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Make some NOISE about science

6 September 2010

Owen explaining science to a young bystander

Making some NOISE about science
Image by NOISE - www.noisemakers.org.uk

Wander through Einstein’s Garden at the Green Man Festival, (20-22 August 2010) and you might spot Owen Rackham and colleagues delighting an audience of children with science experiments, like the Glovaphone.

"Science busking at a music festival is a great opportunity to use cool science tricks to stimulate discussions about science” said Owen. “Once you’ve finished, kids (and often their parents) are then inspired to ask further questions about why something happens, and that’s when you can talk a bit more about the scientific principles behind the experiment.”

Science busking at a music festival is a great opportunity to use cool science tricks to stimulate discussions about science.

Owen Rackham
A doctoral student in complexity sciences, focusing on regenerative medicine at the University of Bristol, Owen is part of NOISE — New Outlooks in Science and Engineering — an EPSRC-funded programme which trains young researchers to promote science and engineering to the general public.

Science busking for NOISE at events like festivals is one of many ways to inspire children with science. Through such activities, the programme aims to nurture the researchers of the future and raise the profile of other science and technology-related careers.

NOISE provides training — from working with the media to podcasting —which helps Owen develop new ways of communicating science to lay audiences. Owen feels that this experience makes him a more rounded scientist, able to make useful contributions to the department’s thinking about science communication, which is an increasingly important of grant applications. He is also well placed to share his experience with his peers; for example, a colleague who helped with the science busking at the festival is now considering applying to the NOISE programme herself next year.

“My involvement in NOISE and thinking about how to explain my research to the public has helped me see how it contributes to a much bigger picture and this motivates me” he says.

My involvement in NOISE and thinking about how to explain my research to the public has helped me see how it contributes to a much bigger picture and this motivates me.

Owen Rackham
What about the future? In the long-term, Owen wants to continue research as his main focus, but within that, would always see a percentage of his time dedicated to communicating his work. Just back from this year’s Green Man, he’s already planning an even more exciting programme at next year’s festival – this time some stage-based activities, using comedy or music to reach a larger audience.

 “But given I’m not musical or know many jokes, I’m going to have to collaborate with some science songwriters to do that,” he laughs.

You heard it here first — watch out for a cutting-edge science communication and music/comedy fusion act at next year’s festival to inspire the scientists of the future.

Further information:

Owen Rackham, email: owen.rackham@bristol.ac.uk.

  • NOISE (New Outlooks in Science and Engineering) is an initiative, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)to train young science, maths and engineering researchers to promote science and engineering to the general public
  • Launched in 2000, NOISE aims to inspire young people to investigate and consider careers in science and engineering; and to make them realise how exciting a future in these disciplines can be
  • Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics careers are exciting, interesting and relevant. STEM is a vital part of our culture.

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For further information, see the press release, 9 August 2010