Powerbase - User contributions [en]

Campaign for Science and Engineering

2013-09-19T09:00:52Z

Lucy Brown: Created page with "The '''Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE)''' is a lobby group for science and engineering in the UK. CaSE was launched in March 2005, having evolved out of the organ..."

The '''Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE)''' is a lobby group for science and engineering in the UK. CaSE was launched in March 2005, having evolved out of the organisation [[Save British Science]] which was originally founded in 1986.<ref name ="history">CaSE (2013), [http://sciencecampaign.org.uk/about/history/index.htm Our History], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

==People==

===Former staff===

*[[Peter Cotgreave]] was Director of CaSE for nine years<ref>Royal Society (2013), [http://royalsociety.org/people/peter-cotgreave/ Dr Peter Cotgreave], accessed 18 September 2013</ref> (until 2007)<ref name="history" />

===Staff<ref>CaSE (2013), [http://sciencecampaign.org.uk/?page_id=3184 CaSE Office Staff], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>===

*[[Sarah Main]], Director
*[[Dave Hawksett]], Member Liaison
*[[Nick Hall]], Research & Administrator

===Board of Directors<ref>CaSE (2013), [http://sciencecampaign.org.uk/?page_id=8153 Board of Directors], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>===

*[[Yvonne Baker]]
*[[Colin Blakemore]], Deputy Chair
*[[Aisling Burnand]]
*[[Maria Ana Cataluna]]
*[[Tom Crick]]
*[[Stephen Curry]]
*[[Richard Davis]]
*[[Hugh Griffiths]], Chair
*[[Ian Haines]]
*[[James Lawford Davies]]
*[[Norma Morris]], Honorary Treasurer
*[[Becky Purvis]]
*[[Emily Shuckburgh]]
*[[Sandy Steacy]]
*[[Chris Tyler]]

===Advisory Council===

As of 2013<ref>CaSE (2013), [http://sciencecampaign.org.uk/?page_id=3285 Advisory Council], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>:

*[[George Alberti]], former President, [[Royal College of Physicians]]
*[[Struther Arnott]], [[University of St Andrews]]
*[[Eric Ash]], [[Royal Society]]
*[[Colin Blakemore]], [[University of Oxford]]
*[[Simon Campbell]], [[Pfizer]]
*[[Jane Cannon]], [[QinetiQ]]
*[[Roger Cashmore]], Principal, [[Brasenose College]]
*[[Athene Donald]], [[University of Cambridge]]
*[[Brian Follet]], [[University College London]]
*[[Ian Gibson]]
*[[Diana Green]], formerly VC [[Sheffield Hallam University]]
*[[Wendy Hall]], [[University of Southampton]]
*[[Antony Hewish]], Nobel Laureate
*[[Julia Higgins]], [[Imperial College]]
*[[Roger Highfield]], [[New Scientist]]
*[[Colin Humphreys]], [[University of Cambridge]]
*[[Tim Hunt]], [[Cancer Research UK]]
*[[Aaron Klug]], [[MRC]] Laboratory of Molecular Biology
*[[Harold Kroto]], Nobel Laureate
*[[Joe Lamb]], [[University of St Andrews]]
*[[Lord Lewis of Newnham]], [[University of Cambridge]]
*[[Christopher Llewellyn Smith]], [[University of Oxford]]
*[[Jacqui McGlade]], [[European Environment Agency]]
*[[Lord May of Oxford]], [[University of Oxford]]
*[[Robert Michell]], [[Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons]]
*[[Kim Nasmyth]], [[University of Oxford]]
*[[Denis Noble]], [[University of Oxford]]
*[[Paul Nurse]], President, [[Royal Society]]
*[[Bridget Ogilvie]], [[Council for Science and Technology]]
*[[Linda Partridge]], [[University College London]]
*[[Martyn Poliakoff]], [[University of Nottingham]]
*[[Lord Rees of Ludlow]],
*[[Baroness Sharp of Guildford]], [[House of Lords]]
*[[Simon Singh]], Writer and Broadcaster
*[[David Smith]], [[University of Oxford]] (retired)
*[[Richard Sykes]], [[Imperial College]]
*[[Ian Taylor]], [[STFC]] Council Member and former Science Minister
*[[John Walker]], [[MRC]] Mitochondrial Biology Unit
*[[Gregory Winter]], [[Laboratory of Molecular Biology]]
*[[Ivan Yates]], [[British Aerospace]]

==Contact==

:Address: Campaign for Science & Engineering, Gordon House, 29 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0PP
:Telephone: 020 7679 4994/5
:Email: info [AT] sciencecampaign.org.uk
:Website: http://sciencecampaign.org.uk/
:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/sciencecampaign @sciencecampaign]

==Notes==
<references/>

Save British Science

2013-09-19T08:26:34Z

Lucy Brown: Redirected page to Campaign for Science and Engineering

#REDIRECT [[Campaign for Science and Engineering]]

Save British Science

2013-09-19T08:25:53Z

Lucy Brown: Created page with "#REDIRECT Campaign for Science and Engineering"

#[[REDIRECT Campaign for Science and Engineering]]

BIS

2013-09-19T08:16:56Z

Lucy Brown: Redirected page to Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

#REDIRECT[[Department for Business, Innovation and Skills]]

Australian Science Media Centre

2013-09-19T07:32:37Z

Lucy Brown:

The '''Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC)''' ostensibly aims to provide a link between the scientific community and the Australian news media and is based on the model of the UK [[Science Media Centre]]. The organisation was launched by then South Australian Premier [[Mike Rann]] and [[Susan Greenfield]] on 2 August, 2005.<ref>Australian SMC (2013), [http://www.smc.org.au/about-us/our-origins/ Our History], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

==Origins==
In April 2005 [[Rebecca Morelle]] of the UK [[Science Media Centre]] alerted Australian science communicators that she was involved in setting up the [[Australian SMC]]:

:As some of you may have already heard - and I think there has been some talk on this forum - that there is going to be an Australian version of the Science Media Centre, based in Adelaide. It is currently in the process of being set up. I am going to be coming over to Australia at the end of this month for a period of 6 weeks to lend a helping hand to this process, which I am obviously very excited about! One of the things I'll be working with Aus SMC on, will be to help carry out a similar process to one that the SMC Director (Fiona Fox) and I carried out in the UK before we opened - and that was to consult widely with the UK community (science correspondents, press officers, news journalists, scientists, politicians etc)<ref name="ASC">Becky Morelle BMorelle at ri.ac.uk [http://lists.asc.asn.au/pipermail/asc-list/2005-April/001550.html ASC-list - Australian Science Media Centre: hello from the UK] Fri Apr 8 01:30:14 EST 2005</ref>

Morelle appealed for help with the consultation:

:during my 6 week visit (28th April to 10th June), I will be based in Adelaide but spending time in Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne etc and I would like to consult people from the groups of key stakeholders of the centre: ie the science correspondents, press officers, news journalists, scientists, politicians, science communicators etc. So... it would be incredibly helpful if you could:
::a. let me know if you are one of the above people that I should be meeting
::b.Let me know of your top 10 people that I should be meeting.
::c.If you could point me to any sites/documents on science and the media in Australia that would also be great!<ref name="ASC"/>

On the launch of the [[Australian SMC]] its CEO [[Susannah Elliott]] noted that: ‘A National Consultation process directed by Becky Morelle, co-founder of the SMC in the UK, was used to guide the establishment of the Centre.’<ref>Susannah Elliott [http://lists.asc.asn.au/pipermail/asc-list/2005-November/001948.html ASC-list - Australian Science Media Centre], Mon Nov 28 18:45:19 EST 2005, accessed 13 August 2013.</ref>

==Activities==
===Nuclear===
In July 2013 the SMC published an online 'Background Briefing: Is nuclear the answer to Australia’s energy needs?' on its website ahead of a national conference held by the [[Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering]] (AATSE) in Sydney.

The conference, titled 'Nuclear Energy for Australia?' included presentations by Australian SMC Patron [[Professor Alan Finkel]], Professor [[Ken Baldwin]], Director of the [[Energy Change Institute]] at the [[Australian National University]], and Emeritus Professor [[Ian Lowe]] from Griffith University, who also sits on the SMC Advisory Panel. <ref> [http://www.smc.org.au/2013/07/background-briefing-is-nuclear-the-answer-to-australias-energy-needs/ BACKGROUND BRIEFING: Is nuclear the answer to Australia’s energy needs?], ONLINE BRIEFING – Wednesday 24 July at 10:00 AEST, acc 26 August 2013 </ref> <ref> [https://aussmc.webex.com/ec0606l/eventcenter/recording/recordAction.do?theAction=poprecord&AT=pb&isurlact=true&renewticket=0&recordID=9478837&apiname=lsr.php&rKey=05e0a93e7b63d78b&needFilter=false&format=short&&SP=EC&rID=9478837&siteurl=aussmc&actappname=ec0606l&actname=%2Feventcenter%2Fframe%2Fg.do&rnd=4287977192&entactname=%2FnbrRecordingURL.do&entappname=url0108l Full presentation], Science Media Centre, Recording date:Wednesday, July 24, 2013 9:32 am Australia Central Standard Time (Adelaide), Panelist Information: [nil] Duration: 54 minutes </ref>

The SMC briefing discusses the following issues:
*Does Australia need to resume the nuclear debate?
*Cost of current renewable and low emission technologies – where does nuclear fit in?
*What are the Australian public’s current attitudes to and concerns about nuclear power?

==People==

===Staff===

Staff team in 2013<ref>Australian Science Media Centre (2013), [http://www.smc.org.au/about-us/our-people/staff/ Staff], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>:
*[[Susannah Eliott]], CEO
*[[Lyndal Byford]], Media Manager (part-time)
*[[Nigel Kerby]], Project Manager
*[[Joseph Milton]], Senior Media Officer
*[[Marilyn Arnold]], Office Manager (part time)
*[[Lucy Simmonds]], Communications Officer
*[[Annika Dean]], Media Officer
*[[Karen Noble]], Executive Assistant to the CEO
*[[Annie Hastwell]], Journalist (Part time)

===Australian Patron===
*Professor [[Alan Finkel]], currently Patron of the Australian SMC. Is President of the [[Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering]]
===Board Members===
The Board is chaired by Peter Yates AM and meets four times a year. Deputy chairs are Robyn Williams from the ABC andDr Graham Mitchell, Chief Scientist of Victoria. Other board members include:<ref name="Board">Australian SMC [http://www.smc.org.au/about-us/our-people/board-members/ Board members], accessed 26 August 2013.</ref>
*[[Peter Yates]] AM, Chair Chairman, RiAus and Chairman, Business and Economics Board, Faculty of Business and Economics, The [[University of Melbourne]]
*[[Jim Carroll]] Executive Producer, World News Australia, [[SBS]]
*[[John Croll]] Chief Executive Officer, [[iSentia]]
*Professor [[Merlin Crossley]] Dean of Science, The [[University of New South Wales]] (UNSW)
*Professor [[David Day]] Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), [[Flinders University]]
*[[Michael Ellies]] Business and media consultant
*[[Brad Hatch]] Director of Communications, [[Fairfax Media]]
*[[Oona Nielssen]] General Manager: Communication, [[CSIRO]]
*Professor [[Mary O’Kane]] NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
*[[Melvin Mansell]] State Editorial Director, SA, WA & NT, [[News Corp Australia]]
*[[Fiona McLeod]] External Affairs Manager, [[Australia Pacific LNG]]
*Dr [[Graham Mitchell (scientist)|Graham Mitchell]], Deputy Chair Chief Scientist, State Govt of Victoria
*Professor [[Rob Morrison]] Freelance science communicator
*TBA The [[University of Melbourne]]
*Hon [[Jay Weatherill]] Premier, Govt of South Australia
*Robyn Williams, Deputy Chair Presenter, [[Science Show]], [[ABC]]
*Dr [[Paul Willis]] Director, [[RiAus]]

===Science Advisory Panel===
The Science Advisory Panel membership includes:<ref name="Advisers">Australian SMC [http://www.smc.org.au/about-us/our-people/science-advisory-panel/ Board members], accessed 26 August 2013.</ref>
*Professor [[Snow Barlow]] Professor of Horticulture and Viticulture, School of Agricultural and Food Systems, [[University of Melbourne]]
*Dr [[Alan Finkel]] AM President, [[Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering]] (ATSE) (and AusSMC patron)
*Professor [[Lyn Beazley]] AO Chief Scientist of WA, Professor of Zoology, [[University of Western Australia]]
*Emeritus Professor [[Max Brennan]] AO Former Chief Scientist for South Australia
*Professor [[Adrienne Clarke]] AC Chancellor, [[La Trobe University]], Melbourne
*Professor [[Alan Cooper]] Director, Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, [[University of Adelaide]]
*Professor [[Marcello Costa]] FAA Professor of Neurophysiology, School of Medicine, [[Flinders University]]
*Professor [[Derek Denton]] AC Department of Physiology, [[University of Melbourne]]
*Professor [[Peter Doherty]] AC Laureate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The [[University of Melbourne]]
*Professor [[Tim Flannery]] [[Macquarie University]]
*Profesor [[Michael Holland]] President, [[Science and Technology Australia]]
*Professor [[Bryan Gaensler]] Institute of Astronomy, [[University of Sydney]]
*Dr [[Geoff Garrett]] AO Queensland Chief Scientist
*Baroness Professor [[Susan A Greenfield]] CBE Professor of Pharmacology, [[University of Oxford]], UK (Also International Patron of the AusSMC)
*Professor [[Richard Head]] Director, [[Sansom Institute for Health Research]]
*Professor [[Robert Hill (scientist)|Robert Hill]] Head of Sciences, SA Museum and Executive Dean, Faculty of Science, [[University of Adelaide]]
*Professor [[Marcia Langton]] AM Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies, School of Anthropology, Geography & Environmental Studies, University of Melbourne
*Emeritus Professor [[Ian Lowe]] AO School of Science, [[Griffith University]] and President, [[Australian Conservation Foundation]]
*Professor [[Caroline McMillen]] Vice Chancellor, The [[University of Newcastle]]
*Emeritus Professor Sir [[Gustav Nossal]] AC CBE Department of Pathology, [[University of Melbourne]]
*Professor [[Linda Rosenman]] President, [[Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences]] (CHASS)
*Professor [[Michelle Simmons]] Federation Fellow, School of Physics, [[University of New South Wales]]
*Professor [[Fiona Stanley]] AC Director, [[Telethon Institute for Child Health Research]]
*Professor [[Patricia Vickers-Rich]] Faculty of Science, School of Geosciences, [[Monash University]]
*Professor [[Malcolm Walter]] Director, Australian Centre for Astrobiology, [[University of New South Wales]]
*Professor [[Bob Williamson]] AO Senior Principal Research Fellow of the [[Murdoch Children’s Research Institute]] and Professor of Medical Genetics, [[University of Melbourne]]
====Past SAP members====
*Professor [[Ken Baldwin]] former President of [[FASTS]]
*[[Stuart Cunningham]] former President of [[CHASS]]
*Emeritus Professor [[Frank Fenner]] AC CMG MBE Visiting Fellow at John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University
*Professor [[David Henry]] [[University of Newcastle]] (now based overseas)
*Professor [[Peter Andrews]] AO Former Queensland Chief Scientist
*Emeritus Professor [[Nancy Millis]] AC MBE Department of Microbiology, [[University of Melbourne]]
*Professor [[Robin Batterham]] AO [[University of Melbourne]]

==Resources==
*Rebecca Morelle [http://www.aussmc.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/aussmc_consultation_report.pdf Consultation Report for the Australian Science Media Centre], June 2005.
*Susan Greenfield [http://www.thinkers.sa.gov.au/lib/pdf/Greenfield_FINAL_report.pdf Getting to the Future First], Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Adelaide SA 5001, January 2006.

