The socieTy of biology magazine ■ issn 0006-3347Biologist ■ socieTyofbiology.org Vol 60 no 4 ■ aUg/seP 2013

CREATING A BUZZ The trend for city hives and what it means for our bees

INTERVIEW TAXIDERMY MICROBIOLOGY IMRAN KHAN STILL LIFE EXTREME SPECIES Meet the rising star The resurgence of Organisms that change of British science a forgotten craft the way we view life New from Garland Science Second Edition The Biology of Cancer Robert A. Weinberg Thoroughly updated and incorporating the most important advances in the fast-growing field of cancer biology, The Biology of Cancer, Second Edition, maintains all of its hallmark features admired by students, instructors, researchers, and clinicians around the world.

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www.garlandscience.com/tboc2 TheBiologist the SOCIetY OF BIOLOGY MAGAZINe

Volume 60 No 4 August/September 2013 Contents 24 12

GET TOMORROW’S PANIC FREE! coUPon insiDe DAILY PANIC 16 MONDAY, 12th August, 2013 www.dailypanic.co.uk WEATHER Grim 50p NEW CANCER ALERT ON JUST ABOUT ANYTHING By Andrew Hack Chief Health Worry Writer

INSANE residents forced from their homes and businesses by the UK’s worst ever fl oods were yesterday returning to survey the damage. The rain has stopped and water levels have fallen in most areas – but there is no happy homecoming for the Glaswegians caught up in this nightmare. The once busy and vibrant streets are fi lthy and reek of sewage – and it is predicted that the recovery could take months, if not years. The rain has stopped and water levels have fallen in most areas – but there is no happy homecoming for the Glaswegians caught up in this nightmare. The once busy and vibrant streets are fi lthy and reek of sewage – and it is predicted that the recovery could take months, if not years. Scare stories 28The rain has stopped and water levels have fallen in most areas – but there is no happy homecoming for the Glaswegians caught up in this nightmare. The once busy and vibrant streets are fi lthy and reek of sewage – and it is predicted that the recovery could take months. The rain has stopped and water levels have fallen in most areas – but there is no happy homecoming for the Glaswegians caught up in this nightmare. The rain has stopped and water levels have fallen in most areas – but there is no happy homecoming for the Glaswegians caught up in this nightmare. …AND CATS ARE DEADLY TOO The rain has stopped and water levels have fallen in most areas – but there is no happy homecoming for the Glaswegians caught up in this nightmare Why your family moggy is bad news where the rain has stopped and water has receded. Turn to page 5 SEE PAGE 9

IN THIS ISSuE

8 Thought crime 16 Back from the dead

■ ■ ■ News The socieTy of biology magazine issn 0006-3347Biologist socieTyofbiology.org Vol 60 no 4 aUg/seP 2013 Joseph Jebelli considers Tom Ireland looks at the 4 society news the implications of using resurgence in taxidermy. neuroimaging in the 34 members criminal justice system. 20 The outer limits 37 branches Simon Toomey on finding life 9 The problem with postdocs at the world’s extremes. CREATING A BUZZ Regulars The trend for city hives and what it means for our bees

INTERVIEW TAXIDERMY MICROBIOLOGY IMRAN KHAN STILL LIFE EXTREME SPECIES Improving career options for Meet the rising star The resurgence of Organisms that change 3 nelson’s column of British science a forgotten craft the way we view life postdoc researchers. 24 Imran Khan Inset image of stuffed 10 Policy update The new chief executive of the animal: Jack Spicer Adams, 32 spotlight www.jackspiceradams.com 12 To bee or not to bee British Science Association 42 reviews Karin Alton and Francis talks to Sue Nelson. 45 biofeedback Ratnieks assess the rise of urban beekeeping and 28 What's your poison? 46 museum piece what it means for the future Dr Barbara Hall explores the 47 crossword of honey bees. poisons that are all around us. 48 final word

Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 1 the BIOLOGISt Vol 60 No 4 August/September 2013 Contacts

EDITORIAL STAFF Allan Jamieson BSc phD CBiol FSB Society of Biology Director of Membership, Marketing Catherine Jopling BSc phD MSB Charles Darwin House, and Communications 12 Roger Street, Susan Omar BSc pGCe CBiol CSci MSB MrSph FrGS Jon Kudlick London WC1N 2Ju Editor Leslie rose BSc CBiol FSB FICr MApM tel: 020 7685 2550 Sue Nelson Fax: 020 3514 3204 Managing Editor [email protected] tom Ireland MSB ADVISORY PANEL www.societyofbiology.org [email protected] Ian Clarke, horticulture research International, UK Communications Assistant Clive Cornford, Unitec, Auckland, New Zealand Views expressed in this magazine are Karen patel AMSB Sharon Grimster, Biopark, UK not necessarily those of the editorial [email protected] Board or the Society of Biology. Marios Kyriazis, For membership enquiries call 0844 858 9316 Biogerontologist and anti-ageing physician, UK © 2013 Society of Biology [email protected] Alan Lansdown, Imperial College London, UK (registered charity no. 277981) For subscription enquiries call 020 7685 2556 Walter Leal Filho, [email protected] hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany The Society permits single copying Don McManus, Bancroft Centre, Australia of individual articles for private study or research, irrespective of where EDITORIAL BOARD peter Moore, King’s College London, UK J Ian Blenkharn MSB FrSph the copying is done. Multiple copying Brian Osborne, Australia of individual articles for teaching phil Collier MSc phD CBiol FSB FLS Fhe John Scott, University of Leicester, UK purposes is also permitted without Cameron S Crook BSc Mphil CBiol MSB MIeeM FLS robert Spooner-hart, University of specific permission. For copying or rajith Dissanayake MSc phD FZS AMSB Western Sydney, Australia reproduction or any other purpose, Catherine Duigan BSc phD FSB FLS written permission must be sought from Kathleen Weathers, Institute of the Society. exceptions to the above are John heritage BA Dphil CBiol FSB ecosystem Studies, USA those institutions and non-publishing

Sue howarth BSc phD CBiol FSB Steve Wilson, pfizer Animal health organisations that have an agreement or licence with the UK Copyright Licensing Agency or the US Copyright Clearance Centre. Access to the magazine is available online; please see the Society’s MeDICAL reSeArCh CANCer website for further details. TheBiologist THE NuCLEAR The Biologist is produced on behalf OPTION of the Society of Biology by Dr ulli Köster explains how rare radioisotopes, made in world famous physics labs such as cern, could Think publishing Ltd. A WINDOW provide new treatments for cancer ILL, to double up as factories to GrAphY BIO support production of the rare 124-128 Barlby road aws, Oddjob, Dr No… in the James Bond films we have isotopes needed in these treatments. If this seems surprising, that is seen the famous British spy J because it is. The ILL’s High Flux eliminate some notorious villains. Reactor was developed to provide In the medical world, the treatment neutrons not for the production of of cancer is turning to its own London W10 6BL rare radioisotopes, but to study the group of special agents, displaying structure of matter. Yet biological a keen sense to seek out danger materials on the nanometre scale, and a deadly efficiency in bringing Dr Ulli Köster is a such as proteins, viruses and cell down a very different, but equally nuclear physicist at the institut membranes, which are naturally ON THE LIFE treacherous foe. laue-langevin The source of interest is a new rich in light elements, are ideal for www.thinkpublishing.co.uk in grenoble. his analysis with neutrons, and today generation of radiopharmaceuticals interests range biologists work alongside neutron based on a group of radioactive from fundamental scientists to decipher their structure isotopes with properties that make science to applied and work out how they carry out them ideal for more targeted nuclear physics for cancer treatment. their body functions. cancer treatment. The hope is that 020 8962 3020 these powerful weapons could not Homing beacons, time bombs only improve the success rates of and detonations treatment and diagnosis through Most primary stage cancers can be personalised medicine, but also treated using surgery and radiation reduce some of the nasty side effects therapy but, for some time, once associated with existing procedures. SCIENCES This most critical of missions – the cancer has spread the only option has been chemotherapy. developing these specialised agents An incredibly invasive treatment, to fight cancer – is being pioneered chemotherapy goes in all guns by an unlikely collaboration of blazing and destroys many cells research facilities: the Institut Laue- a researcher at work on in the hope that healthy ones will Langevin (ILL), one of the world’s cern's isolDe laser, Design FOreStrY recover more quickly. leading centres for neutron science, used in the production ArB The search for alternatives has of terbium isotopes. and CERN’s ISOLDE laboratory.Oret A led medical science to targeted Together they are aiming to develop radionuclide therapy, which takes their own ‘golden gun’. a far more stealthy approach. The BIOLOGISt / 21 The research is not only proving Vol 60 No 3 / the radiopharmaceuticals used in this Alistair McGown The Biologist si a bi-monthly magazine the effectiveness of these new treatment attack only cancerous radioisotopes in killing cancer cells cells, which they can distinguish but also the potential for research 28/06/2013 17:22

CerN institutes, such as CERN and the

60 No 3 Westonbirt, BIOLOGISt / Vol Production editor e (published six times a year) that covers 20 / th now the National Arboretum, was created in the 1850s using trees and shrubs SEEING THE from North America and Clare harris

the full richness and diversity of biology. the Far East. WOOD FOR Science is brought to life with stimulating and THE TREES Sub editors

authoritative features, while topical pieces The Forestry Commission’s Sam Bartlett, Sian Campbell, explores the importance ofSimon arboreta Toomer in discuss science policy, new developments protecting the UK’s forests Andrew Littlefield

ast year was remarkable for the UK’s trees and BIOGrAphY of pests and diseases that we have L woodlands, both ecologically seen in recent years. A growing and politically. It became clear Publisher awareness of this has prompted a or controversial issues. Aimed at biologists that the threat to our trees and 21st-century hunt for new species, forests is more acute than the most to replace those now considered pessimistic plant pathologists had unviable, and more species (and been predicting. Alongside sudden genotypes within them) to create a oak death, Asian longhorn beetle, diverse and resilient species mix. John Innes oak processionary moth and a long everywhere, its straightforward style also Unlike most agricultural crops, list of other recently discovered or Simon Toomer is trees live for a very long time invading pests and diseases, an even director of and species choice has long-term more worrying addition arrived: Westonbirt, the National implications. Experience over the Chalara dieback in ash. Arboretum. last few decades has told us that The arrival of Chalara fraxinea Originally trained in we do not know which diseases will [email protected] makes it ideal for educators and students at in the UK made national news, and environmental arrive over the life span of even a gave rise to accusations of political biology and short lived tree, let alone what a complacency and calls for bans on forestry, he has worked as a changing climate may throw at it in imported planting stock. While practical forester, the way of drought, heat and new 2012 saw a spate of tree disease woodlands pests. Therefore, one of the richest incidents, for observers of UK advisor and sources of these ‘new’ species is the all levels, as well as the interested amateur. forestry and arboriculture over the arboriculturalist network of arboreta, in which the last decade it was nothing new. The in the private UK is particularly well endowed. combination of climate change and and local authority sectors. The origins of most arboreta indiscriminate plant movement by may lie more in pleasure and collectors and traders has led to a recreation than science and study, but Non-member rates: £116.00 steady rise in tree diseases. nevertheless their diversity, maturity ■ VOL 60 NO 3 JUNE/JULY 2013 Both groups have tended to rely and (often) well-recorded history give heavily on a favoured palette of ■ SOCIETYOFBIOLOGY.ORG them a head start over new trial plots. ■ ISSN 0006 3347Biologist relatively few species. While a few THE SOCIETY OF BIOLOGY MAGAZINE North American conifers dominate The The arboretum our commercial forests, such as Sitka The concept of the arboretum as spruce and Douglas fir, our streets a place for the cultivation, display are often planted with cloned planes, and appreciation of trees developed

JANe GIFFOrD/ FOreStrY COMMISSION limes and other familiar species. from the late 18th and 19th centuries Submissions of interesting and timely As a consequence of this as a distinctive side shoot from the species conservatism and genetic 12 / the European tradition of landscape BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 N narrowing, our forests and urban ISSN 0006-3347 o 3 gardening. Early private arboreta, treescapes are highly vulnerable to through the inclusion of species from the kind of catastrophic invasions newly discovered (or conquered) articles, short opinion pieces and 12_BIO_60_3_ARBORETA.indd 12-13 parts of the globe, demonstrated the

Vol 60 No 3 / the letters are welcome. Articles should be BIOLOGISt / 13 THE SOCIETY OF BIOLOGY MAGAZINE ■ The ISSN 0006-3347 ■ Biologist socieTyofbiology.org Advertising in The Biologist represents an Vol 60 no 2 ■ aPr/ aimed at a non-specialist audience and INTERVIEW unparalleled opportunity to reach a large convey your enthusiasm and expertise. TOuCH DIGGING DEEP community of professional biologists. Instructions for authors are available WOOD TV's alice roberts How arboreta can protect talks anatomy on the Society’s website or on request the UK’s forests and archaeology For advertising information contact from the editorial office. Contact tom tiffin, [email protected] [email protected] Ian Carter, [email protected] 020 7183 1815

INTERVIEW RESEARCH PHARMACOLOGY BRuCE HOOD GET INVOLVED Psychology, neuroscience RADIOACTIVE REMEDIES e 10 best citizen and our sense of self Fighting cancer with science biology projects rare radioisotopes

2 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 22/05/2013 14:30

00_BIO_60_3_COVERS.indd 1 Nelson’s Column

ugust is supposed to be Alton and Ratnieks argue that the warmest time of urban beekeeping may not the year. I say necessarily be what’s best for the ‘supposed’ because if honey bee. It’s a valuable insight as you live in Britain it highlights how nothing can be there’sA never a guarantee. This issue considered in isolation when it of The Biologist could be delivered to comes to conservation. your doorstep during a heatwave or The perilous state of Britain’s bees torrential rain. is an issue tailormade for the annual Last summer was the wettest in British Science Festival. Organised England and Wales for a century. by the British Science Association, When it was followed by an equally this year the festival takes place in poor winter, experts warned that Newcastle in September. Our wildlife would suffer in 2013. interview profile therefore features Potentially negative impacts are the Association’s recently appointed expected for dormice, hedgehogs, chief executive, biology graduate bats and river birds, including Imran Khan. kingfishers (whose burrows were Still in his twenties, the dynamic destroyed by extreme downpours), Khan has valuable science policy or ground nesting birds such as the and lobbying experience and is capercaillie and black grouse. considered by The Times as one of Beekeepers are also worried It raises the 10 most influential people in because the changeable weather important British science under the age of 40. affects the survival rate of hives. issues Find out why on page 24. Unfortunately a recent survey by the Biology is all about life and death British Beekeepers Association including and we combine both in Tom confirmed these fears, finding that ethics, free Ireland’s feature on page 16 on how more than a third of honey bee hives will and artists are spearheading the in England didn’t survive the winter. genetics surprising revival of taxidermy. Although the annual survey has Meanwhile, on page 20, David only been in existence for six years, Toomey examines the life thriving in the number of honey bee colonies the most unlikely places. lost was double that of the previous Finally, I must admit to being 12 months and the situation may be fascinated by the opinion piece on even worse now – since the survey ‘pre-crime’ and brain scans (page 8). was completed before the late arrival As a fan of science fiction, I instantly of spring. The decline was found got the Minority Report reference, throughout every part of England and the issues it raises – including too, with the South West being the ethics, genetics, determinism and worst hit, losing one in two hives. free will – are important. The loss of honey bees will have a I’d love to know what you think knock-on effect on other wildlife, about this or any of our other pieces plants, crops and honey sellers – but in The Biologist because after there appears to be a solution. Urban reading them – and how apt beekeeping is on the rise and it’s no considering our cover – my brain longer an unusual sight to see buzzing was definitely buzzing. blocks of wooden stacks on city rooftops. But if you’re considering urban beekeeping yourself, first read the article on page 12 by Karin Alton and Francis Ratnieks from the University of Sussex. sue nelson, editor

Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 3 Haymeadows in Transylvania NEWS IN BRIEF SPACE CAMP WINNER Society News Congratulations to Madeleine Kavanagh who was chosen to go to a NASA Space Camp as part of a Society competition. Madeleine’s name was selected at random from school or college (Council for the Mathematical student BioNet members who Dr heather Sciences), Beck Smith (Campaign Williams and entered to win a sponsored Dr cathy hobbs for Science and Engineering) and place on the International with stephen Professor Lesley Yellowlees (Royal Space School educational metcalfe mP Society of Chemistry), discussed the trust’s Mission Discovery camp loss of talent and opportunities from at King’s College London. women leaving science and called for more ‘policy-muscle’ to speed THE BIOLOGIST up improvements in diversity ‘HIGHLY COMMENDED’ in science. The Biologist was ‘highly commended’ at the MemCom Keynote address Awards in May, narrowly missing Science and Universities minister he Society helped organise The conference was organised out on best magazine. The awards David Willetts, in his keynote one of its more remote by Barbara and the Pogány-havas celebrate the best publications and address, supported the idea that conferences in May, thanks Association, with support from communications from membership T haymeadows universities should take students to senior science policy advisor the Society of Biology. in romania, organisations and charities. The with general science qualifications Barbara Knowles FSB. The two-day above, the focus For more details visit www. honour follows our Best Design rather than pressuring students to Mountain Haymeadow Conference of barbara treasuresoftransylvania.org or award from ppA Scotland late decide what discipline they want to took place in Gyimesközéplok, Knowles’ (below http://mountainhaymeadows.eu/ last year. study at 16 – the age when many girls Transylvania, in the Pogány-havas centre) work conference.html drop physics. Region of Romania. BOOK AWARDS The minister added that the Experts and practitioners Judges in the Society’s first book science community should represent from various fields (farmers, awards have chosen their longlists. the country it emerges from. biologists, sociologists, economists, They narrowed down over 70 Debate at the event and across ethnographers, policy makers and entries to around a dozen books in Twitter covered topics including the NGOs in Romania and abroad) each category: general bioscience, ‘leaky pipeline’ through academia, discussed how to improve the undergraduate textbook and Parliamentary social mobility, integrating the appreciation, conservation and postgraduate textbook. The shortlist sciences in schools, work experience sustainable management of and winners will be announced and parental leave. hay meadows. during Biology Week in October. The Other panellists and speakers Barbara visited this area almost six longlist is available to view online at included Professor Sir Peter years ago and was so fascinated by its www.societyofbiology.org/ Links Day sets Knight (Institute of Physics), unique ecology, natural beauty and book-awards Professor Dame Julia Higgins friendly people that she has devoted (The Royal Society), Anne Foster much of her time since to practical SOCIETY SETS NEW (House of Commons Diversity and environmentalism in the area. WORLD RECORD a trend Inclusion Unit), Dr John Conway Officials at Guinness have confirmed (STEM Disability Committee), the Society set a new record for Ps, ministers and The Society organises Links Dr John conway, Roma Agrawal (WSP Group) and and the Royal Society of society, from innovations in the world’s largest memory game representatives of the Day, the largest science event on roma agrawal and Professor Amrita Ahluwalia Meetings, Edinburgh to stress the healthcare to improvements during Biology Week last year. M science community the Parliamentary events calendar, anne foster (British Pharmacological Society). importance of investment in in crop performance. The At 14:30 on the 19th October 2012, discussed diversity in science at on behalf of the science and money and science and technology. Government increasingly 2,109 people at 40 venues in the UK the Society’s annual Parliamentary engineering community. Its aim is to the minister The meeting came before recognises this, and the (plus one in Bahrain) simultaneously Links Day. As the day unfolded, strengthen dialogue with Parliament the Government’s spending science minister has played a 10 minute memory game, the event even began ‘trending’ on and to provide MPs with a more Science and Universities announcements later in the consistently put forward the learning about basic neuroscience Twitter, with #diversityinSTEM rounded understanding of scientific Minister David Willetts met month, when the Chancellor case for science funding. while they participated. ranked just below #Wimbledon. issues. This year speakers explored senior figures from five of maintained the science “However, the freeze in This year’s Biology Week will Andrew Miller, chair of the Science the ways in which the scientific the UK’s leading scientific budget at £4.6bn, with capital science spending, which run from 12-18 October. and Technology Select Committee, community contributes to the societies in June. expenditure increased to amounts to a cut in real terms, announced that an inquiry would diversity of science and engineering, Organised by the Society of £1.1bn in real terms. has damaged the UK science be launched to look at women in as well as the major issues of diversity Biology, the meeting provided Dr Mark Downs, chief sector, and we are in danger of STEM careers. He discussed what within science and engineering. an opportunity for the Society, executive of the Society, said: losing expertise. We hope the Government can do to prevent the An all-woman panel, including the Institute of Physics, the “Science plays a vital role in Government will recognise the check out our new website: drop off in women from academia Professor Alice Brown (Royal Society London Mathematical Society, our economy and provides vital role of science as it makes thebiologist. and the fact that women only hold of Edinburgh), Dr Heather Williams the Royal Society of Chemistry advances which benefit future spending decisions.” societyofbiology.org 9% of top level jobs in natural science. (Science Grrl), Dr Cathy Hobbs

4 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 www.societyofbiology.org/news www.societyofbiology.org/news Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 5 SOCIetY NeWS SpIDer App/OBItUArIeS/trAVeL GrANtS/BIOLOGY teACher OF the YeAr/MeMBerShIp SUrVeY

he recipients of the Society’s ■ Charlotte Davies – AVC Lobster App launched for Biology Week spider survey Have grants will travel spring 2013 travel grants have Science Centre, Canada been announced. The grants ■ Victoria Jones – Shamwari The society is supporting projects at T brand new app has been 18th October 2013. The Society help fund innovative biology related National Park, South Africa the greater Kruger national Park developed to help members is organising events around the projects abroad for early career ■ Rebekah Butler – marine A of the public identify house country for everyone from members and affiliate/associate conservation, Cambodia spiders, as part of the Society’s children to professional scientists, members. second citizen science project. and is encouraging members Twenty grants of £500 are Early Career MSB recipients For Biology Week 2013, the and member organisations to available each year, split between ■ Nicholas Carey – Mollusc study Society is looking to record do the same. the spring (March) and autumn Bamfield Marine Sciences sightings of house spiders as they Events include our annual (October) rounds. The latest Centre, Canada move indoors to find a mate in photography competition, science recipients and their projects are: ■ Carly Chadwick – International autumn. The project follows the communication awards, a debate at symposium on zoo animal great success of last year’s Flying the Royal Institution about genes Affiliate/AMSB welfare, USA Ant Survey, when entomologists and criminal liability, a rainforest ■ Vicky Sleight – microbial ■ Hayley Tyrer – Symposium were able to use over 6,000 bus, and a food security project oceanography course, Bermuda on recent advances in otitis reports to study the mating download for iPhone and Android in schools. ■ Kimberley Slinger – Greater media, Sweden habits of the common garden users. Members can also submit Visit www.societyofbiology. Kruger National Park, ■ Felicity Muth – Animal Behavior ant Lasius niger. sightings online. org/house-spider-survey for more South Africa Society conference, USA The free house spider app, made The Society’s second Biology information about the survey

by TouchApp Ltd, is available to Week will run from the 12th- and the app. FALK StepheN OBITuARIES Biology Teacher of the Year Membership Arunasalam acted as the senior member of staff in the or work out another method of getting survey absence of the chief executive. our way. And all of this was done with Chandramohan MBE Mohan was a dignified and gentle man, judicious sips of Scottish medications. ver 1,800 members took part 1940-2013 with an inner strength. His considerable Then we would decamp for further Oin our annual membership experience, people skills and sense of discussions with finance off the agenda survey earlier this year. Once runasalam – known to all as Mohan fair play endeared him to all staff, who at the nearby Thai restaurant. again the response was extremely A– was financial secretary and head went to him for help and advice. He was Mohan was devoted to his family and positive, with 96% of members of finance and management services at awarded an MBE for exceptional services always kept us up to date with news satisfied or extremely satisfied the Institute of Biology from 1973 until to British biology. about them. He was simply the best of with their membership. he retired in 2001. He was born and Our roles as treasurers with Mohan the best. The Society of Biology owes It was also good news for The studied in Sri Lanka, coming to the UK were as partners and friends, and after much to him. Biologist – 88% of members feel the in the 1960s to gain his accountancy formal Council meetings we would chris arme cbiol fsb (hon. Treasurer magazine is ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ qualifications. During his time at the retreat to his office, to either celebrate 1986-1992) and alan cadogan cbiol fsb and half of all correspondents said Institute, the membership grew and he the success of the financial statement (hon. Treasurer 1993-98) it was the member benefit they valued the most. The two main influence on river quality, leading to a retirement, salmon spawning in the reasons for Morlais Owens number of publications on the effects Rhymney River for the first time in 200 joining the 1931-2013 of various factors on river conditions. years. Today a large percentage of Wales’ Society were With this background it was no surprise beaches now conform to the highest EU professional orlais was born and brought that when Dwr Cymru (Welsh standards too. recognition Mup in Rhymney, South Water Authority) was In his retirement, Morlais maintained (39%) and Wales, and studied botany established in 1974, interest in conservation and was to keep at the University College Morlais was a strong elected chairman of the Campaign for up to date of Swansea (Wales). candidate for the Protection of Rural Wales. He also rs Bev Goodger CBiol Pictured left to instigated a peer-mentoring system with news and Midway through his appointment to a served as chairman of a trust established MSB, a teacher at Sir right are the for students, Biopals, and has developments (23%). postgraduate course he leading position. to protect the environment and wildlife John Deane’s College, national science worked with a ‘Saturday Science’ General awareness of the Society’s M learning centre’s became attracted by He was made in the Elan Valley. Northwich, has been named the Vaughan lewis, club for students from her own activities is good – 83% are the idea of applying his deputy director With his death in April this year we Society’s School Biology Teacher runner up college and other local high schools. aware of our science education developing research skills of scientific have lost a first class scientist, a skilled of the Year. richard spencer, Alison Eley, subject leader for work, 79% our policy work to more applied aspects services and later and influential administrator and, for The award identifies and prizewinner bev science at Hampton Hill Junior and 70% know about our of aquatic biology, and took became director, many of us, a dear friend. Morlais was a recognises the very best and most goodger and School, Middlesex, was presented professional registers. A further UK3b’s elisabeth up a position at the Water a position he held long-standing member and supporter of inspiring biology teachers in the speakman with the Society’s Primary Science 56% are aware of the relatively Pollution Research Laboratory, until his retirement. the Institute/Society of Biology and will country. As part of the award she Teacher of the Year Award. The new degree accreditation Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Many of Wales’ rivers be sadly missed. receives £500 for herself plus £500 award is part of the AstraZeneca programme and 45% of the His studies centred on the River Ivel were heavily polluted and coastal areas Dilwyn J griffiths cbiol fsb of Oxford University Press resources Science Teaching Trust Awards volunteering opportunities. (a contributory of the Great Ouse) and also suffered from the discharge of for her school, in addition to prizes for primary science teachers. The Society would like to other streams in Southern England. He waste waters into estuaries. So one can Thanks to John Elfed Jones and Roscoe from 3B Scientific and the National Alison’s particular areas of interest thank those who participated developed methods to assess river and well appreciate Morlais’ particular joy Howells at Welsh Water for their Science Learning Centre. include curriculum design, and how in the survey. Full results are stream plant communities and their at being able to record, just before his assistance with this piece. Amongst other initiatives and scientific literacy can be developed available on request. achievements, Mrs Goodger has through group talk.

6 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 www.societyofbiology.org/news www.societyofbiology.org/news Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 7 A useful first step is simply to recognise postdocs as a defined group of researchers with common problems that can be approached Opinion collectively. Crucially, postdocs themselves and the PIs who hire them must accept that postdocs are trainees. During their time in the laboratory they must be offered Further down the line, scientists guidance and training to aid career are looking into developing progression. Some universities Thought crime: treatments that target and alter already have schemes in place to ACC brain activity to reduce the achieve these objectives, but best risk of future criminal behaviour in practice should be extended to all the first place. But is it fair to judge institutions employing postdocs. science fiction someone based on a brain scan? Yet even with such programmes in Joseph Jebelli is a Tor Wager, of the Cognitive and place, the central dilemma remains: neuroscience PhD Affective Neuroscience Lab at the how to help postdocs to recognise candidate at University of Colorado, urges caution the challenges posed by a career in University college and points out that ACC activity science without suppressing their or science fact? london. his can be affected by vascular health, enthusiasm and driving them out of research focuses on harnessing the motivation levels and caffeine. the profession even earlier. Joseph Jebelli adjusted for other risk factors, brain’s immune “A treatment [of these clinical Latterly, science education has the authors tentatively suggest system to combat neuroimaging studies] that is too The problem become a story of progressively explores the use of the region could be a potential neurodegenerative glibly enthusiastic or over critical increasing specialisation, often “neurocognitive biomarker for diseases. will be damaging for this emerging culminating in the postdoctoral neuroimaging to persistent antisocial behaviour”. science in the long run,” he says. research project, tightly focused explain human The ACC lies deep beneath the When the boundaries between with postdocs work with limits set by the surface of the front of the brain. law and biology become obscure, expertise, interests and funding behaviour It regulates core body functions important ethical dilemmas often Bryan Turner seeks solutions to the issues sources of the PI. For scientists such as blood pressure, but is arise. Should we start treating more specialisation has two damaging n the future could biology also thought to oversee cognitive criminals as psychiatric patients? researchers face beyond doctorate level consequences. predict whether criminals faculties such as empathy and error Or is this a potentially dangerous First, the loss of breadth limits I will reoffend following their detection. The latter allows the example of scientific absolutism – ostdoctoral researchers, Some postdocs choose to the (perceived) career options of release from prison? It sounds like brain to evaluate poor decisions and one that might absolve criminals or postdocs, are a crucial continue moving from one short- individuals and leads directly to something from the Philip K Dick update our behaviour accordingly, from accountability for their actions? P component of successful term contract to another, perhaps the waste of postdoctoral talent. short story (and film) The thus facilitating learning. Historically, conundrums of research groups and an because they love research Second, scientists whose education Minority Report. As it turns Animals with damage genetics are accompanied by cries indispensable part of the UK’s or because they fail to find a and working environment allows out, the American science to the ACC have difficulty of “It’s not me, it’s my genes!” But research community. permanent position. The postdoc’s them to take a broader view of their fiction author might have learning to control their as discoveries in neuroscience tell A typical university-based group position will become increasingly subject are much more likely to been onto something. behaviour and people who us more about how human nature contains technicians, postgraduate precarious and always susceptible to bryan Turner is come up with the imaginative leaps But if true, what are the have damage to this area is linked to the brain, we may have students and postdocs, all on the vagaries of the PI’s own career. professor of that lead to truly ground-breaking implications for bioethics show changes in apathy to rethink how we judge different short-term contracts, and funded Some permanent technical experimental advances. Enforced specialisation and society at large? and aggressiveness. REFERENCES individuals in our society. by grants, to an academic leading positions, suitable for skilled genetics in the and the added restrictions of college of medical In a recent study, Kent Psychiatrically, these Aharoni, e. et al. As scientists catch up with the team, the principal investigator postdoctoral scientists, are still ‘translational’ research conspire and Dental Kiehl and his colleagues people are classed Neuroprediction science fiction writers’ notions (PI). Short-term contracts for available in research institutes, the against creativity. While steven of future rearrest. sciences, at the Mind Research spielberg’s as having “acquired Proceedings of the of a future world, so too will postdoctoral researchers provide a National Health Service or industry, University of Postdoctoral scientists have a Network, Albuquerque, Minority Report psychopathic personality” National Academy of science itself breathe new life into cost-effective means of generating though now are almost unknown in birmingham. wealth of generic skills that can be New Mexico, used MRI to deals with crime – in other words, they’re Sciences of the USA age-old philosophical issues like experimental data. Until recently, universities. Sadly, it is only when in 2009 he applied in many walks of life. Of 110 (15), 6223–6228 established a observe the brain activity of precognition, biologically predisposed to (2013). determinism and free will. career progression has been a these options have been exhausted course they have analytical expertise, programme to 96 male criminal offenders. brain scans could behave badly. secondary concern, if it is considered that most postdocs will consider but if their creative instincts have show propensity provide training and During tasks to test impulse to reoffend Further studies on the at all. By the end of their second careers outside research. Even those career guidance for not been trained out of them, they control, the researchers ACC’s link to behaviour contract (typically three years who find a reasonable job may leave the college’s can find innovative solutions to any looked at a brain region called the could have huge implications for each) most postdocs will be in their research with a lingering sense of postdoctoral number of difficult problems. anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), criminal law. Walter Sinnott- early 30s, possibly with children, a failure. Science is surely unique researchers. The task of the universities and strongly linked with impulsivity and Armstrong, of the Institute for mortgage and other responsibilities. in tolerating the extraordinary heads of postdoctoral training antisocial behaviour. Ethics at Duke University, North They must then confront the dispersal of talent that occurs when programmes must be to encourage The inmates were then monitored Carolina, thinks scans on high-risk fact that there are not enough postdocs finally start searching postdocs to consider alternative for up to four years after being offenders could be used to improve positions in academia for them all for permanent employment. careers as a positive option and to released from prison to see which existing methods of antisocial to be employed as PIs. The usual A steady supply of talented, think more widely about science ones had been rearrested. The odds risk prediction, like personality rule of thumb (with no reliable enthusiastic postdocs is essential in general. In so doing, those who that an offender with low activity tests and assessments of criminal figures available), is that only about for a vibrant and competitive stay on to become PIs will be better in this area of the brain would be history. With more work, this line one in 10 postdocs will go on to research community. But how do we scientists and those who do not rearrested were approximately of research could “help to make become a PI. In other words, a large reconcile this increasingly urgent will find a suitable outlet for their double that of an offender with our criminal justice system more proportion will fail to achieve their demand with the career needs and talents, often in fields far removed high activity in this region. Having effective,” he says. chosen career objective. aspirations of postdocs themselves? from their lab-based starting point.

