to more people without giving up more of my time and decided to set up an engaging online course where multiple people could learn about nutrition and ask questions simultaneously. By doing this, I could still dedicate the same number of hours a month, but reach more people and subsequently yield a larger profit. ‘Work smarter, not harder’.
Time
The phrase “little and often” resonates with me. It’s very easy to dedicate a lot of time to your business in a rush of excitement, but to then burn out a few weeks later.
Try assigning yourself short but regular slots a week to focus on your business idea. With time, it will build up into something far more robust than you could have imagined originally. Additionally, remember you can work when it suits you best. If you work better in the evening, then do it as you no longer need to conform to the regular 9-5 system, allowing it to coincide with university or your other commitments.
Final thoughts
If you have an idea that you’re passionate about and can dedicate some time towards it, this is your sign to do it. Being an entrepreneur doesn’t have to be about making millions, but just generating an income from doing something you love. It might not be easy, but if it has the potential to improve people’s quality of life – including yours, then, in my opinion, it’s worth it.
Thank you for reading.
Written by Izzy Rodriguez
Edited by Jessica Griffith
Izzy Rodriguez
Isabela (Izzy) Rodriguez is currently in her 3rd year at UWE Bristol studying Biomedical Science. She intends to study post-graduate medicine after her degree to eventually become a doctor.
Last year, she set up an online nutrition coaching business which has become very rewarding; she also loves the perks of being self-employed as it fits around university life very easily. Izzy hopes her story of setting up a business during the pandemic will inspire others to do so aswell as a result. She is a big believer in being ambitious and that you can do anything you put your mind to.
In her free time, she enjoys triathlon training and is part of the UWE athletics and cross-country club, and the cycling club which she finds to be a great stress reliever.
From the editor: Wow! It’s really refreshing to hear another person’s perspective on entrepreneurship. It’s also great to see how productive some people have been during lockdown and encouraging that you can still accomplish things, even during a global pandemic. We hope you enjoyed the read as much as we did!
We always welcome new contributions and look forward to new additions to our team, so please do get in touch if you’re interested. To reach us, please email ScienceFutures@uwe.ac.uk. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter!
This article has been written by Grace Russell, an inspirational woman who has shown us in this article just how achievable things can be if you stay resilient in spite of obstacles that come our way. We hope you enjoy the read and that it gets you thinking about how you can progress in your own life.
Interruptions and Resilience
Eighteen months ago, I was embarking on my final year project, completing the MSci programme in Biomedical Science. I had a vision of the future. Both the future and my vision were interrupted by the Covid crisis – “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”, to paraphrase the late, great Scottish poet, Robert Burns (1759-1796). Thankfully, the project was finished before the lockdown in March 2020. However, myself and the student cohort still had to finalise and hand in several pieces of work.
It was strange not being able to meet up with my contemporaries, we usually got together every Friday, discussing our progress and intentions. We also missed out on our Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) certification, as this was a physical hand-in, which we had arranged for the end of March – a week after the first lockdown began. On top of this, our tutor also caught the infection and became terribly ill; this showed me early on that this virus could have serious implications for us all. And so, the knocks came early on in this pandemic.
Nevertheless, showing resilience in the face of adversity, under the great guidance of my mentor and supervisor, I was encouraged to continue writing and, what better subject than the focus of our previous project: molecular hydrogen and how this could benefit communities facing this unprecedented pandemic (for access to these publications please click here).
The first few months of lockdown passed quickly. I emersed myself in work, writing academic papers, job applications, and applying for research funding. Then, around the end of July, the wheels fell off, just like a clown car! I had hit the proverbial wall. My student finance had depleted weeks ago and I’d had no success applying for a position that suited my qualifications. Time to adapt. I felt my career status was in limbo. I’d applied for a PhD, using an awkward route, involving part-funding, match-funding and an awful lot of paperwork! Whilst tentatively waiting to see whether my application was accepted, I secured a part-time position in retail and am lucky enough to have worked with a great team here; friendly, supportive. On top of this, having the extra time at home gives me the freedom to survey the landscape, both literally and figuratively.