==Contact==
:Address: Australian Science Media Centre, C/- The Science Exchange, 55 Exchange Place, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
:Website: http://www.smc.org.au
:Tel: +61 8 7120 8666
:E-mail: info [AT] smc.org.au
:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/AusSMC @AusSMC]
:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AusSMC

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science]][[Category:Public relations]][[Category:Science Media Centre]] [[Category:Nuclear Spin]]

AusSMC

2013-09-19T07:08:47Z

Lucy Brown: Redirected page to Australian Science Media Centre

#redirect[[Australian Science Media Centre]]

Science Media Centre

2013-09-19T07:05:34Z

Lucy Brown: /* Contact details */

[[File:HeaderLogo Over.png|thumb|right|450px|[[Science Media Centre]] logo circa 2013]]
The '''Science Media Centre''' (SMC), based in London, UK calls itself 'an independent venture working to promote the voices, stories and views of the scientific community to the national news media when science is in the headlines.'<ref>Science Media Centre, [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/ Welcome], acc 22 Sept 2012</ref>

The SMC was originally housed within the [[Royal Institution]] (RI). According to the Trustees' Report for the Charity Commission, year ended 31 March 2012, 'The SMC was originally set up in April 2002 as a division of the Royal Institution of Great Britain (RIGB)... and its financial structure was that of a restricted fund maintained by the RIGB. The RIGB acted as a very successful 'midwife', seeing the SMC grow from two to seven employees, and its funding, via donations, increase from approximately £200,000 to £460,000, in less than nine years.'<ref>Charity Commission (2012), [http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends27/0001140827_ac_20120331_e_c.pdf Science Media Centre Trustees' Report and Accounts for period ended 31 March 2012], acc 3 Oct 2012</ref>

[[Susan Greenfield]], the RI's former director, described herself as the 'midwife'<ref>[http://www.powerbase.info/images/e/ec/Science-Media-Centre-consultation-report.pdf Consultation Report], Science Media Centre, March 2002, p. 13, accessed 28 Sept 2009</ref> of the initiative. According to the ''[[Financial Times]]'' Greenfield was 'one of the main organisers of the initiative, together with [[Lord Sainsbury]], the science minister... [[Lord Bragg]], the broadcaster, is chairing an advisory board.<ref>[[Clive Cookson]], [http://www.gmwatch.org/latest-listing/1-news-items/485-lord-sainsburys-thought-police-new-media-control-initiative New independent media centre aims to give scientists a voice], ''[[Financial Times]]'', Jan 30, 2001, acc 3 Oct 2012</ref>

In 2011 the SMC became independent of the RI and set itself up as a charity and company limited by guarantee.<ref>Charity Commission (2012), [http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends27/0001140827_ac_20120331_e_c.pdf Science Media Centre Trustees' Report and Accounts for period ended 31 March 2012], acc 3 Oct 2012</ref>

The UK SMC has spawned a number of sister SMCs in other countries, including [[Australian Science Media Centre|Australia]], New Zealand, Canada, and Japan.<ref>Science Media Centre (2012) [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/international-smcs/ International SMCs], acc 28 Nov 2012</ref> A US version the [[Science Media Center of the United States]] is under development.<ref>Science Media Center [http://www.sciencemediacenter.org/usa/ SMC-US], accessed 20 August 2013</ref>

==Controversy and criticism==

Within months of its launch the SMC was already embroiled in controversy over its activities. On the issue of genetically modified (GM) foods, it stood accused of operating 'a sort of Mandelsonian rapid rebuttal unit',<ref>Ronan Bennett, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2002/jun/02/gm.comment The conspiracy to undermine the truth about our GM drama], The Guardian, 2 Jun 2002, acc 14 Feb 2013</ref> and of employing 'some of the clumsiest spin techniques of New Labour'.<ref>Alan Rusbridger, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2002/jun/07/bbc.medicalscience/print Fields of ire], The Guardian, 7 Jun 2002, acc 14 Feb 2013</ref>

These claims arose out of allegations of a 'secret campaign to discredit' a BBC drama relating to GM crops.<ref> [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4426145-102285,00.html Lobby group 'led GM thriller critics'], The Observer, June 2, 2002, acc 14 Feb 2013</ref> The connections of the director of the SMC to the [[Living Marxism]] network, and the SMC's funding, have also attracted critical comment. The SMC provides a link from its home page to the [[Progress Educational Trust]] as a "source of information about assisted conception and genetics", a body which has made Fiona Fox an adviser and has other links to the LM network through current and former staff.<ref>[http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/ Home page], Science Media Centre acc 13 Mar 2011</ref>

Dr David Miller of the Stirling Media Research Institute is amongst the SMC's critics. He is quoted in an article in ''The Guardian'' as saying:
:The Science Media Centre (SMC) is... not as independent as it appears. It was set up to provide accurate, independent scientific information for the media but its views are largely in line with government scientific policy. The SMC made much of its charitable status, yet its charity number is the same as that for the Royal Institution (RI); in other words, it is almost synonymous with the RI. Similarly, its independence was supposed to be guaranteed by the fact that no more than 5% of its funding comes from any one source; yet 70% of its funding comes from business, which could be said to have similar interests. The SMC has since had the ac.uk removed from its email address after complaints that only academic institutions that were not corporately funded were entitled to this were upheld.<ref>John Crace, [http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/research/story/0,9865,892781,00.html Peer trouble], The Guardian, February 11, 2003, accessed 29 Sept 2009</ref>

In a critique of the SMC in ''Nature'' journal, the science policy journalist Colin Macilwain said the SMC "offers the media a clearing house for scientific briefings and packaged quotes from scientists" and commented on plans to set up a Science Media Centre in the US:
:The London SMC's narrow approach to risk assessment — if you want to hear about the risks of nuclear power, say, just ask your local nuclear engineer (see Nature 471, 549; 2011) — sits happily with the prevalent ethos of British journalism. This was, of course, immortalized by the otherwise-obscure poet Humbert Wolfe: “You cannot hope / to bribe or twist, / thank God! the / British journalist. / But, seeing what / the man will do / unbribed, there's / no occasion to.”<ref>Colin Macilwain, [http://www.nature.com/news/two-nations-divided-by-a-common-purpose-1.10224 Two nations divided by a common purpose], Nature 483(7389). 14 Mar. Accessed 19 Sept 2012</ref>

Macilwain goes on to question whether the SMC is even needed in the UK, given that
:the British press — led by the BBC, which treats the Confederation of British Industry with the deference the Vatican gets in Rome — is overwhelmingly conservative and pro-business in its outlook. It is quite unperturbed by the fact that SMC sponsors include AstraZeneca, BP, Coca-Cola, L'Oreal, Monsanto, Syngenta (as well as Nature Publishing Group) but not a single environmental non-governmental organization (NGO) or trade union.<ref>Colin Macilwain, [http://www.nature.com/news/two-nations-divided-by-a-common-purpose-1.10224 Two nations divided by a common purpose], Nature 483(7389). 14 Mar. Accessed 19 Sept 2012</ref>

==Genetic modification==
The SMC describes itself as 'working to promote the '''voices''', '''stories''' and '''views''' of the scientific community to the news media when science is in the headlines' (emphasis added). It also says it's in the business of 'pro-actively promoting '''a spectrum of scientific opinion''' ' (emphasis added).

This language is derived from a Consultation Report on its role, published by the SMC in March 2002 and said to have been the result of wide consultation with leading scientists, science communicators and the media. The topic of GM comes up repeatedly - almost 20 times in a report which in full only runs to around 30 pages including appendices.<ref>[http://www.powerbase.info/images/e/ec/Science-Media-Centre-consultation-report.pdf Consultation Report], Science Media Centre, March 2002, acc 26 Nov 2012</ref>

Revealingly, the report notes that 'the majority of people consulted - including many of those who helped establish the initiative... reminded the SMC team several times that the impetus for the initiative came from people who are concerned about improving the image of science and renewing public trust in it. They also pointed out that the impetus for the Centre emerged from a strong consensus that media coverage of such issues as GM and BSE had been "bad for science".'<ref>[http://www.powerbase.info/images/e/ec/Science-Media-Centre-consultation-report.pdf Consultation Report], Science Media Centre, March 2002, acc 26 Nov 2012</ref>

In a ''[[Financial Times]]'' article published a full 15 months earlier, the emphasis is similar, the role being planned for the Centre would be to help 'sceptical and impatient journalists' get their stories right on controversial issues such as 'animal research, cloning and genetically modified food'<ref>Clive Cookson, [http://www.gmwatch.org/latest-listing/1-news-items/485-lord-sainsburys-thought-police-new-media-control-initiative New independent media centre aims to give scientists a voice], ''Financial Times'', Jan 30, 2001, acc 14 Feb 2013</ref>

In an article co-authored by Greenfield in The Independent, we are also given a clear account of the motivation behind the Centre:
:The reduction of a complex branch of biological engineering to "Frankenstein food" was typical of media hopelessly ill equipped to discuss scientific progress rationally. And into the vacuum stepped big business. What inflicted the greatest damage on GM science was that the case for the defence was fronted by the bio-tech groups [[Monsanto]] and [[AstraZeneca]].<ref>Tristram Hunt, Susan Greenfield, [http://ngin.tripod.com/091201a.htm THE APPLIANCE OF SCIENCE; SCIENTISTS FEEL THAT JOURNALISTS DON'T UNDERSTAND THEM. A NEW MEDIA CENTRE COULD BRING THE TWO CAMPS TOGETHER], The Independent (London), November 20, 2001, acc 14 Feb 2013</ref>

If this suggests the SMC's role is to replace the biotech industry as the champions of GM, then the SMC's Consultation Report contains a more reassuring quote from Greenfield:
:The SMC is unashamedly pro-science but it is also independent of any particular agenda. That means the SMC will provide access to the wide spectrum of scientific opinion on any one issue. We can provide an anti-GM scientist and a pro-GM scientist...<ref>Science Media Centre, [http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/File:Science-Media-Centre-consultation-report.pdf Consultation report], March 2002</ref>

This chimes in precisely with the SMC's promotion of itself as being 'free of any particular agenda within science' and and as striving ''''to promote a breadth of scientific opinion - especially where there are clear divisions within science'''' (emphasis added).

Yet the SMC has never provided the views of anything remotely resembling an anti-GM or even a GM-sceptical scientist in any of its press releases on GM stories, which are typically made up of a list of quotes from what appear to be a range of scientists - but which are all supportive of GM. By contrast it has been happy to host the press launch of the [[Agricultural Biotechnology Council]] (ABC) - the public relations campaign for GM foods set up by the biotechnology industry. Similarly, it regularly included comments from [[Stephen Smith]], when he was the head of the ABC and of the biotech company Syngenta Seeds UK, along with those of other 'scientists' in its GM-related press releases. The comments it includes in these are invariably supportive of GM or are critical of research raising questions about GM, and some of the comments come from scientists with significant but undeclared conflicts of interest. [http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=1230 For example], in more than one of its press releases those who are part of industry-funded lobby groups, like the scientists who work with [[CropGen]], are presented as simply a 'Reader in Ecology' or a 'Visiting Professor of Biology' without any mention of their lobby-group affiliations. By contrast, in the SMC's Consultation Report the SMC not only does not hesitate to identify one of these scientists as 'Professor [[Vivian Moses]], Chair of [[CropGen]]', but only identifies him as such.<ref>Science Media Centre, [http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/File:Science-Media-Centre-consultation-report.pdf Consultation report], March 2002, p27</ref>

Greenfield, when the director of the Royal Institution, was on the Advisory Board of the mostly industry-funded [[Social Issues Research Centre]] (SIRC). Together with the SIRC, Greenfield, on behalf of the RI, co-convened a Forum which laid down guidelines for the media - guidelines which had largely originated with the [[Royal Society]] - and which called for the establishment of a secret directory of 'expert contacts' with whom journalists should check out their science stories prior to publication.

The Science Media Centre was to be a new body 'less encumbered by past perceptions' - almost certainly an admission that the [[Royal Society]]'s reputation had been damaged by allegations of its operating a media rebuttal unit in relation to the issue of GM foods. [[Sense About Science]] appears to have been set up for similar reasons. Like the Science Media Centre, the director of [[Sense About Science]] was also drawn from the [[Living Marxism]] network. Interestingly, in the SMC's Consultation Report the Chairman of [[Sense About Science]], Lord [[Dick Taverne]], was among those who 'argued that the SMC should try to identify spokespeople who could display the same levels of passion and conviction as the campaigning NGOs.'<ref>Science Media Centre, [http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/File:Science-Media-Centre-consultation-report.pdf Consultation report], March 2002</ref>

==Human genetics and reproductive technologies==

In 2006 the UK Government published a paper detailing proposals for revision of the law on assisted reproduction and embryo research, including proposing the setup of a new body, the [[Regulatory Authority for Tissue and Embryos]] (RATE), which would replace existing regulatory bodies (the [[Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority]], and the [[Human Tissue Authority]]).<ref>Human Tissue Authority (2012) [http://www.hta.gov.uk/contentdisplay.cfm?widCall1=customWidgets.content_view_1&cit_id=307 Regulatory Authority for Tissue and Embryos], acc 27 Nov 2012</ref>

The Science Media Centre coordinated a response from selected scientists to the proposed revisions of the law on assisted reproduction and embryo research. The responses show a trend of criticising plans to restrict human reproductive technologies. For example, Dr [[Allan Pacey]], [[British Fertility Society]] (BFS) Secretary, said, "There is a sense that the Government has been quite conservative and has missed an opportunity to be more radical and forward thinking. As we now work to a very high standards of clinical governance, there’s a good case for regulations being less strict than they were when the laws were first drafted."<ref>Science Media Centre (2006) [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/scientists-respond-to-the-doh-review-of-the-human-fertilisation-and-embryology-act-2/ Scientists respond to the DoH review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act], Dec 13, acc 28 Nov 2012</ref>

Lord [[Robert Winston]], Emeritus Professor Of Fertility Studies at Imperial College London (Hammersmith Hospital), said, "It is highly disappointing that the thinking in the Department of Health is so impoverished that they could not see the need to reduce the regulation of routine IVF, which is no longer an experimental procedure and should not be subject to additional regulation."<ref>Science Media Centre (2006) [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/scientists-respond-to-the-doh-review-of-the-human-fertilisation-and-embryology-act-2/ Scientists respond to the DoH review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act], Dec 13, acc 28 Nov 2012</ref> In fact there are serious and well-recognised dangers attached to IVF treatment.<ref>Jacqueline Mroz, [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/17/health/research/high-doses-of-hormones-add-to-ivf-complications.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 High Doses of Hormones Faulted in Fertility Care], New York Times, 16 Jul 2012, acc 27 Nov 2012</ref>

Dr [[Stephen Minger]], Director of the Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Kings College London, objected to the ban on non-human (animal) egg cells for human cloning: “Whilst I am happy to see that the Review continues to support the use of donated embryos for stem cell derivation, I am very disappointed that the Government’s position is to ban the use of non-human oocytes [immature egg cells] for the derivation of cloned human embryonic stem cell lines."<ref>Science Media Centre (2006) [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/scientists-respond-to-the-doh-review-of-the-human-fertilisation-and-embryology-act-2/ Scientists respond to the DoH review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act], Dec 13, acc 28 Nov 2012</ref>

[[James Lawford Davies]], a solicitor specialising in reproductive and genetic technology at [[Bevan Brittan LLP]] in London who subsequently became a partner in the London-based law firm [[Lawford Davies Denoon]], disagreed with the Dept of Health's suggestion of a ban on the creation of human-animal hybrids for research purposes: "The proposals do little to move forward from the status quo. The HFEA has indicated it could licence the creation of hybrids for research purposes under the existing law, and the Science and Technology Committee said that the law should only be amended to explicitly allow such research. In contrast, the government is suggesting this should be banned – presumably to avoid headlines."<ref>Science Media Centre (2006), [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/scientists-respond-to-the-doh-review-of-the-human-fertilisation-and-embryology-act-2/ scientists respond to the DoH review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act], Dec 13, acc 27 Nov 2012</ref>

In 2007 the government decided not to go ahead with RATE after all.<ref>Human Tissue Authority (2012) [http://www.hta.gov.uk/contentdisplay.cfm?widCall1=customWidgets.content_view_1&cit_id=307 Regulatory Authority for Tissue and Embryos], acc 27 Nov 2012</ref>

Are the SMC experts representing the popular or informed view? Not according to the NGO [[Human Genetics Alert]], which says, "Although food crops, bacteria and animals have been genetically engineered for the last 20 years, there has been a worldwide consensus, embodied in legislation in over 60 countries, that we should not attempt to do the same with human beings. This is because crossing this line would lead inevitably to a future of ‘designer babies’ and a new consumer-driven eugenics."<ref>Human Genetics Alert (2012), [http://www.powerbase.info/images/3/3d/Mitochondria_briefing.pdf Human Genetic Engineering on the Doorstep: The threat of ‘mitochondrial replacement’ techniques], November</ref>

Human Genetics Alert says the UK is the weak link in the otherwise fairly unified stand against human genetic engineering by governments in Europe: "In Europe, nearly all countries except Britain have signed the Council of Europe Convention on Biomedicine and Human Rights, which prohibits the alteration of the human germ line by any methods. It is extremely unusual for governments around the world to create outright bans on specific scientific techniques, and this underlines the seriousness of the reasons against allowing genetic modification. Any decision to cross this line is a matter for the whole of global society, and it is inconceivable that the UK should be allowed to make this decision on behalf of the rest of humanity."<ref>Human Genetics Alert (2012), [http://www.powerbase.info/images/3/3d/Mitochondria_briefing.pdf Human Genetic Engineering on the Doorstep: The threat of ‘mitochondrial replacement’ techniques], November</ref>

==Communicating risk to the public==
The SMC published a leaflet, "Communicating Risk in a Soundbite", in circa 2002. It calls the leaflet:

:a guide for scientists, doctors and engineers preparing for a broadcast interview, and is the result of a meeting between top scientists and journalists in July 2002. They assessed the best ways to explain risks via the broadcast media, and suggested a whole host of examples. It is not meant to be a definitive 'best practice' guide - we simply want to offer a choice of effective ways of answering questions about safety and risk.