8 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 9 POLICY LATES policy update DEBATES Biology beware The second of the Society’s Professor Wendy Barclay, chair in Policy Lates series discussed influenza at Imperial College London, the good, the bad and the argued that the dangerous in biology benefits of using are finally tiring of it. The San uncensored scientific Francisco Declaration on Research information in among those Assessment (DORA), launched in ncreasing open access bioscience pandemic surveillance far taking part in the May, called for an improvement research and the number of outweighed the risks. US journalist debate were (left in the ways in which the output of amateur science groups can only Daniel Gruskin, a co-founder of New to right) Dr Piers I millet, Prof Wendy scientific research is evaluated. The increase the benefits of science to York’s Genspace community biolab, barclay and Prof declaration has attracted nearly society, right? If you followed the also said the risk posed by the ‘DIY malcolm Dando fsb 8,000 signatories to date, 281 of furore surrounding research on Bio’ community had been overstated. these from large organisations like mutant H5N1 avian flu – or read Dr His recent survey suggested most Dr Piers Millet MSB, deputy AAAS (American Association for Piers Millet’s article in the May issue were doing low-risk bioscience for head of the UN Biological Weapons Paul richards, the Advancement of Science), the (The Biologist Vol 60(2) p8) – you biotechnology educational purposes with good Convention Support Unit, talked Higher Education Funding Council will be aware this is not necessarily and biological supervision and safety practices. about initiatives to build bridges England, and the Society of Biology. the case. sciences Some projects had, however, raised between science and security DORA sets out 18 Maximising the benefits of research council legitimate bioethical questions. communities, and was optimistic recommendations for change open, dual-use bioscience, whilst policy fellow Dr Catherine Jefferson, a about progress despite their very in scientific culture at all levels. minimising the risk of misuse, researcher at King’s College London different agendas. Individual scientists, publishers, was the topic of the Policy Lates investigating the social implications The key messages from the institutions, funding agencies and debate in July. A diverse audience, of synthetic biology, highlighted the debate were very positive, and bibliometric services themselves including virologists, sociologists, need to educate scientists about dual- we shouldn’t lose sight of the should eliminate the use of JIF in and even a member of the FBI, use issues. Interestingly, she proposed huge benefits science contributes evaluating the quality and impact joined our expert panel, chaired that scientists could learn from the to society, even if risks and of research. Instead they should by international security expert DIY Bio community’s willingness to uncertainties are inevitable. focus on the content of research Professor Malcolm Dando FSB engage with security agencies and www.societyofbiology.org/ papers and the future potential from the University of Bradford. develop their own code of conduct. policy-lates of the individual. The strength of DORA lies in its recognition that scientists produce and it was recognised that new much more than just publications, prescribing practices will only such as datasets, reagents, software, Lots to debate at the be effective with international and intellectual property, influence agreements and complementary Making an impact on public policy and on scientific policies. The issue has received and clinical practice. A diversity first ever science G8 considerable attention in the Scientists must stop using flawed and dated of scientific output should be met UK and, if not a solution, the by a diversity of measures, both s part of the G8 meeting in international dimension added metrics to measure the quality of research qualitative and quantitative. June, the Royal Society hosted by the G8 is welcome. Ministers During the current Cambrian A the first ever G8 joint science decided to develop the scientific n the scientist’s world it’s said But by the early 1990s it was explosion of metrics, there are ministers and national science input necessary to reduce there are three types of lies: lies, clear that JIF was flawed: it doesn’t certainly plenty to choose from: academies meeting in London. antimicrobial resistance, working I damned lies and research impact differentiate between review articles the h-index and its many variants, The range of topics discussed with existing agencies such as the metrics. Of the latter, perhaps the and original research; it flatters to article level metrics, number of was broad – not surprising given World Health Organisation, so some most pervasive is the misuse of deceive, with half of a journal’s total downloads and accesses, even the G8’s statement that the effective tools may emerge. the Journal Impact Factor (JIF) as citations earned by around just 15% the ‘twimpact factor’ using the particular challenges of our time Open access and open data a proxy measure of the research of its papers; and, worse, it can be number of mentions or ‘tweetations’ include urbanisation, pollution, were encouraged within an overall excellence, influence and success of readily manipulated or ‘gamed’ by on social media. But any metrics – energy security, climate change, context of maximising the social scientists and institutions. journal editors, damaging areas of whether citations, downloads biodiversity, ocean acidification, and economic benefits of research. In the 1960s, Eugene Garfield research that are much less cited or tweets – can never fully measure youth unemployment, inequality, Here again, agreement in principle of the Institute for Scientific than others and discouraging risky the impact that excellence in translating science to personalised was reached which led to a joint Information (now Thomson ISI) and innovative research. Why, then, scientific research has on the daily and regenerative medicine, the ageing statement as an indicator of current was looking out for librarians. By has the science community – not lives of each and every one of us. population and neurodegenerative thinking and aspiration. Perhaps measuring the average number of known for its tolerance of flawed This is the kind of impact that diseases – while stating that this was the biggest message is that the citations to recent articles published data – continued to use JIF to Dr caroline matters most. UK science not a definitive list. meeting happened, communicating Wallace msb, minister David in a journal, Garfield’s JIF provided inform funding, appointment and senior science For further information on DORA Discussion about the need that science is a serious part of a useful tool for guiding purchase promotion decisions? and to sign the declaration see Willetts attended to combat antimicrobial drug international negotiations. policy adviser the summit and renewal decisions. Whatever the reasons, scientists (scotland) http://am.ascb.org/dora SOCIetY rOYAL the resistance was given a high profile Dr laura bellingan fsb

10 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 www.societyofbiology.org/policy www.societyofbiology.org/policy Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 11 CONSerVAtION UrBAN BeeS

oney bees, although still a can harm bees, the effects in the BIOGrAphY 60% of all flower-visiting insects. common insect, have declined field, where bees forage mainly on Geographically widespread and H significantly in number over non-treated flowers, are less clear. – weather permitting – active for the past century. This winter’s losses The three bumble bee species now most of the year, the honey bee may of honey bee colonies were the worst extinct in Britain were last seen in have declined in number but is in since records began six years ago, 1864, 1941 and 1988, well before the no imminent danger of becoming according to a survey carried out by introduction of neonicotinoids some extinct, unlike some other critically the British Beekeepers Association. 20 years ago. endangered insects in the UK. The number of managed hives in Most importantly, it is flowers that England is also believed to have Campaigns take flight francis ratnieks provide the pollen and nectar that fallen from 300,000 to 135,000 Over the past few years the loss of is professor of are the main food for bees. If there apiculture and head in the past 60 years (Defra; honey bees has attracted a great of the laboratory is a growing shortage of flowers due National Bee Unit database, and deal of attention from the media, of apiculture and to agricultural intensification and in Potts et al, 2010). the general public and organisations social insects at urbanisation, will increasing the Urban beekeeping, however, has and businesses, many of which the University of number of hives help honey bees? never been more popular. But want to help. sussex. he took his Would we try to help the population instead of providing a helpful For example, The Co- PhD at Dyce of elephants in a region of Africa laboratory for solution to the reduced operative launched ‘Plan honey bee studies by introducing more elephants population of honey Bee’ in 2009 and The at cornell if it was known that there was a bees, more city hives Daily Telegraph launched University. he is food shortage? could be doing more its ‘Bring Back Bees’ the author of 220 harm than good. campaign in 2010. research articles A buzz in the city on bees and social Many causes for the Various organisations, Most of the promotion of insects, and his decline in bee numbers Honey bees can including The beekeeping is directed at urban fly at speeds of experience have been suggested, up to 15mph British Beekeepers includes owning areas, especially London. Data including factors (24km/h) Association, Urban 180 hives, from BeeBase, a register of apiaries that are likely – and Bees and Friends of producing comb maintained by the UK’s National unlikely, such as mobile the Earth, encourage honey, rearing Bee Unit (NBU), shows that in five queens and phones. Most bee scientists, people to take up beekeeping, pollinating years, from 2008-13, the number however, would probably rank often combined with the advice that almonds. of beekeepers in Greater London agricultural intensification towns are good for bees thanks to all tripled from 464 to 1,237, and the (large areas of high intensity the flowers in gardens and parks. number of hives doubled from 1,677 farming) as the main cause Inmidtown, an organisation that to more than 3,500. (Goulson et al, 2008). represents the interests of 570 At approximately 10 hives per Since World War II the spread London businesses, gives away free km2, hive density in London is of intensive farming has greatly hives to put on rooftops as a way much higher than the 5.6 per TO BEE OR reduced areas rich in wildflowers, to help bees, and to ‘boost office km2 in Brighton, or 0.9 per km2 such as hay meadows. This is morale’. Many restaurants, galleries in England and Wales as a whole. especially significant in the UK, and shops, such as The Tate Modern Dr Karin alton took Research shows densities of wild where 75% of the total land is and Fortnum and Mason, and city a zoology degree at or feral colonies of 0.1-10 per km2 agricultural. Honey bees have firms, including Lloyd’s of London, the University of (Ratnieks et al, 1991). There are, of many pests and diseases, including use rooftop hives as a means of nottingham, then a course, situations in which much two species that have recently publicly greening their business or as PhD in entomology. higher densities occur, but generally NOT TO BEE she has been a ‘jumped ship’ from the Asian honey a team building exercise for staff. researcher at the only for a brief time and in an area as news of falling honey bee numbers hits bee, Apis cerana. But is this actually a good idea? laboratory of with abundant food or the need for But honey bee diseases do not Surveys being carried out at the apiculture and intense pollination. For example the headlines again, Karin Alton and affect other species, and the general University of Sussex’s Laboratory social insects at the 250 to 500 per km2 (2.5 to five hives decline of wildlife in the UK (State of Apiculture and Social Insects University of per hectare) can be found where Francis Ratnieks explain why encouraging sussex for five of Nature, 2013), cannot be due to (LASI) on garden and wild flowers crops such as apples or almonds years and has a urban beekeeping may not be the answer newly introduced honey bee pests. and crops requiring pollination special interest in require pollination. Beekeepers Although lab-based research shows show that honey bees are common, bees, flowers and often move a large number of that neonicotinoid insecticides making up between 20% and public outreach. hives to areas of abundant nectar

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The placement of hives in urban is needed. With the number of REFERENCES affect bumble bees and other species. planting schemes featured at the areas needs to take into account colonies of honey bees increasing Survey of Bee health Research has shown that in bumble 2012 Olympic Park have boosted the availability of forage & Beekeeping in from 1,677 to 3,745 in just six years, england and Wales bees, workers are likely to be smaller enthusiasm for meadow-style these additional 2,068 hives would (1955-1971), MAFF, in where they co-occur with honey plantings, and TV programmes such need 2.1 km2 of borage or 17.2 km2 potts et al. Declines of bees, suggesting competition for food as Sarah Raven’s Bees, Butterflies managed honey bees of lavender. Clearly, this, or the and beekeepers in sources between these bee species and Blooms encouraged local equivalent in other flower varieties, europe. J. of Apicultural (Goulson and Sparrow, 2009). councils and the public to Research 49 (1), has not been provided, and neither 15-20 (2010). Keeping a hive of bees is consider switching would it be practical to do so. Goulson, D., Lye, G.C. a significant undertaking. from costly Inmidtown recommends planting & Darvill, B. Decline The RSPCA investigates Honey bee queens bedding plants PlantLocks (a metal plant box to and conservation of the suitability of a potential mate at the beginning to more insect- bumblebees. Annual of their life with 10-20 which one can lock bicycles) with Review of Entomology new dog or cat owner friendly flowers. 53, 191-208 (2008a). males, and store the bee-friendly plants to increase before allowing a pet to be active sperm in their The surge the amount of forage for the new Goulson, D. & Sparrow, adopted, with a detailed of interest in K. r. evidence for body for as long hives it gives out. However, while competition between questionnaire and an as they live beekeeping they are a great way to secure a honeybees and interview and may well tail off bumblebees; evidence bike and at the same time provide on bumblebee worker home visit. naturally, probably to be some greenery and flowers, 28,000 size. J. Insect Conserv. However, Honey bee queens replaced by enthusiasm for PlantLocks filled with borage would 13, 177-181 (2009). anyone can can lay up to 2,000 another topical issue. But in be required for each additional hive. State of Nature Report, obtain a colony eggs per day and the meantime we should not 2013. several hundred In the city of Exeter the roof of the ratnieks, F. L. W, piery, of bees without continue to encourage more Princesshay shopping centre in May M.A., Cuadriello, I. The prior training thousand in their hives within urban areas, and natural nest of the lifetime became home to two bee hives, with Africanized honey on how to care especially in London, with more to follow later this year. The bee (Hymenoptera, for them or even scant regard for the flowers well-meaning centre manager has Apidae) near any advice on where that provide bees’ food. tapachula, Chiapas, also set up three raised beds with Mexico. Canadian to safely site the hive. Bee It is encouraging that so many bee-friendly plants on the roof, Entomologist 123, hives have even been given away people and organisations want but totalling less than 20m2. 353-359 (1991). in raffles. to help bees, a popular symbol of London: Garden City? In 2012, nationwide honey yields A research project by nature. But it would be better to dropped dramatically due to the C. Smith on behalf of Channelling concern channel this into providing flowers the London Wildlife production, such as the citrus groves It compared 32 varieties of garden (5,000) are out foraging at any time wet and cold summer and London, trust, Greenspace Clearly, there are better ways to and habitat. Beekeeping is also a of Florida, but the hives are moved flowers for attractiveness to insects. in good weather, they would spread which usually fares better than most Information for help our declining bee populations fascinating activity, and we would out once the citrus stops blooming. The most attractive to honey bees out over 1,087m2 of borage (0.11 regions, was hit the worst. In fact, Greater London and than encouraging beekeeping to the not want to discourage people from the Greater London With the number of urban hives was borage, with an average of 9.6 hectares or 0.11% of a square km) or some beekeepers are known to have Authority (2010). point of overpopulation in certain taking it up. But it should probably on the increase, there needs to be honey bees and 0.31 bumble bees about 8,333m2 of lavender (0.8333 reluctantly moved their hives out of areas. One practical alternative is not be seen as a way of helping bees, sufficient food. Although urban per m2 at peak bloom. Lavender hectares or 0.83% of a square London due to declining honey crops. to focus the amazing enthusiasm and people should go into it with areas have gardens, parks and other is also attractive to bees, and 13 Within the hive, km). However, each plant At various allotments across the and concern the public has for bees careful preparation and investment. green areas, they also have a high varieties were compared. They the brood is kept is not in bloom all the time. capital, the number of beekeepers towards improving habitat and To have bees you don’t need proportion of buildings, roads and varied from 0-1.8 (average 0.6) at 34°C. Bees either With a peak bloom of three is now being restricted as there are growing more flowers. It would help a bee hive. Just plant bee- other non-green areas. And many honey bees and 0.2-4.0 (average ventilate the hive or to four weeks in a foraging considered to be too many hives. not only honey bees but all bees friendly flowers such as green areas, such as amenity grass, 2.0) bumble bees per m2. Many of huddle together to season of 30-40 weeks High colony density in the capital and flower-visiting insects. It also marjoram, borage have few flowers. the 32 plants attracted very few conserve heat (March-October), then the and an influx of inexperienced means many more people can get and lavender in A certain area of flowers is also insects at all. actual area needed across the beekeepers also run the risk of involved – to help bees all you need your garden. needed to support a colony of honey A strong honey bee colony at whole season would be up to 10 spreading certain honey bee is a garden, or even a window box; bees. A research project carried out its summer peak can have 65,000 times as much. diseases, especially American plant the right flowers and the bees by LASI student Mihail Garbuzov workers, but a more typical size for This would indicate that for foulbrood (AFB), which is a highly will fly many miles to find them. as part of his PhD on ‘Helping the a strong colony would be 30,000. each new hive placed in London, contagious bacterial infection of Within the city boundaries of honey bee and insect pollinators Assuming that a third of these the equivalent of one hectare of honey bee larvae. AFB is rare in London there is plenty of scope in urban areas’ gives some insight. are foragers and that half of them borage or 8.3 hectares of lavender Britain, but a high density of hives to make green spaces and managed by novice beekeepers gardens more flower rich. creates a situation in which it Within a 5km radius of CREATING HABITATS could easily spread if it got started. Holborn Circus there is In addition, honey bees can nearly 6km2 (600 ha) ommercial businesses, rather than or enhanced ‘small areas of inviting public annoy the neighbours by of amenity grassland Cplacing bee hives on their rooftops, space’ across the city by March 2015. stinging and swarming. A figure-of-eight (GiGL, 2010), could invest in community projects with The parks for people programme, Novice beekeepers may movement known as much of which the emphasis on habitat creation schemes. initiated by the heritage Lottery Fund, be unlikely to have the the ‘waggle dance’ could be improved For instance, residents at Westcott park has invested £10m in improving London’s experience need to allows honey bees to for wildlife just by share information about Community Garden in West London, left, parks and green spaces. Burgess park in requeen colonies that the distance, direction reducing mowing. have spent £4,000 on plants to ensure Southwark has acquired new large scale are defensive with more and quality of patches of The colourful their bee hive has year round forage. prairie-style planting schemes. gentle stock. forage with others annual and There are other promising examples Friends of the earth is offering a free The honey bee is just in the hive perennial of promoting bee forage. The London pack of wildflower seeds with each one of many insect species Mayor’s Office supports the pocket parks donation to their Bee Cause campaign. that visit flowers. Having a high programme, which aims to deliver 100 new See www.foe.co.uk for details. density of honey bee hives is not only bad for honey bees, but may also

14 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 Do yoU haVe an oPinion on This arTicle? CONtACt US At [email protected] Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 15 FeAtUre tAXIDerMY BACK FROM THE DEAD Tom Ireland reports on how a new generation of artists is spearheading a revival and appreciation of taxidermy

hink of taxidermy, and you visitors. “Although the animals feel might imagine a stag’s head hard,” says Frampton, “they’re still T on the wall of a country house, good for museum handling activities a discoloured animal in a dusty with children where they can touch museum display, or a beloved pet cat the fur and get up close.” staring madly from a mantelpiece. As well as requiring a strong But the practice of preserving and stomach, taxidermists need a range mounting animal skins is enjoying an of skills – including model making, unexpected resurgence in popularity moulding, casting, sculpture, – and not just in museums. painting, airbrushing Over the last decade and tanning (but not contemporary artists have ‘stuffing’). increasingly been using “Taxidermy is zoological specimens to create basically a science- art that poses questions about craft-art, in that order. our relationship with the It attracts people natural world. Artists’ studios, who like wildlife and such as The Last Tuesday observing animals – the Society and The Curious science – and the craft Menagerie (both in the trendy of skinning and tanning London borough of Hackney), them. And then the art is now run regular ‘DIY taxidermy’ making it look natural and workshops where anyone can learn a rook by artist alive,” Frampton adds. “Stopping it taxidermy techniques and leave with and taxidermist going off is just a small part of the their own mounted mouse. Katrina van grouw process.” “There’s lots of interest among the art set,” says Derek Frampton, Back to life a taxidermist at the Natural History Artist Katrina van Grouw has no Museum in Tring, Hertfordshire. formal scientific training yet her He has been in the profession skills in preserving birds are so for 35 years and reports that the extensive that she was curator number of enquiries, from artists of bird skin collections with the and educational establishments, has Natural History Museum in London increased steadily. “We have lots of for seven years. She says the latest requests from young art students, revival follows a period in the 1980s normally young women. And after when museums “pushed their many museums moved towards taxidermy and their taxidermists audio-visual displays and gadgets, into early retirement in favour of people also want to see real animals push-button gimmicks”. splendid in displays and collections again.” “So much taxidermy ended examples of Last year the Tring Museum, up in junk shops in the late 20th taxidermy on display at the home to Lord Rothschild’s huge century,” says Van Grouw. “But collection of preserved animals, recently, luckily, people are once

OhN WArD, AStON rOWANt, OXFOrDShIre rOWANt, AStON WArD, OhN natural history

© J museum in Tring recorded its largest ever number of again appreciating these objects,

16 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 17 FeAtUre tAXIDerMY

The interior thought-provoking and sometimes of hackney deeply moving.” another unusual workshop and work on display gallery ‘The last The idea that modern taxidermy at The last Tuesday society’ is a completely ethical, nature Tuesday society loving artisan craft is patently false, however. Collectors still drive a trade for poaching endangered animals and in the USA the taxidermy industry remains largely driven by hunting, consequently having strong links to the pro-gun lobby. The international Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) agreement aims to prevent the trade of specimens of endangered species, but as protected species vary from country to country, the law is complex and punishments inconsistent.

