The Cambridge University science magazine from Michaelmas 2012 Issue 25 Cambridge University science magazine www.bluesci.co.uk FOCUS Academic Spring . Sleep Deprivation Armchair Experimentation Astrobiology . Neil deGrasse Tyson BlueSci was established in 2004 to provide a student forum for science communication. As the longest running science magazine in Cambridge, BlueSci publishes the best science writing from across the University each term. We combine high quality writing with stunning images to provide fascinating yet accessible science to everyone. But BlueSci does not stop there. At www.bluesci.co.uk, we have extra articles, regular news stories, podcasts and science films to inform and entertain between print issues. Produced entirely by members of the University, the diversity of expertise and talent combine to produce a unique science experience. Michaelmas 2012 Issue 25 Cambridge University science magazine Contents Features Regulars 6 We Look Like You A History of Making History 3 Nick Crumpton looks at the stereotype of the News 4 scientist Reviews 5 8 Such Stuff as Dreams are Made on Behind the Science 30 Leila Haghighat nds out what we really know Matthew Dunstan explores the life of about our dreams controversial physicist Neil deGrasse Tyson 10 Whose Training is it Anyway? Science and Policy 32 David Kent wonders whether doctorate training has Vicki Moignard examines exactly where scienti c gone stale information is coming from 12 Through the Looking Glass Initiatives 34 Jonathan Lawson re ects on the two faces of Ian Le Guillou reports from the 2012 UK handedness Conference of Science Journalists 14 Balm or Burden? History 36 Isaac Elliot nds out how sleep deprivation can Hugo Schmidt reveals the advances made in the affect our mood eld of astrobiology 24 Perspective 38 FOCUS Leila Haighighat discusses the recent revolution in academic publishing Armchair Experimentation BlueSci reveals how Weird and Wonderful 40 technology has made science more accessible Issue 25 Specials GSLS Image Competition 16 About Us... Committee Not-Sci 18 BlueSci was established in 2004 to provide a student President: Jonathan Lawson [email protected] BlueSci news 19 WE’RE CELEBRATING THE 25th issue of BlueSci with this special collection of articles describing some of the other forum for science communication. As the longest Managing Editor: Tom Bishop ................. [email protected] activities and events that BlueSci is involved in. All of these projects are organised and run by members of the University and we’re always happy for new members to get involved and learn new skills. Visit www.bluesci.co.uk to nd out more. BlueSci News Louisa Lyon talks about the fast-paced world of science news Not-Sci online content, learning to think about how to attract and keep a reader despite in nite competition, Sita Dinanauth reveals why it is important to ght against bad science shorter attention spans and busier lives is paramount. If you’re at all tempted by a career in science communication, or you’d simply like to develop FOR YEARS, MAINSTREAM media has held sway over neurology, Lawrence Krauss with physics, Vilayanur writing and editing skills to help in your thesis or Bad Science by our lives, directing the opinions of the public and Ramachnadran with neuroscience Ben Goladacre when publishing papers, then preparing an online Ben Goldacre biasing their views on the issue of the day. ere have with medicine and David Attenborough with nature. news story is an excellent way to get started without provided the been several high-pro le cases where the media driven Science writing is not about ‘dumbing down,’ nor is having to commit a huge amount of time. e skills inspiration for opinion has clashed with scienti c advancements and it about ltering out the complicated parts of peer- that you can acquire at BlueSci are particularly highly Not-Sci generally science has lost out. As a result, the majority reviewed publications. e best science writers assume valued by the publishing industry but also equip you of bench scientists I have come across, believe that that what applies to all other media disciplines applies to be successful in academia and industry. when it comes to the reporting of science stories, to science: your readers are intelligent enough to want I decided to get involved with BlueSci whilst I was sensation is what captures the non-scientist’s attention to nd sources, view your argument from several, working as a post-doctoral researcher, having realised and what sells newspapers. As one biochemist put it, balanced angles and decide whether they believe the that I did not want to be an academic for the rest of “when you consider the media from the perspective evidence supporting the facts. ey don’t need to be my career I decided to try out some alternatives. After of a scientist, whose mind is quietly calmed by facts told what to think. only a short time working on BlueSci News, I was and detailed technical descriptions while being A new emerging challenge in the modern world of BlueSci News HOW MANY GENERATIONS would it take a mouse- able to leave my research and took on a new role as equally repulsed by emotive opinion and polarised smartphones, social media and the Internet, is the articles can be sized animal to evolve into an elephant-sized one? Is sub-editor at Nature. I now work on the ‘front half’ arguments, you see why many are reluctant to hunt for the truth. When it comes to science in found near the a malaria vaccine in sight? And what exactly is dark of the magazine, helping to hammer non-research interact with a machine they consider sensationalist, a society like this how can we ensure that people front of every matter? copy (editorials and “news & views” type things) into issue and online unbalanced and inaccurate.”As the very public are exposed to informed opinions and hear truths In articles just a few hundred words long and shape before Tuesday’s weekly press deadline. My new interrogation of the Murdochs and the libel reform supported by research and evidence? In a world suitable for a general reader, BlueSci News covers job means that I make constant use of the abilities campaign demonstrate the mainstream media are where everyone has a voice, who do we listen to? the entire spectrum of science, from immunology to that I developed and honed at BlueSci. BlueSci Film 20 now being held accountable for their tactics and their Now that the public are able to challenge the media astrophysics. During my interview at Nature Publishing Group ability to report on correct information. However, and blogging and social media have opened up more Being able to take complex information – perhaps (NPG), it quickly became clear that my answers to biased reporting and sensationalism continue to be avenues for communicating than ever before, it is a on a topic that you previously knew little about — most of the questions, for example, “What should a problem when it comes to the reporting of science great time to produce an opinion or voice backed up and transform it into clear and readable prose is a a news reporter keep in mind when they prepare a stories. by logic. skill valued in many elds, both inside and outside story?”, “Can you give an example of when you’ve One of the greatest barriers between academic science But in an endless sea of voices, the voice of scienti c science. Especially if you also need to get it done had to work to deadlines?”, “What about when you’ve and the general public is the restriction on access reason and logic can only be heard if all scientists whilst the story is still relevant and interesting and worked in a team?”, “How do you decide whether a to peer reviewed publications. In Cambridge, those get more involved in public communication. is is you have to juggle a whole bunch of other pressures, a story is newsworthy?”, revolved around the experience not employed by the University can expect to pay why Not-Sci was founded. To give young scientists in Cambridge degree for example. I’d gained working with BlueSci, and particularly with around ten pounds for a copy of this months Nature Cambridge a strong and reliable voice that can stand Perhaps the greatest challenge is nding a the news section. And that experience does seem to magazine, or a similarly in ated amount to access against unsupported claims, false treatments and worthwhile story, new scienti c papers are published have helped out over the past few months, too. Most articles online. empty promises and share the joys of good science all the time and each one is a potential story but of the principles are the same no matter what the Until access to science journals is changed, with everyone. nding one with high public interest and impact magazine – it’s just the scale and the pace that can scienti cally accurate, engaging reporting in factors is a much more intricate procedure. Often d i e r ! paramount. Science writers act as an interpreter news stories don’t come from the title of a paper, relaying rst hand published data to the masses, sometimes they are found buried in the discussion BlueSci news articles can be written about any so it is important that present data in an accurate, or one of the experiments, it takes an inventive and science story and can be sent to the news editor for balanced way. e aim is to translate something fairly Not-Sci is written by BlueSci members for Varsity.