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Science for all

8 July 2009

Two school students and University researcher in the lab

Inspiring the scientists of tomorrow
Image by University of Bristol

Caroline McKinnon is a biochemist with a difference. When not researching the causes of cancer, she is keen on communicating her passion for science to schoolchildren and the public. Over the past few years she’s volunteered at Cheltenham Science Festival, been part of the award-winning Science Alive! 2008 team, and most recently led the Biochemistry Schools Week, which gives Year 11 and 12 students the chance to visit the department to learn by doing hands-on experiments.

Why does she do it? Caroline doesn’t come from a traditional university family, but when one schoolteacher offered extra lessons at A-Levels, she was the only student to turn up. “That one person helped me get into university and made a big difference to my life,” she explains. For Caroline, working with schools and the public is a way of giving people the same inspiration and opportunity to pursue science. “Public engagement is aimed at everybody,” she says. “I think everybody should have the chance to experience these things and decide for themselves.”

Public engagement is aimed at everybody. I think everybody should have the chance to experience these things and decide for themselves.

Dr Caroline McKinnon
In addition, Caroline finds that public engagement actually helps her stay focused on her work. “After I’ve done these sorts of things, I’m more optimistic about my own research,” says Caroline. It helps that her department is supportive. “You can’t do these things on your own,” she points out. “You need people around you, and there are a lot of people here who believe that this is the sort of thing we should be promoting.”

 

Please contact The Public Engagement Officer for further information.

Further information:

Dr Caroline McKinnon can be contacted at C.M.McKinnon@bristol.ac.uk.
Biochemistry Schools Week happens in March every year.