Tooth and claw The legality of a taxidermist’s work often comes down to how the animal was killed, or when it was acquired or mounted – and not everyone sticks to the rules. In 2000, the the trade of certain animals. Special It’s not clear how long the owner of north London’s well-known licences are granted to museums, taxidermy trend will last, or whether Get Stuffed shop was found guilty educational establishments and its links to the trade in endangered of 27 counts of illegally acquiring full members of the UK Guild species will force it into its next specimens, which included elephant of Taxidermists. recession as public perception body parts, a young tiger cub, a The majority of specimens that changes. If the new generation for whatever reason. Thankfully, that were unfortunately often made has only worked with these prefab leopard, various primates and rare end up in a taxidermist’s studio of UK taxidermists can ensure many are realising the cultural and into ornaments. polyurethane forms. Like a tailor birds of prey. It was a serious setback in the UK, however, are killed on the craft remains compliant with educational value of showing the Various techniques for preserving makes a suit to fit your body exactly, to taxidermy’s reputation among UK roads. “In fact, most taxidermists the law, preserving nature’s most public something ‘real’, so mounted animals have been described since taxidermy is the other way round. animal lovers. will have far more specimens than beautiful specimens can be a way animals are returning to our the 16th century, but few examples You have to make the body to exactly The UK Guild of Taxidermists BIOGrAphY they need because of roadkill,” of celebrating and even protecting museums.” of taxidermy have survived from fit the skin.” aims to accredit and qualify those says Frampton. our biodiversity, rather than Melissa Milgrom’s book Still Life: before the 1830s, when techniques The heightened interest in who stick rigorously to the many Zoos are a source of dead endangering it. Adventures in Taxidermy cites two improved. The basic process mounted animals seems to be complex laws, regulations and animals for museums looking other ‘recessions’ in taxidermy: involves removing the skin of the driven by a general increase in the agreements that govern the trade to add specific or rare animals Further reading one after World War I, and the animal and tanning it to preserve it. popularity of science, but also by a in animal specimens. Various to a display, but animals that eastoe, J. The Art of Taxidermy other in the ecologically minded The taxidermist moves (taxis) the trend for art that says something conservation acts make it an offence have lived in captivity are much (pavilion Books, London, 2012). 1970s, when taxidermy was “not skin (dermis) over a replica of the about the world in which we live. to possess specimens of endangered less desirable to taxidermists. Milgrom, M. Still Life: Adventures in merely forgotten, but reviled”. As animal’s body. Visible body parts, Damien Hirst was, of course, species acquired after 1994; as well Tom ireland msb is Claws are overgrown, teeth Taxidermy (houghton Miffin harcourt, photography, film and other imaging such as eyes and sections of the experimenting with preserved as CITES, in England the Wildlife managing editor are unworn and, according to New York, 2010). technology developed, and zoos mouth, must be recreated skilfully animals in the 1990s, most famously and Countryside Act 1981 restricts of The Biologist. Frampton, “they’re usually fat”. www.taxidermy.org.uk and travel allowed people to see for realism and the animal is often using bisected sheep and cows more wildlife themselves, taxidermy displayed in a facsimile of its natural and a 14ft tiger shark in tanks of became less and less expedient. environment or diorama, a separate formaldehyde. One of his taxidermist 2,000 mounted birds, museum and its collections to the nation in Over the years, due to tasteless craft in itself. assistants, the sculptor Emily Mayer, TAXIDERMY 300,000 preserved 1937. The vast amount of research material collectors, illegal poaching and was made chair of the UK Guild of birds skins, and available at tring meant that its journal, bad taxidermy, the skill acquired a Mounting interest Taxidermists in 2002. AT TRING literally millions of Novitates Zoologicae, published between reputation as an unpleasant, creepy The chemicals used are more “The taxidermy fraternity can be other specimens 1894 and 1948, is believed to have described pastime. “My hobby is stuffing effective and less toxic these divided into two groups,” says Van ost of the remarkable including more than 5,000 new species of animals. things – you know, taxidermy,” says days (until recently, arsenic was Grouw. “One is the rather male- Mcollection held by the Natural insects, eggs, The collections the infamous murderer Norman commonly used), but the techniques led, traditional genre concerned history Museum at tring was spirit-preserved continue to attract Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s horror remain essentially the same. It can be with attempting to recreate the originally collected by its founder, material and visitors and classic Psycho. Frampton explains that modern witty and appearance of the living animal. Baron rothschild. books. As well as researchers Taxidermy’s golden age stretched taxidermists can now buy pre-made Their clients are mostly sportsmen, rothschild only collected specimens the many thousands from around from the mid-19th century to the foam animal parts to save time, thought- so they’re working predominantly prepared by experts, and many of the of mounted animals, he the globe. early 1900s. Back then it was a technique he says is inferior to provoking, with fish and game. The second animals on display at tring today are kept a huge variety of live considered a prerequisite skill for making mounts from scratch. sometimes group is composed of rather more outstanding examples of 19th century animals in the grounds around the museum naturalists and explorers travelling “In the olden days the skins were deeply women and has a strong intellectual taxidermy. and in tring park – and used zebras to draw the world, and most towns had their mounted on bodies made from wood moving bias – conceptual artists making Over his lifetime, rothschild accumulated his carriage. own taxidermist. Collectors fuelled a wool and papier-mâché, which I statements about animals in culture more than 2,000 mounted mammals, The rothschild family gifted the entire OhN WArD, AStON rOWANt, OXFOrDShIre rOWANt, AStON WArD, OhN © J demand for exotic zoological objects still use. But a whole generation and society. It’s often clever, witty, WWW.JACKSpICerADAMS.COM ADAMS, SpICer JACK

18 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 Do yoU haVe an oPinion on This arTicle? CONtACt US At [email protected] Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 19 DISCOVerIeS eXtreMOphILeS

our idea of what can survive at extreme depths has changed dramatically since the 19th century

any natural philosophers british naturalist biologists regarded such discoveries in the 17th century edward forbes only as exceptions to Forbes’ assumed that all living believed that life untarnished rule. Any organisms M could not exist organisms were visible to the below 600m that lived in the cold and dark must naked eye and were surprised when underwater be scavengers, the thinking went, contemporaries, such as Antony surviving on decaying matter drifting van Leeuwenhoek in Holland down from the sunlit waters above. and Robert Hooke in England, Of course, for any organism discovered life so small it trying to stay alive at such could be seen only through depths, the dearth of a magnifying lens. There food would not be the were whole microcosms in only problem. Thriving a drop of water. ecosystems need a steady In subsequent supply of energy, and years, some naturalists there was precious little assumed upper limits on on the ocean floor – or so an organism’s size. Then, biologists thought. in the 19th century, natural philosophers discovered the Deep sea worlds remains of creatures that had In 1977, geologists John Corliss roamed the Earth for millions of of Oregon State University and years, many larger than any land John Edmond of MIT were using animal known. the research submarine Alvin to By the 20th century, natural investigate an area of the ocean philosophers had come to be called floor in the eastern Pacific north- scientists and the subcategory of east of the Galápagos Islands. In this scientists termed biologists were area a camera lowered by a research discovering countless examples both BIOGrAphY ship had photographed live white of life’s ingenuity and of nature’s clams, a full 2km below the surface. ability to overturn assumptions. When Corliss and Edmond neared Nonetheless, they expected that life the site, they found the temperature had ultimate limits (especially in of the water in the vicinity to be regard to temperature and pressure), a few degrees warmer than they and that there were environments so expected and directed Alvin’s pilot hostile that they could not support to take the submarine in a direction even the most robust organism. where the water seemed warmer One such environment was the David Toomey is still. When they crested a ridge, ocean floor. In the 19th century, an associate Alvin’s lights illuminated an oasis it was generally assumed that professor of of life – white clams, mussels, all oceanic life depended on the english and director crabs and fish. of the Professional photosynthesis of plankton and Writing and The two geologists hurriedly used other microorganisms in the sunlit Technical Alvin’s mechanical arm to collect THE OuTER waters that extended a few metres communication samples of everything it could below the surface. Program at the reach. Later, when scientists aboard In 1830, British naturalist Edward University of Alvin’s parent ship studied the water Forbes noted that because sunlight massachusetts- samples and heard Corliss and amherst. his other could not penetrate deeper than books include The Edmond’s report, they concluded about 600m, plankton could not New Time that the geologists had happened survive below that depth and Travelers: A upon a place where scalding hot LIMITS photosynthesis could not operate. It Journey to the water was issuing up through followed that because there could be Frontiers of Physics thousands of cracks in a patch of David Toomey explores how our perception and Stormchasers: no photosynthesis, and no basis for the Hurricane ocean floor 100m across. of life on earth has changed through the ages a food chain, there could be no life. Hunters and their This phenomenon has since On occasion, someone did find Flight into become known as a hydrothermal organisms at lower depths but Hurricane Janet. vent and is understood to be

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By the late 1990s a group of FuRTHER READING back in the 1930s it biologists had convened the first Belozerskaya, t. et al. Characteristics was confirmed that International Conference on of extremophylic the Dead sea is not Extremophiles, and researchers in this Fungi from Chernobyl so dead after all Nuclear power plant. new field had established a journal In Current Research, and a professional society. They had Technology and also published thousands of papers. Education Topics in Applied Microbiology Meanwhile, new discoveries and Microbial continued. So many, in fact, that Biotechnology, 1, 88-94 (Formatex it became necessary to establish research Center, extremophile subcategories. By Badajoz, Spain, 2010). one account, there are now at edmond, J. M. & Von Damm, K. hot least 18. Besides thermophiles and Springs on the Ocean halophiles (Brock’s heat lovers and Floor. Scientific Volcani’s salt lovers), there are cold American doi:10.1038 scientificamerican lovers (psychrophiles or cryophiles), 0483-78 (April 1983). pressure lovers (barophiles or rothschild, L. J. & piezophiles), acid lovers (acidophiles), Mancinelli, r. L. Life in extreme alkaline lovers (alkaliphiles), and even environments. radiation lovers (radiophiles). Nature 409 (6823), They seem to be everywhere. 1092-101 (2001). There are algae living in the slushy brine in veins of Antarctic ice, microbes thriving in water as acidic as that in an automobile’s battery, and even a fungus called VINOKUrOV NICKOLAY Cladosporium sphaerospermum Some heat lovers use different it repairs radiation damaged merrily reproducing in the water proteins in their cell walls that DNA very quickly and can do so core of the Chernobyl nuclear work to better insulate the delicate because it keeps copies of the same reactor, a place with fatal radiation structures inside the cell. Some chromosome in every cell. levels for humans. salt lovers balance the pH inside All these discoveries return us Scientists have found microbes their cells with the pH outside, thus to the question: does life have an underwater expedition in 1977 found life 2km below the surface that may be living their entire life preventing their cells’ dehydration. ultimate limits? cycles in clouds; they have also Some cold lovers use chemicals as There do seem to be a few places OAr/NAtIONAL UNDerSeA reSeArCh prOGrAM (NUrp); WOODS hOLe OCeANOGrAphIC INStItUte OCeANOGrAphIC hOLe WOODS (NUrp); prOGrAM reSeArCh UNDerSeA OAr/NAtIONAL found bacteria and fungi that antifreeze to keep water within their on Earth that are utterly sterile: the the supplier of energy to the life In the 1960s, microbiologist several microbial communities in gain all their energy from inorganic cells liquid at subzero temperatures. core of Chile’s Atacama Desert, ice in the rich ecosystem called a Thomas Dale Brock discovered that the alkaline water of the Dead Sea, chemicals in the rock around All were explainable adaptations to sheet plateaus, hydrothermal vents hydrothermal vent community. the outflows of Yellowstone National demonstrating beyond a doubt that them, more than 2km beneath There are specific surroundings. with temperatures above 400°C, The members of this community Park, in north-western Wyoming and the body of water is misnamed. the Earth’s surface. microbes Certain extremophiles, however, and high-brine liquid water at were called extremophiles, a term Montana, harboured bacteria that Nonetheless, Corliss and that may be presented questions. Upon discovery temperatures below –30°C. coined three years earlier meaning were flourishing at temperatures Edmond’s discovery spurred new Staying alive living their of C. sphaerospermum, some For now, the answer is that “lovers of extremes”. If the name of 90°C, at a time when a standard interest in extremophiles of all Naturally enough, scientists who entire life biologists wondered what earthly scientists don’t really know. What was new, the organisms to which it textbook recommended incubating varieties. Images of the bizarre study extremophiles are interested cycles in environment might prompt an they do know is that life, availing referred were not, and they were bacteria at temperatures of 55-60°C. denizens of hydrothermal vent in the means by which they manage organism to evolve a resistance to itself of what Darwin called “endless certainly not new to scientists who In the 1930s, Benjamin Volcani, a communities were published in to stay alive. As you might expect, clouds high levels of radiation. Researchers forms most beautiful and most had been cataloguing and studying graduate student at the Hebrew professional journals and popular those means are as specialised as now believe that the fungus does wonderful”, is likely to have many them for decades. University in Jerusalem, identified magazines alike. they are varied. not exactly resist radiation; rather more surprises in store.

only survived being rotated in an convert gamma radiation Pyrococcus Spirochaeta Americana Deinococcus radiodurans LIFE, BuT NOT ultracentrifuge at speeds that into chemical energy furiosus S. Americana (below) grows in mud at the Five Gy of radiation can produced 403,627 times the normal as green plants P. furiosus (left) bottom of California’s Mono Lake, whose kill a human. AS WE KNOW IT acceleration due to gravity, they also convert sunlight. thrives in 100°C water has a very alkaline ph of eight to 10, D. radiodurans reproduced in these conditions. It is environments about that of household bleach. (right) can DAVID TOOMEY is the author of Weird Life: also so similar to mitochondria that it is Bacillus infernus around withstand The Search for Life That Is Very, thought to be a possible ancestor of Literally hydrothermal 10,000 Gy, Very Different from Our Own. all eukaryotic mitochondrion. translated as vents on making here he describes some ‘bacterium from hell’, the sea floor. it one of of the most extraordinary Cladosporium sphaerospermum Bacillus infernus (right) Crucially, it has an the most organisms from his research. In 1999, researchers found a black survives in cracks in rocks. enzyme particularly radiation fungus called C. sphaerospermum It has been found living adept at repairing resistant Paracoccus denitrificans (above) thriving in and around the in the utter dark and heat and rebuilding DNA that organisms The bacteria Paracoccus Chernobyl nuclear reactor. It seems (about 60°C) more than 2km would be damaged or ‘denatured’ at high known to denitrificans (right) have not to use the dark pigment melanin to beneath the earth’s surface. water temperatures. science.

rIChArD eVANS-GOWING, MALCOLM StOreY, heNrY ALDrICh M. DALY, USUhS, BetheSDA, MD, USA

22 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 Do yoU haVe an oPinion on This arTicle? CONtACt US At [email protected] Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 23 INterVIeW IMrAN KhAN

KHAN-DO ATTITuDE in september the british science festival will be in full swing. organised by the british science association, its new chief executive Imran Khan and editor sue nelson talk science, politics and becoming a calendar boy

After studying biology at Oxford, campaigns around things such as embryology why did you choose science communication regulations, libel reform or scientific advice in rather than science as a career? Government. That showed me how badly I got about half to two thirds of the way through science is often used in politics and policy, and my degree and basically thought I’m not smart is what eventually got me passionate about enough or patient enough to become a scientist. science policy. But I wanted to stay connected to science somehow, as it’s so fascinating and enjoyable, What did you learn from working with Evan and I wanted to stay connected to the breadth of Harris? science rather than specialising in one very When doing a science degree, and even within specific field. Science communication seemed science communication, you are surrounded the perfect fit. by people who at heart are interested in – and understand – science. Then suddenly you end When did you become interested in science up in this world of Westminster and politics policy? where science isn’t even a secondary or even Probably once I started working for Evan Harris tertiary consideration. It’s a long way down MP (then Lib Dem science spokesperson) after the list. doing my master’s in science communication. Most MPs are looking for someone who’s But that’s politics … political by nature to be their bag carrier or That is politics. It really opened my eyes to the researcher, whereas Evan really wanted disparity between how I thought the world someone with a science background, so I was worked, and how the world saw evidence, versus lucky enough to get offered the job. how the world actually was in terms of use of Once inside parliament I was exposed to evidence and the use of science. WILL AMLOt WILL

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imran Khan at the science museum in london, far left, and, left, handing a petition into 10 Downing street as part of his role at the campaign for science and engineering (case)

You were Mr December in the Geek vanished off the radar for a while. But Calendar 2010-11. What made you now he’s back in a big way, being become a calendar boy? involved in politics in Pakistan. I It was all to do with the libel reform happen to have the Twitter handle campaign. The calendar was set up by @ImranKhan so I get lots of people a bunch of people passionate about calling on God to help him destroy his science and, like many at the time, were enemies directed at me. I always get an appalled at how libel laws were being entertaining morning when I first used to stifle free debate and potentially check my Twitter feed. There are lots of harm lives. Two classic cases were Dr messages about the political situation Peter Wilmshurst and Simon Singh. in Pakistan or praising me for my Dr Wilmshurst does research into cricketing skills. cardiac implants and his criticism of those implants was suppressed using You were named by The Times as libel laws. Similarly for Simon Singh, one of the 10 most influential people who wrote the article about in British science under the age of chiropractors potentially damaging 40. If you don’t mind me asking, how children’s health through their work. old are you? The idea that you can try to use libel I’m 27. laws to suppress that kind of scientific