Next came the second lockdown, more time on my hands. It’s difficult not interacting with people on a daily basis and I came to realise that my motivation is inextricably linked with the social aspect of humanity. As company and sharing was limited in a George Orwell-esque fashion, I thought I should perhaps reconnect with some old hobbies. Collage was always something I have enjoyed, so I gave it a shot, but nothing ventured…! I now find collaging time consuming, messy and wholly unsuccessful, (see left). Although it was a catastrophic attempt at art and one destined for the fire pit, it did inspire me to try a different medium, paint. Painting, as a pastime, is not something I have indulged in since I was a young mum in the 90’s.
As I didn’t feel experienced enough to freestyle a landscape painting, I thought I’d look for an online class. This is where I came across the wonderful Bob Ross, a renowned landscape artist and 70’s icon famed for his “happy trees and happy clouds.” And in just one evening, I managed to produce my first landscape painting (right). Admittedly, it looks nothing like the example the YouTube tutor created, but I’m proud of it and wouldn’t turn down a holiday to my fictitious location; I could see myself camping here!
A week or two later, I thought I’d pick up the paintbrushes once again; I’d stocked up on supplies after all. I began to channel my inner bohemian and tuned in to the dulcet tones of Bob once again (see left). Another snowy mountain scene was emerging; I like to think of it as the approach to the allegorical camping ground. However, I’m not naturally one to tackle the same task twice, so after following my mild-mannered mentor for most of the picture, I decided to freestyle the last part of the painting; this involved using the mantra ‘depth, perception, darkness and light’. I managed to form a boat, a means to escape the wilderness, should the weather take a turn for the worse!
With two relatively decent paintings done, I thought I would challenge myself further and try to create a self-portrait – possibly one of the most difficult undertakings of any foundling artist (see development below!). This small project has developed into a longer-term study of human form: lighting, angles, skin tones, textures, all need to be considered. Although there is still a long way to go before the portrait is complete, it does at least bare some resemblance to myself.
Final words
In other news, I have now secured both the funding and the PhD, and another publication, in the European Medical Journal. Oxy-hydrogen Gas: The Rationale Behind Its Use as a Novel and Sustainable Treatment for COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Diseases – European Medical Journal (emjreviews.com.) So, for now it’s time to put down the paintbrushes and pick up the pipette. I hope you have enjoyed this little snippet into my world. Keep safe, well and sane, and don’t forget to let wonderful things happen!
Grace Russell Msci Biomedical Sciences, PhD Researcher, Department of Applied Science (UWE)
Edited by Jessica Griffith
Grace Russell
Grace graduated from UWE in 2020 with distinction after studying Biomedical Science (Msci) for a total of four years. She lives and works in Somerset, UK, where she has set up her own company – Avalon Research Consultancy Ltd, providing editing, manuscript formatting and proofreading and publication services.
Grace’s research interests include natural and sustainable healthcare products, including the new and emerging medical gases, molecular and oxy-hydrogen. Much of her academic focus has involved investigating the molecular mechanisms and downstream cellular effects associated both culinary herbs and the aforementioned gaseous compounds.
Grace is still waiting for the world to open up (fully), but, she has started her PhD!!
From the editor: Honestly – this is such a good read. It’s always great hearing how others are progressing as, often times, it produces fuel for the things we are also trying to accomplish. Another one from Grace!
It would be great to have more contributors, such as this one from Grace, so please do get in touch if you have an article you would like to release, or join our team of writers. Interested? Please get in touch via email – ScienceFutures@uwe.ac.uk. Also connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter!
In her first article on this blog platform, Isobel Gordon has brilliantly summarised the Department of Applied Sciences (DAS) February Monthly Employability Seminar, featuring one of our very own writers, Joseph Myatt. If you’re intrigued about entrepreneurship and how this relates to you, keep on reading!
Every Sector & Entrepreneurship
The February DAS Monthly Employability Seminar, ‘An Introduction to Enterprise’, was hosted by Callum Usher-Dodd, an enterprise consultant and lecturer at UWE and Joseph Myatt, a second-year biomedical science student and young entrepreneur.