:Note that the guide is intended for use in situations where risks are perceived to be much higher than they actually are. It is not intended to help cover up significant risks or threats to public health.<ref>[http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/uploadDir/admincommunicating_risk.pdf Communicating Risk in a Soundbite], Science Media Centre, 2002(?), acc 2 May 2010</ref>

Members of the public who read the advice given in the guide may well find it alarming as it actually seems to be about minimising risk in the eyes of the media and thence the public. Examples of possible questions and ideal answers include the following:

:Q Is it risky?
:A ‘Not very. The benefits outweigh the risks.’ The interviewer then has little choice but to ask you about the benefits.
:A ‘It is a very small risk. So small that I believe it is safe.’
:A ‘To most people, safe doesn’t mean ‘no risk’, it means ‘negligible risk’ – so I believe that this is safe.’
:A ‘Whether or not something is safe will always be a matter of weighing up the risks and the benefits – no-one has ever proved that something is safe.’
:A ‘Nothing is completely risk free – but we can assess all the evidence and decide that something is safe enough.’
:Q Will investment make it safer?
:A ‘If we plough money into reducing these tiny risks, then for every one person it benefits 1000’s of others may suffer because the money has had to be diverted from somewhere else.’<ref>[http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/uploadDir/admincommunicating_risk.pdf Communicating Risk in a Soundbite], Science Media Centre, 2002(?), acc 2 May 2010</ref>

The guide appears anti-scientific in its advice to avoid admitting a lack of knowledge about risks:
:Don’t say, ‘These risks are unquantifiable’ or ‘unknown’.
:Try, ‘It’s difficult to say, because ...’, or, ‘At the moment it’s not absolutely clear, but we’re trying to find out by doing X, Y and Z.’<ref>[http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/uploadDir/admincommunicating_risk.pdf Communicating Risk in a Soundbite], Science Media Centre, 2002(?), acc 2 May 2010</ref>

Participants in the meeting that gave rise to the guide include people who have developed a reputation for reassuring the public about risky, controversial, or unpopular technologies such as MMR vaccinations and genetically modified food. They include:<ref>[http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/uploadDir/admincommunicating_risk.pdf Communicating Risk in a Soundbite], Science Media Centre, 2002(?), acc 2 May 2010</ref> Prof Sir [[Colin Berry]] | [[Pallab Ghosh]] | Dr [[Evan Harris]]
==People==

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" border="1" float="right" align="right" width="50%">
<tr>
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="80%" colspan = "4">Board (2002-2012)/Advisory Committee (2012 - )<ref>Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2002-2013</ref></th>


</tr>

<tr>
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="10%">Name of Board Member</th>
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="30%">Stated occupation</th>
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="5%">From</th>
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="5%">To</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="80%" colspan = "4">Current members<ref>Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2002-2013</ref></th>


</tr>
<tr><td>[[Kenny Campbell]]</td><td>Editor, [[Metro]]</td><td align="center">2004</td><td align="center">current</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Philip Campbell]]</td><td>Editor-in-Chief, [[Nature]]</td><td align="center">2003</td><td align="center">current</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Clive Cookson]]</td><td>Science Editor, [[Financial Times]]</td><td align="center">2002</td><td align="center">current</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Carolan Davidge]]</td><td>Director of Press & PR, [[Cancer Research UK]]</td><td align="center">2005</td><td align="center">current</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Paul Drayson]]</td><td>Entrepreneur and ex-Science Minister</td><td align="center">2005<br>2012</td><td align="center">2006<br>current</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Louise Dunn]]</td><td>Vice President Communications, [[GlaxoSmithKline]]</td><td align="center">2012</td><td align="center">current</td></tr>

<tr><td>[[Robin Lovell-Badge]]</td><td>Head of Developmental Genetics, [[MRC National Institute for Medical Research]]</td><td align="center">2007</td><td align="center">current</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Rebecca Morelle]]</td><td>Science and Nature reporter, [[BBC News Online]]</td><td align="center">2007</td><td align="center">current</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Simon Pearson]]</td><td>Night Editor, [[The Times]]</td><td align="center">2004</td><td align="center">current</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Simon Singh]]</td><td>Science writer and broadcaster</td><td align="center">2002</td><td align="center">current</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Bob Ward]]</td><td>Policy and Communications Director, [[Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment]], London School of Economics and Political Science</td><td align="center">2007</td><td align="center">current</td></tr>
<tr><th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="80%" colspan = "4">Past members<ref>Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2002-2013</ref></th>


</tr>
<tr><td>[[Melvyn Bragg]]</td><td>Broadcaster, Peer and Controller of Arts at [[LWT]]</td><td align="center">2002</td><td align="center">2002</td></tr><tr><td>[[David Cope]]</td><td>Director of the [[Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology]]</td><td align="center">2002</td><td align="center">2003</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Peter Cotgreave]]</td><td>Director of Public Affairs, [[Royal Society]]</td><td align="center">2002</td><td align="center">2011</td></tr><tr><td>[[Marshall Davies]]</td><td>Ex-President of the [[Royal Pharmaceutical Society]]</td><td align="center">2012</td><td align="center">2012</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Alex Denoon]]</td><td>Partner, [[Lawford Davies Denoon]]</td><td align="center">2012</td><td align="center">2012</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Mike Granatt]]</td><td>Partner, [[Luther Pendragon]] and former Director General of [[Goverment Information and Communication Service]]</td><td align="center">2004</td><td align="center">2011</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Philip Greenish]]</td><td>Chief Executive, [[Royal Academy of Engineering]]</td><td align="center">2009</td><td align="center">2012</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Tristram Hunt]]</td><td>Historian, TV presenter and former advisor to Lord [[David Sainsbury]]</td><td align="center">2002</td><td align="center">2005</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Paul Martin (ex-MI5)|Paul Martin]]</td><td>Science writer and former Director of Communications at [[Cabinet Office]]</td><td align="center">2002</td><td align="center">2003</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Tom Miller]]</td><td>Director of Communications, [[Imperial College London]] and [[STEMPRA]] committee member</td><td align="center">2002</td><td align="center">2012</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Helen Munn]]</td><td>Executive Director, the [[Academy of Medical Sciences]]</td><td align="center">2012</td><td align="center">2012</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Vivienne Parry]]</td><td>Writer, broadcaster and tabloid journalist</td><td align="center">2002</td><td align="center">2012</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Trevor Phillips]]</td><td>Deputy Chair, [[Greater London Authority]]</td><td align="center">2002</td><td align="center">2004</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Paul Routledge]]</td><td>Chief political correspondent on the [[Daily Mirror]] and former news editor on [[Observer]]</td><td align="center">2002</td><td align="center">2003</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Andrew Stone]]</td><td>House of Lords</td><td align="center">2002</td><td align="center">2003</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Ceri Thomas]]</td><td>Editor, Today, [[BBC Radio 4]]</td><td align="center">2009</td><td align="center">2012</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Adrian Van Klaveren]]</td><td>Deputy Director, [[BBC News]]</td><td align="center">2002</td><td align="center">2008</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Alan Winter]]</td><td>Head of Operations - [[Royal Institution]]</td><td align="center">2002</td><td align="center">2008</td></tr>

</table>
===Staff===
====Staff 2012 - ====

*[[Fiona Fox]], Chief Executive. Fox, who was originally appointed founding Director, is said to be in overall charge of running the Centre and setting its strategic direction together with the [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/aboutus.htm SMC's Board]. Fox's background, which includes undisclosed links to the [[Living Marxism]] network (which eulogises technologies like human cloning and genetic engineering), is mainly in media relations. In 2012 Fox was described on the SMC website as chief executive of the SMC.<ref>SMC (2012) [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/about-us/staff/ Staff], acc 26 Nov 2012</ref>
*[[Helen Jamison]], Deputy Director
*[[Tom Sheldon]], Senior Press Officer
*[[Edward Sykes]], Head of Mental Health and Neuroscience
*[[Selina Hawkins]], Office and Finance Manager
*[[Fiona Lethbridge]], Press Officer
*[[Robin Bisson]], Science Information Officer
*[[Jo Thomas]], Events Assistant

====Former staff====
[[Claire Bithell]] | [[Lyndal Byford]] | [[Will Greenacre]] | [[Simon Levey]] | [[Amy Lothian]] | [[Nancy Mendoza]] | [[Joseph Milton]] | [[Becky Morelle]] | [[Mark Peplow]] | [[Becky Purvis]] | [[Jonathan Webb]]

===Trustees-Directors 2011 - ===

The SMC was registered as a charity on 18 March 2011 and as a company in the same month. As a result a group of six trustees (of the charity) and directors (of the company) were appointed with a seventh being appointed later. The trustees now formally ran the SMC but this was not announced on the SMC website - according to the holdings of the Internet Archive - until after 26 February 2012.<ref>Science Media Centre [http://web.archive.org/web/20120226125951/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/smc_board.htm SMC board], Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 26 February 2012 on 15 August 2013.</ref>

The seven were:<ref>Charity Commission (2012), [http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends27/0001140827_ac_20120331_e_c.pdf Science Media Centre Trustees' Report and Accounts for period ended 31 March 2012], acc 3 Oct 2012</ref><ref>Companies House (2012) [http://www.powerbase.info/images/f/f1/SMC-appointments.pdf Current Appointments Report for: Science Media Centre, created 23/11/2012], obtained from Companies House 23 Nov 2012</ref>
*Dr [[Peter Cotgreave]] (chair - appointed 11/03/2011) - also Director, Fellowship and Scientific Affairs at the [[Royal Society]]<ref>Royal Society (2012) [http://royalsociety.org/people/peter-cotgreave/ Dr Peter Cotgreave], acc 26 Nov 2012</ref>
*Mr [[Tom Miller]] (appointed 11/03/2011) also Director of Communications, [[Imperial College London]]<ref>Science Media Centre (2012) [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/smc_board.htm About us], acc 3 Oct 2012</ref>
*Mr [[Philip Greenish]] (appointed 11/03/2011) also Chief Executive, [[Royal Academy of Engineering]]<ref>Science Media Centre (2012) [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/smc_board.htm About us], acc 3 Oct 2012</ref>
*Mr [[Alexander Denoon]] (appointed 16/09/2011) lawyer with a BSc in human genetics who from 1998-2001 was general counsel and company secretary of [[Biotech Australia]]<ref>Lawford Davies Denoon (2012) [http://www.lawforddaviesdenoon.com/index.php?alexander-denoon Alexander Denoon], acc 3 Oct 2012</ref><ref>LinkedIn, [http://www.linkedin.com/pub/alex-denoon/22/334/30b Alexander Denoon], acc 3 Oct 2012</ref>)
*Dr [[H L Munn|Helen Munn]] (appointed 16/09/2011)
*Mr [[Marshall Davies|P L M Davies]] (treasurer, appointed 17/01/2012) is "a retired Director of [[Boots]], an ex-President of the [[Royal Pharmaceutical Society]] and a director or member of a number of pharmaceutical associations and funds." He is a member of the Council of the [[Science and Technology Facilities Council]] (STFC),<ref>Science and Technology Facilities Council (2012) [http://www.stfc.ac.uk/About+STFC/135.aspx STFC Council members - Mr Marshall Davies], acc 3 Oct 2012</ref> which in turn calls itself "an independent, non-departmental public body of the [[Department for Business, Innovation and Skills]] (DBIS)" of the UK government.<ref>STFC (2012) [http://www.stfc.ac.uk/About+STFC/About+STFC/19072.aspx About], acc 26 Nov 2012</ref>
*[[Jonathan Baker]] Head of the BBC College of Journalism (appointed 11/04/2013<ref>Data from Companies House</ref>)

===Board 2002-2012 / Advisory Committee 2012 - ===

In 2002 the SMC appointed a board to run the organisation along with a 'scientific advisory board'. In 2012 when it became a Charity/Company a new smaller 'board' of Trustees/Directors was constituted, the scientific advisory panel discontinued and a new advisory group constituted including significant numbers of the previous 'board'.

From the beginning the SMC board was made up of a mix of journalists and science communicators. Among the journalists and broadcasters have been a significant number of BBC employees (including [[Rebecca Morelle]], a former employee of the SMC), [[Ceri Thomas]], editor of ''Radio Four'''s [[Today]] programme, [[Adrian Van-Klaveren]] former Controller of [[Radio Five Live]] and [[Jonathan Baker]] head of the BBC College of Journalism); and broadsheet journalists ([[Clive Cookson]]).

Members of the board have often had connections with funders of the SMC (given in brackets) such as:
*[[Kenny Campbell]] editor of Metro, (Associated Newspapers - owners of the ''[[Daily Mail]]'')
*[[Simon Pearson]] of ''[[The Times]]'' ([[News International]])
*[[Vivienne Parry]] Science writer, former columnist for the ''[[News of the World]]'' (News International)
*[[Paul Routledge]] of the Mirror ([[Trinity Mirror]])

Some members of the board (and now the Advisory Committee) are themselves funders of the SMC. [[Paul Drayson]] funded the SMC through his company [[Powderject]] in 2002 and 2003. In 2005 and 2006 he was a member of the board of the SMC and his [[Drayson Foundation]] donated £12,500 to the SMC in 2007. In 2007 and again in 2008-10 he was minister for Science in the New Labour administration. In 2011 the Drayson Foundation donated some £50,000 to the SMC. In the following year, 2012, Drayson was again involved with the SMC as a member of the Advisory Committee.
Some have been close to other funders such as [[Tristram Hunt]] described on the SMC site as a former adviser of [[David Sainsbury]] who helped to raise the funding for the SMC back in 2001/2<ref name="consult">Science Media Centre [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Science-Media-Centre-consultation-report.pdf consultation Report] March 2002, p. 24</ref> and was later a funder of the SMC through his charity vehicle the [[Gatsby Charitable Foundation]] (2009-2013).

Among the science communicators or science policy actors are public relations professionals from [[GlaxoSmithKline]].

===Scientific Advisory Panel 2002-2012===

From 2002-2012 the SMC had a 'Scientific advisory panel'. It was abolished when the SMC was separated organisationally from the [[Royal Institution]]. In registering as a company and a
charity the SMC appointed a number of Trustees/Directors, which replaced its Board and then created a new Advisory Board which was made up of a number of figures from its previous board but none from its Scientific advisory panel. The panel was notable for the concentration of members from Oxford and two London colleges. Of the sixteen members there were five from Oxford, five from [[University College London]] and two from [[Imperial College]]. The Science advisors served from 2002 to 2012 with the exception of [[Richard Sykes]] who joined in 2003.

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" border="1" float="right" align="right" width="40%">
<tr>
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="50%" colspan = "2">Scientific Advisory Panel (2002-2012)<ref>Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2002-2013</ref></th>


</tr>

<tr>
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="8%">Name of Panel Member</th>
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="15%">Stated occupation</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[George Alberti]]</td><td> Department of Diabetes and Metabolism, [[University of Newcastle]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Peter Atkins]]</td><td> Department of Chemistry, [[University of Oxford]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Mike Brady]]</td><td> Department of Engineering Science, [[University of Oxford]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Richard Catlow]]</td><td> Director of the Davy Faraday Research Laboratory and Department of Chemistry, [[University College, London]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Susan Greenfield]]</td><td> Director of The Royal Institution of Great Britain and of Pharmacology, [[University of Oxford]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Julian Hunt]]</td><td> Department of Space and Climate Physics, [[University College, London]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Brian Johnson]]</td><td> Department of Chemistry, [[University of Cambridge]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Steve Jones]]</td><td> Department of Biology, [[University College, London]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[David King]]</td><td> [[Chief Scientific Advisor to H. M. Government]]; Head of the [[Office of Science and Technology]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[John Krebs]]</td><td> [[Food Standards Agency]] and Department of Zoology, [[University of Oxford]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Chris Leaver]]</td><td> Department of Plant Sciences, [[University of Oxford]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Chris Llewellyn-Smith]]</td><td> Former Provost and President of [[University College, London]], and former Director General of [[CERN]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Bill McGuire]]</td><td> Benfield Hazard Research Centre, [[University College, London]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Richard Sykes]]</td><td> Rector of [[Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine]], London </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Simon Wessely]]</td><td> Institute of Psychiatry, [[King’s College]], London </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Robert Winston]]</td><td> Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, [[Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine]], and [[Hammersmith Hospital NHS Trust]] </td></tr>
</table>

== Funding ==
''For a full compilation of data on funding derived from the SMC website see [[Science Media Centre - Funding]].''

===Corporate donations===
Despite its close links with the RI, the SMC describes itself as 'an independent venture'.<ref>Science Media Centre, [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/ Welcome], acc 22 Sept 2012</ref> Prior to its launch, Greenfield said she hoped to get money for the project 'from the trade unions' <ref>''Financial Times'', Jan 30, 2001</ref> but that never materialised and much of the SMC's funding is via corporate donations. Funders with biotech interests include [[AstraZeneca]], [[DuPont]], [[Monsanto]]<ref>SMC, [http://web.archive.org/web/20120226130620/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/funding.htm About us], Web Archive 26.02.1012, accessed 16.09.2013.</ref>, [[Pfizer]], [[PowderJect]], and [[Syngenta]].