WILL AMLOt WILL debate just flew in the face of You’re so young! This is a meteoric everything we felt to be true and right rise to go from graduating six years You campaigned for a number of Does that mean scientific going to vote for politicians who make Because of your background are about how the world should work. So a BIOGrAphY ago to head of the British Science scientific issues when you were organisations like the Society of a serious long-term commitment to you likely to take the British Science lot of people, like myself, got involved Association. Do find this rather director of the pressure group Biology and academic institutions research, even when those politicians Association into a more proactive in campaigning to try to change the daunting or do you take this in Campaign for Science and have to be more political as they know that that commitment might not political direction? laws, including those who set up the your stride? Engineering (CaSE). What do you are, indeed, starting to become? pay off for five, 10, 15 years. We want to Definitely more proactive – whether calendar. They wanted to contribute in To be honest it is a little daunting but think will be the next big issue? You’re completely right saying they live in a society that values science – you call that political or not I don’t another way by spreading awareness what makes it really exciting is that It sounds obvious but funding really is are becoming more political. They’re but I don’t think we’re quite there in know. We’ll see… (laughs). of the issue and raising money for the I’m working with people who know the key thing. We’re still living in an being more active in trying to get the the way that we need to be yet. cause, because these legal challenges the scene, who are really good at their economic age where public spending message about science across to What sort of proactive things have cost a lot of money. jobs, passionate about science imran Khan took is going to be at a premium and, as it ministers, across to politicians of all What made you move from CaSE to you got on your radar? So they put together this calendar over as chief communication, great at putting on has been for the past few years, it is parties. But I think the next step is to the British Science Association? One thing I’m really excited about and what can be charitably called executive of the events like the British Science Festival, going to be the same for the next five, say that politicians do things partly on I’m passionate about the place of plays on the history of the association. geeks were approached, volunteered british science organising science and society 10 years, realistically – especially when the basis of lobbying and partly on the science in our society and the We want to start a ‘Huxley debate’ at and agreed to take part. There was association earlier activities, and much more. I’ve got a lot compared to the growing giants in the basis of the media, but ultimately on Association has a fantastic history of this year’s festival in September. It’s me, Brian Cox, Petra Boynton, this year and is of energy to bring to the role as well, rest of the world. So while the Brazils, will they get voted in again or not. To continue being at the forefront of those debates. going to be the first in a series of Jonathan Ross, Aleks Krotoski … we’re former director of which I hope they’re all enjoying. being the the campaign for Indias and Chinas are pumping ever So we need to help change cultural If you go back to 1860 you have the debates where we want to find what is all people who cared about the issue science and But I guess the experience of running more millions into research and attitudes towards science because, best we can’t famous debate between Thomas the ‘evolution’ of today. In other words, and it was a bit of fun. It sold out engineering. CaSE helped. When I started there I science, we are doing our best to stay yes, the economic arguments are afford to Huxley and Samuel Wilberforce at our what’s the big scientific debate – a real incredibly quickly so there’s clearly an he studied biology was even younger and straight away on a level. That’s unsustainable if we important but that’s not the be all and stay still – general meeting and that set the tone scientific debate, not a manufactured appetite for geeks on your wall! at the University was thrown into taking on Government want to continue being the best in the end all of why we value science. We but that’s for centuries, arguably, on the place of one where there’s scientific consensus of oxford, and ministers, getting on the front page of world at research, and have that being value it for its societal and social exactly what evolution in research and how the and it’s the public that scientists are Do you ever get mistaken for holds a master’s The Times, and was put up against degree in science the basis of our economy. We can’t impact as well. We value it for its we’re doing public saw it. I wanted to be in an trying to convince of something – and the cricketer? communication Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight. I think afford to stay still – but that’s exactly healthcare impact and we need the organisation that helps those kind of where’s the debate that also has really I used to get that loads when I was from imperial once you’ve done Paxman on Newsnight

what we’re doing. public to be onside and say OK, we’re debates happen. VItAL IS SCIeNCe & DUNCKLeY JOe interesting societal relevance? about seven or eight but then he college london. everything else seems a little less scary.

26 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 Do yoU haVe an oPinion on This arTicle? CONtACt US At [email protected] Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 27 tOXICOLOGY FOOD SCAre StOrIeS WHAT’S YOuR POISON?

Dr Barbara Hall uses the principles of toxicology to cut through common misconceptions about the dangers of everyday chemicals

his summer the Royal and acetaldehyde in the pumpkin against predators1,9,10. In particular, Society of Obstetricians and and apple pies, and the coffee was Gold et al10 have estimated that T Gynaecologists was criticised a cocktail of 14 substances that an average American ingests for advising pregnant women to cause cancer in rodents. Black tea daily some 1,500mg of naturally ‘play it safe’ and avoid chemicals contained benzopyrenes, and benzyl occurring pesticides. In contrast, found in many common household acetate was found in jasmine tea. daily exposure to synthetic pesticide products. Were they right to issue This flavoursome meal was washed residues in food has been reported by such worrisome advice about widely down with wine – ethyl alcohol – a the Food and Drug Administration used chemicals? human liver carcinogen. as 0.09mg per person per day. We live in a toxic world. This All these substances are chemicals Many of the naturally occurring is both a matter of opinion and and that’s where facts and opinions dietary pesticides have tested a matter of fact. Unfortunately, first diverge. There are chemicals positive in rodent carcinogenicity opinions rarely correspond with from which life, the universe and experiments10. It must be kept in the facts, because real toxicological everything is made; and there are mind that the figure of 99.9% of the information is the privilege of ‘chemicals’ that carry the emotional ingested pesticides applies equally professionals and rarely shared with baggage of negative opinions, to conventionally produced and the public. Do we live despite toxins especially if they are not ‘natural’. organically grown crops. or is our life sustained by them? The aroma and flavour of a Even everyday substances are In 2000, the American Council good strawberry is made up benzene and familiar to toxicologists as having phenol are among on Science and Health created a of more than 400 chemical the components potentially toxic effects. Drinking tongue-in-cheek ‘holiday dinner components, including benzene of strawberries’ 3.5 to 5 litres of water is a lethal menu’ to remind us to exercise (a human carcinogen) and phenol taste and aroma acute dose for a human2 while caution when thinking about (a neurotoxin). Furfural (a rodent chemical safety. The menu looked carcinogen and a hepatotoxin) is pretty unremarkable except for the principal component of the some unexpected ingredients. All of ‘freshly baked’ aroma of bread, them were naturally occurring – and whereas the really ‘buttery’ butter all were in fact rodent carcinogens. gets its aroma from diacetyl, a human pulmonary toxin. The carcinogenic dinner menu There were hydrazines in cream Consuming pesticides of mushroom soup; caffeic acid in Many chemical pesticides are carrots, celery, tomatoes and green consumed every day by us all. salad; furfural and aflatoxins in the The overwhelming majority of nuts; and heterocyclic amines in these, estimated at some 99.9% roast turkey and roast beef. Desserts of the total, are natural pesticides had a sprinkle of benzopyrenes produced by plants as defence

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The main component For example, retrolental complex and diverse and is beyond REFERENCES of the ‘freshly baked’ fibroplasia – a destructive effect of the scope of this article. 1 Bodenmuller, K. aroma of bread is the health-relevant and HAZARD and RISK oxygen on the retina – affects only The next crucial step in environmental aspects for all chemicals: synthetic and natural rodent hepatotoxin and 6 carcinogen furfural newborn infants . The infamous toxicological risk assessment is of different farming systems: organic, embryotoxic drug thalidomide to evaluate the chemical in the conventional and was considered a safe and useful context of its use, under specific genetic engineering. Intrinsic property Chemical treatment until administered conditions of exposure (exposure (Internutrition Swiss of the chemical in use Association for to pregnant adults at a certain assessment). This allows, in the final research and Nutrition, iDenTificaTion eXPosUre stage of pregnancy with tragic step, the calculation of the dose of 2001). ■ What is its toxicity? (how is the product used?) consequences. the chemical that will be safe for the 2 Chen, X. & huang, G. Autopsy case report of ■ Toxicity depends also on the specific consumer group in a specific a rare acute iatrogenic characTerisaTion ■ route of exposure? route by which the substance real-life use situation, including water intoxication with ■ potency: dose response (oral, dermal, inhalation) is administered. For example, a appropriate safety margins (risk a review of literature. Forensic Sci. Int. 76, (what happens with increasing ■ Systemic exposure? lethal human dose of botulinum characterisation/quantitative risk 27-34 (1995) dose, establish NOAeL - no (penetration into the toxin, the most neurotoxic protein assessment). Then, only if necessary, 3 Frank, p. & Ottoboni, observable adverse effect level) blood stream) known, when ingested, is around relevant risk management measures M. A. The Dose Makes the Poison (Wiley, ■ Magnitude of exposure? one nanogram. But the toxin may be recommended. 2011). meThoDs of eValUaTion (how much is used) is relatively safe when injected 4 Ball, p. The Devil’s ■ structure-activity analysis ■ Frequency of exposure? subcutaneously at higher doses. Hazard versus risk Doctor (Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2006) ■ in silico studies (how often it’s used) From this follows the principle that But the crucial principle here is 5 Klaassen, C. D. ■ in vitro studies ■ Susceptibility of the there is no simple answer to the the difference between the concept Casarett and Doull’s ■ animal studies exposed group? question of whether a substance of hazard and the concept of Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons ■ epidemiology (who the target consumers are) 200g of sodium chloride (table mercury, a fashionable cure for BIOGrAphY is dangerous. The answer will risk. The inability to distinguish (McGraw-hill, 2008). 3 salt) will kill a man . Oxygen is syphilis at the time, killed patients depend on the detailed information between the two is at the origin of 6 Stanley, J. L. & HAZARD is constant RISK changes with EXPOSuRE one of the most toxic chemicals, to when administered at high doses about how the substance is going the misconception about chemical Lanman, J. t. history of oxygen therapy and which we are exposed continuously but became a remedy at the correct, to be used, namely who is going to safety, where opinions and facts retrolental fibroplasia. throughout life. It is destructive carefully selected dose. use it, at what dose and through diverge again. Supplement to which can be ingested over a risk of cancer in rodents”. These to the DNA and cell membranes “What is a poison if taken in which exposure route. Hazard is the intrinsic capacity Pediatrics 57,4 (1976). lifetime without appreciable health headlines point to the secret of our 7 The Red Book of all living things, and a killer of excess,” he wrote, “may be a of a substance to cause harm. National research risks. TDI (tolerable daily intake) survival amid the toxins around us. those who venture out unprotected medicine if taken in moderation.” 4 Safety evaluation There is nothing that we can do to Council USA (1983) is the same but used for food Risk is related to exposure; exposure by antioxidants8. Each of these Almost 500 years after his death, The potential adverse health impact change this property. In the same 8 Frank, L. & Massaro, contaminants, such as microbial is the dose; and it is the dose that substances is toxic by a different and Paracelsus is the acknowledged Dr barbara hall of exposure to chemicals has been way, the toxicity of all the other D. Oxygen toxicity. toxins, for example. Similar risk makes the poison. Remember, the cbiol fsb has a PhD Amer. J. of Medicine. specific mechanism. father of modern toxicology, and evaluated for the last 30 years in substances listed in the first part of 69, 117-126 (1980). assessment procedures are carried hazard concerns the substance but from King’s college In fact, there is no evidence at pharmacology textbooks invariably london. after a structured system known as the this article constitute the hazard of 9 trewavas, A., Berry, out by environmental toxicologists the risk concerns you. C. & Mellor, J. Chemical present to contradict the statement begin with his definition of a poison: researching Risk Assessment Paradigm. The those substances. to ensure environmental safety. Our bodies are magnificent 11 danger. Lancet 364, that all substances are toxic . How “All substances are poisons; there enzyme kinetics, framework contains the following Risk is an entirely different 9449, 1937-1938 We can demonstrate the detoxifying machines, constantly then do we explain the continuing is none which is not a poison. Solely and the lipid steps, laid down in 19837. Firstly, matter, because it refers to a (2004). difference between hazard and and effectively minimising the risk existence of life in apparent safety? the dose differentiates poison from biochemistry of hazard identification, then hazard particular situation where the hazard 10 Gold, L. S., Slone, risk using furfural, the principal of exposure to harmful substances B. r. & Ames, B. The first step on the road to a remedy.” human milk, she characterisation (a dose-response may be expressed. For example, in chemical in the ‘freshly baked through complex chemical spent more than prioritization of possible carcinogenic understanding safety was taken by This was the first articulation of 20 years as a assessment), then an exposure the case of petrol: when holding a bread’ aroma. Let us imagine two transformations. As risk can never 5 hazards in food, in 16th century alchemist Philippus the dose-response relationship and toxicology with assessment followed by quantitative lit match above an open canister Food Chemical Risk media headlines. The sensationalist be zero, we live often long and Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus 21st century science has added only Procter & gamble risk assessment and, when necessary, of petrol, the risk of explosion may Analysis (ed tennant) hazard headline would be “Liver healthy lives under conditions von Hohenheim, or Paracelsus two updates to this 500-year-old UK and l’oreal risk management. be estimated at 100%. But in a 267-295 (Chapman & toxin and carcinogen found in hovering over that unapproachable hall Ltd, 1997). (1493-1541). Paracelsus made statement: Paris. she is The aim of the hazard evaluation normal risk situation, such as in a bread”. Yet an accurate risk zero risk. Professional toxicologists 11 Ames, B., profet, a groundbreaking observation: ■ It is timing that makes a poison. managing director step is to understand the nature of well-managed petrol station with headline would be “Consuming play a key role in ensuring our of sUreconsUlT M. & Swirsky Gold, L. the toxicity and the target organ the substance stored underground, Nature’s chemicals and 82,600 slices of bread at once continuing safety in the modern ltd, a scientific synthetic chemicals: consultancy with a affected, for example an ocular the risk will not be zero, but it is comparative attains dose that increases the man made world. particular irritant or a skin allergen (hazard understood and acceptable. toxicology. Proc. Natl. reference to the Acad. Sci. USA. 87, PARACELSuS (1493-1541) identification). A crucial property The aroma of cosmetics industry, 7782-7786 (1990). investigated at this stage is the Assessing chemicals and their uses butter comes and has been a peer orn philippus Aureolus this breakthrough while potency of the chemical, expressed A quantitative risk assessment must from diacetyl, reviewer for a human BTheophrastus treating syphilis patients paediatrics and in the dose-response curve (hazard be carried out not only for each new Bombastus von with mercury. characterisation). chemical, but also each time any pulmonary toxicology journals. toxin hohenheim, paracelsus he is known for The good news is that for every chemical is used in a new product or was a German-Swiss using observations of chemical there is a dose at which is used at a new concentration. physician, botanist, nature in the treatment no adverse effect will be observed, This standard procedure is alchemist and astrologer. of illness, rather than the so called NOAEL (no observable carried out by toxicologists for all he is known as the founder ancient texts, as was adverse effect level). companies that market chemicals: of the science of toxicology standard at the time. As well Toxicity does not always increase pharmaceutical, agrochemical, for his observation that “all things as medicine he made important with increasing dose. Vitamin A is cosmetic, household, water are poison, and nothing is without contributions to psychology and a good example, where both too purification etc. In food safety poison; only the dose permits philosophy. Paracelsus means low and too high doses in pregnant the terms ADI and TDI are used: something not to be poisonous” – ‘greater than or equal to Celsus’, women lead to foetal abnormality ADI (acceptable daily intake) is still a key principle of the field. a roman scholar known for his and the NOAEL lies somewhere in- an estimate of the amount of a he is said to have made encyclopaedia of medicine. between. The methodology used to substance in food or drinking water identify and characterise hazard is (usually in mg/kg body weight)

30 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 Do yoU haVe an oPinion on This arTicle? CONtACt US At [email protected] Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 31 SPOTLIGHT ON photobiology AT A GLANCE sun rising over INTERVIEW skyscrapers in bioluminescent Queensland, algae Noctiluca What does your research involve? australia scintillans on the My research involves monitoring maldive islands UV radiation – specifically the reflective properties of man-made structures. It’s important to help understand the impact it has on people – Australia has such high UV Name levels as it is, and the highest rate Joanna turner of skin cancer in the world. People Profession working in the construction industry Associate are especially exposed and lecturer at often working alongside highly the University reflective structures. of Southern My preliminary studies suggest if Queensland; your face is facing, say, galvanised council member metal, UV levels may increase by of the American up to 50%. Even painted and less Society of reflective surfaces have an impact photobiology. over time. I’m trying to develop Qualifications ratings for different material types. phD, physics – University What does an average day involve? of Southern Presumably you spend a lot of Queensland. time outdoors. Interests Yes, when I’m doing research much Ultraviolet of it is outside. When I go in to radiation talk to schools I tell them that my measurement; uniform isn’t a lab coat and goggles, ultraviolet it’s a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen! radiation But we also have machinery at the reflection from university that generates UV light, reflective properties of butterflies, who is interested in how photons Photobiology studies the interaction of light is important to a huge range of research research may have studied biology or man made so we work in the lab, too. and bees are sensitive to UV light affect biological systems. I mostly light with living organisms and biological areas and industries. Much research is biochemistry before going on to specialise structures; – flowers reflect UV light to attract use chemical sensors so I’ve done systems. Photobiological responses are focused on the causes and treatment of skin in plant photobiology. Someone working in science Do photobiologists them – so it would some chemistry too, and quite an the result of chemical and or physical cancers and other dermatological disease, laser therapy, however, may have studied education tend to work in hot be interesting to array of people join us here – lots changes induced in biological systems by for example, while climate change studies medicine or physiology and then conducted research. sunny areas? use research on of them from the biology side. any non-ionising radiation. depend on research into how plants and research in the dermatology unit of a hospital. I’m not sure UV reflection I did physics at university and did aquatic ecosystems use and reflect the Sun’s The field is so diverse that there are very about that – the and how it affects postgraduate research for a UV Why is it important? energy. photosensory biology is another few undergraduate courses in the subject. birthplace of their vision. expert, so that’s how I got into Most life on earth is sustained by the large research field, covering everything from The european Society for photobiology the field was in that side of things. harnessing of the Sun’s energy by vision to circadian rhythms and phototropism offers a short annual course covering the England I think. How did you get into photosynthetic organisms. photobiologists not (growth towards or away from light). main aspects of the field (photomedicine, There are people photobiology? What else interests you in the field? only study the way organisms react to light, but In terms of using light, bioluminescence photosynthesis, photosensory biology, from all round the I think of myself I would love to get into the use light to find out more about the properties imaging involves splicing segments of DNA fluorescence diagnosis) for MSc or phD world working here primarily as a technology side of detecting UV. of living tissue or biological molecules. that codes for luminous proteins into cells students and occasionally universities but also lots of people photophysicist Reflective UV photography can Light can be used in various therapies and or organisms to study biological processes offer phD level courses (such as the from South America, give us a lot of information about treatments for disease and is used widely non-invasively. It is now used widely in University of Oslo). which has similar UV light. I am also involved with in the sterilisation and imaging industries. genetics and clinical research. In industry problems with Joanna’s getting young people interested in Certain fascinating organisms produce light spectroscopy, sterilisation and sampling For more information ozone depletion research includes photobiology and science in general. themselves (bioluminescence) and scientists products are all reliant on scientists with The european Society for photobiology My uniform to Australia. studying the Children need more opportunities increasingly use their luminous pigments an understanding of light. and The American Society for photobiology exposure of to be excited by science at school, is a hat, construction as a tool in biological research. It is thought offer education, training, events and papers sunglasses What other areas workers because the younger generation engineered bioluminescence could one day How do I pursue a career in photobiology? of interest for members. of biology could to UV are the future of science. I currently replace conventional electric lighting. educational routes depend on the particular and benefit from do a fun experiment with paper aspect of photobiology that is of interest. www.esp-photobiology.it sunscreen! your research? that changes colour under UV What areas can photobiologists work in? For example, someone working in an www.photobiology.org I’d love to find out radiation, which children of any The study of how living tissue interacts with environmental setting or photosynthesis www.photobiosci.info more about the age can do.

