Life Science Careers Conference

Last week we had an extremely informative Life Science Careers Conference with talks and exhibitions. Ben Harvey, a 3^rd year Biomedical Science student at Nottingham Trent University, writes about his experiences:

I attended the Life Science Careers Conference at the University of Westminster to increase my knowledge of the careers one can go into with a biological background in addition to making sure I was on the right track! 

At the start of the day there was an exhibition which allowed members of the conference to talk to employers and ask questions. Here I found out about the importance of joining learned societies as a student as they bring many benefits including making your CV look good. 

Later on, talks were given by various scientists from industrial to academic backgrounds. A particular highlight for me was a talk given by Dr Simon Cutler (@SimonBCutler) of BBSRC who spoke about postgraduate studies and answered some of my questions about PhD funding. 

Finally the most important thing that I took away from the conference was something that I had never heard of before – LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a social networking site which allows you to manage your professional identity in addition to “linking” with other scientific professionals you meet. It is also useful for employers as 50% of them are already checking you out online before they employ you (so you might as well have a CV up there to your name). 

I would like to thank Dr Hilary Jones (@hilarysjobs) for that fantastic advice and also the Society of Biology for organising such a successful event. 

Biology Olympiad: young scientists rise to the challenge

This week some of the UK’s brightest sixth form students are competing in the second round of the 2012 British Biology Olympiad. Pupils from across the United Kingdom are sitting a written exam which could take them to the British final and, ultimately, the international competition in Singapore.

The British Biology Olympiad aims to challenge gifted students and enhance their interest in biology, testing them well beyond their A level syllabus. Earlier this month nearly 4000 students took part in the first round of the British Biology Olympiad: a multiple choice paper taken online in their schools. The Gold Medal winners have been selected to take part in round two this week.

These second round entrants are competing for one of 16 places in the final at the University of Birmingham School of Biosciences. The finals are an intensive four days, including a range of practical challenges. The top four students from the final will represent the UK at the International Biology Olympiad in Singapore in July – the highlight of the biology calendar for budding scientists.

The standard of the entries was very high again this year and Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winners will be invited to the awards ceremony at the Royal Society.

UK Biology Competitions is a Special Interest Group of the Society of Biology and next year we hope to widen participation even further. If you are a teacher, pupil or parent please visit our website. Younger students can get involved too; the Biology Challenge begins on 5^th March and is open to pupils in Year 9/Year 10 in England and Wales, Year 10/Year 11 in Northern Ireland and S2/S3 in Scotland.

Species of the week: Bombyx mori

Moths were first used for silk production in China five thousand years ago, and the practice has spread around the world. Today, about 95% of silk is produced by Bombyx mori, a domesticated silkmoth bred solely for silk production. 

 

The silkworm is the moth’s caterpillar, which feeds on mulberry leaves and grows up to 7cm long. Before the caterpillar pupates it spins a silk cocoon with its salivary glands to protect itself during the time it spends as an immobile pupa. These fine threads which the moth uses like a protective blanket can be unwound to manufacture silk.

When the moth emerges from the pupa it must then break out of the cocoon, so it produces enzymes to break down the silk threads. Therefore, if the cocoon is to be used for silk production, the pupa must be killed to ensure the threads aren't damaged. The cocoons are boiled, which not only kills the pupae but also makes the silk easier to unravel.  

Compared to wild silkworm species, Bombyx mori makes larger cocoons, grows faster and has more efficient digestion. It has a great tolerance for being handled by people and kept in crowded environments. It is in fact entirely dependent on humans for survival and can’t even fly.

Silkworm pupae are eaten in many parts of Asia and have even been proposed as space food for astronauts!

Voice of the Future: submit your questions to MPs

Is there a scientific issue you want to hear politicians' views on? Do you have a burning question on an issue that’s important to you? Here’s your chance to ask.

We are organising Voice of the Future 2012 to give young people the opportunity to participate in a Science Question Time. We’re looking for six scientists and engineers to pose their questions to Members of the House of Commons Select Committee on Science & Technology.There's also the chance for everyone to submit their questions via Twitter.

Rt. Hon. David Willetts MP, Minister for Universities and Science, the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, and Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister for Innovation and Science, will appear before the ‘committee’ as ‘witnesses’ to answer your questions.

If you are a member of The Society of Biology and aged between 16 and 35, we’re keen to hear your questions. If yours is selected, you will be one of the six representatives at Voice of the Future on Wednesday 14th March 2012 in the House of Commons.