The centre states that it is "independent from any single scientific body. To preserve our independence, funding has been sought from a wide variety of sources, none of which have contributed more than 5% of the total running costs (£250,000 per year). Media groups, industry, professional associations and individuals are all taking part in funding the Science Media Centre. "<ref name="SMC"> [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/funding.htm Funding], SMC website, accessed 20 September 2012 </ref>

===August 2012===
Funders up to August 2012 were:<ref>Science Media Centre (2012) [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/about-us/funding/ Funding], acc 28 Nov 2012</ref>
*[[Abbott Laboratories]] | [[Airwave Solutions]] | [[Alcohol Research UK]] | [[Alzheimer’s Research UK]] | [[Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry]] | [[Associated Newspapers Ltd]] (ANL) including [[Daily Mail]], [[Mail on Sunday]], [[Evening Standard]] & [[Metro]] | [[Association of Medical Research Charities]] (AMRC) | [[AstraZeneca]] | [[BASF]] | [[Bayer]] Plc | [[Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council]] (BBSRC) | [[Boeing]] | [[BP]] International Ltd | [[Bristol University]] | [[British Heart Foundation]] | [[British Pharmacological Society]] | [[British Psychological Society]] (BPS) | [[Cancer Research UK]] | [[Cardiff University]] | [[Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers]] | [[Chemical Industries Association]] (CIA) | [[Chilled Food Association]] (CFA) | [[Coca-Cola]] | [[Colgate-Palmolive Company]] | [[CropLife International]] | [[Department for Business, Innovation and Skills]] (BIS) | [[Diamond Light Source]] | The [[Drayson Foundation]] | [[Economic & Social Research Council]] (ESRC) | [[EDF]] Energy | [[Elsevier]] BV | [[EnergySolutions]] | [[Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council]] (EPSRC) | [[European College of Neuropsychopharmacology]] | [[Food and Drink Federation]] | [[Food Standards Agency]] (FSA) | The [[Gatsby Charitable Foundation]] | [[GE Healthcare]] | [[GlaxoSmithKline]] (GSK) | [[Human Tissue Authority]] (HTA) | [[Imperial College London]] | [[Independent Climate Change Email Review]] | [[Institute of Food Science & Technology]] (IFST) | [[Institute of Mental Health]] | [[Institute of Physics]] (IOP) | [[Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine]] | [[Institution of Chemical Engineers]] (IChemE) | [[Institution of Civil Engineers]] | [[Institution of Engineering and Technology]] (The IET) | [[Institution of Mechanical Engineers]] (IMechE) | [[International AIDS Vaccine Initiative]] (IAVI) | [[John Wiley & Sons]] Inc | [[King’s College London]] | [[L’Oreal]] UK | [[Life Technologies]] | [[Medical Research Council]] (MRC) | [[Mental Health Foundation]] | [[Mental Health Research Network]] | [[Mental Health Research Network Cymru]] | [[Merck]] Sharp & Dohme (MSD) Limited | The [[Met Office]] | [[Mobile Manufacturers Forum]] | [[Mobile Operators Association]] (MOA) | [[Motor Neurone Disease]] (MND) Association | [[National Grid]] | [[National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence]] (NICE) | [[Natural Environment Research Council]] (NERC) | [[Nature]] | [[New Scientist]] | [[Novartis]] | [[Nuclear Decommissioning Authority]] (NDA) | [[Oxitec]] | [[Proctor & Gamble]] | [[PR Works]] | The [[Physiological Society]] | Queen Mary, [[University of London]] | [[Research Councils UK]] (RCUK) | [[Rolls-Royce]] | [[Royal Academy of Engineering]] | [[Royal College of Pathologists]] | [[Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution]] (RCEP) | [[Royal Pharmaceutical Society]] | The [[Royal Society]] | [[Sanofi Aventis]] | [[Sanofi Pasteur]] MSD | [[SAGE]] | [[Science and Technology Facilities Council]] (STFC) | Scottish Mental Health Research Network | [[Siemens]] Plc | [[Smith & Nephew]] | [[Society for Applied Microbiology]] (SfAM) | [[Society for General Microbiology]] (SGM) | [[Society for Radiological Protection]] | [[Society of Biology]] | [[South London and Maudsley NHS Trust Charitable Funds]] | Springer science+business media | [[Syngenta]] | [[Technology Strategy Board]] | [[UCL Institute of Health Equity]] | UK Cleaning Products Industry Association (UKPCI) | [[Unilever]] UK | [[University College London]] |[[University of Bristol]] | [[University of Cambridge]] | [[University of East Anglia]] | [[Wellcome Trust]]

==Articles/emails about the SMC==
* Kate Benson, [http://www.reportingonhealth.org/2013/02/19/reporting-evidence-requires-more-spin Reporting on Evidence Requires More Than Spin], Reporting on Health member blog, The California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships, February 19, 2013.
* Curtis Brainard and Ron Winslow [http://www.cjr.org/the_observatory/science_media_centers_the_pres_2.php?page=all Science media centers & the press, part 3: Can a SMC work in the US?] ''Columbia Journalism Review'', June 21, 2013.
* [[Susannah Eliott]], [[Peter Griffin]], and [[Kate Kelland]] [http://www.cjr.org/the_observatory/science_media_centers_the_pres_1.php?page=all Science media centers & the press, part 2 How did the SMCs perform during the Fukushima nuclear crisis?] ''Columbia Journalism Review'', 06:50 AM - June 19, 2013
* [[Fiona Fox]] and Connie St Louis [http://www.cjr.org/the_observatory/science_media_centers_the_pres.php?page=all Science media centers & the press, part 1 Does the UK model help journalists?] ''Columbia Journalism Review'', 06:50 AM - June 17, 2013.
* GMWatch, [http://www.gmwatch.org/latest-listing/51-2012/14224 How independent is the Science Media Centre and its experts?], 24 Sept 2012, acc 9 Nov 2012
* Colin Macilwain, [http://www.nature.com/news/two-nations-divided-by-a-common-purpose-1.10224 Two nations divided by a common purpose], NATURE 483, 247 (15 March 2012), acc 9 Nov 2012
* George Monbiot, [http://www.monbiot.com/2003/12/09/invasion-of-the-entryists/ Invasion of the entryists], first published in The Guardian, Dec 9 2003, acc 9 Nov 2012
* Andy Rowell, [http://www.spinwatch.org/blogs-mainmenu-29/andy-rowell-mainmenu-30/4589-science-media-centre-accused-of-pro-nuclear-bias Science Media Centre Accused of Pro-Nuclear Bias], 22 January 2008
* Science Media Centre, [http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/File:Science-Media-Centre-consultation-report.pdf Consultation report], March 2002
* Francis Sedgemore [http://web.archive.org/web/20070704165926/http://skysong.eu/2007/04/ Science advocacy and political lobbying] Wednesday 25 April 2007
* Francis Sedgemore [http://web.archive.org/web/20070704165926/http://skysong.eu/2007/04/ Spittle-flecked invective? Pfui!] Thursday 26 April 2007
===Email debate about the Science Media Centre===
The emails are arranged chronologically to aid comprehension.

*Bob Ward [https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=ind0704&L=psci-com&D=0&P=79405 The Great Global Warming Swindle] Reply-To: psci-com: on public engagement with science Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:46:55 +0100
*Francis Sedgemore [https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=ind0704&L=psci-com&D=0&P=82087 Re: The Great Global Warming Swindle] Reply-To:psci-com: on public engagement with science Date:Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:23:57 +0100
*Bob Ward [https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=ind0704&L=psci-com&D=0&P=86054 Re: The Great Global Warming Swindle] Reply-To: psci-com: on public engagement with science Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:37:33 +0100
*Bob Ward [https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=ind0704&L=psci-com&D=0&P=87112 Re: The Great Global Warming Swindle] Reply-To: psci-com: on public engagement with science Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:43:43 +0100
*Bob Ward [https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=ind0704&L=psci-com&D=0&P=88623 Re: The Great Global Warming Swindle] Reply-To: psci-com: on public engagement with science Date:Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:57:52 +0100
*Bob Ward [https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=ind0704&L=psci-com&D=0&P=91970 Re: The Great Global Warming Swindle] Reply-To: psci-com: on public engagement with science Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 11:03:24 +0100
*Tammy Boyce [https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=ind0704&L=psci-com&D=0&P=93395 Re: The Great Global Warming Swindle] Reply-To:psci-com: on public engagement with science Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 11:15:17 +0100
*Sophia Collins [https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=ind0704&L=psci-com&D=0&P=93870 Re: The Great Global Warming Swindle] Reply-To:psci-com: on public engagement with science Date:Wed, 25 Apr 2007 11:28:55 +0100
*Christopher Tyler [https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=ind0704&L=psci-com&D=0&P=96907 Re: The Great Global Warming Swindle] Reply-To:psci-com: on public engagement with science Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 12:24:52 +0100
*Francis Sedgemore [https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=ind0704&L=psci-com&D=0&P=98668 Re: The Great Global Warming Swindle] Reply-To:psci-com: on public engagement with science Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 13:01:16 +0100
*Bob Ward [https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=ind0704&L=psci-com&D=0&P=99386 Re: The Great Global Warming Swindle] Reply-To: psci-com: on public engagement with science Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 14:01:57 +0100
*Sophia Collins [https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=ind0704&L=psci-com&D=0&P=101623 Re: The Great Global Warming Swindle] Reply-To:psci-com: on public engagement with science Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:06:03 +0100
*Tammy Boyce [https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=ind0704&L=psci-com&D=0&P=107069 Re: The Great Global Warming Swindle] Reply-To:psci-com: on public engagement with science Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:47:38 +0100
*Bob Ward [https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=psci-com;15162dc3.0704 Re: The Great Global Warming Swindle] Reply-To: psci-com: on public engagement with science Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2007 08:40:10 +0100
*Louise Simon [https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=psci-com;64a4d03b.0704 Re: The Great Global Warming Swindle] Reply-To: psci-com: on public engagement with science Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2007 09:45:28 +0100
*Michael Kenward [https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=PSCI-COM;316afff9.0704 Re: The Great Global Warming Swindle] Reply-To: psci-com: on public engagement with science Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:41:04 +0100

== Contact details ==

:Address: 215 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE
:Website: http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/
:Tel: +44 (0)20 7611 8300
:E-mail: smc [AT] sciencemediacentre.org
:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/SMC_London @SMC_London]

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre]][[Category:GM]][[Category:Biotechnology]][[Category:Human Genetics]][[Category:PR Operators (GM)]][[Category:Nuclear Spin]][[Category:LM network]]

Joseph Milton

2013-09-18T21:30:55Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Joseph ('Joe') Milton''' is a former employee of the [[Science Media Centre]] in London, UK and is now Senior Media Officer at the [[Australian Science Media Centre]].

[[Image:JosephMilton.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Joseph Milton's LinkedIn profile.]]

==Background==

===Education===

Milton completed a PhD in evolutionary and environmental biology in 2009. In 2010 he gained a qualification in Science Journalism from [[City University London]].<ref name="archive" />

===Career===

====Journalism====

Milton has written for the [[Financial Times]], [[Nature]] and [[New Scientist]], 'among others'.<ref name="aus">Australian Science Media Centre (2013), [http://www.smc.org.au/about-us/our-people/staff/ Staff], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

=====The Society of Biology=====

From June 2011 to December 2011, Milton was Assistant Editor at the [[Society of Biology]].<ref name="linkedin">[http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=94818221 LinkedIn profile], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

=====Scientific American=====

Milton worked as a blogger for [[Scientific American]] from July 2011 to January 2012.<ref name="linkedin" />

=====Nature Journalism Group=====

From September 2010 to August 2012, Milton freelanced with the [[Nature Publishing Group]].<ref name="linkedin" />

=====Research Fortnight=====

Milton worked as a freelance reporter on funding and policy for [[Research Fortnight]] from February 2011 to August 2012.<ref name="linkedin" />

====Science Media Centre====

In December 2011 Milton joined the [[Science Media Centre]] in London as Senior Press Officer for Mental Health, replacing [[Claire Bithell]] (who was on maternity leave).<ref name ="archive">Science Media Centre (2012), [http://web.archive.org/web/20120404204449/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2012], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

Milton spoke at the 'PIME 2012' conference of the [[European Nuclear Society]] in Warsaw, Poland on 'Facts and emotion: How did the British media cover Fukushima? What impact has it had on public acceptance?'<ref>PIME 2012, [http://www.euronuclear.org/events/pime/pime2012/pdf/PIME%202012-programme.pdf Programme], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

====Australian Science Media Centre====

In August 2012 Milton joined the [[Australian Science Media Centre]] in Adelaide as Senior Media Officer.<ref name="aus" />

==Contact==

:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/jjmilton @jjmilton]

==Resources==

*Audio, [http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/drive/research-filter3a-beer-googles2c-brainy-women-and-bpa-scares/4556834 Research Filter: Beer goggles, brainy women and BPA scares], 2013

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Milton, Joseph]]

Joseph Milton

2013-09-18T21:29:13Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Joseph ('Joe') Milton''' is a former employee of the [[Science Media Centre]] in London, UK and is now Senior Media Officer at the [[Australian Science Media Centre]].

[[Image:JosephMilton.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Joseph Milton's LinkedIn profile.]]

==Background==

===Education===

Milton completed a PhD in evolutionary and environmental biology in 2009. In 2010 he gained a qualification in Science Journalism from [[City University London]].<ref name="archive" />

===Career===

====Journalism====

Milton has written for the [[Financial Times]], [[Nature]] and [[New Scientist]], 'among others'.<ref name="aus">Australian Science Media Centre (2013), [http://www.smc.org.au/about-us/our-people/staff/ Staff], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

=====The Society of Biology=====

From June 2011 to December 2011, Milton was Assistant Editor at the [[Society of Biology]].<ref name="linkedin">[http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=94818221 LinkedIn profile], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

=====Scientific American=====

Milton worked as a blogger for [[Scientific American]] from July 2011 to January 2012.<ref name="linkedin" />

=====Nature Journalism Group=====

From September 2010 to August 2012, Milton freelanced with the [[Nature Publishing Group]].<ref name="linkedin" />

=====Research Fortnight=====

Milton worked as a freelance reporter on funding and policy for [[Research Fortnight]] from February 2011 to August 2012.<ref name="linkedin" />

====Science Media Centre====

In December 2011 Milton joined the [[Science Media Centre]] in London as Senior Press Officer for Mental Health, replacing [[Claire Bithell]] (who was on maternity leave).<ref name ="archive">Science Media Centre (2012), [http://web.archive.org/web/20120404204449/http://www.scie

Milton spoke at the 'PIME 2012' conference of the [[European Nuclear Society]] in Warsaw, Poland on 'Facts and emotion: How did the British media cover Fukushima? What impact has it had on public acceptance?'<ref>PIME 2012, [http://www.euronuclear.org/events/pime/pime2012/pdf/PIME%202012-programme.pdf Programme], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>ncemediacentre.org/pages/about/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2012], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

====Australian Science Media Centre====

In August 2012 Milton joined the [[Australian Science Media Centre]] in Adelaide as Senior Media Officer.<ref name="aus" />

==Contact==

:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/jjmilton @jjmilton]

==Resources==

*Audio, [http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/drive/research-filter3a-beer-googles2c-brainy-women-and-bpa-scares/4556834 Research Filter: Beer goggles, brainy women and BPA scares], 2013

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Milton, Joseph]]

Joseph Milton

2013-09-18T21:15:04Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Joseph ('Joe') Milton''' is a former employee of the [[Science Media Centre]] in London, UK and is now Senior Media Officer at the [[Australian Science Media Centre]].

[[Image:JosephMilton.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Joseph Milton's LinkedIn profile.]]

==Background==

===Education===

Milton completed a PhD in evolutionary and environmental biology in 2009. In 2010 he gained a qualification in Science Journalism from [[City University London]].<ref name="archive" />

===Career===

====Journalism====

Milton has written for the [[Financial Times]], [[Nature]] and [[New Scientist]], 'among others'.<ref name="aus">Australian Science Media Centre (2013), [http://www.smc.org.au/about-us/our-people/staff/ Staff], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

=====The Society of Biology=====

From June 2011 to December 2011, Milton was Assistant Editor at the [[Society of Biology]].<ref name="linkedin">[http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=94818221 LinkedIn profile], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

=====Scientific American=====

Milton worked as a blogger for [[Scientific American]] from July 2011 to January 2012.<ref name="linkedin" />

=====Nature Journalism Group=====

From September 2010 to August 2012, Milton freelanced with the [[Nature Publishing Group]].<ref name="linkedin" />

=====Research Fortnight=====

Milton worked as a freelance reporter on funding and policy for [[Research Fortnight]] from February 2011 to August 2012.<ref name="linkedin" />

====Science Media Centre====

In December 2011 Milton joined the [[Science Media Centre]] in London as Senior Press Officer for Mental Health, replacing [[Claire Bithell]] (who was on maternity leave).<ref name ="archive">Science Media Centre (2012), [http://web.archive.org/web/20120404204449/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2012], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

====Australian Science Media Centre====

In August 2012 Milton joined the [[Australian Science Media Centre]] in Adelaide as Senior Media Officer.<ref name="aus" />

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Milton, Joseph]]

Joseph Milton

2013-09-18T20:58:46Z

Lucy Brown: Created page with "'''Joseph ('Joe') Milton''' is a former employee of the Science Media Centre in London, UK and is now Senior Media Officer at the Australian Science Media Centre. [[I..."

File:JosephMilton.jpg

2013-09-18T20:12:33Z

Lucy Brown: Screencapture of Joseph Milton's LinkedIn profile, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/joseph-milton/27/907/7a5

Screencapture of Joseph Milton's LinkedIn profile, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/joseph-milton/27/907/7a5

Lyndal Byford

2013-09-18T19:53:06Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Lyndal Byford (née Gully)''' is a former employee of the [[Science Media Centre]] in London, UK. She is now part time Media Manager at the [[Australian Science Media Centre]].<ref name ="aus" />

[[Image:LyndalByford.jpg|400px|right|thumb|"Dr" Lyndal Byford at a [[RiAus]] discussion 'Science Behind the Headlines', 2012.]]

