tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89228097943806608862024-03-05T09:26:42.987+00:00MANCHESTER SCIENCE FESTIVAL BLOGThis is where you'll find news, reviews and stories from the Manchester Science Festival team.natirelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958387998862393497noreply@blogger.comBlogger249125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-43651258042651173532015-10-29T11:49:00.004+00:002015-10-29T11:54:10.403+00:00Help us Discover Why #ScienceIsSpectacular<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ever
wondered what the scientists at The University of Manchester get up? Well
here’s your chance to find out as we turn Oxford Road into a giant laboratory this
coming Halloween weekend with </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/sciencespectacular">Spectacular Science</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With more
than 40 interactive science experiments, there's something for everyone at this
family fun day at Whitworth Hall and Manchester Museum, 11am – 4pm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step into
the shoes of an aerospace engineer and face the power of our wind turbines as
you explore the forces of flight – lift and drag. Help our atmospheric
scientists to unearth the mysteries of one of the most destructive weather
phenomena in nature as they power up the mini-tornado machine.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Become a
biologist for the day as we ask what has fungi ever done for us, investigate
how blood travels around the body, and discover why some species of turtles can
live without oxygen for 6 months! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We’ll also
explore the science behind music as you create your own musical instruments
from weird and wonderful objects. Or perhaps you’d like to explore the
marvelous world of biomaterials and technical textiles – be sure to help us
test the strength and resistance of perhaps the world’s most popular material –
chocolate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You’ll have
the chance to don on a lab coat and see how the brain responds when we watch
and imitate someone, find out why we need mucus, or learn how to turn your
phone into a super microscope as we take a closer look at our cells.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or perhaps
you’d like to help our computer scientists and engineers programme games, crack
secret codes, build robots, or immerse yourself inside a virtual world where nothing
is quite as it seems. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of this
and more as you help us to explore the wonder of science.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>By Dee-Ann
Johnson, The University of Manchester<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Twitter: </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://twitter.com/UoMEngage"><span style="color: #000087;">@UoMEngage</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US">
#ScienceIsSpectacular</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Visit our
website: </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.engagement.manchester.ac.uk/">http://www.engagement.manchester.ac.uk</a></span></i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-33802652476893428642015-10-29T11:44:00.000+00:002015-10-29T12:21:36.271+00:00Bright Club Manchester – The BIG One!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What happens when you take five scientists and a historian
and make them to do stand-up comedy? The answer is, of course, Bright Club! And tonight </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bright Club Manchester will present The Big
One – a round-up of the best performers for one evening only!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bright club is the “thinking person’s variety show” and
involves music and comedy with an academic twist. Come for the laughs, stay for
the accidental learning of interesting things. The Big One is a special edition
of Bright Club especially for the amazing Manchester Science Festival. It takes
some of the best Bright Clubbers from the recent past and puts them all on one
stage for your intellectual delectation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What does it take to perform at Bright Club? The first
characteristic needed by our performers is expertise in their field, whether
that is forensic science, cell biology, history, psychology or neuroscience.
The second is they have to have a passion for communicating science. They say
“no, we don’t want our research to stay locked away behind a journal pay wall
or buried in a dusty library. We want everyone to know about it”. The third,
and possible most important, is that they have to be slightly nuts. They have
to think that standing up and telling jokes in front of 200 people is a good
idea (at least at the time they agreed to do it).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The training for Bright Club is gruelling, not unlike some
of Sarita Robinson’s experiences as her alter ego, <i>Dr Survival</i>. Well, maybe a little different. No one’s life was at
risk while they were put under huge amounts of stress but still, y’know, it did
get a bit tense when the biscuits nearly ran out. The exact details of this mysterious
training are a highly-guarded secret. We neither confirm nor deny that it involves
sitting around, drinking tea, ignoring emails and thinking funny thoughts. Some
performers have been rumoured to have so much fun at the training day that they
completely forget they have to do a performance a couple of weeks later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who are these amusing academics, these side-splitting
scientists and humorous historians, who have been trained within an inch of
their life to become a crack team of wise-crackers?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your funny bone will be tickled, although hopefully not by
Forensic Scientist <b>Cat Tennick</b>, as
she has a bit of a history regarding bones. She doesn’t have the nickname Dr
Stabby for nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You’ll also learn what might happen to the performers as
they deal with the terrifying prospect of stand-up comedy. <b>Sarita Robinson</b>, better known as Dr Survival, can tell you how the
stressful experience could affect their biochemistry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There will be facts, there will be laughs, there will be
puns. Most of the puns are likely to be provided by cell biologist <b>Ben Stutchbury</b>, who can’t resist a good
(or bad) innuendo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you’ve ever wondered what a neuroscientist does, here’s
your chance to find out. <b>Lisa Heaney</b>,
will be addressing some bogus beliefs about the brain. Her first experience of
Bright Club was so exciting that she did the whole thing again a week later at
Science Showoff. Now she’s back as an (almost) seasoned performer to put right
some neuroscience wrongs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are a bozo when it comes to the ozone, <b>Sophie Haslett</b> will put you straight on
any atmospheric debate. Aerosol Soph is an atmospheric chemist who was head
hunted for her first Bright Club. She couldn’t say no the first time (she’s too
polite), but after channelling her inner comedy goddess she didn’t hesitate to
say yes to The Big One.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last, but by no means least, we have historian <b>Jessica van Horssen</b>. She’s on board to
make sure science is kept in check. Jess will tell us all about how scientists
get things wrong, albeit almost 100 years after they do so. To her, doing
stand-up about her research is like climbing Everest: incredibly challenging
but equally exhilarating (minus the sore legs, of course).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>This blog post is by Sarita Robinson, Jessica van Horssen
and Lisa Heaney. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Come and see them tonight (29<sup>th</sup> Oct) as families have been abandoned, PhD writing has
been postponed and student advisors ignored in order to bring you the best that
Bright Club has to offer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For more information
and tickets for tongight's Bright Club event, go to<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/brightclubthebigone"><i>http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/brightclubthebigone</i></a><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Follow us on Twitter </i><a href="https://twitter.com/BrightClubMcr"><i>@BrightClubMCR</i></a></span><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-59528216804453852522015-10-23T22:01:00.001+01:002015-10-23T22:01:24.997+01:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The
John Rylands Library holds many treasures that map the development of science
throughout the world: from 18th-century Japanese botanical albums, through
James Audubon’s <i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">Birds of America</span></i>, to the laboratory
notebooks of Professor Sir Konstantin Novoselov, recording the development of
Graphene right here in Manchester in the 21st century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Some
of our most gruesome images come from anatomy texts such as Vesalius’ <i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">Anatomia</span></i> (1604), and in some of the diaries and
letters in our collection we can trace public spectacles, such as Lunardi’s hot
air balloon ascent in Mary Hamilton’s diary. We could endlessly list the
wonderful things we have, but it wouldn’t be all that exciting for you, which