32 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 33 entry for a brachiopod, in my best Dr Angela Hall FSB handwriting, saying “300 million years old (1968)”. Freddie After a BSc in biological sciences Sutton AMSB Members from Exeter University, I took a I would like to see educational PGCE at Oxford University and went design given a higher profile I am an into teaching. I moved to Nuffield in in the UK as an academic area intern at the 2001 to work on the Salters-Nuffield bridging research and practice, like University Advanced Biology (SNAB) course. in the USA and Europe. Linking of York’s From 2004, as the first director educational research to evidence- Centre for the member Profiles of the Science Learning Centre, I based curriculum development is Integration became interested in curriculum potentially very powerful. of Research, Social Notices development and completed a PhD Conservation Chief executive Dr Mark Downs is to Sowing the seeds in educational design. I am now a My association with the Society so and Learning (CIRCLE). I have hold informal sandwich lunches freelance consultant. far has included the development been helping to write the strategic with groups of 40-50 members, or of the Practical Biology website action plan for the Udzungwa 10-15 Fellows. places are available I always enjoyed visiting natural (www.nuffieldfoundation.org/ Forest Project, which aims to on a first-come, first-served basis. history museums and wildlife practical-biology) and input to achieve the long-term ecological to book, call 020 7685 2564 or email centres as a child. I collected fossils policy work such as revising the and socio-economic stability of [email protected] and kept small invertebrates as National Curriculum. an area of exceptional biodiversity pets. A family friend who worked in Tanzania. 17 september in a nature reserve encouraged In my spare time I like growing Fellows’ Lunch, Bristol my interests, taking me badger things (particularly if you can eat I recently graduated from 12:30-14:00 watching, fossil hunting and them) and enjoy walking, cycling the University of Bristol after Bristol Zoo discussing wildlife and swimming. I also sing in the studying zoology. The study of 17 october conservation issues Bach Choir and take part ecosystems and the services they Society of Biology Awards ceremony with me. I still in various other provide has made me determined Celebrating the achievements of have a file card musical exploits. to pursue a career helping to members and biology enthusiasts protect our environment. through competitions and prizes. London, venue tBC Growing up on a farm in I completed my BSc (Hons) in rural Wiltshire provided many 24 october Members’ Lunch, London microbiology and infection at the personal experiences of how 12:30-14:00 University of Edinburgh in 2008. human livelihoods are closely Charles Darwin house Shortly after graduating I obtained linked to the environment, both a post in the cryptosporidium lab through the damage that can be 14 november in Scottish Water and was caused through environmental Fellows’ Lunch, London promoted to team leader of the degradation and the benefits from 12:30-14:00 same lab last year. healthy ecosystems. Charles Darwin house Dr Rosemary Newton MSB I work at the Millennium Seed rosemary at the Seeds are fascinating, complex What excites me for the future in The aim of integrating Bank (MSB) at Wakehurst Place, millennium seed systems that have evolved Scottish Water is the development biodiversity issues into all having recently taken up the bank, which she different dormancy mechanisms of methods for monitoring bacterial mainstream decision-making in supports with her position of seed ecologist in the conservation to ensure germination occurs at populations using flow cytometry the Aichi Biodiversity Targets Seed Conservation Department at research the best possible time for seedling at treatment works, and the reflects a change in environmental the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. establishment. There is still so development of a UV treatment concern from a niche to a My research supports the MSB much to discover about how these method as an alternative way to mainstream issue. Hopefully Partnership’s ex-situ conservation complex processes are controlled. treat water supplies. Both projects this means the influence of the programme and in-situ restoration are in their early trial stages. environmental sector will increase As part of the second Biology efforts in collaboration with our At the age of five I wanted to be drastically over the next 10 years, Week, from the 12th-18th network of international partners. a farmer’s wife! That didn’t quite I became a member of the Society with biodiversity conservation October, we will be organising work out, as my husband works in for professional development and and sustainable development events for everyone from I grew up in Johannesburg, central London, but I have always Susan Lee MSB with the aspiration of becoming becoming a serious consideration children to professional South Africa, obtaining my BSc had a keen interest in the natural a chartered biologist in the near for most individuals, businesses scientists, and hope that many from Wits University, and honours world and enjoyed regular trips to I am a team leader in the future. I also believe it is important and governments. others will do the same. and master’s degrees from the the game reserve as a child. It was cryptosporidium lab at Scottish to be part of an organisation that We would love to hear from University of Cape Town. I spent only at university that I decided my Water, a publicly owned water is trying to create a unified voice I joined the Society for organisations and individuals three years coordinating practical future lay in plant science. authority which provides the for biology. professional development and who are keen to take part courses for undergraduates while drinking water and waste water My lab tests the availability of grants to help in Biology Week 2013. For working as a research assistant. I enjoy outdoor activities like disposal services to Scotland. My raw and In my spare time I enjoy me fund a research project in more information email Last year I was awarded my walking, gardening and horse lab tests raw and drinkable waters drinkable practising ashtanga yoga, Tanzania this summer. rebeccanesbit@societyofbiology. doctorate at the University of riding – but find the British throughout Scotland for the waters in swimming and cooking. I am an org or call 020 7685 2553. Reading, following part-time winters rather challenging! We presence of the protozoan parasite Scotland avid reader of the New Scientist and Listening to punk helps me to We have an information pack studies on development, dormancy, fostered cats for several years cryptosporidium, which can be a also enjoy watching documentaries work and I get out on my bike at of plans and ideas. germination, and ex-situ survival of until we were able to bring our cat, serious threat to public health. on science and nature. every opportunity. snowdrop and daffodil seeds. Vulcan, more easily across to the UK.

34 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 35 NeW MeMBer LIStS

JUly 2013 elecTion Support New, Transfer & Chartered Members your local Affiliate RSci Affiliate Anna-Marie McCloy, patricia McCusker, Ben Abbott, Nikhil Agarwal, emad Ahmed, Andrew Mcrobbie. James Miller, Sabah Mirza, Irene Motion, branch eugene Akujuru, Ahmed Al-Saeedi, rishi Isobel Norville, Adriana Oikonomou, Mary our branches rely Anand, Nicola Anderson, Mark Ashmore, RSci Tech Affilate Oliver, John Owen, Sonia parnell, Sai on your support. Thomas Ashton, Charlotte Bailey, Alex Sarah Cavanagh, Laura Chalmers, pathmanathan, Lucy payne, Miguel prôa, if you would like Baker, Catherine Ball, Caroline Balloux, Gavin Chisholm, Lenka Morton. polina prokopovich, Debra prosser, Joanne to give a careers Andrew Balmer, David Barrett, paul raistrick, paul richards, Joanna richardson, talk at your local Beales, Anne Bedford, Leo Bennett, Carl Associate (AMSB) Kim rowe, Jane Schofield, Mohammed school or help with Bethell, Georgina Bishopp, Jessica Bone, Sherif Abbas, Christopher Ackland-Lang, Shaieb, Lynne Sharpe, Anita Shepherd, public engagement Jan Botthof, Ben Boylett, patrick Buckler, Clare Barker, Matthew Barnbrook, ryan Katy Sparrow, Jennifer Standing, Mitchell activities then get Oliver Bujko, Jordan Callear, Laura Carlisle, Barr, elizabeth Bowes, William Carpenter, Summers, Becky Sutherland-Shiell, Abdul in touch with them heather Carney, Katie Cavanagh, Sarah Angel Cebreiro , rebecca Chandler- Syed, Mustafa tayabji, Sarah taylor, John – contact details Cavanagh, Laura Chalmers, Mudassar Bostock, Kerry Clary-Brom, Natalie Cook, terry, Charles Thompson, David tigwell, on page 41. Chanda, Adam Chapman, Molly Chilton, Alex Cooper, Stephanie Corr, Sarah Christopher Ulph, Clare van der Willigen, Gavin Chisholm, Jenny Cockrell, Stephanie Cresswell, Samantha Cude, Lauren Daly, Nynke Venema, Cheung Kuen Wan, Collingbourne, Sam Connelly, Sheena Stephen Geary, Benjamin Gilby, Samantha Matthew Watson, Graham Williams, paula Costello, rachel Cox, rebecca Cuckoo, Griffiths, Scott hayes, Anne-Marie Williams, Louisa Wilson, Joseph Wood, Alesha Dahir, Laura Daley, Susan Davidson, hemmings, James hill, Kayleigh hillman, David Wragg. 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Daniela hattersley, Ali hendry, Judith Sai Vishal rasaal, hannah reavey, emily hesketh, Stephen hodgson, Benjamin reid, Christopher roberts, Joanna Scales, Chartered Biologist Member (CBiol MSB) hooper, elliot hulland-Kemp, Sadia Olha Semenyuk, Danladi Shehu, Scott Manish Arha, Stephen Bullock, Joanne hussain, Thomas hutton, Soha Iqbal, emma Smith, Stuart Smith, Jonathan Stewart, Duffy, Laura Finnegan, John Fullarton, Ming Jackson, eleanor James, Jason Jeffries, rebecca Stone, John Thwaites, James, Alfred rogers, Stephen rowcliffe, hannah Johnson, rhys Johnson, Kelly James Young. Anita Shepherd, edward Smith, todd Smith, Johnstone, Joshua Jones, Fiona Jones- Colin trigg, Graham Williams. Gerard, philip Kelly, Amy Kibblewhite, Clare RSci AMSB Knight, Alexander Lawrence, elizabeth Megan De Ste Croix, Sian evans, Chartered Scientist Member (CSci MSB) Lee, eugene Li Qun Lee, Nathaniel Legall, Benjamin Gilby. peter Alcock, payal roychoudhury, Graham emily Lewis, Daniel Leybourne, Daniel Lill, Scott, Jo-Anne Sewlal. eirini Linardaki, Sophie Littlewood-horner, RSci Tech AMSB Daniel Love, Jonathan Magwood, Autumn Samantha Cude, hannah reavey, Fellow (FSB) McCullough, Bernadette McIlwaine, Linsay Matthew Ward. Judith Allen, peter Andrew, Andrew Beal, Mcphail, Andrew Mcrobbie, Jo Middleton, Matthew Bentley, russell Bialecki, Derek rebecca Miles, Louise Milne, Zoe Milne, Member (MSB) Blake, Nia Bryant, David Burt, Jane Calvert, Amanda Moir, Nour Morjan, Lenka Morton, emmanuel Amabebe, William Atkins, Indira Anthony Cass, David Coates, Chris Cooper, Clare Mothershaw-henney, Joseph Banner, Anthony Barker, Michelle Barrow, Sheena Cotter, Carol Donner, Jill Farrant, Moughan, Auriane Muse, Durrell Nangle, Nina Beadle, Ulrike Bechtold, Craig Beer, Janita Good, hari hundal, Celia Knight, paul Leon Newton, Justin Ng, Sami Nighat, Mark ranjeet Bhagooli, Louise Blakemore, John Littlefair, Mark Lowdell, Donna MacCallum, O’Brien, richard O’hanlon, Niamh OKane, Borg, Alec Bowden, richard Branton, Gillian Calum Macpherson, peter Maddison, Akinruli Oluwatosin, trust Orlu-Orlu, Charys Brayley, helen Brown, Jonathan Caddick, Fiona Maisels, Marzia Malcangio, Alistair palmer, elsa panciroli, Clara parker, toby Cristiane Calixto, Sara Casey, Anastasia McGregor, Áine McKnight, eric Miska, Ian parkes, Michael parlby, emilie pearson, Charalampopoulou, Afielia Choudhry, Munro, Chris O’Callaghan, Valerie O’Donnell, Wayne pires, Freya pullen, Bubbles Nicholas Coe, Louise Colville, Vicki Connell, Colin palmer, Sandip patel, Steven putnam, Victoria Quinn, Suraj rai, Chelsea Yoshiko Cook, hannah Cunniffe, Dorota picksley, Stuart piertney, Jeffrey pollard, reid-Johnson, emma riddell, Laura riggall, Cyganowska, David Dalziel, Mandy Davies, richard preziosi, Mariann rand-Weaver, emily robertson, philip romanos, Lauren paul Davies, Vanessa Davies, Satish MN Salleh, Gareth Sanger, Liz Sheffield, rose, Laura Seamons, Jessica Senior, Davuluri, John Donetz, Alison easter, Gero Steinberg, Andrea Streit, Vasanta Maria Sheikh, Carlos Silva, Kimberly Smith, Maggie Fenton, Gary Ford, Geoffrey Subramanian, richard Walmsley, Benjamin Andrew Spence, Amy Spencer-rogers, Foss-Smith, Kevin Fowler, edward Fox, Weston, Bruce Whitelaw, robin Williams, Andrew Stone, Alexander Strachan, John Fullarton, Oliver Gandolfi-hornyold, Jennifer Woof, Xiangming Xu. Louisa Sutton, Ioana teodorescu, David Gemma Garrett, Christopher Gates, Iain Thackery, phoebe tickell, Sarah tindall, Greenall, Johann Grundlingh, Maria Guerra Chartered Biologist Fellow (CBiol FSB) Charles tripolone, Gemma tuckwood, Schram, reenu Gupta, eva haas, Jeanette Lucas Chan. Lenka turner, rosie turner, Abdullahi U haddow, Lewis halsey, richard harrison, Jibo, Sophie Watts, Diana Webber, edward Sanjit heer, philip hobson, Bridget hogg, Chartered Scientist Fellow (CSci FSB) Webber, Gavin Weir, rachel West, Daniel Catherine hynds, Victoria Ireland, phil Lucas Chan, paul Cummings, robert eley, Wilcock, ernest Williams, Gwion Williams, Jenkin, rowena Jenkins, Ashley Jonas, Jonathan Nguyen-Van-tam. Sharon Williams, Bethan Wolfenden, Oliver Stephen Jordan, Umme Khanzada, piotr Wright, teerapong Yata, randal Yates, Klimczak, Aisling Lannin, John Layng, Katherine Yeomans, Connie Young, Jacek rowland Lees, evaggelia Liaskou, Daniel Zawada, radoslaw Zawadzki. Makin, Florian Mallevre, Gareth Matthews,

