European science conversations
by the community, for the community
Cancer. All around. But, is there an epidemic? The statistics would suggest not…for some forms of the disease, at least. Others are on the increase especially as populations age and more and more people survive the infections and altercations of youth, cancers of old age do seem to be more prominent in our lives.
In his latest book, Harnessed, cognitive scientist Mark Changizi, reveals how and why language, speech and music exist, and why they are apparently uniquely human attributes that separate us, as a species, from the rest of life on Earth. A fact that also gives us special responsibility for the Earth, you might say. According to Changizi, the “lower” parts of the brain, the bits that recognise the sounds of nature, the scuffs, cracks and bangs, were hijacked by the “upper” parts of our brain and give us speech as we evolved from our ape-like hominid ancestors.
Pivot Points is a monthly column by EuroScientist writer David Bradley. The tabloid media seems to be hooked on addiction, there is no more inane opportunity than to climb aboard the soapbox gravy train or flog the old, dead sawhorses. But, there’s Read more […]
It was a tense, nervous fortnight of probing questions and judgemental teenagers, but I’m a Scientist, get me out of here may well be the future of science communication in Europe.
“I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people’s accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man’s failures”. ~Earl Warren
I lay flat on my back on the table. Large foam pads were placed under my elbows and round my neck. I was given a pair of headphones and a restraining strap was fixed across my forehead. Then I was shunted backwards into a narrow, cream-coloured tube. The door was locked and the room was filled with an incessant humming noise as the machine started. Soon the humming was replaced by squealing and the whole machine began to vibrate.
Pivot Points is a monthly column by EuroScientist writer David Bradley. In the American comedy drama Breaking Bad impoverished school chemistry teacher, Walter White, is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, discovers his wife is newly pregnant and Read more […]
Over the last few years a new trend in scientific research is emerging – an increasing number and range of science projects are relying on the contribution of volunteers or as they are now called, citizen scientists. Citizen science is not new. For Read more […]
Ireland’s Minister for Science, Conor Lenihan, is facing criticism this week for his involvement in the launch of a book describing evolution as ‘a scientific hoax’ and ‘an utter impossibility’. The book’s website on Monday advertised that the Minister would launch the book, The Origin of Specious Nonsense, on Wednesday, but by Monday night it emerged that the Minister had pulled out of the event and his name had been removed from the website.
Who said physics couldn’t be cute? The Particle Zoo is the brainchild of Particle Zookeeper Julie Peasley who designs and makes subatomic particle plushies for physicists and geeks around the world.
On the 6th and 7th of September 2010, the historic Midland hotel in central Manchester, UK was filled with nearly 400 participants attending the Vitae Researcher Development Conference. The discussion of ideas on professional development and support for researchers at this year’s annual gathering is of particular importance, as it comes cheek by jowl with the UK spending review outcomes to be announced this Autumn – and with an expectation of hard times to come. The conference participants were set to discuss the new political context, to gather evidence of the contribution of researchers to the academic base and to economic and cultural prosperity, and to address future skill sets of researchers and the UK’s place in the global research environment.
Giulio Sandini, accompanied by a talk by Edgar Körner of the Honda Reserach Institute Europe, gave an insight look into recent developments on the way to learning robots at ESOF2010 in Turin. This thought provoking talk gave the determining factor for this interview.
EuroScientist journal 