is why we want you to get involved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMcKIlPrzfZz19e8_I_SDMjUlponkqYtB1QiUpaEy1I-aHR9sJCwz10dSk32dZ1qbmdadN_9wji-cKfwmx3A3ZyHomc8-_sPhzU-yCNcbqt_nOr5-vjU7kQZIn4sqeqUtPTrD1MdGNbjD/s1600/blog+your+man+sci+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMcKIlPrzfZz19e8_I_SDMjUlponkqYtB1QiUpaEy1I-aHR9sJCwz10dSk32dZ1qbmdadN_9wji-cKfwmx3A3ZyHomc8-_sPhzU-yCNcbqt_nOr5-vjU7kQZIn4sqeqUtPTrD1MdGNbjD/s320/blog+your+man+sci+4.jpg" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Vesalius' <i>Anatomia </i>(1604)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">For <a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0cm;">Manchester Science Festival</span></a>, we want to find out, once and for all, who is
everyone’s favourite Manchester scientist! We’ve come up with five major figures
in Mancunian scientific history for you to choose from: <b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">Bernard Lovell</span></b>, <b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">Alan Turing</span></b>, <b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">Joseph Whitworth</span></b>, <b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">James Joule</span></b> and <b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">John Dalton.</span></b> All of them live on in our
collections, in books, images and archive documents. To take the title of
everyone’s favourite Manchester scientist, they need your votes. So head
to the <a href="http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands/whats-on/msf/yms-vote/" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0cm;">voting page</span></a> to find out more about each of these great
Manchester scientists and support your favourite (or head to the bottom of
this post to cast your vote directly).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5AB8jHnBpgHHPeBIrH7BoqTXOUDBMNEGZqBMuSgGTxfIORojOJkyVgE6kO7MtHvgdZOzBKDfh19jhcymTf2RWjoSRLPyY1Kqh0KsWfskWi6Vbs6nqEL1m1Ds9qu1N1D7Gd73ZoRaaFyS/s1600/blog+your+man+sci+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5AB8jHnBpgHHPeBIrH7BoqTXOUDBMNEGZqBMuSgGTxfIORojOJkyVgE6kO7MtHvgdZOzBKDfh19jhcymTf2RWjoSRLPyY1Kqh0KsWfskWi6Vbs6nqEL1m1Ds9qu1N1D7Gd73ZoRaaFyS/s1600/blog+your+man+sci+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Alan Turing</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRssXQj2o0qHaUu8vtUZFW1GO5eR_TZadva6lGJItJIg88tOH2bLQoFIWx56OozFZinwLVq9vbok_q75-K0FkFukwGGHNDMtTFACiGD-f-JIGhMh_20KWzHXtGWhIzWoezl9CNoruDTOb/s1600/blog+your+man+sci+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRssXQj2o0qHaUu8vtUZFW1GO5eR_TZadva6lGJItJIg88tOH2bLQoFIWx56OozFZinwLVq9vbok_q75-K0FkFukwGGHNDMtTFACiGD-f-JIGhMh_20KWzHXtGWhIzWoezl9CNoruDTOb/s1600/blog+your+man+sci+1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Bernard Lovell</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">To help you decide, come along to The
John Rylands Library on 30 October, between 12 noon and 2pm, to <a href="http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands/whats-on/msf/" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0cm;">discover highlights</span></a> from our scientific collections and learn
more about the stories behind them. We’ll be showcasing items relating to the
top front-running scientists as voted by you, plus there’ll be an opportunity
to add to the voting on the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If
you’re excited as we are about our Manchester Science Festival exhibitions and
events, you can also join us on 29 October, our <a href="http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands/whats-on/msf/" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0cm;">Thursday Late</span></a>,
for a unique opportunity to meet the Manchester-based artist behind our Noisy
Bodies exhibition, <a href="http://dakshapatel.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0cm;">Daksha Patel</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Let us know who you’ve voted for –
and why – by tweeting us @TheJohnRylands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaplzLgdP4NqGkjC1a8eZSdRIjKCv-_8q3vypVxSKrD2LO1KyGdoWuJfDzhE3gqe8iDg0lWs4wrL7KlTztwdebHDwEW3kzMy5e6mXuCffT-icUJH10nLnus8gSbnHgmm6Vl4DkrvTcmsB_/s1600/blog+your+man+sci+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaplzLgdP4NqGkjC1a8eZSdRIjKCv-_8q3vypVxSKrD2LO1KyGdoWuJfDzhE3gqe8iDg0lWs4wrL7KlTztwdebHDwEW3kzMy5e6mXuCffT-icUJH10nLnus8gSbnHgmm6Vl4DkrvTcmsB_/s320/blog+your+man+sci+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">By Harry Jelley, The John Rylands Library</span></div>
</div>
mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-79709103351325970392015-10-22T14:04:00.001+01:002015-10-22T14:04:41.984+01:00The science of fashion technology<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Textiles and fashion are vibrant and innovative industry
sectors and recent scientific developments allow researchers to improve the fit
and sizing of garments as well as gain insights into fashion consumer
behaviour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Body scanning technology uses image capture devices to
render real 3D objects as virtual 3D objects, so for instance, people as
avatars. Modern body scanners such as the Size Stream typically use infra-red
depth sensors, similar to those used in interactive home video games systems, which
are positioned at different angles and heights to get full body coverage in a
few seconds without any contact. Specialist software then coverts the sensor
data into high quality 3D scans which can be used to define body measurements,
population shapes and sizes, enabling analysis of individuals as well as populations. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Body scans help to better inform fashion product development, supporting
bespoke garment development as well as allowing greater insights for improving
size and fit in mass produced garments. Researchers at The University of
Manchester use this technology to investigate methods for creating custom garments,
to develop sizing systems and to investigate human size shape and proportion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As well as application in sizing and fit innovation,
technological advances also enable us to better understand fashion consumer
behaviour. Mobile eye-trackers are designed for capturing consumer data in the
real world, as they are able to collect eye-movement data whilst the wearer
moves freely and naturally in any situation, for example through a shopping
mall or department store. The Tobii Glasses have five cameras built into a lightweight
head unit, one of which faces forward and records the wearer’s view. The other four
face the wearer’s eyes to capture how the pupils are moving, which enables to
system to place exactly where the wearer is looking. The eye-movement data that
is captured includes fixations, saccades and scan paths. A fixation happens when
the eyes are stationary on one point and typically lasts between 100-600 milliseconds.
A saccade is the extremely fast movement of the eyes between these fixations,
while a scan path shows the order of the fixations and saccades in
chronological order. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To analyse
eye-tracking data, researchers firstly determine the areas of interest (AOIs) in
the wearer’s scene, then look at metrics such as the total fixation duration or
the time to first fixation. The total fixation duration metric gives an
indication of the AOI which the wearer found most interesting or engaging, as
they gave it most of their attention. The time to first fixation metric would
be useful for understanding how long it might take a shopper to notice a particular
advert or offer in a store. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not only does science allow us to track what consumers are
looking at, there are also possibilities to understand their brain activity
when they are shopping for fashion or being exposed to marketing communications,
such as adverts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An EEG (electroencephalogram) is a non-invasive procedure
which measures the brain’s electrical activity at different sites on the head
using electrodes placed on the scalp, and is used in a medical context to
diagnose epilepsy and sleep disorders. However, with the advancements of
technology and demands for insight into the subconscious aspects of human
behaviour such as attention, emotion and decision making, the EEG is also being
used in other fields such as neuro-marketing to provide a window into the mind
of the consumer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">EEG recordings are typically measured through frequency
analysis, or the presence of different brain oscillations. There are five main
frequency bands (alpha, beta, theta, delta and gamma), of which two are
associated with common modes of behaviour: the measurement of relaxation (alpha
rhythms) and focused attention (beta rhythms). With these, it is possible to
understand what part of the brain is active whilst the consumer is shopping. It
can also communicate with the computer via the brain and thus has many future
uses in gaming and artificial intelligence. It provides accurate results and
can be combined with other technological inputs such as the eye-tracker. The
Emotiv EEG headset is particularly easy to use as it only requires placement on
the head, without the usual gel and careful placing of electrodes on the scalp
used in a medical context.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/piinteractivetextiles" target="_blank">Pi: Interactive Textiles and Fashion Technology</a> event on
Friday 30 October provides a unique opportunity to personally experience all of
these technologies and meet researchers and doctoral students from The
University of Manchester’s School of Materials to find out more. Get scanned in
our Sizestream 3D bodyscanner and take a print-out of your very own 3D avatar.