==Background==

===Education===

Byford has an Honours degree in Biotechnology from [[Flinders University]] and a Postgraduate Diploma in Science Communication from [[Australian National University]].<ref name="oh">Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (2013), [http://www.cvent.com/events/31st-annual-conference-exhibition-of-the-australian-institute-of-occupational-hygienists/speakers-1317500801ac44ac959c7c03103b52f7.aspx Keynote & CES Presenter], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

===Career===

====Shell Questacon Science Circus====

After completing her undergraduate, Byford worked for the [[Shell]] [[Questacon Science Circus]] which 'promoted science throughout regional Australia'.<ref name ="aus" /> Costing $AUD 1.9million per year (2011-2013), the 'Science Circus' is 47% funded by [[Shell]]. As the company itself notes, 'The value of establishment costs, national and international reputation, brand exposure, capital value, years of program develop and logistic expertise has not been quantified but is significant.'<ref>Shell, [http://www.shell.com/content/dam/shell/static/future-energy/downloads/un-fair/shell-questacon-sciencecircus.pdf Shell Questacon Science Circus], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

====Pharmaceutical industry====

After completing her Postgraduate Diploma, Byford 'went on to work at a range of science museums and as a specialist representative within the pharmaceutical industry'.<ref name ="aus" />

====Grant Museum of Zoology====

Byford moved to the UK in 2005, where she began work co-ordinating education programs for the [[Grant Museum of Zoology]] at [[University College London]].<ref name ="aus" />

====Science Media Centre====

Byford (then Gully) joined the UK [[Science Media Centre]] as Engineering Press Officer in May 2006.<ref name ="archive">[http://web.archive.org/web/20070213044634/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2007], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

====Australian Science Media Centre====

In November 2007 Byford returned to Australia. She is now part time Media Manager at the [[Australian Science Media Centre]].<ref name ="aus">AusSMC (2013), [http://www.smc.org.au/about-us/our-people/staff/ Staff], accessed 18 September 2013</ref> In early 2011 she took maternity leave and was replaced for a year by [[Edward Sykes]] from the UK [[Science Media Centre]].<ref>AusSMC (2001), [http://www.sciencemediacentre.net/uploads/5/8/3/4/5834384/aussmc_annual_review_2010_-_11.pdf Annual Review July 2010 - June 2011], p14, accessed 18 September 2013</ref> As AusSMC put it, 'In keeping with the strong sense of a developing international SMC community, AusSMC managed to second Ed Sykes from the London-based Science Media Centre to replace Lyndal Byford who took maternity leave in February'.<ref>AusSMC (2001), [http://www.sciencemediacentre.net/uploads/5/8/3/4/5834384/aussmc_annual_review_2010_-_11.pdf Annual Review July 2010 - June 2011], p3, accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

<youtube size="medium" align="right" caption=" "Dr" Lyndal Byford talk at 'Science Behind the Headlines: Australia's Food Security', 2012">Am1DU4omlvQ</youtube>

==Affiliations==

===Inspiring Australia’s Science===

Lyndal was also a member of [[Inspiring Australia’s Science]].<ref name="oh" />

===Media Expert working group===

Byford sat on the Media Expert working group for the [[Federal Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research]].<ref name="oh" />

==Views on science communication==

===Response to criticisms of AusSMC briefing on GM crops===

In anticipation of a ban on GM crops being lifted in Victoria, Australia, the [[Australian Science Media Centre]] organised a media conference with chief scientist [[Gustav Nossal]] and three other scientists to brief journalists on 'Which concerns [about GM food crops] are the most justified? Which risks can be managed and which can’t?' Responding to criticisms from [[Greenpeace]] that event was comprised of scientists who had campaigned in support of lifting the ban, Byford responded in an email to [[Crikey]] magazine:

::There was no attempt to line up a panel with a particular GM viewpoint … [but] if scientists on the panel are more likely to end up arguing with each other rather than answering journalists’ questions, then there is a good chance that the science (that either side is trying to communicate) will be lost in the story.<ref>Katherine Wilson (2008), [http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/victoria-gets-ready-to-lift-gm-crop-ban/ Victoria gets ready to lift GM crop ban], ''Crikey'', accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

===On the role of Science Media Centres===

In an interview for 'The BIG Science Communication Summit', Byford discusses working at the [[Australian SMC]]:

::[W]e look at a lot of press releases from journals, we’ll contact universities to see what’s coming out that week, and we do a lot of work really trying to give the media a sort of heads up in scanning everything that’s coming out in science and really picking out the things that we think are likely to be the most interesting or relevant or useful for them. And part of that involves: is it Australian? Or, you know, does it have an Australian involved? We do a lot of that, but then there might be a breaking news story, like the fertilizer plant explosion or something like that that happens, and then it’s really all hands on deck and we drop everything trying to quickly find out who are the best experts and who can comment and who’s ready and willing and able to get out there and help the media on those sorts of stories.<ref>The BIG Science Communication Summit (2010), [http://sciencerewired.org/summit/2013/05/interview-lyndal-byford-the-australian-science-media-centre-at-bigsci13/ #Interview – Lyndal Byford – the Australian Science Media Centre at #bigsci13], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

==Resources==
*Lyndal Gully, [http://stempra.org.uk/feature-do-engineers-need-a-facelift/#sthash.ZxtTCz1I.dpbs FEATURE: Do engineers need a facelift?], [[Stempra]]
*Australian Centre for RF Bioeffects Research (2010), [http://acrbr.org.au/sw2010/Default.aspx?section=Interviews&speaker=Lyndal Interview with Dr Lyndal Byford]
*LinkedIn profile, [http://www.linkedin.com/pub/lyndal-byford/25/51/521 Lyndal Byford]
*The BIG Science Communication Summit , [http://sciencerewired.org/summit/2013/05/interview-lyndal-byford-the-australian-science-media-centre-at-bigsci13/ #Interview – Lyndal Byford – the Australian Science Media Centre at #bigsci13]

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Byford, Lyndal]]

Edward Sykes

2013-09-18T19:23:03Z

Lucy Brown: /* Australian Science Media Centre */

'''Edward (Ed) Sykes''' is the Head of Mental Health and Neuroscience at the [[Science Media Centre]].<ref>Science Media Centre (2013), [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/about-us/staff/ Staff], accessed 9 August 2013</ref>

[[Image:Ed Sykes LinkedIn.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Ed Sykes' LinkedIn profile.]]

==Background==

===Education===

Sykes studied Zoology at the [[University of Sheffield]] and has a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the [[University of Edinburgh]].<ref>[http://www.wcsjnews.org/users/ed-sykes Ed Sykes], WCSJ2009, accessed 12 September 2013</ref>

===Career===

====Scottish Initiative for Biotechnology Education====

Prior to joining the [[Science Media Centre]], Sykes was a Science Communicator with the [[Scottish Initiative for Biotechnology Education]] (SIBE) based at the [[University of Edinburgh]].<ref>[http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/Images/Darwin_tcm4-665727.pdf Think Darwin Think Evolution Think Now], accessed 12 September 2013</ref>

====Science Media Centre====

Sykes has been Head of Mental Health and Neuroscience at the [[Science Media Centre]] since early 2013.<ref name="smc">Science Media Centre (2013), [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/about-us/staff/ Staff], accessed 11 September 2013</ref> He originally joined the organisation in 2008 as a Press Officer.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20080326234831/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website], accessed 12 September 2013</ref> In February 2012 he was replaced by [[Jonathan Webb]] for the duration of his sabbatical with the [[Australian Science Media Centre]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20110429200701/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website], accessed 12 September 2013</ref>

====Australian Science Media Centre====

Sykes had a 15-month sabbatical as a Media Manager with the [[Australian Science Media Centre]] ending in early 2013.<ref name="smc" /> As they put it, 'In keeping with the strong sense of a developing international SMC community, AusSMC managed to second Ed Sykes from the London-based [[Science Media Centre]] to replace [[Lyndal Byford]] who took maternity leave in February.<ref>AusSMC (2001), [http://www.sciencemediacentre.net/uploads/5/8/3/4/5834384/aussmc_annual_review_2010_-_11.pdf Annual Review July 2010 - June 2011], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

<youtube size="medium" align="right" caption="'Science Behind the Headlines: The Murray-Darling Basin Plan Part 2 - Media Panel', [[Edward Sykes]] appearing on behalf of [[Australian Science Media Centre]] for [[RiAus]]">zhSdWiTm7M0</youtube>

==Affiliations==

====Understanding Animal Research====

[[Concordat on Openness on Animal Research]] working group member.<ref name="list">Understanding Animal Research [http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/assets/document/A7049AD2-E576-36EA-7C4D2451AFAFC4AD/concordat-steering-g.pdf Concordat Steering Group and Working Group members], accessed 4 September 2013</ref>

====Stempra====

Sykes is a former Committee Member at [[Stempra]].<ref>Stempra (2010), [http://stempra.org.uk/sci-comm-news-7/#sthash.qVWe2lk7.dpbs Sci Comm news], accessed 17 September 2013</ref>

==Contact==

:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/edmsykes @edmsykes]
:Email: ed [AT] stempra.org

==Resources==
*[http://famelab.org/users/edsykes Ed Sykes' profile on Famelab]
*Ed Sykes (2007), [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OdQlPLKUJ90 Battle of the Sexes - 2007 Vodcast]
*Ed Sykes (2009), contributing author [http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/Images/Darwin_tcm4-665727.pdf Think Darwin Think Evolution Think Now], ''Scottish Initiative for Biotechnology Education''
*RiAus (2012), Ed Sykes on behalf of Australian Science Media Centre [http://vimeo.com/40196008 Science Behind the Headlines: The Murray-Darling Basin Plan Part 2 - Media Panel]

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science|Sykes, Edward]]
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Sykes, Edward]]

Lyndal Byford

2013-09-18T16:16:28Z

Lucy Brown: Created page with "'''Lyndal Byford (née Gully)''' is a former employee of the Science Media Centre in London, UK. She is now part time Media Manager at the [[Australian Science Media Cent..."

Simon Levey

2013-09-18T15:41:06Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Simon Levey''' is a former employee of the [[Science Media Centre]]. He now works as Research Media Officer for the Faculty of Natural Sciences at [[Imperial College London]].<ref name="stempra" />

[[Image:SimonLevey.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Simon Levey's LinkedIn profile.]]

==Background==

===Education===

Levey graduated with a degree in Biology from [[University College London]] in 2004.<ref name="five" />

In 2007 he studied with the [[Chartered Institute of Public Relations]] (CIPR).<ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20070706173141/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2007]</ref>

===Career===

====Grant Museum of Zoology====

Levey has worked in science communication at the [[Grant Museum of Zoology]] at [[University College London]].<ref name="imperial" />

====Science Media Centre====

Levey joined the [[Science Media Centre]] as Fundraising and Administrative Assistant in October 2005.<ref name="five">[http://web.archive.org/web/20051030143338/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2005]</ref> By 2009 Levey was Centre Co-ordinator.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20090831020041/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2009]</ref>

====Imperial College London====

Since December 2010 Levey has been Research Media Officer for the Faculty of Natural Sciences at [[Imperial College London]].<ref name="stempra" /> He edits the Science pages in Imperial's News website in addition to reporting from Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences and Mathematics and research carried out in the [[Centre for Environmental Policy]] (CEP) and Imperial's [[Grantham Institute for Climate Change]].<ref name="imperial" />

Levey is a presenter in the 'Standing up for Science' media workshop organised by [[Sense About Science]] at [[The Physiological Society]] in London.<ref>Sense About Science (2013), [http://www.senseaboutscience.org/data/files/VoYS/VoYS_workshop_Sept_2013_-_London.pdf Standing up for Science Media Workshop], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

==Affiliations==

===Stempra===

Levey is on the [[Stempra]] committee<ref name="stempra">Stempra (2013), [http://stempra.org.uk/who-is-on-the-stempra-committee/simon-levey/#sthash.CCmKmOPb.dpbs Simon Levey], accessed 17 September 2013</ref> and is currently treasurer and membership secretary.<ref name="imperial">Imperial College London (2013), [http://www.imperial.ac.uk/AP/faces/pages/read/Home.jsp?person=s.levey&_adf.ctrl-state=142v25530f_3&_afrRedirect=408422638859273 Mr Simon Levey], 18 September 2013</ref>

===British Science Association===

Levey is a member of [[Science London]], the London branch of the [[British Science Association]].<ref name="imperial" />

===Association of British Science Writers===

Levey is a member of [[Association of British Science Writers]] (ABSW).<ref name="imperial" />

==Contact==

:Email: SimonL [AT] stempra.org.uk
:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/littlesimon @littlesimon]

==Resources==
*Levey S, Wingler A (2005) Natural variation in the regulation of leaf senescence and relation to other traits in Arabidopsis, ''Plant Cell and Environment'', Vol:28, pp223-231

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Levey, Simon]]

File:LyndalByford.jpg

2013-09-18T15:29:15Z

Lucy Brown: Dr Lyndal Byford of the Australian Science Media Centre, screencapture of discussion at RiAus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am1DU4omlvQ

Dr Lyndal Byford of the Australian Science Media Centre, screencapture of discussion at RiAus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am1DU4omlvQ

Jonathan Webb

2013-09-18T15:20:09Z

Lucy Brown: Created page with "'''Jonathan Webb''' is a former Press Officer at the Science Media Centre. Jonathan Webb's LinkedIn profile. ==Background== ..."

'''Jonathan Webb''' is a former Press Officer at the [[Science Media Centre]].

[[Image:JonathanWebb.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Jonathan Webb's LinkedIn profile.]]

==Background==

===Education===

Webb has a BA in German and Linguistics and a BSc in Molecular Biology from the [[University of Adelaide]]. In 2007 he completed an MSc in History of Science, Medicine and Technology followed by an MSc in Neuroscience in 2008, both at [[University of Oxford]]. Still at Oxford, he has since been studying for a PhD in neuroscience.<ref name="linkedin">LinkedIn profile, [http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jonathan-webb/20/433/81a], accessed 18 September 2013</ref> Webb runs the science blog and podcast 'Nerd Alert' from Oxford.<ref name="archive" />

===Career===

====Science Media Centre====

Webb joined the [[Science Media Centre]] in February 2011 to replace existing Press Officer [[Edward Sykes]] during Sykes' one-year sabbatical in Australia.<ref name="archive">[http://web.archive.org/web/20110429200701/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2011], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

[[Image:JonathanWebbPresentation.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Jonathan Webb's presentation 'The role of the Science Media Centre' for the [[Society for General Microbiology]] in 2011.]]

====BBC====

In 2014 Webb will join the [[BBC]] science news desk on an Ivan Noble Bursary.<ref name="battle">Battle of Ideas (2013), [http://www.battleofideas.org.uk/index.php/2013/speaker_detail/8185 Jonathan Webb], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

==Affiliations==

===FameLab===

<youtube size="medium" align="right" caption="'Jonathan Webb FameLab UK 2013 Finalist">M9pWP-HdZyI</youtube>Webb has competed in the [[FameLab]] science communication competition.<ref>FameLab (2013), [http://www.famelab.org/users/jonathan Jonathan], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

==Contact==

:Email: jonathan.webb [AT] dpag.ox.ac.uk
:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/jjbw @jjbw]

==Resources==

*Jonathan Webb's presentation 'The role of the Science Media Centre' for the [[Society for General Microbiology]] in 2011, [http://www.sgm.ac.uk/en/video/index.cfm/video/the-role-of-the-science-media-centre-jonathan-webb Video]
*Speaker on panel for [[Institute of Ideas]] [[Battle of Ideas]] 2013 session, [http://www.battleofideas.org.uk/index.php/2013/session_detail/8027 Science & society: brave new world or geek chic?]
*Participation in [[Institute of Ideas]] [[Debating Matters]] competition, [http://www.debatingmatters.com/people/jonathan_webb/ Jonathan Webb]
*Jonathan Webb (2013), [http://theconversation.com/fake-memory-implanted-in-mice-with-a-beam-of-light-16292 Fake memory implanted in mice with a beam of light], ''The Conversation'', 25 July 2013, accessed 18 September 2013

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Webb, Jonathan]]

File:JonathanWebbPresentation.jpg

2013-09-18T14:59:15Z

Lucy Brown: Screencapture of Society for General Microbiology video: 'Jonathan Webb, Science Media Centre Press Officer, describes the role of the Science Media Centre'. http://www.sgm.ac.uk/en/video/index.cfm/video/the-role-of-the-science-media-centre-jonathan-webb

Screencapture of Society for General Microbiology video: 'Jonathan Webb, Science Media Centre Press Officer, describes the role of the Science Media Centre'.

http://www.sgm.ac.uk/en/video/index.cfm/video/the-role-of-the-science-media-centre-jonathan-webb

File:JonathanWebb.jpg

2013-09-18T14:22:59Z

Lucy Brown: Screencapture of Jonathan Webb's LinkedIn profile, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jonathan-webb/20/433/81a

Screencapture of Jonathan Webb's LinkedIn profile, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jonathan-webb/20/433/81a

Mark Peplow

2013-09-18T14:05:28Z

Lucy Brown: Created page with "'''Mark Peplow''' is a former employee of the Science Media Centre and was previously chief news editor at Nature. He now works as a freelance science journalist. [[..."

'''Mark Peplow''' is a former employee of the [[Science Media Centre]] and was previously chief news editor at [[Nature]]. He now works as a freelance science journalist.

[[Image:MarkPeplow.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Mark Peplow's LinkedIn profile.]]

==Background==

===Education===

Peplow has a Master's degree in Chemistry from the [[University of Oxford]] and a PhD in Organometallic Chemistry from [[Imperial College London]] (1995-1998).<ref name="linkedin" /> He spent a year as a post-doctoral fellow at [[McMaster University]], Canada.<ref name="web">Mark Peplow (2013), [http://markpeplow.com/about/ About],accessed 18 September 2013</ref> In 2001 he completed a MSc in Science Communication from [[Imperial College London]].<ref name="linkedin">[Mark Peplow LinkedIn profile], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

===Career===

After completing his MSc in Science Communication, Peplow had an internship at [[The Daily Telegraph]] 'then freelanced for [[BBC Online]] and [[The Institute of Biology]] (among others)'.<ref name="archive">[http://web.archive.org/web/20031210104825/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/aboutus/staffprofiles.html Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2003], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

====Science Media Centre====

From March 2002 to December 2003, Peplow worked as a Science Information Officer at the [[Science Media Centre]] where he 'developed contacts with leading scientists and press officers in the UK, in order to promote scientists as contacts for journalists'.<ref name="linkedin" />

====Nature====

From January 2004 to June 2006, Peplow worked for the science journal [[Nature]] where he reported on the physical sciences and science policy. He returned to the magazine in July 2008 for the role of News Editor before leaving to become a freelance science journalist in January 2013. <ref name="linkedin" />

====Chemistry World====

From July 2006 to July 2008, Peplow was the editor of [[Chemistry World]], the magazine of the [[Royal Society of Chemistry]].<ref name="linkedin" />

==Contact==

:Website: [http://markpeplow.com/ markpeplow.com]
:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/markpeplow @markpeplow]

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Peplow, Mark]]

File:MarkPeplow.jpg

2013-09-18T13:16:37Z

Lucy Brown: Screencapture of Mark Peplow's LinkedIn account, http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=9538651

Screencapture of Mark Peplow's LinkedIn account, http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=9538651

Becky Purvis

2013-09-18T11:51:20Z

Lucy Brown: Created page with "'''Becky Purvis''' is a former employee of the Science Media Centre. She is now Head of Policy at the Association of Medical Research Charities.<ref name ="amrc">AMRC..."