You don’t need to be working in business or enterprise in order to be an entrepreneur. Callum defines entrepreneurship as anything that involves getting an idea, business or project off the ground, and he made it clear that any field of work or any university degree can incorporate a certain level of entrepreneurial activity. He also explained that the skills you gain from enterprise can be beneficial to any future job, in any work type; making the point that employers are always looking for people who can think and behave like an entrepreneur, even if it’s not the main part of the job.
The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) is trying to ensure that enterprise can be incorporated into all areas of the University and be available to students from all the various degree courses. This is being done in the hope that by 2030, it will evolve into a world-leading enterprise institution. As a science student, I would have never considered myself able to be an entrepreneur, however, Callum makes it clear that no matter who you are, what you’re doing or where you want to go, the skills you can gain from enterprise will always be beneficial to you.
A simple activity was carried out within the meeting, whereby the listeners were asked to draw what they saw when they thought of an entrepreneur. When asked what they had drawn, many students stated their picture included things like lots of money, businesses suits and IT equipment. Most of the students also admitted that they had drawn a man.
I too fell into this trap and straightaway envisioned the typical billionaire businessmen such as Elon Musk (Chief Executive Officer of Tesla Motors) and Mark Zuckerberg (Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Facebook). However, this rich businessman image is just what the media has portrayed the typical entrepreneur to look like; this doesn’t mean this is what you have to be in order to be one.
One stereotypical image of entrepreneurs that needs to change, is that they are normally associated with men! History has shown us that women are just as capable of entrepreneurial activity, it’s just less well-known and talked about. Marie Curie, for example, managed to integrate the world of science and business into her work with radioactivity. More recently, Nina Tandon, another female scientist, is one of the Co- Founders of EpiBone, a biomedical engineering company that creates bone tissue from patients stem cells for bone grafts. Both of these women are entrepreneurs, yet when we think of the word ‘enterprise’, we don’t associate it with them.
Entrepreneurship isn’t all about making money and building big businesses. What it’s really about is adding value to other people’s lives and making a difference! One UWE student that has demonstrated this and shown that it’s possible to be a scientist, as well as an entrepreneur, is Joseph Myatt. Whilst studying a biomedical degree, he has founded a site called WRENt, an online site with an aim to make the whole house renting process for students just that little bit simpler.
Joseph admits that he wouldn’t have been able to have achieve the founding of WRENt, if it hadn’t been for the support that UWE offers to young entrepreneurs. In 2020, Joseph was one of the few winners of the UWE Summer Enterprise Scholarship, which offered students who would win, £1,000 to bring their business or project idea to life. Despite the experience of this scholarship being virtual for Joseph, due to the pandemic, he still valued the whole experience and enjoyed being part of a community of like-minded people who he described at ‘doers’. Joseph commented that one the most valuable aspects of the programme was the mentorship that you gain from the staff at the university, as he believes ‘in the early stages, mentorship is more valuable than the money!”.
This scholarship is an amazing opportunity and is open to all students on any course and the project or idea that you pitch, can be related to anything you are passionate about. The skills that you obtain from the summer internship, will set you in good stead for any graduate job or future career you may embark on. If you feel that this is something that you would want to be involved in, or just want to find out some more information, check it out on the UWE webpage.
My name is Izzy Gordon and I am a final year Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science Student at UWE Bristol. I am currently in the process of finishing my final year research project, studying the accumulation and distribution of microplastic pollution along the South coast of the UK. Having grown up in this part of the UK, I have spent most of my life either in or by the water, and have developed a real passion for marine conservation and ocean science as a result.
This September, I hope to continue my education here at UWE, by studying a Masters in Science Communication. From this masters degree, I hope to gain the skills and knowledge to be able to educate and increase awareness surrounding the problems the marine environment currently faces. I also hope to inspire people to want to make changes that will benefit our ocean. In the future, I would love to be able to influence more young people to consider marine conservation as a possible career, and to help people appreciate just how important this environment is.
From the editor: Thank you for taking the time to read this article. We hope it has widened your perspective on the influence of entrepreneurship in every sector. We also hope it has sparked some inspiration in you, whether to become a full-time entrepreneur or bring entrepreneurship into your own chosen career pathway.
