Professor David Nutt FSB presented with award for Standing up for Science

On 4th November 2013, Professor David Nutt FSB was awarded the 2013 John Maddox Prize for Standing up for Science. On 4th November 2013, Professor David Nutt FSB was awarded the 2013 John Maddox Prize for Standing up for Science. Professor Nutt was...

Working in Entomology

Rachel McLeod Amateur Entomologists' Society, £10.48 Rachel McLeod Amateur Entomologists' Society, £10.48 Not many books are written by 14 year olds, especially not ones based on research conducted when the author was between 8 and 10 years old. I once...

Launch of 2014 Science Challenge essay competition

The 2014 Science Challenge essay competition has been launched by the Royal College of Science Union. The competition aims to promote scientific communication and creative thinking and is open to secondary school pupils around the UK and to Imperial...

New Year Honour for Dr Barbara Knowles FSB

Dr Barbara Knowles FSB, senior science policy adviser at the Society of Biology, has been awarded an MBE in the 2014 New Year honours list ‘For services to Science Communication and the Environment’. Dr Barbara Knowles FSB, senior science policy...

Our Survey Says...

Our latest readership survey found The Biologist remains a key way of communicating with members. Thank you to all the members who completed The Biologist readership survey at the end of last year. It’s great to see that again, the response to our...

Spotlight on: Cryobiology

The Biologist Vol 60(6) p40-41 Cryobiology is the study of how low temperatures affect organisms, biological systems, or biological materials. Research uses temperatures ranging from slightly lower than normal (hypothermic) to cryogenic (−150°C and...

“Biology: Changing the World” wins Heritage Lottery Fund support

Today, the Society of Biology has received £69,200 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for Biology: Changing the World, a project inspiring and celebrating great biologists around the UK. Led by the Society of Biology, in partnership with BBSRC, who...

Report published on Women in Science Careers

The Society of Biology welcomes the House of Commons Science & Technology report on Women in Science Careers published today (6th February 2014). The Society of Biology welcomes the House of Commons Science & Technology report on Women in Science...

Algal biofuels

Spotlight on: Epigenetics

The Biologist Vol 61(1) p32-33 Epigenetics is the study of any changes in gene activity not caused by changes in the DNA sequence. Why is it important? Epigenetics explains almost any change in DNA function that is not caused by a mutation. The...

BIS launches new plan to reduce use of animals in research

The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills has today published a cross-departmental policy paper, Working to reduce the use of animals in scientific research, which recognises and supports the well-regulated use of animals in research where...

Winners announced for the 2014 SET for Britain awards

Graham Robertston, 26, a biomedical engineer at the University of Strathclyde, won the gold award at SET for Britain in the House of Commons for the excellence of his research. Graham Robertston, 26, a biomedical engineer at the University of...

Young scientists quiz key political figures at VOF 2014

The Universities and Science Minister David Willetts today defended the Coalition's record on science funding, science education and skills shortages in the face of questions from young scientists and engineers. The Universities and Science Minister...

Spotlight on: Bioengineering

The Biologist Vol 61(2) p40-41 Bioengineering applies the principles of engineering to problems involving biological material. It combines science, engineering, technology and medicine to create innovative devices, materials or processes for a diverse...

Hunting the Hunters: At War with the Whalers

Laurens de Groot Adlard Coles Nautical, Bloomsbury, £12.99 With the extensive news coverage of the activities and arrests of the Greenpeace Arctic 30 in 2013, Hunting the Hunters must certainly be a timely publication for anyone wanting to find out...

Concordat on openness on animal research

The Society of Biology is one of over 70 bioscience organisations which signed the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in the UK. The Concordat commits its signatories to enhance their communication about their use of animals. The Society of...

Society of Biology attends Cheltenham Science Festival

Today the Society of Biology will be at the opening of the Cheltenham Science Festival, manning a stand with hands on activities related to 'mini-beasts'. Today the Society of Biology will be at the opening of the Cheltenham Science Festival, manning a...

Crime Genes

Dr Mairi Levitt looks at how lawyers are increasingly looking to use defendants’ genes to defend criminal behaviour, despite the evidence for its use being largely unconvincing Reducing a convicted murderer’s sentence because they have certain genes...

Spotlight on: Clinical Trials

The Biologist Vol 61(3) p30-32 Clinical trials make up the crucial final stages of the development of all regulated drugs and therapies. Extensive biomedical or behavioural studies on human subjects determine the safety and efficacy of any treatment...

School Biology Teacher of the Year winner announced

Today the Society of Biology is celebrating the achievements of students taking part in the British Biology Olympiad and Biology Challenge. Certificates will be presented in a ceremony at the Royal Society, alongside the Secondary School Biology...