Wear the Tobii Mobile Glasses and see how your eye movements are tracked on the
laptop beside you. Try on the Emotiv EEG headset and see how you can control a
game with your thoughts. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Patsy Perry, University of Manchester</span></div>
</div>
mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-70382502320145152332015-10-22T13:17:00.002+01:002015-10-22T13:17:59.046+01:00Peer review poetry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wTe0wOiuC5NXsfEVzcDeRu72HNFKUF6BJ9L9eGtX1TzdHUpyI_yznniDY1h9mU8fcdkinbNBd0Zn-DNywKp0yJq6vSOQSJLiofj2JXa_L_5qR_S1wmL-3Pjv3xNXybXYacEMl-u5aZUX/s1600/Peer+reviewed+poetry_IMAGE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wTe0wOiuC5NXsfEVzcDeRu72HNFKUF6BJ9L9eGtX1TzdHUpyI_yznniDY1h9mU8fcdkinbNBd0Zn-DNywKp0yJq6vSOQSJLiofj2JXa_L_5qR_S1wmL-3Pjv3xNXybXYacEMl-u5aZUX/s400/Peer+reviewed+poetry_IMAGE.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">Since the beginning of scientific discovery, poets have written about science; while scientists have written poetry. In </span><a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/peerreviewedpoetry" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;" target="_blank">Peer review poetry</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">, Dan Simpson represents the former and Dr Sam Illingworth scientists. Together, they consider the artistic value and scientific integrity of the two worlds and how they interact...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Sam, the scientist:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we seek and observe nature’s beauty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is one question that always stands out:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For is science exceeding its duty,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or is it poems that we can do without? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keats and Poe thought that science was ugly,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that it stole from us nature’s intent;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Feynman wondered why the poets smugly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did make their claims based on some false descent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are both fields yet aware of their defects?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As with their words they try trap nature’s soul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For its beauty is one of their objects<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That alone they cannot hope capture whole.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To find out why their fighting is absurd,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Come see us on October twenty-third.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Sam Illingworth, Manchester Metropolitan University</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Dan, the poet:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heavy
elements<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">constitute
art and science:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">common
gravity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Poems
are guesswork<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">intuitive
estimates<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sometimes
revealing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Science
is precise<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">accurate
observations<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sometimes
beautiful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Poetry
creates<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">our
world as we perceive it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">science
understands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Immortal
poet!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">not
immortal after all:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">universe
heat death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Show
numbers and words<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to
describe our Universe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">shine
light on the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Waves
or particles?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Artist
or scientist? We’re<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">gloriously
both.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Dan Simpson, poet</span></div>
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mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-1077837596918486252015-10-22T13:07:00.000+01:002015-10-22T13:07:34.447+01:00The Outbreak Game<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKh_WU4HWwjzILL6vYivL2Um9o7mImkFhyphenhyphenF4anqFZEo8xXiQ9qzC3bnYkKGyRhwMJ-ZUVUnyXZr_mqO_bcOjCOoyFUgc1w7B9Tm-hJctHRGpsIektEeo2t3F_DP31HoH-wVI5r-H-aCTP/s1600/Outbreak+Whie+Logo+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKh_WU4HWwjzILL6vYivL2Um9o7mImkFhyphenhyphenF4anqFZEo8xXiQ9qzC3bnYkKGyRhwMJ-ZUVUnyXZr_mqO_bcOjCOoyFUgc1w7B9Tm-hJctHRGpsIektEeo2t3F_DP31HoH-wVI5r-H-aCTP/s200/Outbreak+Whie+Logo+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="size" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes
we get the strangest ideas in the most unlikely moments and this was certainly
one of them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="size"><br /></span>
<span class="size">The idea for “<a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/outbreak" target="_blank">Outbreak</a>!”, an interactive street game which brings
together film-makers, game designers and scientists came to me as I was
brushing my teeth, one cold grey winter morning. I had been playing in my head
with the idea of creating an event that could engage people of different ages
and backgrounds in an active way around the topic of public health, but until
that point I hadn't quite figured out how. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="size"><br /></span>
<span class="size">Then, all of a sudden, something
clicked and I rushed to my phone to call Jana, a friend who specialises, among
many other things, in games design. It didn’t take long to get her and Dr.
Joanne Pennock, immunologist from the University of Manchester, involved in the
project and before I knew it we were working towards the most unconventional
and bizarre science communication project I have ever been involved in.</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_LH9dTM4LKH6q7hMwQJFcc06QDg7HPWvUMT26i6eof1ieKSEnfLclzdTXQvueDwLLzfl3CSTAGgdm8DvOjCVKsxOo3UKYL6VtsfVrFjj9_Tg4HD__ihWN0HeEKzZPGXJdwdyGYUl1tof/s1600/Donna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_LH9dTM4LKH6q7hMwQJFcc06QDg7HPWvUMT26i6eof1ieKSEnfLclzdTXQvueDwLLzfl3CSTAGgdm8DvOjCVKsxOo3UKYL6VtsfVrFjj9_Tg4HD__ihWN0HeEKzZPGXJdwdyGYUl1tof/s200/Donna.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="size">At
the core of the game is the desire to target perhaps one of the biggest
misconception in science, the idea that science is either right or wrong, black
or white, correct or inexact. Anyone who has worked in a scientific environment
will know too well that things are never so clean cut and even though we so
often read in the media that “science says”, what that really means is “some
people have agreed on this interpretation of data”. </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTl0dzzuTLg8EIzYhxXbFmWmp4AEFIWl_CW93q4_iA7RZT2SOR931OhC6bnk7bvHigfmsOEmkAM7e16Rwxzr7g56FF0F-8kC8P1wFcHV61WTWp-BsZi3U37Ut-x33GmOqeHbvdaM9adf_y/s1600/Basel+Glaze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTl0dzzuTLg8EIzYhxXbFmWmp4AEFIWl_CW93q4_iA7RZT2SOR931OhC6bnk7bvHigfmsOEmkAM7e16Rwxzr7g56FF0F-8kC8P1wFcHV61WTWp-BsZi3U37Ut-x33GmOqeHbvdaM9adf_y/s200/Basel+Glaze.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="size">With
this game and interactive experience we want to highlight the difficulties in
science and how science crosses over with policy making, especially when time
and resources are limited, as in the case of dealing with an outbreak, where
making “right” interpretations and choices becomes increasingly more difficult.
By placing players in that awkward but interesting role of scientific advisors
to the Government, we want to force them to think on their feet, independently,
under a time pressure, wearing the labcoat of the scientist, the suit of the
politician and the skin of the citizen, having to realise there is no perfect
choice and that often compromises involve some losses, however much you might
want to avoid that.</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="size" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjHtuYLkjvJNIriaNtqY1HcD6EQi0PXxOtXn28w7sSrbMJvTcrVVhI43kh2O0Iyp1laYWPzEU1Q4nzjE-5wEY0UArVp1MLpgrh0YdZ7Puj4BMCGdopEUDxlKZYnYvHNAz2snmz7omaH0O/s1600/Dr+K+Fisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjHtuYLkjvJNIriaNtqY1HcD6EQi0PXxOtXn28w7sSrbMJvTcrVVhI43kh2O0Iyp1laYWPzEU1Q4nzjE-5wEY0UArVp1MLpgrh0YdZ7Puj4BMCGdopEUDxlKZYnYvHNAz2snmz7omaH0O/s200/Dr+K+Fisher.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By </span>Greta, Outbreak</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Website - <a href="http://theoutbreakgame.org/">http://theoutbreakgame.org/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Facebook - <a data-tracking-action="ViewOrgFb" href="http://www.facebook.com/OutbreakMcr" target="_blank">facebook.com/OutbreakMcr </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Twitter - <a data-tracking-action="ViewOrgTwitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/@OutbreakMcr" target="_blank">@OutbreakMcr </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eventbrite - <a href="http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/outbreak-street-game-tickets-17514893518">http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/outbreak-street-game-tickets-17514893518</a></span></div>
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mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-62508889639480396662015-10-22T12:57:00.001+01:002015-10-22T13:08:22.741+01:00Hopped on Music<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some things it seems are just meant to be. Timing,
coincidence, luck - they all combine to spark an idea. That's what happened
with <a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/hoppedonmusic" target="_blank">Hopped on Music</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew of Pete Brown, I'd bought a few of his books for
my other half as gifts one Christmas, so one afternoon as I listened to the
radio at work, it was announced he'd be chatting to the host that afternoon. My
interest was piqued, even though I normally let the words and music flow over
me, that afternoon I listened more, paid more attention.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As he chatted to Stuart Maconie, Pete mentioned is
workshops where he matches beers with music - different styles of beer work
with different sounds, so much so that those who attended the sessions would
contact him afterwards to tell how they tried a beer elsewhere and the song
popped into their head, or they heard the song and suddenly they could taste
the beer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My mind made the connection with Hooked on Music. Our
senses are intertwined with our emotions and memories in a fascinating way.