As always, we are keen to have more writers/ contributions, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via email – ScienceFutures@uwe.ac.uk and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Piotr has written yet another excellent article to explore another dimension of science; space. Many scientists dream of doing things on Earth, but if you are interested in expanding your scope and exploring your curiosity, have a read of this article as you begin your scientific journey in space.
The beginning
Biology and Space. Here we go! Launching in 3…2…1…
There is a wide array of disciplines and research areas within biological sciences, and, naturally, there are plenty of career paths that concern themselves with everything earthly. However, there is also yet another path, one that can lead you closer to space and to what may be waiting beyond our habitable planet. Like myself, you may be wondering how one gets from a biology-related course to working in astrobiology or for European Space Agency. Therefore, I will share what I have gleaned from attending January’s Employability Event, From UWE to Space, where Dr Nicol Caplin, Deep Space Exploration Scientist at ESA, shared her own experience in her science journey.
A few years ago, I learned about astrobiology for the first time. Any scientist that was described as an astrobiologist appeared to me as some sort of mistic who somehow managed to obtain the title and knowledge that seemed to be imparted within. At the time, I heard little about the discipline, yet I found it intriguing, and I have checked if there is any university offering an undergraduate course in it, yet to no avail. Nowadays, there are still very few dedicated astrobiology courses. However, there are several fascinating PhD programs across the globe. I sometimes happen to mention that I would like to work as an astrobiologist to my friends or family, and what I sometimes hear back spans from ‘Oh, you would like to meet and talk with aliens?’ to my father enquiring about ‘the alien base on the dark side of the moon’ of which he has been informed of its existence by scientists on one of those pseudoscientific documentary series one can find on TV. I then go on to explain what it is that I would most likely do, and a whole new interesting conversation takes place.
Astrobiology is a multidisciplinary scientific field and whether you study biological sciences, astronomy, chemistry, or geology, you may be able to find your own niche in this area of work. Nicol studied Environmental Sciences, taking particular interest in plants and radioactivity, and little she knew, she would end up working for European Space Agency (ESA). Unknowingly at the time, certain steps she undertook, enabled her to pursue that path.
Whether you have already set your eyes on the sky and what is beyond, or you’re still searching for what you want from your life and career, I think that Nicol could not stress enough the benefit of making the best of the time you have to complete your degree. Internships were one of the recommendations she made as an option during summertime, as they provided her with invaluable experience. Being interested in plant-related science, she completed an internship with Soil Association, an organic farming charity, in her first year and then with Plant Impact, an agrochemical company in the second year. Another option you might like to consider for your summer is The Summer Scheme, an opportunity to participate in an 8 week summer internship. Not only it will give you a chance to build your skill and confidence, but it is also a paid internship.
Nicol also mentioned another aspect of her career, namely science communication. When studying her PhD, she has decided to pick the Science Communication module, which is great in relation to astrobiology – astrobiology is often a controversial topic, quite complex in its nature and the ability to deliver it to the general public is especially important. Nicol mentioned exciting projects she partook in, among others, Q&A video for school children- Space Rocks, which involved science communication efforts in association with ESA, employing artists and figures from media; and Star Trek convention, where she delivered a presentation about ESA and astrobiology.
When it comes to getting your first experience working with European Space Agency (ESA), there are internship opportunities you can read about on ESA’s website, such as ESA Young Graduate Trainees or National Traineeships. However, bear in mind that due to their competitive nature, you may have higher chances to get your spot having completed or nearing completion of a Master’s degree. I do like to think that it is not a rule that is set in stone, and that if there is a brilliant enough mind, they will be able to land their place at such an internship even earlier. Nonetheless, it is certainly an option to consider later as an undergraduate student or aspiring professional.
I have reached out to Nicol after the talk, and she got back to me with a few more tips, putting some of my worries to rest. When starting a degree, especially through a Foundation Year, the prospect of completing it seems dauntingly distant. Nicol reassured me by saying that she herself began her studies with Foundation Year, and similarly to myself, was first in her family to access Higher Education. Being proactive and searching for opportunities throughout the whole studying period will likely yield benefits to those who invest their time and energy.