'''Becky Purvis''' is a former employee of the [[Science Media Centre]]. She is now Head of Policy at the [[Association of Medical Research Charities]].<ref name ="amrc">AMRC (2013), [http://www.amrc.org.uk/about-us/our-team/becky-purvis Becky Purvis], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

==Background==

===Education===

Purvis has a degree in Biology and Philosophy from [[Durham University]]. She went on to study for an M.Sc in Science Communication at [[Imperial College London]], involving a placement in the [[Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology]] and a dissertation on the role of communication in the [[Human Genome Project]].<ref name="archive" />

===Career===

====Science Media Centre====

Purvis joined the [[Science Media Centre]] as an Assistant in October 2003.<ref name="archive"> [http://web.archive.org/web/20040117031234/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre, 2004], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

====Parliamentary researcher for Evan Harris, former MP====

In 2005 Purvis joined the office of former Liberal Democrat MP and Science spokesperson [[Evan Harris]] to work on science policy where 'her role included coordinating work during the passage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 through parliament'.<ref name="rduk">Rare Disease UK (2012), [http://www.raredisease.org.uk/documents/2012actionplan.pdf Rare Disease UK - Action Plan 2012], accessed 18 September 2013</ref> She was involved in organising "Scientists, doctors (bring white coats please!) and patients "Show of Support" at 1pm-2pm including media photocall outside Parliament" protest on the 12 May 2008 during the second reading of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill in the [[House of Commons]].<ref>Ben Goldacre (2008), [http://www.badscience.net/2008/05/white-coat-protest-on-embryo-research-bill/ White coat protest on hybrid embryo research bill], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

====Association of Medical Research Charities====

Purvis joined joined the [[Association of Medical Research Charities]] (AMRC) in 2008 and has been Head of Policy since April 2011. She is responsible for policy work, public affairs, media and membership.<ref name="amrc" />

==Affiliations==

===All-Party Parliamentary Group on Medical Research===

Purvis manages the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Medical Research.<ref name="amrc" />

===Stempra===

Purvis is a committee member and secretary of [[Stempra]].<ref>Stempra (2013), [http://stempra.org.uk/who-is-on-the-stempra-committee/becky-purvis/#sthash.mUuqvYdW.dpbs Becky Purvis]</ref>

===Understanding Animal Research===

Purvis is a member of the [[Understanding Animal Research]] working group of the Concordat on Openness
on Animal Research subgroup.<ref>Understanding Animal Research, [http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/assets/document/A7049AD2-E576-36EA-7C4D2451AFAFC4AD/concordat-steering-g.pdf Concordat on Openness on Animal Research], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

===Rare Disease UK===

Purvis sits on the management committee of [[Rare Disease UK]].<ref name="rduk" />

==Contact==

:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/BeckyPurvis @BeckyPurvis]
:Email: b.purvis [AT] amrc.org.uk
:becky [AT] stempra.org.uk

==Resources==

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Purvis, Becky]]

Will Greenacre

2013-09-18T10:53:03Z

Lucy Brown: Created page with "'''Will Greenacre''' is a former employee of the Science Media Centre. He now works as a Policy Officer at the Wellcome Trust.<ref name="BSA" /> ==Background== ===E..."

'''Will Greenacre''' is a former employee of the [[Science Media Centre]]. He now works as a Policy Officer at the [[Wellcome Trust]].<ref name="BSA" />

==Background==

===Education===

Greenacre graduated from the [[University of Leicester]] in 2005 with a degree in Biological Sciences. He later completed a Master's degree in Science, Culture and Communication at the [[University of Bath]], where he also volunteered at the Press Office.<ref name="archive" />

===Career===

====Science Media Centre====

Greenacre originally worked as a volunteer at the [[Science Media Centre]] in summer 2007. He started full time as Science Information Officer in September 2008. He was 'responsible for maintaining the database of scientific experts and preparing written briefings on news stories as they break'. He also managed the SMC volunteer programme.<ref name="archive">[http://web.archive.org/web/20080326234831/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2008]</ref>

====The Wellcome Trust===

Greenacre joined the [[Wellcome Trust]] as a Policy Officer in 2012.<ref name="BSA">British Science Association (2012), [http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/people-science-magazine/march-2012/regular-items-march-2012/water-cooler Tales from the water cooler: March 2012], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

==Contact==

:Email: w.greenacre [AT] wellcome.ac.uk
:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/will731 @will731]

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Greenacre, Will]]

Simon Levey

2013-09-18T10:29:34Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Simon Levey''' is a former employee of the [[Science Media Centre]]. He now works as Research Media Officer for the Faculty of Natural Sciences at [[Imperial College London]].<ref name="stempra" />

[[Image:SimonLevey.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Simon Levey's LinkedIn profile.]]

==Background==

===Education===

Levey graduated with a degree in Biology from [[University College London]] in 2004.<ref name="five" />

In 2007 he studied with the [[Chartered Institute of Public Relations]] (CIPR).<ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20070706173141/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2007]</ref>

===Career===

====Science Media Centre====

Levey joined the [[Science Media Centre]] as Fundraising and Administrative Assistant in October 2005.<ref name="five">[http://web.archive.org/web/20051030143338/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2005]</ref> By 2009 Levey was Centre Co-ordinator.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20090831020041/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2009]</ref>

====Imperial College London====

Levey is Research Media Officer for the Faculty of Natural Sciences at [[Imperial College London]].<ref name="stempra" /> He edits the Science pages in Imperial's News website in addition to reporting from Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences and Mathematics and research carried out in the [[Centre for Environmental Policy]] (CEP) and Imperial's [[Grantham Institute for Climate Change]].<ref name="imperial" />

Levey is a presenter in the 'Standing up for Science' media workshop organised by [[Sense About Science]] at [[The Physiological Society]] in London.<ref>Sense About Science (2013), [http://www.senseaboutscience.org/data/files/VoYS/VoYS_workshop_Sept_2013_-_London.pdf Standing up for Science Media Workshop], accessed 18 September 2013</ref>

==Affiliations==

===Stempra===

Levey is on the [[Stempra]] committee<ref name="stempra">Stempra (2013), [http://stempra.org.uk/who-is-on-the-stempra-committee/simon-levey/#sthash.CCmKmOPb.dpbs Simon Levey], accessed 17 September 2013</ref> and is currently treasurer and membership secretary.<ref name="imperial">Imperial College London (2013), [http://www.imperial.ac.uk/AP/faces/pages/read/Home.jsp?person=s.levey&_adf.ctrl-state=142v25530f_3&_afrRedirect=408422638859273 Mr Simon Levey], 18 September 2013</ref>

===British Science Association===

Levey is a member of [[Science London]], the London branch of the [[British Science Association]].<ref name="imperial" />

===Association of British Science Writers===

Levey is a member of [[Association of British Science Writers]] (ABSW).<ref name="imperial" />

==Contact==

:Email: SimonL [AT] stempra.org.uk
:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/littlesimon @littlesimon]

==Resources==
*Levey S, Wingler A (2005) Natural variation in the regulation of leaf senescence and relation to other traits in Arabidopsis, ''Plant Cell and Environment'', Vol:28, pp223-231

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Levey, Simon]]

File:SimonLevey.jpg

2013-09-18T09:58:51Z

Lucy Brown: Screencapture of Simon Levey's LinkedIn profile, http://www.linkedin.com/in/simonlevey

Screencapture of Simon Levey's LinkedIn profile, http://www.linkedin.com/in/simonlevey

Simon Levey

2013-09-17T21:50:02Z

Lucy Brown: Created page with "'''Simon Levey''' is a former employee of the Science Media Centre. He now works as Research Media Officer for the Faculty of Natural Sciences at [[Imperial College Londo..."

'''Simon Levey''' is a former employee of the [[Science Media Centre]]. He now works as Research Media Officer for the Faculty of Natural Sciences at [[Imperial College London]].<ref name="stempra" />

==Background==

===Education===

Levey graduated with a degree in Biology from [[University College London]] in 2004.<ref name="five" />

In 2007 he studied with the [[Chartered Institute of Public Relations]] (CIPR).<ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20070706173141/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2007]</ref>

===Career===

====Science Media Centre====

Levey joined the [[Science Media Centre]] as Fundraising and Administrative Assistant in October 2005.<ref name="five">[http://web.archive.org/web/20051030143338/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2005]</ref> By 2009 Levey was Centre Co-ordinator.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20090831020041/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2009]</ref>

====Imperial College London====

Levey is Research Media Officer for the Faculty of Natural Sciences at [[Imperial College London]].<ref name="stempra" />

==Affiliations==

===Stempra===

Levey is on the [[Stempra]] committee.<ref name="stempra">Stempra (2013), [http://stempra.org.uk/who-is-on-the-stempra-committee/simon-levey/#sthash.CCmKmOPb.dpbs Simon Levey], accessed 17 September 2013</ref>

==Contact==

:Email: SimonL [AT] stempra.org.uk
:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/littlesimon @littlesimon]

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Levey, Simon]]

Claire Bithell

2013-09-17T21:08:28Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Claire Bithell''' is a former employee of the [[Science Media Centre]], where she variously worked in the roles of Science Information Officer, Senior Press Officer and Head of Mental Health. Since 2013 she has been Head of Media Relations at [[The Institute of Cancer Research]].<ref name="icr" />

==Background==

===Education===

Bithell has a degree in Cell Biology and a PhD in Biochemistry from the [[University of Manchester]].<ref name="Eleven" /> In 2003, Bithell won the [[Daily Telegraph]]/[[BASF]] Science Writer Awards prize in the Older Category (20-28) while working on her PhD.<ref>Roger Highfield (2003), [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/3310860/How-Clare-stretched-ahead....html How Clare stretched ahead...], ''The Telegraph''</ref>

===Career===

====Science Media Centre====

Bithell joined the [[Science Media Centre]] as Science Information Officer in 2004.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20040305045235/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2004]</ref> In 2005 she was promoted to Senior Press Officer.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20051223203339/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2005]</ref> Having left this position in February 2008 to manage the press office of the [[Human Tissue Authority]], Bithell returned to the SMC for the new role of Head of Mental Health in June 2010.<ref name="Eleven">[http://web.archive.org/web/20110117053600/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2011]</ref>

<youtube size="medium" align="right" caption="[[Claire Bithell]] at the ALICE RAP Project kick-off meeting, Barcelona May 2011">jiTzT0uNqvw</youtube>

====Human Tissue Authority====

From February 2008 to June 2010, Bithell managed the press office of the [[Human Tissue Authority]].<ref name="Eleven" />

====The Institute of Cancer Research====

Bithell is now Head of Media Relations in [[The Institute of Cancer Research]] press office.<ref name="icr">The Institute of Cancer Research (2013), [http://www.icr.ac.uk/press/press_archive/press_releases_2013/23710.shtml New Alliance to develop programme of lung cancer trials covering population of six million], accessed 17 September 2013</ref>

==Affiliations==

===Stempra===

Bithell is a former Newsletter Editor for [[Stempra]] <ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20071014190812/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2007]</ref>

==Contact==

:Email: claire.bithell [AT] icr.ac.uk
:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/ClaireEB1234 @ClaireEB1234]

==Resources==
*Claire Bithell (2010), [http://www.smhrn.org.uk/News/resources/asm2010/ClaireBithell.pdf Mental Health Research and the Media], Presentation for [[Scottish Mental Health Research Network]], Glasgow, 23 November 2010
*Claire Bithell (2011), [http://apt.rcpsych.org/content/17/2/82 Why psychiatry should engage with the media], ''Advances in Psychiatric Treatment'', 17: 82-84

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Bithell, Claire]]

Claire Bithell

2013-09-17T20:49:45Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Claire Bithell''' is a former employee of the [[Science Media Centre]], where she variously worked in the roles of Science Information Officer, Senior Press Officer and Head of Mental Health.

==Background==

===Education===

Bithell has a degree in Cell Biology and a PhD in Biochemistry from the [[University of Manchester]].<ref name="Eleven" /> In 2003, Bithell won the [[Daily Telegraph]]/[[BASF]] Science Writer Awards prize in the Older Category (20-28) while working on her PhD.<ref>Roger Highfield (2003), [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/3310860/How-Clare-stretched-ahead....html How Clare stretched ahead...], ''The Telegraph''</ref>

===Career===

====Science Media Centre====

Bithell joined the [[Science Media Centre]] as Science Information Officer in 2004.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20040305045235/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2004]</ref> In 2005 she was promoted to Senior Press Officer.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20051223203339/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2005]</ref> Having left this position in February 2008 to manage the press office of the [[Human Tissue Authority]], Bithell returned to the SMC for the new role of Head of Mental Health in June 2010.<ref name="Eleven">[http://web.archive.org/web/20110117053600/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2011]</ref>

<youtube size="medium" align="right" caption="[[Claire Bithell]] at the ALICE RAP Project kick-off meeting, Barcelona May 2011">jiTzT0uNqvw</youtube>

====Human Tissue Authority====

From February 2008 to June 2010, Bithell managed the press office of the [[Human Tissue Authority]].<ref name="Eleven" />

==Affiliations==

===Stempra===

Bithell is a former Newsletter Editor for [[Stempra]] <ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20071014190812/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2007]</ref>

==Contact==

:Email: cbithell [AT] ri.ac.uk
:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/ClaireEB1234 @ClaireEB1234]

==Resources==
*Claire Bithell (2010), [http://www.smhrn.org.uk/News/resources/asm2010/ClaireBithell.pdf Mental Health Research and the Media], Presentation for [[Scottish Mental Health Research Network]], Glasgow, 23 November 2010
*Claire Bithell (2011), [http://apt.rcpsych.org/content/17/2/82 Why psychiatry should engage with the media], ''Advances in Psychiatric Treatment'', 17: 82-84

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Bithell, Claire]]

Claire Bithell

2013-09-17T20:31:59Z

Lucy Brown: /* Science Media Centre */

'''Claire Bithell''' is a former employee of the [[Science Media Centre]], where she variously worked in the roles of Science Information Officer, Senior Press Officer and Head of Mental Health.

==Background==

===Education===

Bithell has a degree in Cell Biology and a PhD in Biochemistry from the [[University of Manchester]].<ref name="Eleven" />

===Career===

====Science Media Centre====

Bithell joined the [[Science Media Centre]] as Science Information Officer in 2004.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20040305045235/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2004]</ref> In 2005 she was promoted to Senior Press Officer.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20051223203339/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2005]</ref> Having left this position in February 2008 to manage the press office of the [[Human Tissue Authority]], Bithell returned to the SMC for the new role of Head of Mental Health in June 2010.<ref name="Eleven">[http://web.archive.org/web/20110117053600/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2011]</ref>

<youtube size="medium" align="right" caption="[[Claire Bithell]] at the ALICE RAP Project kick-off meeting, Barcelona May 2011">jiTzT0uNqvw</youtube>

====Human Tissue Authority====

From February 2008 to June 2010, Bithell managed the press office of the [[Human Tissue Authority]].<ref name="Eleven" />

==Affiliations==

===Stempra===

Bithell is a former Newsletter Editor for [[Stempra]] <ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20071014190812/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2007]</ref>

==Contact==

:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/ClaireEB1234 @ClaireEB1234]

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Bithell, Claire]]

Claire Bithell

2013-09-17T20:21:52Z

Lucy Brown: Created page with "'''Claire Bithell''' is a former employee of the Science Media Centre, where she variously worked in the roles of Science Information Officer, Senior Press Officer and Hea..."

'''Claire Bithell''' is a former employee of the [[Science Media Centre]], where she variously worked in the roles of Science Information Officer, Senior Press Officer and Head of Mental Health.

==Background==

===Education===

Bithell has a degree in Cell Biology and a PhD in Biochemistry from the [[University of Manchester]].<ref name="Eleven" />

===Career===

====Science Media Centre====

Bithell joined the [[Science Media Centre]] as Science Information Officer in 2004.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20040305045235/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2004]</ref> In 2005 she was promoted to Senior Press Officer.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20051223203339/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2005]</ref> Having left this position in February 2008 to manage the press office of the [[Human Tissue Authority]], Bithell returned to the SMC for the new role of Head of Mental Health in June 2010.<ref name="Eleven">[http://web.archive.org/web/20110117053600/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2011]</ref>

====Human Tissue Authority====

From February 2008 to June 2010, Bithell managed the press office of the [[Human Tissue Authority]].<ref name="Eleven" />

==Affiliations==

===Stempra===

Bithell is a former Newsletter Editor for [[Stempra]] <ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20071014190812/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website, 2007]</ref>

==Contact==

:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/ClaireEB1234 @ClaireEB1234]

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Bithell, Claire]]

Robin Bisson

2013-09-17T19:50:37Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Robin Bisson''' is a Science Information Officer at the [[Science Media Centre]].<ref name="smc">Science Media Centre (2013), [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/about-us/staff/ Staff], accessed 9 August 2013</ref>

[[Image:RobinBisson.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Robbin Bisson at the [[Science Media Centre]] offices.]]