Taste a childhood food and you're back there. The scent of a fabric conditioner
can take you back to your grans house, or a familiar song can take you on a
journey to a slow dance at the school disco.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Matching beer to music, is a way of playing with our
senses and creating new memories, new connections, and as Pete very kindly
agreed to visit us up north (and Manchester Science Festival agreed to let us
run the workshop), we'll be matching 5 beers with pieces of music in the
basement of Kosmonaut. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pete's own inspiration was a piece of research from
Heriot Watt University in 2008, looking at the effect of music on wine. Being
of the beery persuasion, he looked into matching music to brews, resulting in
the workshop that will be Hopped on Music.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Personally, I'm really keen to see if tr</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">umpets really do
taste like hops.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Charlie Hooson-Sykes, Gin Fuelled</span></div>
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mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-69824401185618498552015-10-22T12:53:00.000+01:002015-10-22T13:08:12.246+01:00Wanted: 40 Facts about the Future of Food<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.gmss.uk/">Greater Manchester Skeptics Society</a> are looking
for 40 facts about food security and food production to be presented as part of
their event “The Future of Food”. The event explored the common ground between
scientists and activists regarding our ability to feed a growing population in
years to come. Together with the talks and discussions on the 23<sup>rd</sup>
October, these facts will cover a great range of issues, from local food
production in Manchester to the loss of key food sources worldwide.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfA1Gvl8MBst2Go6EnMEVY41EZClXbiezIo1ou_DhxQ3JsxAqgAyXyyMPJMu0-96dIfQwmqqfdIqxg_BFqzX3Zh8K8n5GhEKzyejxBqfgNIF5DzuoXiZHyl2MmSDjzeZ_btziETPHLNl0p/s1600/GMSS+blog+fried+crickets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfA1Gvl8MBst2Go6EnMEVY41EZClXbiezIo1ou_DhxQ3JsxAqgAyXyyMPJMu0-96dIfQwmqqfdIqxg_BFqzX3Zh8K8n5GhEKzyejxBqfgNIF5DzuoXiZHyl2MmSDjzeZ_btziETPHLNl0p/s320/GMSS+blog+fried+crickets.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fried_crickets_in_Cambodia.jpg">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fried_crickets_in_Cambodia.jpg</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Creative_Commons" title="w:en:Creative Commons"><span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); text-decoration: none;">Creative
Commons</span></a><span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249);"> </span><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/deed.en">Attribution-Share
Alike 2.5 Generic</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Mosmas" title="User:Mosmas"><span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); text-decoration: none;">Thomas Schoch</span></a><span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249);"> at </span><a href="http://www.retas.de/thomas/travel/cambodia2006/index.html" style="word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.retas.de/thomas/travel/cambodia2006/index.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fact #1: Crickets need 12 times less feed than cattle to produce the same
amount of protein.</span></h3>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">According to <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3253e/i3253e.pdf">a report</a> for the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, more than 1,900
species of insects have been used as food, as part of the diet of 2 billion
people. Insects have many environmental benefits compared to traditional
livestock. They require less water and less land to be cleared for farming and
emit fewer greenhouse gases. Being cold-blooded, they are also more efficient
at turning feed into body mass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoM_P0NZM2DiAtAjIhRZCrZcaWsyccLb1YtjxKEeAkzybUrNVfJRb1DLBaIxf9Ifs63pRN6if6M2gFFYnNwbA-vyzVsWTaajyVzDUMpHpuQKlWEV3OIDQtUYOPIBLe0jpzBb2oQv6teML/s1600/GMSS+blog+seed+vault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoM_P0NZM2DiAtAjIhRZCrZcaWsyccLb1YtjxKEeAkzybUrNVfJRb1DLBaIxf9Ifs63pRN6if6M2gFFYnNwbA-vyzVsWTaajyVzDUMpHpuQKlWEV3OIDQtUYOPIBLe0jpzBb2oQv6teML/s320/GMSS+blog+seed+vault.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #252525;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Storage_containers_in_Svalbard_Global_Seed_Vault_01.jpg">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Storage_containers_in_Svalbard_Global_Seed_Vault_01.jpg</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #252525;">Image classified as in
the public domain</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f9f9f9; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">NordGen/Dag Terje Filip Endresen</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fact #2: The Svalbard Global Seed Vault contains around 860,000 samples,
protecting these crop varieties for the future.</span></h3>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of many seed banks around the world, the Svalbard Global
Seed Vault was built in 2008 and was designed to withstand disasters such
nuclear war. Each variety of a crop may be suited to different climates or
resilient against particular pests, and can be used by scientists to breed
stronger crops. The first request for seeds was made by the International
Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, after the crisis in Syria
forced it to relocate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuptBAbE3pACKgonJY8ZJ8aS_hwKi5rZZ1PD07kpZZ4rjUvEk4e27yo-iP1fC6xb3nwnQj_vTiVUL7thZeONrVHL0nqMvwAv_IkxqZB3OR-auEds_XXru_aH6hOlLRjhDtztt8LgdtM7tM/s1600/GMSS+blog+school+of+tuna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuptBAbE3pACKgonJY8ZJ8aS_hwKi5rZZ1PD07kpZZ4rjUvEk4e27yo-iP1fC6xb3nwnQj_vTiVUL7thZeONrVHL0nqMvwAv_IkxqZB3OR-auEds_XXru_aH6hOlLRjhDtztt8LgdtM7tM/s320/GMSS+blog+school+of+tuna.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Group_of_tuna.jpg">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Group_of_tuna.jpg</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Image classified as in the public domain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); color: #252525;">Danilo Cedrone (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization)</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); color: #252525;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fact #3: Nearly 3 billion people rely on fish as a major source of protein.</span></h3>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">According to the World Wildlife Fund’s “<a href="http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/living_blue_planet_report_2015.pdf">Living
Blue Planet</a>” report, nearly 3 billion people receive at least 20% of their
protein intake from fish. Average consumption of fish per capita has nearly
doubled since the 1960s. As it stands, 29% of the world’s fish stocks are
classified as overfished and 61% as fully exploited, meaning that there is no
way to increase the amount of fish caught. Increasingly, species are being
caught which have longer life spans and take longer to reach maturity, meaning
that it takes longer for populations to recover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you have a fact to contribute, send it to <a href="mailto:events@gmss.uk">events@gmss.uk</a> or tweet using the hashtag
#futureoffood. If possible, include a link to the source of the information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><w:sdt contentlocked="t" id="89512093" sdtgroup="t"><span style="font-size: 1pt;"><w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr><w:sdt docpart="6DAD8E6EB0AF492CB25F7567F08D883A" id="89512082" storeitemid="X_5F329CAD-B019-4FA6-9FEF-74898909AD20" text="t" title="Post Title" xpath="/ns0:BlogPostInfo/ns0:PostTitle"></w:sdt></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Future of Food event will be at the Museum of Science
and Industry on Friday 23<sup>rd</sup> October, starting at 7pm. For more
details, visit the <a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/thefutureoffood">Manchester
Science Festival website</a>.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Vicky Stiles, Greater Manchester Skeptics Society</span></div>
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mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-75926541345150800342015-03-16T13:59:00.000+00:002015-03-16T13:59:16.773+00:00Winning the Josh Award<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Guest post from 2014 Josh Award winner Sarah Bearchell...</span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Sometimes curiosity has amazing consequences…. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">As Josh Award winner and as part of the Manchester Science Festival 2014, I visited Springwood School in Swinton, Greater Manchester.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The primary school has about 170 pupils who have
a wide range of Special Educational Needs. The workshops were very simple: we
made some clouds using dry ice and warm water as a way to explore states of
matter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The children were instantly excited when they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">saw</i> the white water vapour tumbling out of our experiment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were utterly amazed when they were able
to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">feel</i> how cold and wet it was as it
ran through their fingers. They <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">heard</i>