Considering that astrobiology is so broad, getting experience in many areas will allow you to later put the transferable skills you have gained to your advantage and improve your standings in recruiters’ eyes. Even if you do something that seems unrelated to astrobiology itself, like joining carting or poetry club, or a blogging team, you may still gain skills that could be translated into future roles, such as team working, team management, writing and presentation skills, etc. There are also societies and clubs outside of university that may align with your interests and which you may wish to join, and they are all but an online search away.
If you find yourself not knowing much about astrobiology, or you know someone who is eager to know more, have a look at the following astrobiology primer from NASA: https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/education/primer/ . It outlines current pursuits within the field and is directed at a young scientist who may be interested in this fascinating aspect of science.
Thank you for reading.
Written by Piotr Sordyl
Hello, my name is Piotr (I can assure you it is not as difficult to pronounce as it may seem) and I am a mature, international student on Foundation Year Biological Sciences course. I am originally from Poland, however, Bristol has been my home for over 7 years now (which sometimes makes me stagger when asked where I am from).
I take great pleasure in weaving tales, and so I have been writing and working on ideas for novels. I am interested in neuroscience, zoology, astrobiology, planetary science, to name a few and I intend to use the knowledge gained through my studies to write books, popularizing it to a wider audience.
I run roleplay games sessions for my friends, collaboratively telling stories that become alive in our shared imagination. I am also an aspiring violinist, learning how to take my first steps.
From the editors: Thank your taking the time to read this excellent article from Piotr, a great summary of one of the DAS Monthly Employability seminars. We hope this has piqued your curiosity and expanded your awareness of how much you can do in the sciences.
Please do share with those you think need some inspiration and reach out to us if you would like to share one of your interest on this blog platform. You can get in touch with us via email – ScienceFutures@uwe.ac.uk and also connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Piotr Sordyl wrote this article as a summary of the importance of science communication. If you’re looking for an exciting communication career and are passionate about science – reading this article could spark the next step for you! Enjoy the read.
Encountering Science Communication
The first time I encountered the idea of Science Communication was through wonderful books authored by Carl Sagan, an American scientist in the field of astronomy, an author, and a great science communicator. Through the explorations of tantalising topics and fascinating presentation of many reflection-inducing thoughts, his books sparked my interest in science and pursuit of the unknown. They also allowed me to realise how much the popularisation of science is needed in our world. By doing this, society—or more specifically, every person— would have access to and a better understanding of the vast pool of knowledge that discipline of thought unlocks for humankind, influencing and altering every aspect of our lives.
Science Communication is one of the non-traditional career paths open to an individual interested and passionate about science. Last year December, Andy Ridgway, who worked as a science journalist (and still writes) and is currently a Senior lecturer for MSc Science Communication/PgDip at the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol, hosted one of the DAS monthly employability seminars ‘Careers in science communication’ with guest Sophie Pavelle, a Campaign and Communications Coordinator for the Beaver Trust, Freelance Science Communicator and UWE alumni (graduate of MSc Science Communication). They both spoke about their experiences, the nature of Science Communication and steps worth taking in the pursuit of such a career.
What does Science Communication entail? As the name suggests, it focuses on communicating the science to the general public that are not experts themselves and have varied levels of understanding, helping make science approachable and comprehensible. Andy broadly summarized it as a science that is not published in scientific journals, but instead in magazines (e.g. New Scientist), or presented in shows, festivals, television, podcasts (e.g. SETI Institute’s Big Picture Science, or for the promotion of STEM). He also spoke of the important shift in paradigm in recent decades from simply reporting research to society to an increased engagement and dialog between the two – producing an exchange of knowledge and ideas.
A more open attitude in communication between science and society can lead to more people experiencing science and have a more informed view on it. Misinformation and misrepresentation of facts often lead to confusion, fear, and rejection of what is unknown or poorly understood. As science technology evolves, a reliable communication platform between science and society needs to be well established now more than ever. It is important that the ethical issues of how to best implement current and future discoveries, and if at all, is discussed on a societal level aswell.