If you are not a member of The Society of Biology but would like to be considered for Voice of the Future, details of how to join can be found here. If you’re over 35 we’re still interested to hear your questions by Twitter, and they may be put forward to the MPs. You can tweet your questions live to the event by using the hashtag #VOF2012.

So that you can stay in tune with the discussion, the event will be broadcast on the BBC Democracy Live website on the morning of 14th March.

Please visit our website for details of how to submit your questions. The deadline is the 1st March and we look forward to reading more of the diverse questions coming in. Get thinking!

Gopher Science Lab goes off with a bang!

Despite last Friday’s snow, David Lidington MP joined 40 excited and inquisitive 8 year olds at the launch of the Gopher Science Lab. The pupils learnt to suck eggs into bottles, skewer balloons, use chromatography to solve crimes, and make jelly babies scream. These photos capture just a bit of the excitement from the day.

Research shows that the majority of primary students enjoy science at school, yet very few aspire to become scientists and their interest in science often fades. The Gopher Science Lab is our new initiative with the Biochemical Society and is helping change this.

Secondary schools will be hosting events for 8 year olds, inviting them to take part in exciting experiments in the lab. The launch event took place at Aylesbury Grammar School with the help of 10 fantastic Sixth Form students. As well as gaining valuable experience themselves, they made an important contribution to the day and passed on their enthusiasm to the younger children.

The benefits will be felt well beyond the children who attend the lab sessions: the primary schools will be supplied with equipment to perform the experiments back in their classrooms. If you hear screams coming from their classrooms, you’ll know it’s only the jelly babies…

London Life Sciences Careers Conference

Are you thinking about your options when student life is over? Our Life Sciences Careers Conferences are aimed at undergraduates and recent graduates who are considering a science career, and registrations are open for the London conference on Thursday 1^st March. 

From jungle expeditions to sitting safely behind a computer, science careers can take lots of forms. The many options discussed at the Careers Conference will include academic research, science consultancy, clinical research, and science communication.

The day will be packed with presentations, a CV workshop with tips on how to secure an interview, a chance to meet employers and find out about their organisations, and the opportunity to mingle with the experts and fellow students.

The next conference takes place on 1^st March at the University of Westminster (click here for directions) from 11:30 to 17:30.

You can read more on our website and tickets can be booked here. They are free to Society of Biology members and £10 for non-members. Student membership of the Society of Biology costs £15 and comes with lots of benefits. Anyone who joins on the day will have the £10 for their ticket re-funded.  

If you’re on twitter you may be interested to keep up with the #scicareers hash tag and follow us for updates @Society_Biology.

We hope to see you there!

Recognition of excellence for bioscience degrees

British universities offer some fantastic life science courses, but there can still be a gap between the skills that new graduates possess and the skills that employers need. To address the needs of both students and employers, the Society of Biology is introducing an Accreditation Programme for bioscience degree courses. 

As the cost of university rises, students will become increasingly aware of the need to maximise their employability. Degrees accredited by a professional body are attractive to future employers, and accredited degrees are already available to chemistry, physics and engineering students. However, with the exception of biomedical science, accreditation doesn’t yet exist for biological science degrees.

Through the Accreditation Programme we will address skills gaps highlighted by bioscience industry in the UK in order to ensure a pipeline of skilled graduates into research and innovation roles in areas of national importance. The award of accreditation by the Society of Biology is designed to recognise excellence, and the accreditation process is entirely focussed on outcomes.

Last year, a Society of Biology survey indicated that employers ranked ‘lack of work experience’ as the main reason for not employing a graduate. As a result, the Accreditation criteria put a strong emphasis on academic excellence, research experience and, critically, time spent in an active research environment.

We launched a small-scale pilot of the Accreditation Programme last June, focusing on two subject areas - biochemistry and in vivo (animal) sciences. On March 20^th 2012 we are proud to be holding the Accreditation Award Ceremony to celebrate those courses and their institutions that have achieved accredited status through the pilot.

We would then like to invite formal expressions of interest in Accreditation from institutions with bioscience departments. For more information, please contact either Natasha Neill, Qualifications and Skills Officer at the Society of Biology, or Dr Eva Sharpe, Higher Education Policy Officer at the Society of Biology, or visit the Society of Biology website.

If you’re a young person thinking of a career in science our Life Sciences Careers Fair will give lots of ideas about the jobs that are available and how to get them. The next one is in London on 1^st March – find out more.