the bubbling of the carbon dioxide as it sublimed from a solid into a gas and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">felt</i> the vibrations as the bubbles
popped when they reached the surface of the water. We also added blackcurrant
squash to the mixture so that our clouds <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">smelled</i>
and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> tasted</i> of blackcurrants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a full sensory experience!</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxoEAj2iWJk4QtGphg0sHBSriDI4fLc3Yb78DXOTtH0zSRE3RC28326sfbpbr5669YnVSISPERa63pyJhcKrw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">As we worked, we used scientific language to talk about solids, liquids
and gases. The more vocally-able children really enjoyed this new terminology
and joined in with a loud shout of the word ‘sublimation!’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the most able children asked
questions about reaction rates and we were able to do experiments to
investigate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The equipment I use is designed to get the children as close as possible
to the experiment, whilst keeping them safe. Dry ice is very cold; at about
-78°C, that’s roughly the same temperature as the South Pole in winter. If you
touch it you can get frost burns which are really painful. The experiment boxes
have lids so that little fingers cannot get in but there are small holes so the
cloud can escape. They are also safe to carry around so I can take the
experiment to mobility impaired children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s really important to me that every child can access the activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The Josh Award funded me to develop a new piece of equipment which I
call ‘The Cloud Machine’ and with it, every child could control the making of a
dry ice cloud. Most children were able to pull the cord which releases the dry
ice into the warm water but some severely disabled children controlled their
cloud formation by indicating to their carer when to pull the cord. Their
delight was universal, as was their sense of empowerment.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I had a fantastic time exploring with the children at Springwood School
but the response of one particular child raises a huge smile every time I think
of him… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I was working with a group of children who were about 6 or 7 years
old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of them were mobile, although
one little boy was walking with a frame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We made our first cloud amongst great excitement and when I made the
second cloud I invited the children to come and explore it on the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all came forward with enormous
enthusiasm, including the little boy who left his frame to crawl over to the
cloud. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">When I lifted the box to show how the bubbles were moving, the boy held
on to me and pulled himself up into a standing position. He was absolutely
fascinated by what was happening. When I turned to show the other children what
was happening, the little boy stepped forward to follow the box. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">He was walking unsupported and his teachers were utterly amazed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">His scientific curiosity had driven him to walk and I am really proud
that I had the privilege to be there when he did.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Check out Sarah's website for more information and pictures: <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/sarahsadventuresinscience/the-josh-award">https://sites.google.com/site/sarahsadventuresinscience/the-josh-award</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span> </div>
</div>
mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-48402012173097554112014-12-02T11:18:00.000+00:002014-12-02T11:18:05.811+00:00World Stroke Day 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On Wednesday 29th October, we featured an event organised by </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the Hyperacute Stroke Research Centre, the Stroke Association and the University of Manchester </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">to celebrate World Stroke Day at Salford Royal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">More
than 100 stroke survivors, carers, clinicians and scientists came together <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to see p</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">resentations by Dame Nancy Rothwell, a stroke scientist and President
of the University of Manchester, Salford Royal Chief Executive Sir David Dalton
and Dr Jane Molloy, who leads stroke services at the Salford Royal Foundation Trust. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Audience
members were able to tour a series of hands-on exhibits about stroke treatment
and research, find out how clot-busting treatment is given, how weakened blood
vessels are treated after subarachnoid haemorrhage, and learn more about new
research studies, including stem cell treatments, new medicines for stroke and
hear about new ways of helping people get better after a stroke. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Professor
Pippa Tyrrell, who has been a stroke doctor at Salford Royal for 20 years,
said: “The audience was moved to tears by the testimony of a stroke survivor
called Mary, who told us the moving story of her stroke and read a poem she had
written as part of a poetry workshop organised by the Stroke Association. We
also heard from Kath, a carer, who described the devastating effect of her
husband’s stroke on her young children, and their bravery in coping with it.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“The
Salford Royal stroke team work very closely with their research colleagues and
the Stroke Association so it was wonderful to have a day when we could all meet
with stroke survivors and their carers to raise awareness of the importance of
stroke and new research into its treatment, and to celebrate the amazing work
of the Stroke Association in working with stroke survivors to give them life after
stroke.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
event was brought to a close with an uplifting performance by the Stroke Choir,
which is made up of members who are stroke survivors, carers, volunteers and
people who work with the Stroke Association.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv-EGU68LaIEHk-wBcAr4RvExVQaUSsXPqEBxFW__UfXY5D7YC7oO0TuvbqVq4BI1FSZ7QECXCKQzBeWHYn_1raOt1YinmkIQrzYfOsti0YZcssdaYoR0Mem3lyDCd-kSqMAtZ1jEJy6t/s1600/Stroke_choir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv-EGU68LaIEHk-wBcAr4RvExVQaUSsXPqEBxFW__UfXY5D7YC7oO0TuvbqVq4BI1FSZ7QECXCKQzBeWHYn_1raOt1YinmkIQrzYfOsti0YZcssdaYoR0Mem3lyDCd-kSqMAtZ1jEJy6t/s1600/Stroke_choir.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You can read another post by Dr Lloyd Gregory, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre Associate Director of Research <a href="http://www.mahsc.ac.uk/uncategorized/research-office-weekly-blog-world-stroke-day-29-october-2014/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
</div>
mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-65882870482879142462014-10-28T14:21:00.000+00:002014-10-28T14:21:08.431+00:00Ants and information<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkYlLuKUJFNUuvmCNXapz_1jZLvxBAXxL3yPERO-GO9KZ2Yz4Imqgwrmjiv7Oc6KVXW-DnDcq85mRHIW5pMuwSSGuX8muHA0ncvnix5vCNy_hU25OPfWcewxNAjoEbeF_Mix4Dn6pgJo/s1600/RS1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkYlLuKUJFNUuvmCNXapz_1jZLvxBAXxL3yPERO-GO9KZ2Yz4Imqgwrmjiv7Oc6KVXW-DnDcq85mRHIW5pMuwSSGuX8muHA0ncvnix5vCNy_hU25OPfWcewxNAjoEbeF_Mix4Dn6pgJo/s1600/RS1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Guest post by David Chapman, Royal Society</div>
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At first thought the words ‘ants’ and ‘information’ are
hardly two peas in a pod. Ants are those tiny creatures that invade your house
when the weather gets warm, or sprout wings and descend like a plague on a
sunny Sunday. And information; well that’s just stuff, right? The kind of stuff
you might want to take in about a particular topic, or the stuff that is
manipulated by the media, subsequently regurgitated and accepted as fact.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For scientists though, the two things mean much more. Ants
are a group of insects that evolved around 100 million years ago and have since
spread to inhabit almost every environment on earth, with an incredibly varied
set of over 12,500 classified species. Information, at its very basic level, is
anything from which we can learn something; it’s a change within a system; a
result of cause and effect from which we can derive data. It’s safe to say
that, without information, scientists would need some pretty nifty methods to
learn anything. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So how do they relate, and why is this important? <o:p></o:p></div>
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It turns out that ants are pretty good at communicating
information within their colonies. Although on an individual level they take
part in very simple interactions, the accumulation of thousands of these
interactions over time leads to some sophisticated decision making. For
example, if an external event is a threat to the colony – flooding, a predator,
or a twelve-year-old with a magnifying glass – they quickly organise themselves
without ever having to be told what to do; they have evolved the ability to
make collective, colony-level decisions with completely decentralised control. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This ability makes them quite useful for scientists to study