What can you do to become a Science Communicator? There is no one, simple answer to such a question, however, there are certain steps that you may wish to consider. The simplest would be to read a lot, as it will potentially lead to new discoveries and improve your vocabulary, style, and intuition of your own writing. Another step (suggested by Andy), is creating your own blog, allowing you to practice and develop your own skill whilst making your work available for others to read. Even if the blog is not on the matter of science, it allows you to show off your passion for a given topic and your writing capability.
You may also consider joining one of the many UWE blogs, such as this one, and write content for them. Alternatively, if you would like to author an article for a magazine, there is an opportunity to write for the departmental publication called Science Matters. If you are interested in this, email Andy (contact details below) and he will add your name to the writers list – you will be assigned a topic, which involves interviewing a researcher (a staff member or postgraduate student) and writing about it.
Sophie shared her experiences of uncertainty along her own journey to where she is now. Her words can bring a little bit of solace to those who are worried about not having a set path yet: “There is beauty in not having a plan.”. I share that sentiment, and I wholeheartedly recommend you seek, explore and gain experiences, as all of them can lead you to discovering your life’s greatest passions, and discovering what makes you happy.
Nowadays, it is an advantage, often even a requirement, to have work experience — which can be daunting someone new to the job market. Sophie helpfully shared a few tips regarding how to search for a placement opportunity: make a list of your interests; google it; speak to people you know and including those who are (or might) be doing a placement and compare your experiences; keep your CV clear to read with highlights of what you have accomplished; and reach out to the organizations you are interested in working for by sending confident yet concise emails.
Another value in work experience pointed out by Sophie is that you can take that opportunity to see what you are good at, what you might like to do as a job, and what you might not. It is as valuable to quit something after five minutes, as it is to have a completed work experience—some places are right for us and some are not, and we can only benefit from paying attention to how they make us feel.
Yet another step you can take towards a career in Science Communication are further studies, such as MSc in Science Communication. Sophie (graduate) spoke highly of the course, emphasizing it as practical, non-lab based and highly creative.
Andy pointed out that UWE is one of the few universities in the UK that has a dedicated group of academics who research into Science Communication but also practice it as well, for example the Science for Environment Policy newsletter that goes across Europe (aimed at policy makers). The Science Communication unit at UWE is also involved in the RETHINK Project, which considers how science is communicated online, who does it, in what way, and how the information provided is perceived by its readers.
Science Communication is an important part of science, especially since it serves as a spokesperson for the sciences in its interactions with the public. It also very importantly fulfils the role of a trusted friend and confidant — it listens to the worries and hesitations of the public and is responsible for relaying truthful and reliable information.
In the times like ours, when we face issues globally, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate and biodiversity crisis; Science Communication is essential to enable informed action and positive change in the right direction, to create a strong link between science and society (conversing as two respectful partners, without condescension, or fear), and to emphasize dependencies between the state of the natural world and condition of humankind. These are all great challenges for the new generation of Science Communicators to tackle.
Hello, my name is Piotr (I can assure you it is not as difficult to pronounce as it may seem) and I am a mature, international student on Foundation Year Biological Sciences course. I am originally from Poland, however, Bristol has been my home for over 7 years now (which sometimes makes me stagger when asked where I am from).
I take great pleasure in weaving tales, and so I have been writing and working on ideas for novels. I am interested in neuroscience, zoology, astrobiology, planetary science, to name a few and I intend to use the knowledge gained through my studies to write books, popularizing it to a wider audience.
I run roleplay games sessions for my friends, collaboratively telling stories that become alive in our shared imagination. I am also an aspiring violinist, learning how to take my first steps.
From the editors: Wow. We hope you are as inspired about the reach and potential of science communication as you are! Piotr shared so many nuggets from the DAS Monthly Employability seminar and we hope that you take this on in your pursuit of curiosity into the sciences.
As always, we welcome articles and contributions from everyone who has a story to tell and a question they would like to be answered through this blog platform. Please get in touch via email – ScienceFutures@uwe.ac.uk. Also connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter!
