Monday 14th March 2011, Under the Hammer, Aberdeen
Last night's innovative Speed Science event proved a great success!
A brief insight into this unique event:
What happens when you take the quick-fire Speed Dating format and invite scientists to present their cutting-edge research in an exciting and innovative way? Can they beat the clock and impress you, to be voted the ‘winner’? Come along to this unique event to hear snapshots of science, before voting for your favourite researcher. You will get the chance to hear more from the ‘winner’ and join in with the lively discussion that follows. The clock’s ticking!
I’d like to thank the following people for their parts in delivering this: Alice, Andy, Chris B, Chris M, David, Gina, Lizzy, Peter, Hien, Rob, Ruth and Toni...
A special mention for, and congratulations to, Chris B (the ‘winner’ with 9 votes and also the birthday boy)...
to Ruth (2nd place with 5 votes)...
... and to Rob (3rd place with 4 votes).
The official University of Aberdeen photographer popped in, along with Laura Young & co (some RGU journalism students) to record the action for coursework. Watch the finished footage here.
Laura Young and the RGU camera crew...
Also, we had a surprise visit from STV! They filmed and interviewed for a short piece (watch it by clicking 'here' [2 mins in]). You can read their associated Speed Science article here: http://local.stv.tv/aberdeen/news/13149-speed-dating-for-scientists/
Mark Mathers (STV video journalist) capturing the magic...
In terms of public audience, I counted a whopping 47. I don’t think we could of hoped for more from a brand new format and venue... or had room for more!
The calm before the storm...
And SpeedScience in action...
The evaluation forms are positive, with a couple commenting on the periodic 'chaos' that ensued every time the researchers were buzzed on to the next table, and many overwhelmed by the “enthusiasm” in the room!
Looking forwards...
- Perhaps other researchers from within dot.rural would want to repeat this, in a month or two?
- Perhaps other research groups, of any discipline, across the University would want to take this and run with it? i.e. dot.rural could facilitate a regular series of these, opened out to all researchers at the University, but each one (say monthly) based on a different theme/topic... First Engineering, then Medicine, Ecology, Maths, Chemistry...
- Any thoughts on a 'Speed Science for Schools' version? I can feel another dot.rural schools tour coming on (uh-oh!). Every school has a canteen (tables and chairs are all that's required!) and the fast-paced, interactive and fresh format could really suit the younger audience...
And finally, Speed Science is the first of three dot.rural National Science and Engineering Week events taking place this week: http://www.dotrural.ac.uk/getinvolved
Speaking of other dot.rural NSEW events, I'm off to hear Hien's Cafe Sci in the Shire talk about computers being persuasive!
Big thanks to all those involved,
Claire
Wow, that looks really awesome!
ReplyDeleteI wish I was still around to attend it!
Richard