and <a href="http://www.york.ac.uk/biology/research/ecology-evolution/elva-robinson/#profile">Dr
Elva Robinson</a>, holder of a <a href="https://royalsociety.org/grants/schemes/dorothy-hodgkin/">Royal Society
Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship</a>, is doing just that. Elva uses Radio-Frequency
Identification (RFID) (miniature computer chips strapped to individual ants –
pictured) to investigate how tasks are allocated among the colony and how they
adapt to changes in task need (that child with the magnifying glass is back
again). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Kj7WuPOR2SlBomjW7Jc0ngmf2WkZq5jSui9avpyrB4WgZuW9Pzm10MWxkSPanXFNTns35rlYjbMWbGHa9Efl4tj-nyrZwxc23YbGMkEcFTwI47XV_VMpCqAKJAWdP67jkQ3XV2GZ7ys/s1600/RS2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Kj7WuPOR2SlBomjW7Jc0ngmf2WkZq5jSui9avpyrB4WgZuW9Pzm10MWxkSPanXFNTns35rlYjbMWbGHa9Efl4tj-nyrZwxc23YbGMkEcFTwI47XV_VMpCqAKJAWdP67jkQ3XV2GZ7ys/s1600/RS2.jpg" height="285" width="320" /></a></div>
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By studying these behaviours, Elva hopes to ease the very
modern problem of information overload. Modern society is completely saturated
with information and controlling it in the way we want is a big challenge. By
understanding how these ants achieve such a feat, we can tap into 100 million
years’ worth of evolutionary nouse and let these masters of information do the
hard work for us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You can find out more about this fascinating topic at <a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/msf14antsandinformation"><i>Ants and information</i></a>, Saturday 1
November, 2.30pm, Manchester Museum. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Part of #msf14</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-79721377175832133452014-10-20T15:22:00.000+01:002014-10-20T15:22:08.848+01:00Behind the scenes in 3D: Printing the FuturePreparation for the upcoming <a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/msf143dprintingexhibition" target="_blank">exhibition</a> opening at the <a href="http://www.mosi.org.uk/whats-on/3d-printing-the-future.aspx" target="_blank">Museum of Science & Industry</a> has involved furious printing behind the scenes at <a href="http://www.hobsstudio.com/" target="_blank">Hobs Studio</a>. We also asked our scientists and partners to donate any 3D printed items that they used or created as part of their research to be included in the exhibition as part of a "cloud" of beautiful, wonderful and strange 3D printed items. Here is some of the story behind a few of these items...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ybUjDuUXqTrtTPF8Pov_uU84wGZQTvRwkrs1X_PNfOPl1PSErccMUKbMU2cUtdAx1-NMLfxuyy1UjBlqM1svIVRSyULYlz7aVHZeVsPcrJbl8e2ACnLHx7ce2PqfihyphenhyphenVPKF4CIZSkEA/s1600/cd0726_025+141006+3D+printed+Mather+objects.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ybUjDuUXqTrtTPF8Pov_uU84wGZQTvRwkrs1X_PNfOPl1PSErccMUKbMU2cUtdAx1-NMLfxuyy1UjBlqM1svIVRSyULYlz7aVHZeVsPcrJbl8e2ACnLHx7ce2PqfihyphenhyphenVPKF4CIZSkEA/s1600/cd0726_025+141006+3D+printed+Mather+objects.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prophabot (left) and Monty (right) made by Amy and Dan Mather</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>Toys </u><br />
These toys were made by two of our favourite young scientists Amy and Dan Mather, who have worked with us at the Museum of Science & Industry for the <a href="http://makerfairemanchester.com/" target="_blank">Maker Faire</a> as well as previous Festivals. Amy's Prophabot won the student category of <a href="http://www.cartridgesave.co.uk/3dprintcup" target="_blank">The 3D Print Cup</a> this year. You can read more about her experience creating this in her <a href="http://minigirlgeek.wordpress.com/2014/07/16/the-3d-print-cup/" target="_blank">blog</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>Lab Equipment</u><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Jpxw_5Wox5I7WBr_zYtZlkGQQfhmmmNdSMtl8yHMpIYgTY_2ppozI1AKjjDTgHlBKn8pEZBW1Ok3Ydr12XisIiQivhxGrb3-oGUyg1yuSEmDMiKPXMJ5Rn4f6hhyphenhyphenk6ud46Qr1soxB_Q/s1600/cd0726_038+141006+3D+printed+Lab+equipment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Jpxw_5Wox5I7WBr_zYtZlkGQQfhmmmNdSMtl8yHMpIYgTY_2ppozI1AKjjDTgHlBKn8pEZBW1Ok3Ydr12XisIiQivhxGrb3-oGUyg1yuSEmDMiKPXMJ5Rn4f6hhyphenhyphenk6ud46Qr1soxB_Q/s1600/cd0726_038+141006+3D+printed+Lab+equipment.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3D printed lab equipment, made in Manchester</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This bespoke lab equipment really sums up the potential impact 3D printing could have on the scientific community - think of something, design it and make it yourself. In the past this may have been too difficult, costly or time consuming and so limit the science you were able to do.<br />
The pinch valve is part of a larger assembly for environmental research on the carbon dioxide emi<span style="font-family: inherit;">ssion of soils. The interlocking
parametric grid and racks are
customised for holding laboratory equipment such as petri dishes and sample
bottles, and the design parameters can be altered to make holders for different
objects. </span>These objects were designed using open-source tools and the design is freely available via <a href="http://drelliott.net/">http://drelliott.net</a>. A locally manufactured open-source printer was used to print the objects.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>With thanks to <a href="http://www.sste.mmu.ac.uk/staff/staffbiog/default.asp?StaffID=710" target="_blank">David Elliott</a>, microbial ecologist in the Division of Biology and Conservation Ecology at Manchester Metropolitan University.<br />
<br />
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/IL4f_x4CFQA/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/IL4f_x4CFQA&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/IL4f_x4CFQA&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Spider</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The video to the left shows the 3D scan of a Huntsman spider, the print of which is also included in the "cloud" of objects.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbEErpldcADnvqAMnrj6wSQZLnxXTjR15hq1crAOQWUaKpT1QKIrclKO6f5JqiZeU-AuCzo4zPMoROzsqS0eycNTHv7iYCVyA8Hz68kSYkugX0j7vEMpaKwrFbtfoh462U8zEPFiAG3I/s1600/LHCbUpgradeModule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbEErpldcADnvqAMnrj6wSQZLnxXTjR15hq1crAOQWUaKpT1QKIrclKO6f5JqiZeU-AuCzo4zPMoROzsqS0eycNTHv7iYCVyA8Hz68kSYkugX0j7vEMpaKwrFbtfoh462U8zEPFiAG3I/s1600/LHCbUpgradeModule.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3D printed LHCb upgrade detector module<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</span></td></tr>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<u1:p></u1:p><u1:p></u1:p><u>Detector Module</u><br />
The LHCb experiment is one of the four large experiments at the <a href="http://www.stfc.ac.uk/646.aspx" target="_blank">Large Hadron Collider</a> at <a href="http://home.web.cern.ch/" target="_blank">CERN</a>. Its purpose is to investigate the difference between ordinary matter (stuff that we are made from) and antimatter (same mass as the stuff that we are made from, but oppositely charged). The experiment will undergo a major upgrade in 2018. The <a href="http://www.hep.man.ac.uk/" target="_blank">University of Manchester</a> will construct modules of one of the detectors that is closest to the proton beams (called the VELO: Vertex Locator). They will measure the positions of particles forty million times every second. This 3D printed module has been produced by CERN as part of the design studies for these modules. With thanks to <a href="http://www.manchester.ac.uk/research/robert.appleby/" target="_blank">Rob Appleby</a>, accelerator and particle physicist at the University of Manchester.<br />
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There are many more fascinating objects included in the exhibition, which opens this Thursday (the install of which has been the backdrop for a couple of our #scienceselfies this week).<br />
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<a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/msf143dprintingexhibition" target="_blank">3D: Printing the Future</a> opens Thursday at 12pm and will stay at the Museum of Science & Industry until 19th April 2015.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LRF7gCe3p5yYFlRCSR4de4gkW1jdpBx7eZT4I12WKHgYdw7FJ0zhmM8V6TyqReyUjKMiP2azAsJEk-ntBGKDObF8YO_4HUtrAUt18zMhyaY7YBdJKTI8BXC21x7ILMtSCxxc3ix7nM8/s1600/selfie3dprinting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LRF7gCe3p5yYFlRCSR4de4gkW1jdpBx7eZT4I12WKHgYdw7FJ0zhmM8V6TyqReyUjKMiP2azAsJEk-ntBGKDObF8YO_4HUtrAUt18zMhyaY7YBdJKTI8BXC21x7ILMtSCxxc3ix7nM8/s1600/selfie3dprinting.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our #msf14 #scienceselfie with a sneak peek of the install this week, ahead of opening on Thursday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-76662973792170326232014-10-16T12:06:00.000+01:002014-10-16T12:06:01.716+01:00The Future is Fracking. Discuss.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlCgEzJ0vw3dZrdDH8mzRcXtBJBzdUpoIN2xbwfjGb3XibbIdzAsmVQavdZ8lMwO_vDFl8UATsNcYvQQ1rcRU_FiegZiZAt4AYqBqt8X-hUpUzVSZwG2LKwsjgEs2KEmbGhsVL8kaTEA/s1600/Page+19+The+Future+is+Fracking+Discuss+(Flickr%2BManchester%2BFriends%2Bof%2Bthe%2BEarth%2C%2BCreative%2BCommons%2BBY-NC-SA).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlCgEzJ0vw3dZrdDH8mzRcXtBJBzdUpoIN2xbwfjGb3XibbIdzAsmVQavdZ8lMwO_vDFl8UATsNcYvQQ1rcRU_FiegZiZAt4AYqBqt8X-hUpUzVSZwG2LKwsjgEs2KEmbGhsVL8kaTEA/s1600/Page+19+The+Future+is+Fracking+Discuss+(Flickr%2BManchester%2BFriends%2Bof%2Bthe%2BEarth%2C%2BCreative%2BCommons%2BBY-NC-SA).JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fracking for shale gas has been the game changer in
