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Public Engagement News Items

I'm a Scientist! Get Me Out of Here

Last week Callum Johnston won the Cells Zone of I'm a Scientist, an online competition to answer school pupils' science questions.  Over 2 weeks he answered over 100 questions about cells, the brain, what he does and plenty of other random things, as well as taking part in 16 live chat sessions with schools from around the country.  Callum says "Some of the questions were quite challenging but it was great fun taking part.  Hopefully the kids got an idea of what researchers do and become a bit more interested in science as a result." 

The prize was £500 to put towards a public engagement event which will be done in partnership with Edinburgh Neuroscience.

Congratulations to Callum on this achievement.
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Brain Awareness Week

As part of the DANA Foundation’s Brain Awareness Week a workshop called “How we see the brain and what the brain sees” is ran every year in 1 George Square. The interactive workshop introduces Primary 7 children to the human brain; what it is made of, how we can study it, how it can be fooled by optical illusions and even what it feels like to hold a real brain in your hands!  The workshop includes short lectures and practical activities where the pupils get to “build a brain”, see optical illusions and make their own, and get a very rare opportunity to see a real human brain.  The workshop is organised and ran by Callum Johnston (CCNS PhD student) while Dr Emma Wood is one of the lecturers.  Other CCNS members help by volunteering as group leaders to lead the children round the activities and answer any questions they have. 
For more information contact Callum Johnston.
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Smarter UK

Smarter UK is an interactive discussion event for 13-16 year olds, developed by Graphic Science Ltd, and supported by a Wellcome Trust Society Award.  The discussion is centred on the contentious issue of brain enhancement drugs. Two science presenters perform a drama to introduce the topic and then the pupils are asked their opinions on questions such as; “If there were pills that could make you smarter, would you take them?” and “Should school age students be allowed to take these pills?”  As well as the science presenters a neuroscience researcher is present to clarify any issues that arise throughout the discussion.  The pupils will also get a session at the end to ask any other questions to the researcher about their work and life as a scientist. 

CCNS member Callum Johnston and former Honours Neuroscience student, Lynsey Hall, will be attending sessions as neuroscience researchers. 

For more information contact Rebecca Hurwitz.
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Bright Club Edinburgh

Bright Club Edinburgh is a comedy night with a difference.  All the performers are university researchers, giving comedy a go for the first time.  After a successful run of shows at the City Café, Bright Club has now moved to its new (hopefully permanent) home at The Stand Comedy Club.  The idea is for researchers to engage the general public with some jokes about their studies and if they learn something along the way, all the better.  Callum Johnston has performed twice at Bright Club Edinburgh.

Click here for more information.
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