Science & Engineering

We seem to have a schizophrenic attitude to science and technology at the moment. One minute we have to respect irrational and unproven ideas like homeopathy and ayurveda because “western” science is no better than any other way of explaining the world. The next minute, we must replace our lightbulbs, give up our holidays and spend a week in every year sorting through our rubbish because “the science says so”.

Nevertheless, I’m still excited about how science has changed our relationship with the world. In all sorts of practical ways, from space flight to surgery, we are able to control forces that our ancestors saw as mysterious and all-powerful. We all live longer, travel further, know more and have more time to spend on what’s important, because of technological progress. It’s also fascinating to learn about the world, and how human investigation has opened it up. which is why freedom of investigation, experiment and debate is so important, and why I support the campaign to keep libel laws out of science.

I’ve been Director of Cheltenham Science Festival’s FameLab® and of engineering project engaging cogs. I host and produce public science events for all sorts of people and run workshops in science communication for the British Council. A member of the Association of British Science Writers, I write journalism and other material on science.

With the Comedy Research Project, I test the hypothesis that science can be funny. I also co-wrote a comedy featuring the solar neutrino anomaly that was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 – weeks after they solved the 15-year astronomical mystery.