the global exploration of energy. Now, the discovery of shale gas in Lancashire
and at Barton Moss has brought the subject right to our doorstep. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some people see fracking as the answer to the UK’s
energy needs, others claim it causes pollution, earthquakes and is a further
use of carbon. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What do you think? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://discuss.org.uk/" target="_blank">Discuss</a>, the home of the intellectually curious in
Manchester, will be hosting a <a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/msf14discussfracking" target="_blank">debate at the Museum of Science & Industry</a> on Tuesday 28th October. </span>Joining the panel will be Happy Mondays band
member, and aspiring Politician, Bez alongside two professors from the
University of Manchester, on opposing sides of the debate as well as a leading Blackpool
business woman. </span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the motion<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.manchester.ac.uk/research/ernie.rutter/" target="_blank">Ernie Rutter</a>, Professor of Structural Geology at the University of Manchester</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">Professor Rutter has said: </span><span lang="EN-US">‘The
potential importance of the development of shale gas resources to the UK
economy and for a politically secure energy resource have been well rehearsed
for those who have listened. The facts of the American experience of falling
energy prices coupled with security of supply, job creation and economic
stimulation demonstrate this potential.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Claire Smith, president,
<a href="http://blackpoolhotels.org.uk/" target="_blank">Stay Blackpool</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">Claire Smith has said: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Shale gas could be the catalyst to get things moving. Horner Blackpool
should be the engine driver for the Fylde Coast. We must not dither on this
one. It’s a chance to make a step change.”</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Against the motion<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bez, Happy Mondays and anti-fracking protestor</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626;">Bez told the Guardian: “I went along to
the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #084376;"><a href="http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/happy-mondays-star-bez-backs-6838986" target="_blank">fracking protest at Barton Moss</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626;"> to lend my support because of the concerns I have about environmental
issues. If we allow fracking to happen in Salford and Manchester, any idea of a
permaculture society will end with it. I am standing as an MP to draw attention
to the debate because I believe fracking is unsafe technology and the damage it
could do to the environment is irreversible.”</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Professor <a href="http://www.tyndall.ac.uk/people/Kevin-Anderson" target="_blank">Kevin Anderson</a>,
Deputy Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at The
University of Manchester<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">Professor Anderson has
argued: “</span><span lang="EN-US">Shale gas is indisputably a high-carbon energy source.
It is identical to natural gas – consequently when combusted it emits large
quantities of carbon dioxide.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The science of global warming, the maths of our
emissions and our pledge to limit temperature increases to below a 2°C rise
lead to the conclusion that shale gas must remain in the ground if we are to
avoid ‘dangerous climate change’.”</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To place your vote, sign up to the event <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-future-is-fracking-discuss-tickets-12753639479" target="_blank">here</a>. Join the conversation with <a href="https://twitter.com/McrSciFest" target="_blank">@mcrscifest</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/discussMCR" target="_blank">@</a></span></span><a href="https://twitter.com/discussMCR" target="_blank">discussMCR</a> #msf14 </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-69634519785263911262014-10-14T12:46:00.000+01:002014-10-14T12:46:23.748+01:003D: Printing the Future<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUSUIeV_CeNsQLy-XRjHbv_zQoFJr9u0t1klmqQGMA1PyoIT5zmNDcDigfZdMfnnyvNyHjVbwUnoaLbAiLMsyXI7i5H_FfEBYZpGoOY-3O6o3TRs1q7evTSs76ObmCtEgr-_LZv1YtZo/s1600/Marieke_bez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUSUIeV_CeNsQLy-XRjHbv_zQoFJr9u0t1klmqQGMA1PyoIT5zmNDcDigfZdMfnnyvNyHjVbwUnoaLbAiLMsyXI7i5H_FfEBYZpGoOY-3O6o3TRs1q7evTSs76ObmCtEgr-_LZv1YtZo/s1600/Marieke_bez.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manchester Science Festival Director and Bez with his 3D printed bust</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In preparing for the upcoming exhibition <a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/msf143dprintingexhibition" target="_blank">3D: Printing the Future</a> for the Manchester Science Festival 2014, we have been accepting donations of 3D printed items from our partners and supporters. <br />
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We also wanted to print something iconic to Manchester. Since we already had Happy Mondays dancer Bez signed up for our debate on the <a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/msf14discussfracking" target="_blank">future of fracking</a>, it was an opportunity too good to miss. Watch this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUSmACRLy7s" target="_blank">short video</a> of what we got up to when we visited <a href="http://www.hobsrepro.com/" target="_blank">Hobs Reprographics</a> in Manchester, who are also sponsoring the exhibition, with our special guest.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-43902059820141277602014-10-13T16:23:00.001+01:002014-10-13T16:23:56.513+01:00#MegaMenger - builders wanted<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoJSxsiv-1zcJLYWxerjguE1_D9Hn9jU6OIsWo2Vx-4X39S4Uu5VCnkv0aPwIk0750v5GIpbMkeMEX6z6osC8pcjxe9X1Wtq8MURoFiwVPuw6ZwsFkPsbmVpfm6P-q38VStYqN3cYLIo/s1600/CSFL8490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoJSxsiv-1zcJLYWxerjguE1_D9Hn9jU6OIsWo2Vx-4X39S4Uu5VCnkv0aPwIk0750v5GIpbMkeMEX6z6osC8pcjxe9X1Wtq8MURoFiwVPuw6ZwsFkPsbmVpfm6P-q38VStYqN3cYLIo/s1600/CSFL8490.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Testing the cards in a practice build</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Guest post by <a href="http://www.katiesteckles.co.uk/" target="_blank">Katie Steckles</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stand-up
Mathematician <a href="http://standupmaths.com/" target="_blank">Matt Parker</a>, along with a team of volunteers are looking to build
the <a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/msf14megamenger" target="_blank">world’s largest fractal</a>, using over a million folded business cards.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A Menger sponge is a fractal based on a cube, which is made
of smaller cubes, which themselves are made of smaller cubes, and so on -
giving it the fractal property which makes it interesting to mathematicians -
plus, it looks very cool. It’s possible to build a Menger sponge using pieces
of rectangular card, using a simple folding technique and a little patience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GJYysFqNuEf5QsIjuNd6hrydqHF6W_tCTVXxV7lbA-CW4VZGds_2a3GgPFjgTF3HnG0tJiAfZFfFrJvQ0LRDuRfBQ6tUDZp5BX_YXwB-_yM1s_wWKCsi0PatEqs-vemJQIIcwQa6uJk/s1600/CSFL8631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GJYysFqNuEf5QsIjuNd6hrydqHF6W_tCTVXxV7lbA-CW4VZGds_2a3GgPFjgTF3HnG0tJiAfZFfFrJvQ0LRDuRfBQ6tUDZp5BX_YXwB-_yM1s_wWKCsi0PatEqs-vemJQIIcwQa6uJk/s1600/CSFL8631.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt Parker and a small version of the cube </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt, along with a collection of other mathematicians
organising events around the world, is building a MegaMenger - a giant
distributed fractal, composed of 20 smaller versions of itself. The Manchester
build is one of over 20 all taking place during the same week, and if all of
them are completed in time we’ll have built the biggest Menger sponge ever
made. There’ll be live video feeds from all the other locations, so you can
watch as everything comes together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We’ll be building part of the whole MegaMenger fractal as
part of Manchester Science Festival on 25th and 26th October, and we’re looking
for keen volunteers to help us build it. If you’re free on either or both days
and want to be part of the building team, email <a href="mailto:info@megamenger.com">info@megamenger.com</a> and we’ll send you
details of how you can get involved. We'll also provide you with training you will need. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"It turns out that building a Menger sponge is brilliant fun and very addictive" </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Marieke Navin, Manchester Science Festival Director</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">@MegaMenger #MegaMenger </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">@mcrscifest #msf14 </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-54872606462551517442014-08-22T16:58:00.000+01:002014-08-22T16:58:47.952+01:00The science behind #HookedOnMusic<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">We caught up with Ashley, the scientist behind the
#HookedOnMusic project to find out about science behind the
online game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>MSF: The game is trying to find the catchiest parts of musical hooks.