36 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 Branches

our secretary by 28th August. Arrive EVENTS at 15:45 for a 16:00 start. The tour will include tastings so there is a CALENDAR minimum age of 18 years. For more details and to book a place B macro-fUngi on an event, see the Branch Contacts (UK fungus Day) on page 41, or visit the events page of Sunday 13 October 2013 11:00-13:00 the Society website. Professor Maurice Moss will lead the fungal foray to the Chantries in Surrey, a wooded area north of Beds, Essex & Herts Shalford with a good reputation for fungal diversity. This event always naTional frUiT shoW results in an interesting and varied Wednesday 16 & genetic analysis collection of mushrooms, toadstools thursday 17 October 2013 company East Anglia and wood rotting species. Take the A key event for horticulturalists and bluegnome is A281 south from Guildford, then offering a lab B those interested in fruit production. tour in october blUegnome lecTUres about a mile out of Guildford turn For further information and anD ToUr east into Pilgrims Way. As you reach bookings, contact Dr Theresa Huxley Monday 14 October 2013 19:00 a bend in Pilgrims Way (GU4 8AD) on 07785 700073. An evening of lectures and a lab tour you will find a track on the right of the genetic analysis company which leads to the car park. BlueGnome. There will be tea and Devon & Cornwall coffee from 19:00 with the first lecture starting at 19:15. Held at the North Wales yoUr sPine CPC4 Capital Park, Fulbourn, ThroUgh Cambridge CB21 5XE. fUngal foray The ages Please register by email at Saturday 5 October 2013 14:00 tuesday 3 September [email protected] or Dr Nigel Brown will lead the fungal 2013 18:30 by post, to the events co-ordinator, foray at Treborth Botanic Gardens, Consultant spinal Society of Biology East Anglia Bangor (SH 555712). The gardens surgeon Andrew Events, PO Box 1204 Cottenham, are located two miles from Bangor, Clark introduces the Cambridge CB24 8WJ by 1st October. on the banks of the Menai Strait, spine, from birth to bordering the Snowdonia National old age, and what Park. From the A55 turn on to the happens when it goes Kent, Surrey &Sussex A487 in the direction of Menai wrong. Meet at Princess Bridge. The entrance for the gardens Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre exeter members flora & faUna of is on the left before crossing over the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, have the chance rocK Pools Menai Suspension Bridge. Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW. to hear about This previously advertised event is To attend email Chris Fry at the spine and postponed until the winter. agm anD chrisTmas lecTUre devonandcornwall@ its defects thursday 5 December 2013 societyofbiology.org hogs bacK breWery 19:30 Wednesday 4 September Dr Peter DeVon’s farm animals 2013 15:45 Cunnington’s talk is Saturday 5 October 2013 11:00-16:00 A guided tour of on the experiences Trevor Wilson FSB will be speaking Hogs Back Brewery of a botanist in about the history and biodiversity of with a brewer on Asia. The AGM Devon’s farm animals at Umberleigh hand to answer and lecture will Village Hall. Come along and see Red more scientific take place at Bod Devon cattle, Exmoor ponies and questions. The shop Erw Hotel, St Closewool sheep. The WI will B events marked features HBB Asaph, on the hogs back provide lunch for £6. Contact Chris with this symbol products and brewery roundabout with Fry two weeks before the event to are part of hundreds of beers from the A55, Junction 27 confirm attendance at the email biology Week around the world. The event (SJ 031746). More details

address above or call 01395 278556. 2013 is £10 and you will need to book with will be available closer to the event. trIpADVISOr.CO.UK www.societyofbiology.org/events Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 37 BrANCheS eVeNtS CALeNDAr/eVeNt repOrtS

species of Great Britain. This is a Thames Valley free event at Harborne Building, West Midlands EVENT University of Reading Whiteknights UK laDybirD sUrVey Campus. Refreshments will be B memorial lecTUre for tuesday 17 September 2013 19:00 available from 19:00 and the Dr chrisToPher smiTh REPORTS Dr Helen Roy will be speaking on lecture will start at 19:30. Wednesday 16 October 2013 the ‘UK Ladybird Survey: Engaging Society of Biology and British People in Biological Recording.’ Neuroscience Association Memorial Devon & Cornwall This is a free event at the Centre for Wessex Lecture for Dr Christopher Smith, Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, held at Aston University. The lecture VicTorian PlanT Oxfordshire. Refreshments will be neW foresT will be preceded by the West hUnTers & Pioneers available from 19:00 and the Saturday 14 September 2013 Midlands Branch AGM. 27 April 2013 lecture will start at 19:30. Join us for a guided walk Plant historian Caradoc Doy around the New Forest with annUal charTer lecTUre entertained members and guests science in the Rangers. The walk will tuesday 12 November 2013 at Exeter University with the The meDia start and finish at the At Birmingham fascinating story of the Veitch tuesday 8 October Visitor Centre in University. Nurseries of Exeter and Chelsea. 2013 19:00 Lyndhurst where Professor Steve These nurseries sent out 23 collectors Fiona Fox, chief you can go and Jones presents: over a period of 72 years and were executive of the explore the ‘Alfred Russell responsible for many horticultural Science Media museum and Wallace a firsts, including the collection of Centre, will be information Hundred Years hundreds of new exotic plants. lecturing on centre. on: is Man Just William Lobb travelled to South science in the fiona Another Animal?’ and North America in 1840, for media at Eton fox agm & example, and brought back the College, Windsor. PhoTograPhs monkey puzzle (Araucaria araucana), Refreshments are thursday 14 November Western fuchsias, escallonias, Caenothus, available from 19:00, 2013 Embothrium, Lapageria, followed by the AGM at 19:30 Dr Matt Doggett, winner of agm & TalK Crinodendron, and later many and the lecture at 20:00. the British Wildlife Photographer thursday 31 October 2013 conifers, most famously the of the Year 2012, will share the Come and contribute to your region’s Wellingtonia. On one dangerous inVasiVe sPecies story behind his winning picture activities. Hard work is a positive journey he obtained Araucaria Wednesday 6 November 2013 19:00 ‘the gannet jacuzzi’. He will also addition to your CV and CPD and araucana cones by rifle shot! The rangers will Daryl Buck, biodiversity officer at show and discuss his images of there are plenty of opportunities to seedlings were later sold for about trips, driving animals over the cliffs, Devon & different parts of the caves. This may guide you round cornwall society the glories of the the Environment Agency, will be Hampshire and Dorset coast meet scientists at our events. At the £300 each in today’s money. perhaps using this as one of the most well give a clue as to why some caves talking about non-native invasive marine life. AGM we will be looking for a new In 1854, chief hybridiser John northerly unglaciated areas. members appear to have less to discover. new forest visiting exeter chair as Mark Howard is stepping Dominy was credited with raising The Ice Age cave art at Creswell University We were treated to a behind the down. Meet at BAWA (www.bawa. the world’s first official orchid Crags, discovered in 2003, is Britain’s scenes examination of the museum’s biz) and contact Mark for further hybrid, Calanthe x Dominii. This only example of Palaeolithic cave art. collection of skeletal material. All details at markhoward@waitrose. led to the establishment of a new The engravings and low-reliefs the experts were excellent, making com or 0117 942 3688. branch of horticulture, which was found on walls and ceilings represent it a brilliant visit. A guided tour of controversial in Victorian Britain and the most northerly of such finds spring plants and a painting lesson, chrisTmas social regarded as ‘tampering with nature’. in Europe. Their subject matter both led by members, as well as the thursday 12 December 2013 12:00 Everyone appreciated the includes representations of animals accompanying vintage fair, added to Join your colleagues at the annual exuberance and enthusiasm of the including deer, bison and possibly the richness of the day. meal with a talk afterwards. It will speaker and, during our exploration an ibis. marianne overton msb creswell crags be held at Bristol University of the university grounds, we found One experiment in progress is explorers Veterinary School dining hall specimens planted by the Veitch’s examining the quality and rate of examining a at Langford, North Somerset. collectors over 100 years ago. decomposition of animal tissue in lion’s skull Kent, Surrey & Sussex More details available from christine fry msb Mark Howard (as above). WilD floWer meaDoWs 5 June 2013 East Midlands Jim Ford, head forester for some Yorkshire 37 years, led an interesting and cresWell crags informative walk around the meadows seashore 19 May 2013 of the Beech Estate in East Sussex. Saturday 5 October 2013 Creswell Crags is a limestone gorge The estate fields have been farmed Identifying seashore organisms on the UK’s World Heritage Tentative for generations by traditional organic at Boggle Hole, Robin Hood’s Bay. List, lying on the border between methods, with low-intensity grazing An ideal event for teachers and Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. and late mowing. A consequence of professionals wanting to deepen Cliffs either side of the narrow this sensitive management is that their knowledge, or for amateurs valley contain several caves that the meadows annually produce a with an interest in the seashore. were seasonally occupied by groups remarkable crop of wild flowers, Booking is restricted to 15 but of nomadic people during the last averaging some 50 species per families are welcome to come for Ice Age. square metre. a day at the seaside. Settlers may have been on hunting As spring was late this year, the

38 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 www.societyofbiology.org/events www.societyofbiology.org/events Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 39 BrANCheS eVeNt repOrtS BRANCH meadows were not yet in full when hidden or taken for granted. lies a rather unusual nature reserve CONTACTS bloom, but there was still One particularly interesting display on an abandoned nitroglycerine plenty of colour with was a glass cabinet with every day manufacturing site. The process BedS, eSSex & HerTS buttercup, yellow rattle, food items being grown in their involved mixing glycol with nitric Dr Theresa Huxley stitchwort, bugle, some shop packaging, a poignant reminder acid and, very carefully, sulphuric [email protected] milkwort and a few that the food chain doesn’t start on acid with glycerine. In the early days, early purple and the shelves at the supermarket. mixing was done manually and the devoN & CorNwALL common spotted Our knowledgeable and enthusiastic temperature was crucial: too cool Miss Christine Fry orchids. volunteer guide, Patricia, added to and the reaction did not occur, too [email protected] In addition to the a thoroughly pleasant trip, and warm and it exploded. The worker meadows, our guide thanks also to Veronica for who stirred and maintained the eAST ANGLiA explained that this High Weald arranging the visit. temperature was given a one-legged Miss Amanda Burton spotting wild area had, since pre-Roman times, flowers in the Dr cliff collis csci cbiol fsb stool so if he nodded off he also fell [email protected] seen the mining and smelting of iron. beech estate off and woke in time to monitor The impacts meadows, the reaction. eAST MidLANdS of this industry on the landscape east sussex Northern Ireland Members and friends explored Mrs Rosemary Hall have further contributed to the the site under the guidance of Mike [email protected] diversity of habitats in the reserve. forensic science norThern Willis, whose most important Dr David Ware cbiol fsb irelanD (fsni) instruction was not to touch anything KeNT, Surrey & SuSSex 29 May 2013 that might explode! To the calls of Dr David Ware Thanks to Arthur Conan Doyle and cuckoos, willow warblers and ravens, kentsurreysussex@ London Sherlock Holmes and despite – or we climbed up through sessile oaks, societyofbiology.org perhaps because of – its gruesome birches and willows with native chelsea Physic garDen nature, forensic science has captured bluebells and wild strawberries LoNdoN 26 May 2013 the public’s imagination for well underfoot. There were extensive Mr Ken Allen The Physic Garden, because of its over 100 years. In a recent visit views and the impressive sight of a [email protected] proximity to the Thames, has a to Forensic Science Northern two tonne ballistic pendulum, into uniquely warm microclimate Ireland, members were treated whose maw was positioned a cannon NorTH wALeS pAUL BArtLett pAUL enabling many non-native plants to to the ‘real thing’. loaded with a test charge of explosive. Dr Rosemary Solbé survive the English winter snows. Forensic science aims to provide The site opened in 1865 and after After admiring flowering plants in Food Standard Agencies in Europe. Trekking the [email protected] The four acre garden was leased to the judicial process with objective serving the armaments industry the nursery area, the storm passed Professor Hardy described the himalayan the Society of Apothecaries for a rent scientific analyses of evidence at in both World Wars, the factory and the magnificence of this north decision-making framework and garden and NorTH weSTerN sculpture Park of £5 a year in perpetuity by Hans scenes of serious crimes, using the continued to operate making facing garden could be explored. The the role of chemicals in food in yorkshire Mr Glenn Upton-Fletcher Sloane, an act of generosity for which latest techniques available. Biologists detonators for the mining industry late spring meant that Narcissi were production. Pesticides are [email protected] the garden trustees are eternally play a pivotal role in forensic until 1995. Since then, the site has still in abundance, but many of the intrinsically poisonous and therefore grateful. The garden was used to investigations and uniquely interact been handed over to the North Wales larger plants had only flower buds. pose a risk to consumers, bees and NorTHerN grow medicinal plants from around with all other forensic disciplines Wildlife Trust in 1998. It now offers a The garden’s 54 excellent other fauna, which may have knock Dr Michael Rowell the world for study and, although the as complex cases develop. haven for wildlife such as nightjars, sculptures were a surprise, and were on effects on the food chain. [email protected] layout has changed numerous times, After an introduction on lesser horseshoe bats and a large beautifully displayed. Almost all The EFSA was set up in Brussels this ideal has remained as a central approaches and tools used in forensic number of moth species. were influenced by biological forms, in 2002. It collects information NorTHerN ireLANd theme to the displays, such as the science, members donned white Professor John solbe mbe cbiol fsb from a naturalistic prowling leopard, independently, examines evidence Dr David Roberts beds devoted to world medicine. oversuits and took part in a simulated guinea fowl and roebuck, to stylised and communicates risk assessment, [email protected] The garden of edible and useful investigation at a crime scene, and in steel mushrooms, magnolia and a as well as overseeing topics such as fruits displays a wide range of plants enjoying a laboratory studies of blood splash stork. A mosaic sycamore wing and a plant health, contaminants, animal SCoTLANd guided tour Yorkshire on which we depend, showing just of the chelsea patterns, fibre sampling and huge swift were particularly striking. food, animal welfare, food additives Dr Jacqueline Nairn how inextricably our dependence on Physic garden microscopy. A debriefing followed himalayan garDen & This was a wonderful way to and novel foods. [email protected] plants interweaves in our lives, even in london the practical work to interpret scUlPTUre ParK celebrate the Fascination of Plants Professor Hardy described the information gathered at the crime 18 May 2013 Day. The garden is only open for a few ways in which data are presented THAMeS vALLey scene and elsewhere to build an Shortly after a two month long weeks in May and June, but we would showing toxic effects and the Dr Ray Gibson accurate picture of relevant events. drought in Yorkshire had ended, recommend a visit to this magical levels where there is no response. [email protected] This demonstrated that investigating 21 intrepid members and guests landscape next year. Thanks to Outcomes can be variable but there crime was not as quick and clear cut crashed through floods and heavy Chris Collins on the committee for are several hot topics, including weSSex as often portrayed in fiction but rain to reach the Himalayan Garden, the excellent arrangements, and to chemicals, that have an effect on the Ms Rachel Wilson involved painstaking, protracted located at an altitude of 850ft at the our guide Hannah. endocrine system, such as Bisphenol [email protected] effort and great attention to detail. Head of the Valley (Hutts). Paul bartlett msb and Aspartame (because of its Thank you to everyone who gave so Although planting only began in inclusion in soft drinks). Other weST MidLANdS generously of their time to ensure a 1998, because of high rainfall and agm WiTh royal socieTy topics include cumulative risk Ms Debbie Dixon particularly informative experience. acid soils (between ph4 and ph6), of chemisTry exposure, uncertainty, animal [email protected] Dr Dai roberts cbiol fsb establishment of the Rhododendron, 29 May 2013 cloning, genetically modified Cornus, Azalea, Camellia, Pieris and Professor Tony Hardy, chair of the organisms and food health claims. weSTerN others was rapid. There are now over European Food Safety Association Food safety is a top priority and Ms Joan Ashley North Wales 1,000 varieties of species and hybrid (EFSA) scientific committee, gave there is no such thing as a zero risk. [email protected] rhododendron, with many plants a lecture entitled ‘European Food To find out more check out the EFSA eXPlosiVes facTory being grown from seed collected Safety: a Biologist at Large.’ website (www.efsa.europa.eu) and yorKSHire 11 May 2013 on recent plant hunting trips to the Food crises of the 1990s meant it subscribe to their Highlight magazine. Mr Paul Bartlett Near Porthmadog in North Wales Himalayas, China and Korea. was necessary to set up national Jennifer burnett cbiol msb [email protected]

40 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 www.societyofbiology.org/events www.societyofbiology.org/events Ginkgo in their quality – some don’t address book appeals to a variety of Peter Crane the theme much, while others do. audiences, as Zak himself did not The Olympic yale University Mirror neuron research features come to biology through a traditional Games Press, £25.00 heavily in the first section on actions route, having originally studied and the reviews Since studying and culture, while the second section economics and mathematics. Above Environment botany and addresses empathy and the all the book conveys the passion of “There has zoology as an third focuses on emotion and one individual, illustrating how been a trend undergraduate, communication. Despite the common scientific curiosity and experimental in promoting so-called ‘living theme of the volume and subthemes design should be considered. the greening fossils’ have always held a fascination of the sections, the papers are oddly natasha neill msb of the Games. Letters to a for me. These include ginkgo biloba, ordered in places. Sections one and The results Young Scientist the oldest living tree. Without human two have an introduction by one or The Olympic do little to Edward O Wilson intervention resulting in its both editors, contextualising the Games and the liveright Publishing worldwide dispersal, we would only papers that follow, but section three Environment encourage corporation, £14.99 have known it from its fossil remains. doesn’t. For no apparent reason, it John Karamichas anyone to The celebrated Peter Crane guides us through just starts with the first paper. Palgrave macmillan, have faith conservationist, every aspect of the tree’s provenance, The varied topics of the volume £55.00 in the future” entomologist and at the same time using it to weave an mean that different specialists will Since their revival in sociobiologist enthralling tale of people, history, have different favourites and that 1870, the Olympic EO Wilson draws on more than evolution and conservation. He some students will pick out certain Games have created as many myths 60 years of academic endeavour to leaves no stone unturned in his papers but ignore others. As a source as the events themselves. One is that impart his distilled wisdom in this quest to present the story of this for the latest papers in cognitive- Hitler invented the torch – he didn’t, engaging and inspiring short book. remarkable tree. related fields, the volume works well, it was introduced in the 1828 The format is in part autobiographical He uses the ginkgo as an example although the specialist who is only Amsterdam Games. Another is that and in part a series of open letters to illustrate how other plants, such as interested in sticking to their own present day Olympic thinking is addressed to a graduate student the wollemi pine, have been saved field will find it poor value for money. environmentally sensitive. embarking on their research career. from extinction. He also issues a However, its real value is perhaps in Since the 2000 Games in Sydney, In essence, it is as if he were writing warning about the politicising of the its multidisciplinary nature, which there has been a trend towards now to his young self on arrival at Convention on Biological Diversity. encourages readers to gain empathy, promoting the greening of the Harvard University in the 1950s. Those who read this book are likely facilitate communication and mirror Olympics. Has it worked? Can it work? Described as a deliberate play to look upon the ginkgo with a sense behaviours in other, adjacent fields Professor Karamichas sets out to tell on Rainer Maria Rilke’s Letters to a of enchantment, as do I from the – an outcome of which the editors us in this slim, expensive book. Young Poet, Wilson compares poetry kitchen window, to where one has would surely approve. ‘Environmental modernisation’ and science more than once and it grown in my garden for the past Jennie robinson (EM) is now a recognised aim of the closely resembles Peter Medawar’s 30 years. If you are not lucky enough Games. The Sydney Olympics were treatise Advice to a Young Scientist . to own one, go to see the Old Lion The Moral followed in 2004 by Athens, which In it Wilson debunks some of the ginkgo at Kew, and marvel. Molecule: The New produced a similarly green agenda myths surrounding the attributes Dr graham godfrey cbiol fsb Science of What but “failed miserably” to put it into required of a good scientist. We learn Makes us Good practice, according to Karamichas. that neither mathematical skill The Primate or Evil Objective indicators can be used to DEEP THOuGHT nor a genius level IQ is essential. Mind: Built to Paul J Zak quantify the environmental impact of Rather, he argues for common sense, Connect with bantam Press, £16.99 an Olympics – levels of CO2 emissions Introducing Oceanography with colour photographs and figures. a rational and logical thought Other Minds Paul Zak is often and the fate of sites designated for David N Thomas and David G Bowers For those with a technological interest process, keen observation and Frans BM de Waal addressed under his moniker of environmental protection, for Dunedin academic Press ltd, £9.99 there are details of remote sensing an inquiring mind. & Pier Francesco ‘Dr Love’ and his TED talk on example – and the results do little to The oceans are the least explored instruments, unmanned submersibles Wilson also advocates Ferrari (Eds) oxytocin has attracted more than encourage anyone to have faith in the part of our planet and yet they cover and sensors attached to animals, going commitment to small, informal harvard University 950,000 views. The Moral Molecule future. Green credentials are a about 70% of the Earth’s surface. where man does not, or cannot, go. experiments. Here, he is out of touch Press, £36.95 brings together Zak’s work on hallmark of a successful application by Developments in ocean science Within this short text, which with 21st century scientific research, An edited volume from a 2009 oxytocin, in particular the role it a host nation but, as this book shows, over the last 50 years have combines scientific basics with driven as much by the twin headed conference, The Primate Mind boasts plays in human experiences and they may never be translated into emphasised the important role the exciting new findings, hopefully ogre of grant income and an impressive array of big names behaviours. The reader is taken reality once the Games are finished. seas play in Earth systems, notably young minds and old will be drawn publications as it is by old fashioned in its field and has a timely and through his research, his insights on Professor brian J ford the climate. Not only do they move to further study and exploration. It curiosity for the truth. As a result, it positive overarching theme: that it is experimental design and the people vast amounts of energy and nutrients should be a useful teaching basis for is increasingly performed by large time to stop seeing if non-human who help him investigate the true Solid Introducing around the world but they are also the students new to oceanography. There collaborative, interdisciplinary, often primates can perform human skills. nature of oxytocin. Biomechanics Oceanography habitat for an estimated 230,000 is a glossary of terms, with a page international, groups and not by Instead, we should focus on what The Moral Molecule has been Roland Ennos “The oceans species of microorganism, plant and reference to where individual terms individual scientists. common cognitive themes and skills subject to some debate from other Princeton University are home to animal, of which less than half have are first mentioned, but no index. Criticism, however, would be can be found across primates – or science writers and neuroscientists, Press, £44.95 an estimated been identified. Unfortunately the printer’s devil churlish because Wilson’s passion for mammals, or vertebrates. The editors particularly with regard to other roles The mechanical 230,000 Introducing Oceanography is one of seems to have been particularly busy biology is evident; his honourable state that this ‘bottom up’ approach oxytocin might play which could properties of living species, of a series of texts mainly covering in this edition of the book. The motives and enlightenment cannot be is a refreshing and sensible one. conflict with the ‘moral’ role. organisms and which less several aspects of geology, including publishers have assured me that the denied, and the underlying principles Frankly, I agree. Irrespective of this, the book is well materials derived from living tissues than half palaeontology and meteorology. The digital editions of the book (released that he espouses are those a young Most Biologist readers will be written and a great example of have been studied for centuries. have been essential aspects of the physics, in December 2012) and any future scientist would do well to heed. familiar with the nature of edited communicating science in an inviting Da Vinci used bird wing design in flight identified” chemistry and biology of the oceans reprints will have been corrected. Recommended. volumes, so will not be surprised to and engaging way, regardless of the studies and Galileo investigated the are covered and liberally illustrated Dr John c bowman cbe cbiol fsb Dr andrew Taylor-robinson cbiol fsb hear that the component papers vary scientific ability of the reader. The strength of hollow cylinders using bone.