==Background==

==Education==

Bisson has a degree in Mathematics and a Master’s in Philosophy and History of Science from the [[University of Bristol]].<ref name="smc" />

==Career==

===Science Media Centre===

Bisson joined the [[Science Media Centre]] in early 2012, having volunteered there the previous year. Bisson 'is responsible for maintaining the website and expert database, writing factsheets and briefing notes, and managing the volunteer programme'.<ref name="smc" />

==Views on science communication==

Considering the potential for an American Science Media Centre in a September 2013 article for ''RealClearScience'' magazine, Bisson writes:

::The UK SMC has pulled researchers out of their ivory towers and trained a volunteer network able to help reporters make complex science understandable to the general public. It has emboldened the science community to speak out during debates over issues like the regulation of human-animal embryos and the discredited theory that autism could be caused by the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. It also has enabled scientists and journalists to engage before controversies make headlines.
::...
::The early days of the UK SMC were hardly smooth sailing for founding director [[Fiona Fox]] and her then staff of two. Many of Britain’s science and media establishment questioned whether the SMC was needed. Critics doubted it could navigate the difficult terrain of animal use in biomedical research and the brave new world of genomics.

::Eleven years later, the UK SMC’s mission remains the same: supplying the ever-hungry news media with expert reaction to new research, scientific opinion on breaking stories, and carefully presented press briefings on sensitive topics from suicide to shale gas. While largely working behind the scenes, the SMC is a firmly entrenched part of the British media landscape. Most of its doubters have been won over but critics remain, as a recent feature in [[Nature]]<ref>See Ewen Callaway (2013), [http://www.nature.com/news/science-media-centre-of-attention-1.13362 Science media: Centre of attention], ''Nature'', 10 July 2013, accessed 17 September 2013 </ref> explored.

He concludes:

::[A] U.S. SMC will doubtless be of great use to reporters and scientists in this new era. It will provide a reliable beacon in a world of pervasive misinformation.<ref>Robin Bisson (2013), [http://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2013/09/03/how_the_british_are_saving_science_journalism_106653.html How the British Are Saving Science Journalism], ''RealClearScience'', 3 September 2013, accessed 17 September 2013</ref>

==Contact==

:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/RobinBisson @RobinBisson]

==Resources==
*Robin Bisson (2013), [http://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2013/09/03/how_the_british_are_saving_science_journalism_106653.html H, ow the British Are Saving Science Journalism], ''RealClearScience''
*[http://robinbisson.wordpress.com/ Robin Bisson's personal blog]

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science|Bisson, Robin]]
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Bisson, Robin]]

File:RobinBisson.jpg

2013-09-17T19:30:33Z

Lucy Brown: Robin Bisson - screencapture taken from Science Media Centre 10-year anniversary video, http://vimeo.com/52922238

Robin Bisson - screencapture taken from Science Media Centre 10-year anniversary video, http://vimeo.com/52922238

Fiona Lethbridge

2013-09-17T17:46:17Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Fiona Lethbridge''' is a Press Officer at the [[Science Media Centre]].<ref name="smc">Science Media Centre (2013), [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/about-us/staff/ Staff], accessed 9 August 2013</ref>

[[Image:FionaLethbridge.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Fiona Lethbridge's LinkedIn profile.]]

==Background==

===Education===

Lethbridge has a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the [[University of Edinburgh]].<ref name="smc" />

===Career===

====Science Media Centre====

Lethbridge joined the [[Science Media Centre]] in 2012 as a Press Office Assistant, and was promoted to Press Officer in 2013.<ref name="smc" />

==Contact==

:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/flethbridge @flethbridge]

==Resources==
*University of Dundee, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhE7LELbT6Q Fiona Lethbridge performs at Bright Club Dundee]

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Lethbridge, Fiona]][[Category:Public relations|Lethbridge, Fiona]]

File:FionaLethbridge.jpg

2013-09-17T17:17:19Z

Lucy Brown: Screencapture of Fiona Lethbridge's LinkedIn profile, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/fiona-lethbridge/35/729/50a

Screencapture of Fiona Lethbridge's LinkedIn profile, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/fiona-lethbridge/35/729/50a

Jo Thomas

2013-09-17T17:13:40Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Jo Thomas''' is an Events Assistant at the [[Science Media Centre]].<ref name="smc">Science Media Centre (2013), [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/about-us/staff/ Staff], accessed 9 August 2013</ref>

==Background==

Thomas has been Events Assistant at the [[Science Media Centre]] since April 2013. She has a degree in Biological Sciences from the [[University of Oxford]] and is beginning an MSc in Science Communication.<ref name="smc" />

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Thomas, Jo]]

Selina Hawkins

2013-09-17T16:16:32Z

Lucy Brown:

Selina Hawkins

2013-09-17T16:14:19Z

Lucy Brown:

Selina Hawkins

2013-09-17T16:11:43Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Selina Hawkins''' is the Office and Finance Manager of the [[Science Media Centre]].<ref name="smc">Science Media Centre (2013), [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/about-us/staff/ Staff], accessed 9 August 2013</ref>

[[Image:SelinaHawkins.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Selina Hawkins' LinkedIn profile.]]

==Background==

===Education===

Hawkins graduated from the [[University of Cambridge]] in 2005 with degrees in Natural Sciences.<ref name="smc" />

===Career===

====SMi Group Ltd====

Hawkins is a former Conference Producer at the [[SMi Group Ltd]].

====British Council====

Hawkins worked for the [[British Council]] as an English Language Assistant at Yaohua High School in China.<ref>British Council, [http://www.britishcouncil.org/china-education_themed_school_linking_activities.htm English Teaching & Learning], accessed 17 September 2013</ref>

====University of Cambridge====

Hawkins worked for several Cambridge colleges and subsequently the University’s Community Affairs Office.<ref name="smc" />

====Science Media Centre====

Hawkins joined the [[Science Media Centre]] in August 2009 and 'is responsible for the day-to-day logistics of running the office, co-ordinating the fundraising efforts and finances, and dealing with anything else that comes up'.<ref name="smc" />

==Contact==

:Email: selina [AT] sciencemediacentre.org
:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/selinahawkins @selinahawkins]

==Resources==

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Hawkins, Selina]]

File:SelinaHawkins.jpg

2013-09-17T15:45:48Z

Lucy Brown: Screencapture of Selina Hawkins' LinkedIn profile, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/selina-hawkins/13/491/937

Screencapture of Selina Hawkins' LinkedIn profile, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/selina-hawkins/13/491/937

Helen Jamison

2013-09-17T15:33:57Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Helen Jamison''' is the Deputy Director of the [[Science Media Centre]].<ref>Science Media Centre (2013), [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/about-us/staff/ Staff], accessed 9 August 2013</ref> Having trained as a neuroscientist, Jamison went on to build a career in science communication, working in the press office of science magazine [[Nature]] before joining the SMC in 2007. She has blogged for [[The Times]] and written for the 'IndyVoices' project of the [[Independent]].

==Biography==

===Education===

Jamison has a a degree in biomedical science from the [[University of Sheffield]] and a PhD in neurosciences from the [[University of Oxford]].<ref name ="compassion">Compassion in Dying (2013), [http://www.compassionindying.org.uk/trustees Trustees], accessed 10 August 2013</ref>

===Career===

====Science Media Centre====

<youtube size="medium" align="right" caption="'Engaging with the media - Dr Helen Jamison', presentation given at [[Cardiff University]]">xd47tREexoQ</youtube> Jamison joined the [[Science Media Centre]] in 2007 as Engineering Press Officer. She was promoted to Senior Press Officer in 2008 and Deputy Director in 2011. <ref>Science Media Centre (2013), [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/about-us/staff/ Staff], accessed 10 August 2013</ref>

=====Views on the role of press officers=====

In March 2013, Jamison wrote a piece about the role of press officers in the [[NHS]] for the Independent's 'IndyVoices', noting:

::At the Science Media Centre, where we respond to some of the most controversial health and science issues that hit the headlines, we have experienced this spin at the sharp end: NHS trusts reluctant to speak to the media on the latest health scare, and press officers warning that experts can only take part in press briefings if they’re not “on camera”. This need to take a risk-averse approach for fear of upsetting those in charge or straying too far from the agreed line is all too familiar.

::...

::As with all professions, PR is a real mixed bag, and good journalism is always better than bad PR. But accurate, evidence-based and informative PR very definitely serves the public interest better than bad journalism.<ref>Helen Jamison (2013), [http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/nhs-press-officers-have-a-bad-reputation-perhaps-its-time-they-had-their-own-pr-campaign-8540967.html NHS press officers have a bad reputation. Perhaps it's time they had their own PR campaign], ''The Independent'', 19 March 2013, accessed 10 August 2013</ref>

=====Views on openness=====

Jamison presented evidence alongside [[Tracey Brown]] from [[Sense About Science]] at an oral evidence session of the UK Parliament's Science and Technology Committee's inquiry into ‘Clinical trials’ on Wednesday 15 May 2013,<ref>Commons Science and Technology Committee (2013), [http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/science-and-technology-committee/news/130510-clinical-trials-ev/ Clinical trials evidence session], accessed 10 August 2013</ref> noting:

[[Image:BrownJamison.jpg|400px|left|thumb|[[Tracey Brown]] and [[Helen Jamison]] giving evidence to the Commons Science and Technology Committee.]]
::Although the Science Media Centre is not directly involved in the [[AllTrials]] campaign, we are generally very supportive of openness, and that is one of the reasons why we exist. We feel that it is very important that both the public and policy makers, whenever they are making decisions, can do so on the basis of full, accurate evidence that they have available to them.

::...

::One thing that we have struggled with in the past when responding to controversial and difficult stories in the headlines about clinical trials and other areas more generally is that there is sometimes a reluctance on the part of industry to engage when an issue is on the front pages. Often, that can be the case with scientists and academics who are slightly related to Government as well. The impact of that is that, generally, it leaves a bit of a vacuum at a time when actually more information is needed. At the Science Media Centre, we often become very reliant then on independent academics based in universities. So I think a move towards greater openness on the part of industry would be a very good thing, but it would have to get down to grass-roots level in terms of how they engage with the national news as well as the public and the rest of the scientific community.<ref>Commons Science and Technology Committee (2013),[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmsctech/uc104-i/uc10401.htm Uncorrected transcript of oral evidence], accessed 10 August 2013</ref>

====Nature====

Jamison formerly worked in the London press office of the science magazine ''[[Nature]]''.<ref>Staff writer (2013), [http://www.independent.co.uk/biography/helen-jamison Helen Jamison], ''The Independent'', accessed 10 August 2013</ref>

==Affiliations==

'''Stempra'''

Jamison is on the committee of [[Stempra]], an informal UK network for practitioners of science public relations (and has a Stempra email address).<ref>Stempra (2013), [http://www.stempra.org.uk/committee.htm Who is on the Stempra committee?], accessed 10 August 2013 </ref>

'''The Association of British Science Writers (ABSW)'''

Jamison is an associate member of the [[Association of British Science Writers]] alongside her [[Science Media Centre]] colleagues, [[Will Greenacre]], [[Edward Sykes]], and [[Tom Sheldon]].<ref>The Science Reporter (2009),[http://thesciencereporter.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/new-members.html New members], accessed 10 August 2013</ref>

'''Compassion in Dying'''

Jamison is a Trustee of [[Compassion in Dying]], the UK charity for end-of-life rights, and 'has a particular interest in the evidence-based communication of information about end of life and dying to patients and the public'.<ref name ="compassion" />

She has also written about end of life care and death for 'IndyVoices' in the ''Independent'', noting:

::Unfortunately this sensitive issue has been turned into a sensational ‘for’ and ‘against’ debate by some. It's actually a little more complicated than that and although it’s right that the Government give this issue attention, a knee-jerk reaction to media scare stories may not be the best response.<ref>Helen Jamison (2012), [http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/after-my-mothers-death-i-realised-modern-medicine-fails-to-prepare-us-for-the-inevitable-8306954.html After my mother's death I realised modern medicine fails to prepare us for the inevitable], ''The Independent'', 12 November 2012, acccessed 10 August 2013</ref>

==Publications==

*Helen Jamison (2013), [http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/nhs-press-officers-have-a-bad-reputation-perhaps-its-time-they-had-their-own-pr-campaign-8540967.html NHS press officers have a bad reputation. Perhaps it's time they had their own PR campaign], ''The Independent'', 19 March 2013, accessed 10 August 2013
*Helen Jamison (2012), [http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/after-my-mothers-death-i-realised-modern-medicine-fails-to-prepare-us-for-the-inevitable-8306954.html After my mother's death I realised modern medicine fails to prepare us for the inevitable ], ''The Independent'', 12 November 2013, accessed 10 August 2013
*Helen Jamison (2010), [http://web.archive.org/web/20100619072739/http://timesonline.typepad.com/science/2010/06/cancer-not-nice-guidelines-kills-patients.html Cancer not NICE guidelines kills patients], ''The Times Eureka Blog'', 16 June 2010, via InternetArchive, accessed 10 August 2013

==Contact==

:Email: helen [AT] stempra.org.uk
:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/drhlj @drhlj]

==Resources==

*[http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=13131 Video] of Helen Jamison giving evidence at an oral evidence session of the UK Parliament's Science and Technology Committee's inquiry into ‘Clinical trials’ on Wednesday 15 May 2013, 09:56 in (or see the [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmsctech/uc104-i/uc10401.htm transcript])

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Jamison, Helen]]

Edward Sykes

2013-09-17T15:31:26Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Edward (Ed) Sykes''' is the Head of Mental Health and Neuroscience at the [[Science Media Centre]].<ref>Science Media Centre (2013), [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/about-us/staff/ Staff], accessed 9 August 2013</ref>

[[Image:Ed Sykes LinkedIn.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Ed Sykes' LinkedIn profile.]]

==Background==

===Education===

Sykes studied Zoology at the [[University of Sheffield]] and has a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the [[University of Edinburgh]].<ref>[http://www.wcsjnews.org/users/ed-sykes Ed Sykes], WCSJ2009, accessed 12 September 2013</ref>

===Career===

====Scottish Initiative for Biotechnology Education====

Prior to joining the [[Science Media Centre]], Sykes was a Science Communicator with the [[Scottish Initiative for Biotechnology Education]] (SIBE) based at the [[University of Edinburgh]].<ref>[http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/Images/Darwin_tcm4-665727.pdf Think Darwin Think Evolution Think Now], accessed 12 September 2013</ref>

====Science Media Centre====

Sykes has been Head of Mental Health and Neuroscience at the [[Science Media Centre]] since early 2013.<ref name="smc">Science Media Centre (2013), [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/about-us/staff/ Staff], accessed 11 September 2013</ref> He originally joined the organisation in 2008 as a Press Officer.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20080326234831/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website], accessed 12 September 2013</ref> In February 2001 he was replaced by [[Jonathan Webb]] for the duration of his sabbatical with the [[Australian Science Media Centre]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20110429200701/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website], accessed 12 September 2013</ref>

====Australian Science Media Centre====

Sykes had a 15-month sabbatical as a Media Manager with the [[Australian Science Media Centre]] ending in early 2013.<ref name="smc" />

<youtube size="medium" align="right" caption="'Science Behind the Headlines: The Murray-Darling Basin Plan Part 2 - Media Panel', [[Edward Sykes]] appearing on behalf of [[Australian Science Media Centre]] for [[RiAus]]">zhSdWiTm7M0</youtube>

==Affiliations==

====Understanding Animal Research====

[[Concordat on Openness on Animal Research]] working group member.<ref name="list">Understanding Animal Research [http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/assets/document/A7049AD2-E576-36EA-7C4D2451AFAFC4AD/concordat-steering-g.pdf Concordat Steering Group and Working Group members], accessed 4 September 2013</ref>

====Stempra====

Sykes is a former Committee Member at [[Stempra]].<ref>Stempra (2010), [http://stempra.org.uk/sci-comm-news-7/#sthash.qVWe2lk7.dpbs Sci Comm news], accessed 17 September 2013</ref>

==Contact==

:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/edmsykes @edmsykes]
:Email: ed [AT] stempra.org

==Resources==
*[http://famelab.org/users/edsykes Ed Sykes' profile on Famelab]
*Ed Sykes (2007), [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OdQlPLKUJ90 Battle of the Sexes - 2007 Vodcast]
*Ed Sykes (2009), contributing author [http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/Images/Darwin_tcm4-665727.pdf Think Darwin Think Evolution Think Now], ''Scottish Initiative for Biotechnology Education''
*RiAus (2012), Ed Sykes on behalf of Australian Science Media Centre [http://vimeo.com/40196008 Science Behind the Headlines: The Murray-Darling Basin Plan Part 2 - Media Panel]

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science|Sykes, Edward]]
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Sykes, Edward]]

Nancy Mendoza

2013-09-13T17:41:31Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Nancy Mendoza''' is a PR professional based in Bristol currently working for the [[Society for Applied Microbiology]]. She was previously a Press Officer at the [[Science Media Centre]].<ref name ="archive">Data from the Internet Archive, [http://web.archive.org/web/20060112145351/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Staff profiles], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

[[Image:NancyMendoza.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Nancy Mendoza's LinkedIn profile.]]

==Background==

===Education===

Mendoza has a MBiochem degree from the [[University of Oxford]]. In 2004 she was awarded an [[Association of British Science Writers]] student bursary to study for an MSc in ‘Science, Culture and Communication' at the [[University of Bath]].<ref name="archive" />

She went on to study for a Diploma in Public Relations with the [[Chartered Institute of Public Relations]] (CIPR).<ref>Data from the Internet Archive, [http://web.archive.org/web/20071014190812/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Staff profiles], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

===Career===

====Science Media Centre====

After completing her MSc in ‘Science, Culture and Communication' at the [[University of Bath]], Mendoza joined the [[Science Media Centre]] as a Press Officer in January 2006.<ref name="archive" />

====Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)====

Mendoza was a Media Officer for the [[Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council]] (BBSRC) from 2008-2011.