42 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 43 reVIeWS

of biology (and indeed many other The loss of boreal fields) which, as a previous reviewer coniferous forests is a notes, has become incredibly data threat to the boreal owl (Aegolius funereus) rich. Bioinformatics is an important part of modern science but it is also imperative for the bioinformatician to understand the type of data they are looking at, the system it came from and the limitations of both. Each chapter contains many useful examples and exercises, and there is a solution manual available online to check your results. Some knowledge of mass spectrometry, protein chemistry and statistics is required to get the best out of this book, and the use of many complex equations, while probably necessary, will mean that it will not be accessible to many. Persevere, though, and the keen reader will find much to learn here. Dr oliver Jones cbiol msb

The Boreal Owl: Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation of a Forest-Dwelling Predator Erkki Korpimaki and There has been rapid growth in developments in biomechanics Harri Hakkarainen The Boreal the field of biomechanics since the and biomimetics. cambridge University Press, £60.00 Owl latter half of the last century and This easily readable book, written The boreal owl was once one of the “Once one of in the past few decades there has as a primer for undergraduates on most predatory birds in the Eurasian the most been heightened interest in reverse both biological and engineering boreal forests, and is also widespread predatory engineering, such as resealable glue courses, provides a wide range of in North American regions such as birds in the development inspired by the hair examples that illustrate the different the Rocky Mountains. The authors, Eurasian structures on gecko feet, or improved mechanical properties of biological who have spent their careers studying boreal forests, rubber based on dragonfly wing materials and various mechanisms the boreal owl in Finland, introduce the owl is also shock absorbers. and adaptations of a host of floral and and describe the species and its main widespread Roland Ennos draws on examples faunal organisms. prey. They then move on to its in North from empirical, comparative and alex Waller cbiol msb behaviour, which fluctuates American biomimetics research, while giving seasonally and multiannually in regions such uncomplicated advice for readers Computational and relation to environmental conditions. as the Rocky interested in performing their own Statistical Methods As well as reproduction, the many Mountains” investigations. The introductory for Protein other factors which regulate nature of Solid Biomechanics is Quantification populations of this species are complemented with clear diagrams, by Mass described. Populations can be illustrations and a limited Spectrometry managed, but the loss of boreal mathematical emphasis. Ingvar Eidhammer, coniferous forests is a great threat. The initial section is on simple Harald Barsnes, Most texts on owls are descriptive, mechanics and elasticity, which Geir Egil Eide, Lennart Martens and so this one is unusual in having so perhaps has room for more details on Wiley-blackwell, £60.00 much scientific research on a single failure and fatigue. Part two is an A few hours before this book species. Evidence is provided in the overview of biological structural arrived I was giving a lecture to many tables and figures, and polymers, composites and ceramics. undergraduates on the importance extensive plates and sketches, Part three is dedicated to structures of understanding the maths behind although variable in quality, are that maintain stability under the ever increasing range of helpful in supporting the arguments different forces, including a chapter computational and statistical of the authors. on hydrostatic skeletons. methods used in modern biology – The style of this lengthy book is The next section details the rather than simply applying them. somewhat dated, but the content is mechanical interactions between Reading this book is a good start interesting. The price will probably organisms and their surroundings, on this mission. deter many laymen but it is within the such as attachments and defence While focusing on protein and scope of research and teaching budgets, mechanisms in plants. The final mass spectrometry data, it still covers and deserves to be found in libraries. part outlines some possible future techniques applicable to many areas Professor Jim lynch obe fsb

44 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 Biofeedback

religion requires that the individual

ThTHE SOCIETY OF BIOLOGY MAGAZINEe ■ ISSN 0006 3347Biologist ■ SOCIETYOFBIOLOGY.ORG VOL 60 NO 3 ■ JUNE/JULY 2013 should have faith – ie agree upon what they are to believe then stick TOuCH to it whatever the evidence to the WOOD How arboreta can protect contrary. This is anathema to a the UK’s forests scientist who must always keep an open mind and follow the evidence

PHARMACOLOGY RESEARCH INTERVIEW wherever it leads. RADIOACTIVE REMEDIES GET INVOLVED BRuCE HOOD Fighting cancer with e 10 best citizen Psychology, neuroscience rare radioisotopes science biology projects and our sense of self The second is that almost all Send your religions depend upon accepting comments to what has been written down, usually biofeedback, in ancient books by primitive and society of biology, uneducated people who knew charles Darwin house, 12 roger nothing about this world or universe street, london and who claimed that it was some Wc1n 2JU supernatural being speaking. or email Science made little progress until biologist@ it experimented, observed and societyofbiology.org HERBAL ESSENCE In response to ‘Herbal Low’ measured what was going on in the The Biologist Les Rose does me, herbalist lecturer (The Biologist Vol 60 (3) p45), I world around them and were ready reserves the right Simon Mills, and the audience an am not sure on what evidence Mr to discard the ancient writings that to edit letters injustice when he complains of a lack Rose bases his comments. I have had held them back for so long. where appropriate. of critical tone in my branch report reviewed my presentation entitled Dr colin Jones cbiol msb (The Biologist Vol 60 (3) p45). There ‘Plant Pharmacology?’ It proposed is considerable effort and resource a model of ‘reflex pharmacology’ Oh dear! I have upset a Dawkins being used by pharmaceutical to complement the usual receptor admirer. (The Biologist Vol 60 (3) companies and researchers in pharmacology and then instanced p45). Guido Gybels accuses me of screening biological sources for this argument with a review of both ‘rant’ when he means ‘opinion’. potential therapeutic uses and traditional and pharmacological Furthermore he wants The Biologist Simon was giving an overview of properties of well known plant to publish ‘earnest’ [determined and herbal medicines in this context. fractions like anthraquinones, serious] letters. By that He was not presenting a scientific flavonoids, saponins and definition my letter research paper for peer review acrid and bitter principles. was earnest. and made many points that were Various traditional Free speech is scientifically reasonable. What approaches were a cornerstone is more telling is what Simon raised in passing, richard of a civilised did not say. He did not say that mainly because they Dawkins society. herbal medicines were superior complemented the continues Richard to, or should be used instead biology well. My to provoke Dawkins may reactions of, mainstream pharmaceutical published record stands be a noteworthy products. Neither did he say that the against the charge of scientist in herbalist’s view of disease should be ‘eschewing science’ and I the laboratory, used in place of modern diagnostic would be happy to share the but in the public procedures, but rather discussed presentation with Mr Rose and arena he is derisive this as a background to traditional anyone else in any forum for and contemptuous of those who herbal medicine thought. an honest appraisal of the merits believe in a supernatural deity. This Simon gave an interesting of the arguments. is extremely unscientific. A true overview of herbal medicines and simon mills scientist would not even attempt to made a plea for continued research healthcare consultant, Devon prove or disprove God because he into their possible therapeutic uses. would have the intellectual capacity The London Branch welcomes open OIL AND WATER to realise that that is, by definition, debate in its talks. It is unfortunate On the incompatibility of religious an impossible task. Les Rose wasn’t there to present beliefs and science (The Biologist Ironically, Professor Dawkins is in his views. Vol 60 (1) p16-20), there are two great danger of regarding himself as Dr cliff collis csci cbiol fsb cogent reasons why these two topics a supernatural deity.

london branch chair are not reconcilable. One is that cedric richmond cbiol msb AMLOt WILL

Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 45 MUSEUM PIECE

BIOLOGICAL ExHIBITS fROM AROuND THE WORLD

no donkey: the rare quagga skeleton at the grant museum

in the 1800s for their meat and hides, covered wall to wall with microscope #003 the last individual died in captivity at slides featuring the best of the Amsterdam Zoo in 1883. museum’s tiny specimens. The only living QuAGGA It was long thought that the Grant A full list of quagga specimens and quagga ever Museum was home to two zebra more details on the animal are on known to be photographed. skeletons and that this example was The Quagga Project’s website. SKELETON it resided at a plains zebra. In 1972 rumours that www.quaggaproject.org/ london zoo and one of these zebras was a quagga led quagga-museum.htm died in 1872 to an examination of both specimens. The Grant The museum did indeed have a Museum, quagga – the other ‘zebra’ turned out uCL, London to be a donkey. The other six quagga skeletons are scattered across the world in the Netherlands, Germany, France and the USA. The Grant Museum, part of University College London, houses he quagga specimen at the around 67,000 specimens, many of Grant Museum of Zoology is which are of now extinct species, T one of the rarest skeletons in such as the Tasmanian tiger and the the world. Only six other examples of dodo. Founded in 1828 as a teaching this extinct subspecies of zebra are collection, this small museum is known to exist. packed full of skeletons, mounted Quaggas were a type of South animals and specimens preserved African zebra, with fewer stripes than in fluid. In February it opened a other species. Hunted to extinction ‘micrarium’, a back-lit chamber

46 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4

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wiN A £25 BooK Crossword ToKeN Put your mind under the microscope with our prize puzzle

Across Volume 60 no 4 This issue 1 One to miss out (7) compiled by Doug Stanford Puzzle is the usual format with just 5 Act constrained by poor backing (4,3) across answers from the world of 9 Observe, it’s found around magnetic 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 biology (in one case an acronym) poles (5) and clued without definition. The 10 rumba etc. I dance (9) remaining clues are the normal 9 10 11 I learned about needing to ingest combination of definition and sodium (10) cryptic indication. 12 essential to pollen spreading (4) 11 12 14 everyone wants tele with no end of 13 How to enter entertainment (6) To be in with a chance of winning a 16 Small do very well to get large (3,4) 14 15 16 17 £25 book token please send us your 19 Briefly incorporated in revised text (7) 18 completed puzzles by Wednesday 4th 21 Inept arrangement to capture September 2013. Please include your 19 20 21 22 carbon (6) name, address and membership 24 Introduction to civil jurisprudence (4) 23 number with your entry – an email 25 ruin at last collapses (10) 24 25 26 address would be handy too. Post 28 A measure of speed, one getting ban your entries to: Crossword, The 27 when one is caught (9) Biologist, Society of Biology, Charles 29 Southern conifer (5) 28 29 Darwin House, 12 Roger Street, 30 Introduction of difference if gene London, WC1N 2JU. modified (7) 30 31 31 eat nuts for a change (7) Winners Well done to last issue’s winners, Down of milk, they can shift lots of fluid (5) Dr St Clair S Taylor CBiol FSB 1 In games am dreadful – don’t 13 Start to line inside of cut shaft (4) and Janet Stevens CBiol MSB. run well (9) 15 Chat-up approach fisherman might Book tokens on the way. 2 tungsten drill bit – it goes round as use (4) it advances (7) 17 Grows and somehow enlightens one 3 Set out to join royal Navy and get back to go out (9) on board (5) 18 Moving carefully as tin leg wobbles (8) 4 What makes foreign language movie 20 Couple of tracks plenty to walk on (7) intelligible – without it, difficult to 22 University into it somehow (7) grasp (6) 23 Basket is not used in collecting pine 5 Grandmaster’s last move in chess nuts (6) reveals quality in abundance (8) 24 Banter and tea with a couple of 6 endlessly loved one – it is such a fellows (5) source of warmth (4) 26 It’s worth something as complete Last ➜ 7 Chequers for example he has since collection (5) issue’s revamped (7) 27 Skirt is minute one goes around solution 8 Young dogs, having ingested first bit wearing (4) Vol 60 No 3

Vol 60 No 4 / the BIOLOGISt / 47 Dr MArK DOWNS FSB, ChIeF eXeCUtIVe, SOCIetY OF BIOLOGY

Final word TOGETHER, WE’RE STRONGER

ollaboration matters. For across disciplines we also have science fairs nationwide. This science, in particular, a strong working relationships with fruitful collaboration has created great deal of emphasis the Royal Society of Chemistry, a real focus for biosciences, a “one is placed on working Institute of Physics and Council for stop shop” for everyone interested in with peers across subject Mathematical Sciences. In June, biology and the Next Steps: Options Ccategories and on an international for instance, we met collectively after a Bioscience Degree booklet. platform. What works for individuals with the science minister, as part In Westminster we benefit from also applies to organisations – and the of a regular six monthly ministerial membership of the Parliamentary Society recognises the importance dialogue, to discuss science funding, and Scientific Committee all-party of partnerships and collaborating the future of research councils and group, participating in policy with a wide range of like-minded the skills agenda. debates on issues such as GM, bee organisations to help achieve our More widely we are a strong health and the economic impact objectives. Yet, despite its importance, supporter and member of the of science. We also operate the we don’t always do enough to Science Council, the remit of which Parliamentary Affairs Group for highlight our joint working. looks across all of science and the science community. Our policy work depends on its applications with a particular Indeed, much of the work collaboration. The Society’s interest in its role in professional undertaken by our director of relationship with more than 90 registers and careers. Our links with parliamentary affairs is pan- member organisations – through the British Science Association, the science in nature and funded by a task forces, consultations and Royal Society, the Royal Society consortium of science organisations informal networks – allows us to of Edinburgh and the Academy including the Biochemical Society, examine biology comprehensively of Medical Sciences are also key British Pharmacological Society, and develop policy positions that to ensuring common messages to Society for Applied Microbiology, have impact and balance. politicians and the media. Society for Experimental Biology There is a common misconception Education policy is equally and Society for Endocrinology. that this will lead to something collaborative and we frequently use Together with our branches and that suits all but says little, but in our membership of the pan-science special interest groups these wider practice we have rarely found an body SCORE (Science Community collaborations are helping to make inclusive approach difficult. Often Representing Education) to agree sure we are well represented at all there is surprising agreement on common policy statements and levels, helping us to achieve more issues generic to biology. Where These links campaigning approaches. This impact and enhance our visibility. there are divergent views, the are helping year, with the vast array of changes The House of Commons Select Society can still decide on a clear to make sure around the National Curriculum, Committee on Standards, for position, but at least with knowledge we are well GCSEs and A Levels, our interaction example, recently asked the of the breadth of concerns. When represented with SCORE and its members has Society to give evidence on behalf we need to get messages out to the at all levels, been almost daily. of the parliamentary Science and public, our excellent relationship meaning we At a very practical level many Technology Committee. The chair, with the Science Media Centre of our member organisations Andrew Miller MP, felt we would frequently helps. can achieve now work with the Society to be ideally placed to represent not Of course, biology is just one more impact deliver careers advice and public just biology but the wider scientific discipline, albeit often overlapping engagement events under a single community. Collaboration and good with others. To create positions biology “banner” at career and partnerships made this possible.

48 / the BIOLOGISt / Vol 60 No 4 18755 185x125mm The Biologist_160x160mm advert 03/07/2013 10:12 Page 1 My Scientific Funding career is ovoiloble

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