Mendoza notes:

::I've regularly briefed officials at the department for [[Business Innovation and Skills]], contributing to Ministerial briefings, and responding to [[Freedom of Information]] requests. In addition, I represented [[BBSRC]] in the communications sub-group of the [[Biosciences Coalition]] to ensure BBSRC’s views were represented in a joint response to the Home Office consultation on incorporation of a new EU directive on use of animals in research.<ref>Nancy Mendoza, [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/PE-and-KE Working with the general public and other stakeholders], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

Mendoza, who boasts of her 'unrivalled media contacts book', also notes:

::Whilst working at BBSRC I built a strong relationship with the [[BBC]]’s specialist factual unit, organising regular brainstorming sessions with experts to generate documentary ideas that those same experts often participated in personally.<ref>Nancy Mendoza, [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/media-relations Making the news], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

====Institute for Animal Health/The Pirbright Institute====

Mendoza is a former Head of Communications at the [[Institute for Animal Health]], part of the UK government's [[Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council]] (BBSRC). In October 2012 Mendoza was responsible for the rebranding of the organisation, including renaming to [[The Pirbright Institute]].<ref>Nancy Mendoza, [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/brand-reputation-identity Building a successful brand], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

====Society for Applied Microbiology====

Mendoza is currently Communications Manager (maternity cover) at the [[Society for Applied Microbiology]].<ref>Society for Applied Microbiology, [http://www.sfam.org.uk/en/about/staff.cfm Staff], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

==Views on science communication==

'''On ideology in science communciation'''

In a blog post reflecting on the role of publics in science policy-making, Mendoza notes:

::[I]t’s long been a bugbear of mine, this idea that scientists are supposed to be infallible, rational, and god-like in their ability to speak gospel truths. Alice [Bell] began her talk [at the British Science Association Science Communication Conference] by questioning the extent to which our way of arranging ourselves in hierarchies gets in the way of really effective decision making in science policy. I agree. And it’s not just a problem for science, it’s a problem for public life, and it’s rooted, in my opinion, in a paradoxical lack of personal responsibility in a world that is all about individual success.

::What I observe in myself and in others is that we are always looking around for who’s in charge, or whose job it is, or how do we get permission, or whatever. At best this results in procrastination and at worst it actually prevents social, political and economic progress.

::Alice talked about how important it is that scientists are aware of and acknowledge, or, as she said, “own” their own politics and ideologies. And again, I couldn’t agree more, but the challenge we have is that most people do not think of themselves as having an ideology and most of us do not consider ourselves “political”. In fact, if anything, being ‘political’ is something that you apparently can be too much of – calling someone ‘political’ is like calling them ‘aggressive’ or ‘smelly’. The truth is everything we do is political and we all hold dear our ideologies but admitting that would be admitting responsibility for the status quo or, indeed, being at the source of change.

She continues:

::It’s true that science communicators can be short sighted, and often we start out as scientists and so tend to see things from the point of view of scientific institutions first and the general public second.<ref>Nancy Mendoza, [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/blog/science-communicators-do-it-for-the-public Science communicators do it for the public], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

'''On Science Media Centres'''

In a blog post about the Dr Andrew Wakefield MMR scandal, Mendoza notes:

::In 2002, at the height of Wakefield's glory days, the [[Science Media Centre]] was born, its mission: "To provide, for the benefit of the public and policymakers, accurate and evidence-based information about science and engineering through the media, particularly on controversial and headline news stories when most confusion and misinformation occurs."

::Over 10 years the Centre has supported scientists and scientific organisations to step up to the plate and inject high quality, evidence based information into the media when a story hits the headlines. It has spawned sister centres around the world and continues to do an extraordinary job.

::At the same time, the role of the professional communicator in science-based organisations has risen to prominence. This is largely thanks to the pressure that funding bodies have put on research organisations to ensure that maximum impact is achieved from research.

::But there are still challenges. The desire to compete with the Wakefields of the world can be superseded by lack of resources, a commitment to the precautionary principle in the upper echelons of the scientific community, competing priorities during times of austerity and change, and a sense of trepidation - who wants to put their head above the parapet, really? [bold emphasis added]<ref>Nancy Mendoza, [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/blog/wake-up_call_for_science_wall_flowers A wake(field)-up call for science's wall flowers], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

It is interesting to note Mendoza's position on the precautionary principle, shared by the [[Science Media Centre]].<ref>For example, see [[Science Media Centre]] Senior Press Officer [[Tom Sheldon]] on pregnancy advice [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/trying-to-be-helpful/ pregnancy advice: trying to be helpful], 6 June 2013, accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

'''"Propaganda or public relations"'''

In an essay posted on her blog, Mendoza notes:

::Part of PR’s PR issue is probably due to the fact that much of PR practice that is visible to the public takes the form of press agentry and therefore is, understandably, viewed as propagandistic. This matters hugely for the reputation of the profession – imagine if all NHS doctors were assumed to be pushing drugs onto their patients in return for a big fat pay packet from the pharmaceutical company at the end of the month, the medical profession would soon be labelled as corrupt.<ref>Nancy Mendoza, [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/blog/propaganda Propaganda or public relations - what's the difference anyway?], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

==Affiliations==

===British Nutrition Foundation===

Mendoza was previously on the Editorial Board of the Nutrition Bulletin, a journal of the [[British Nutrition Foundation]].<ref>Nancy Mendoza, [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/publications Effective digital and paper publications], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

==Contact==

:Personal website: [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/ http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/]
:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/NancyWMendoza @NancyWMendoza]

==Resources==
*Blog post [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/blog/science-communicators-do-it-for-the-public Science communicators do it for the public], 16 May 2013
*Blog post [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/blog/wake-up_call_for_science_wall_flowers A wake(field)-up call for science's wall flowers], 6 April 2013
*Blog post [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/blog/propaganda Propaganda or public relations - what's the difference anyway], 23 February 2013
*[http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/podcasts/stempra_new_journal_models New journal models: are they changing the face of PR?], Podcast for [[Stempra]], 23 May 2013
*[http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/video Videos], videos produced by Nancy Mendoza for [[Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council]], [[Institute for Animal Health]]

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Mendoza, Nancy]]

Nancy Mendoza

2013-09-13T17:39:50Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Nancy Mendoza''' is a PR professional based in Bristol currently working for the [[Society for Applied Microbiology]]. She was previously a Press Officer at the [[Science Media Centre]].<ref name ="archive">Data from the Internet Archive, [http://web.archive.org/web/20060112145351/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Staff profiles], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

[[Image:NancyMendoza.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Nancy Mendoza's LinkedIn profile.]]

==Background==

===Education===

Mendoza has a MBiochem degree from the [[University of Oxford]]. In 2004 she was awarded an [[Association of British Science Writers]] student bursary to study for an MSc in ‘Science, Culture and Communication' at the [[University of Bath]].<ref name="archive" />

She went on to study for a Diploma in Public Relations with the [[Chartered Institute of Public Relations]] (CIPR).<ref>Data from the Internet Archive, [http://web.archive.org/web/20071014190812/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Staff profiles], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

===Career===

====Science Media Centre====

After completing her MSc in ‘Science, Culture and Communication' at the [[University of Bath]], Mendoza joined the [[Science Media Centre]] as a Press Officer in January 2006.<ref name="archive" />

====Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)====

Mendoza was a Media Officer for the [[Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council]] (BBSRC) from 2008-2011.

Mendoza notes:

::I've regularly briefed officials at the department for [[Business Innovation and Skills]], contributing to Ministerial briefings, and responding to [[Freedom of Information]] requests. In addition, I represented [[BBSRC]] in the communications sub-group of the [[Biosciences Coalition]] to ensure BBSRC’s views were represented in a joint response to the Home Office consultation on incorporation of a new EU directive on use of animals in research.<ref>Nancy Mendoza, [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/PE-and-KE Working with the general public and other stakeholders], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

Mendoza, who boasts of her 'unrivalled media contacts book', also notes:

::Whilst working at BBSRC I built a strong relationship with the [[BBC]]’s specialist factual unit, organising regular brainstorming sessions with experts to generate documentary ideas that those same experts often participated in personally.<ref>Nancy Mendoza, [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/media-relations Making the news], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

====Institute for Animal Health/The Pirbright Institute====

Mendoza is a former Head of Communications at the [[Institute for Animal Health]], part of the UK government's [[Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council]] (BBSRC). In October 2012 Mendoza was responsible for the rebranding of the organisation, including renaming to [[The Pirbright Institute]].<ref>Nancy Mendoza, [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/brand-reputation-identity Building a successful brand], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

====Society for Applied Microbiology====

Mendoza is currently Communications Manager (maternity cover) at the [[Society for Applied Microbiology]].<ref>Society for Applied Microbiology, [http://www.sfam.org.uk/en/about/staff.cfm Staff], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

==Views on science communication==

'''On ideology in science communciation'''

In a blog post reflecting on the role of publics in science policy-making, Mendoza notes:

::[I]t’s long been a bugbear of mine, this idea that scientists are supposed to be infallible, rational, and god-like in their ability to speak gospel truths. Alice [Bell] began her talk [at the British Science Association Science Communication Conference] by questioning the extent to which our way of arranging ourselves in hierarchies gets in the way of really effective decision making in science policy. I agree. And it’s not just a problem for science, it’s a problem for public life, and it’s rooted, in my opinion, in a paradoxical lack of personal responsibility in a world that is all about individual success.

::What I observe in myself and in others is that we are always looking around for who’s in charge, or whose job it is, or how do we get permission, or whatever. At best this results in procrastination and at worst it actually prevents social, political and economic progress.

:Alice talked about how important it is that scientists are aware of and acknowledge, or, as she said, “own” their own politics and ideologies. And again, I couldn’t agree more, but the challenge we have is that most people do not think of themselves as having an ideology and most of us do not consider ourselves “political”. In fact, if anything, being ‘political’ is something that you apparently can be too much of – calling someone ‘political’ is like calling them ‘aggressive’ or ‘smelly’. The truth is everything we do is political and we all hold dear our ideologies but admitting that would be admitting responsibility for the status quo or, indeed, being at the source of change.

She continues:

::It’s true that science communicators can be short sighted, and often we start out as scientists and so tend to see things from the point of view of scientific institutions first and the general public second.<ref>Nancy Mendoza, [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/blog/science-communicators-do-it-for-the-public Science communicators do it for the public], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

'''On Science Media Centres'''

In a blog post about the Dr Andrew Wakefield MMR scandal, Mendoza notes:

::In 2002, at the height of Wakefield's glory days, the [[Science Media Centre]] was born, its mission: "To provide, for the benefit of the public and policymakers, accurate and evidence-based information about science and engineering through the media, particularly on controversial and headline news stories when most confusion and misinformation occurs."

::Over 10 years the Centre has supported scientists and scientific organisations to step up to the plate and inject high quality, evidence based information into the media when a story hits the headlines. It has spawned sister centres around the world and continues to do an extraordinary job.

::At the same time, the role of the professional communicator in science-based organisations has risen to prominence. This is largely thanks to the pressure that funding bodies have put on research organisations to ensure that maximum impact is achieved from research.

::But there are still challenges. The desire to compete with the Wakefields of the world can be superseded by lack of resources, a commitment to the precautionary principle in the upper echelons of the scientific community, competing priorities during times of austerity and change, and a sense of trepidation - who wants to put their head above the parapet, really? [bold emphasis added]<ref>Nancy Mendoza, [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/blog/wake-up_call_for_science_wall_flowers A wake(field)-up call for science's wall flowers], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

It is interesting to note Mendoza's position on the precautionary principle, shared by the [[Science Media Centre]].<ref>For example, see [[Science Media Centre]] Senior Press Officer [[Tom Sheldon]] on pregnancy advice [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/trying-to-be-helpful/ pregnancy advice: trying to be helpful], 6 June 2013, accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

'''"Propaganda or public relations"'''

In an essay posted on her blog, Mendoza notes:

::Part of PR’s PR issue is probably due to the fact that much of PR practice that is visible to the public takes the form of press agentry and therefore is, understandably, viewed as propagandistic. This matters hugely for the reputation of the profession – imagine if all NHS doctors were assumed to be pushing drugs onto their patients in return for a big fat pay packet from the pharmaceutical company at the end of the month, the medical profession would soon be labelled as corrupt.<ref>Nancy Mendoza, [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/blog/propaganda Propaganda or public relations - what's the difference anyway?], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

==Affiliations==

Mendoza was previously on the Editorial Board of the Nutrition Bulletin, a journal of the [[British Nutrition Foundation]].<ref>Nancy Mendoza, [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/publications Effective digital and paper publications], accessed 13 September 2013</ref>

==Contact==

:Personal website: [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/ http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/]
:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/NancyWMendoza @NancyWMendoza]

==Resources==
*Blog post [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/blog/science-communicators-do-it-for-the-public Science communicators do it for the public], 16 May 2013
*Blog post [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/blog/wake-up_call_for_science_wall_flowers A wake(field)-up call for science's wall flowers], 6 April 2013
*Blog post [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/blog/propaganda Propaganda or public relations - what's the difference anyway], 23 February 2013
*[http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/podcasts/stempra_new_journal_models New journal models: are they changing the face of PR?], Podcast for [[Stempra]], 23 May 2013
*[http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/video Videos], videos produced by Nancy Mendoza for [[Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council]], [[Institute for Animal Health]]

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Mendoza, Nancy]]

Nancy Mendoza

2013-09-12T08:01:13Z

Lucy Brown: Created page with "'''Nancy Mendoza''' is a PR professional based in Bristol currently working for the Society for Applied Microbiology. She was previously a Press Officer at the [[Science ..."

'''Nancy Mendoza''' is a PR professional based in Bristol currently working for the [[Society for Applied Microbiology]]. She was previously a Press Officer at the [[Science Media Centre]].

[[Image:NancyMendoza.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Nancy Mendoza's LinkedIn profile.]]

==Background==

===Education===

===Career===

==Contact==

:Personal website: [http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/ http://www.nancywmendoza.co.uk/]
:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/NancyWMendoza @NancyWMendoza]

==Resources==

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Mendoza, Nancy]]

File:NancyMendoza.jpg

2013-09-12T07:57:11Z

Lucy Brown: Screencapture of LinkedIn profile, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-mendoza/20/849/54

Screencapture of LinkedIn profile, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-mendoza/20/849/54

File:NancyMendoza.png

2013-09-12T07:53:49Z

Lucy Brown: Screencapture of LinkedIn profile, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-mendoza/20/849/54

Screencapture of LinkedIn profile, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-mendoza/20/849/54

Edward Sykes

2013-09-12T07:45:42Z

Lucy Brown:

'''Edward Sykes''' is the Head of Mental Health and Neuroscience at the [[Science Media Centre]].<ref>Science Media Centre (2013), [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/about-us/staff/ Staff], accessed 9 August 2013</ref>

[[Image:Ed Sykes LinkedIn.jpg|400px|right|thumb|Ed Sykes' LinkedIn profile.]]

==Background==

===Education===

Sykes studied Zoology at the [[University of Sheffield]] and has a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the [[University of Edinburgh]].<ref>[http://www.wcsjnews.org/users/ed-sykes Ed Sykes], WCSJ2009, accessed 12 September 2013</ref>

===Career===

====Science Media Centre====

Sykes has been Head of Mental Health and Neuroscience at the [[Science Media Centre]] since early 2013.<ref name="smc">Science Media Centre (2013), [http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/about-us/staff/ Staff], accessed 11 September 2013</ref> He originally joined the organisation in 2008 as a Press Officer.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20080326234831/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website], accessed 12 September 2013</ref> In February 2001 he was replaced by [[Jonathan Webb]] for the duration of his sabbatical with the [[Australian Science Media Centre]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20110429200701/http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/about/staff.htm Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Science Media Centre website], accessed 12 September 2013</ref>

====Australian Science Media Centre====

Sykes had a 15-month sabbatical as a Media Manager with the [[Australian Science Media Centre]] ending in early 2013.<ref name="smc" />

====Stempra====

====Scottish Initiative for Biotechnology Education====

Prior to joining the [[Science Media Centre]], Sykes was a Science Communicator with the [[Scottish Initiative for Biotechnology Education]] (SIBE) based at the [[University of Edinburgh]].<ref>[http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/Images/Darwin_tcm4-665727.pdf Think Darwin Think Evolution Think Now], accessed 12 September 2013</ref>

==Affiliations==

[[Concordat on Openness on Animal Research]] working group member.<ref name="list">Understanding Animal Research [http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/assets/document/A7049AD2-E576-36EA-7C4D2451AFAFC4AD/concordat-steering-g.pdf Concordat Steering Group and Working Group members], accessed 4 September 2013</ref>

==Contact==

:Twitter: [http://twitter.com/edmsykes @edmsykes]

==Resources==
*Ed Sykes (2009), contributing author [http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/Images/Darwin_tcm4-665727.pdf Think Darwin Think Evolution Think Now], ''Scottish Initiative for Biotechnology Education''

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:Science|Sykes, Edward]]
[[Category:Science Media Centre|Sykes, Edward]]

Edward Sykes

2013-09-11T17:57:27Z

Lucy Brown:

File:Ed Sykes LinkedIn.jpg

2013-09-11T16:36:35Z

Lucy Brown: Screencapture of Ed Sykes' LinkedIn profile, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ed-sykes/43/89a/375

Screencapture of Ed Sykes' LinkedIn profile, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ed-sykes/43/89a/375