Does it matter that people have such different musical tastes?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Ashley: No, as long as we have a lot of players! So far, more than
17,000 players have tried #HookedOnMusic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">High player numbers mean </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">we
can use models to successfully separate how much of the information comes
from differences among players, versus how much comes from differences in the
fragments of music. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">For example, some people are
faster at these types of games, whilst other people are more familiar with pop
music. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVpLbyA0G3g3_ocnp5VKUf3NpolQrBSlDWBDuGVeO9Z_Q4i0mc79hh74EtaXAQfDKFGGVWiv4c4EkT-xP4qL8RV8MY8SFNaQBUzevAuB_lO7iJD4glZ31mB2KiZy0lWHJ4MGBnwcu6s4/s1600/MSF13+385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVpLbyA0G3g3_ocnp5VKUf3NpolQrBSlDWBDuGVeO9Z_Q4i0mc79hh74EtaXAQfDKFGGVWiv4c4EkT-xP4qL8RV8MY8SFNaQBUzevAuB_lO7iJD4glZ31mB2KiZy0lWHJ4MGBnwcu6s4/s1600/MSF13+385.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashley chatting during Manchester Science Festival 2013</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>MSF: What are power users and why do you need them?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Ashley: Our model needs players who have played the game a number
of times, ideally between 50 and 200 plays, or between fifteen minutes and an
hour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">For the experiment to be a success, we need ‘power users’ who play many
times and play all four of the games: "Recognise That Tune?",
"What's the Hook?", "Time Trial" and "In a Row". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">In summary, the more people who play for over 15 minutes, repeatedly play and play all of
the games on offer, the better the quality of data.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>MSF: How do you quantify catchiness?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Ashley: Catchiness is hard to define. #HookedOnMusic
includes four different measures related to catchiness:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> 1. Recognising a tune<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> 2. Time it takes to recognise a tune<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> 3. Following along with the tune <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> 4. How the catchiness of the tune compared to other
fragments in the same song (in the "What's the Hook?" game).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Firstly, we combine the first three measures in a model which uses
a theory of how the mind works to reduce data that can account for speed
and accuracy at the same time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">We then use the fourth measure of catchiness, the rankings from the
"What's the Hook?" game. This is an extra check to ensure that the
particular variant we choose captures our natural intuitions about catchiness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwri521NA596-dDEsV60mxXGKMRuJ7orvvm4MU-fEQnK2HOjxazl8yurZcB2_iS60xpF6YaALOUsDnN9K5RzzyngTo2hTvo0tHn521Mq-b85nqJjToD7vH0g-QQPgTQO9MNXFXlrel6cg/s1600/JL_picture_31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwri521NA596-dDEsV60mxXGKMRuJ7orvvm4MU-fEQnK2HOjxazl8yurZcB2_iS60xpF6YaALOUsDnN9K5RzzyngTo2hTvo0tHn521Mq-b85nqJjToD7vH0g-QQPgTQO9MNXFXlrel6cg/s1600/JL_picture_31.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To play #HookedOnMusic you need a strong internet connection</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>MSF: What's next for #HookedOnMusic?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Ashley: I'll be at the </span><a href="http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/plan_your_visit/lates.aspx"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Science Museum Late</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> on <b>Wednesday 27 August</b>, so come and have a
chat with me in person if you're in London. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">The game will be live until the end of September.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">The results of the analysis will be presented at the <b>Manchester Science Festival on Saturday 1
November</b>. (MSF: Watch this space for the announcement of the MSF14 programme in early September)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">You’ve got from now until the end of September to keep playing the game
and become a power user, so what are you waiting for?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span> </div>
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<a href="http://www.hookedonmusic.org.uk/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">http://www.hookedonmusic.org.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">. </span></div>
</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-56144111629451064682014-06-04T08:38:00.000+01:002014-06-04T14:56:14.105+01:00Our new citizen science experiment #HookedOnMusic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCkXaaEnnIirYesd8CN6UL4SccQHn3EXV0hlNcrsptzEViLUxrAeA0g2CEm0_w5UPCXTbO_SsTuu_M8qaID4GpPtZVpFdp36PINfiqYpwJSnRZ7bb_vfJGL8ou-8h6nqxcKQbB7Qr1VQ/s1600/hooked_lightened.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCkXaaEnnIirYesd8CN6UL4SccQHn3EXV0hlNcrsptzEViLUxrAeA0g2CEm0_w5UPCXTbO_SsTuu_M8qaID4GpPtZVpFdp36PINfiqYpwJSnRZ7bb_vfJGL8ou-8h6nqxcKQbB7Qr1VQ/s1600/hooked_lightened.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
Imagine listening to a catchy tune. When do you nod your head and sing
along? That's the hook, the most memorable part of the song, crafted by
songwriters to stick in your head and exploited by DJs to get people
onto the dance floor. Everyone knows a hook when they hear it, but scientists don't know why.<br />
<br />
With the launch of our new online game #HookedOnMusic you can join music lovers around the world to explore the science of songs and help scientists unlock what makes music catchy. <br />
<br />
Play the game at http://www.hookedonmusic.org.uk/. You don't need anything special, just a good internet connection and sound (or wear headphones). You'll be asked to identify a song as quickly as you can by listening to short clips. You can also vote on which part of a song do you think is catchier. You don't need any specialist knowledge to play - just a love of music. You can play as many times as you like; the more you play, the more data we will gather for the scientists.<br />
<br />
We are working with scientists from the University of Amsterdam, Utrecht and the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision. They will use this data to test hypotheses around what makes the hook - this most noticeable, easiest-to-recall fragment of music - is it rhythm, melody, key changes...?<br />
<br />
Hooks have the power to jog memories and emotions; this is particularly powerful for people suffering from memory degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's. The results of our experiment have the potential to provide insight into what makes music memorable and in particular what makes music memorable over the long term. Armed with this knowledge, carers might be able to predict more accurately what music might be the most memorable for a particular patient and where to start playing that music to test most efficiently whether a patient actually does remember a piece of music. <br />
<br />
We hope you enjoy the game and thank you for playing. We need plenty of data for the scientists, so keep playing and spread the word. We'll also keep you posted about live events where you can get involved and we'll be announcing the first results at the Manchester Science Festival in the autumn.<br />
<br />
<b>http://www.hookedonmusic.org.uk/</b><br />
<br />
Check out <a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/citizenscience/hookedonmusic">http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/citizenscience/hookedonmusic</a> for more information.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-64528104961201595832013-10-31T15:46:00.001+00:002013-10-31T15:59:34.880+00:00Science as Muse: Synthesis at Manchester Science Festival 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-GB">Guest post by Louise Mackenzie, winner of the graduate art competition at the Synthesis Exhibition</span></div>
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“at first only mimesis was art, then several
things were art but each tried to extinguish its competitors, and then,
finally, it became apparent that there were no stylistic or philosophical
constraints. There is no special way works of art have to be.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Arthur
C Danto, After The End of Art, 1997<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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The emptiness left by
post-modernism influenced my work strongly at art school. I was troubled by the lack of muse, the sense
of nothingness within which contemporary art had to function. It seemed to me that either I was left to
create in the gaps between what already exists in the world, through
appropriation or repetition, or that I could push out into the space beyond the
known, through mutation and innovation.
I chose to reach beyond and my method was collaboration. By teaming up with specialist skills and
knowledge from other disciplines, it was possible to come up with novel forms
of expression: for example the use of micro-algae as an oxygen producer to
highlight our symbiotic relationship with the planet and hint at our abuse of
it. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Sxz3wCnf3AbZXf_S_wBjo4XgRzO9fgrsP9PtpZe5APPGSlyhyphenhyphenIUrHI1GR41trzfD3HgwRW1op4Pkz1DPQ77ktQj063RXLRE3mbd2IUiBvSaU1k5SL6o8BGA9SvUoHU86HExQTuki11Xy/s1600/Louise+Mackenzie+photo+credit+Chris.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Sxz3wCnf3AbZXf_S_wBjo4XgRzO9fgrsP9PtpZe5APPGSlyhyphenhyphenIUrHI1GR41trzfD3HgwRW1op4Pkz1DPQ77ktQj063RXLRE3mbd2IUiBvSaU1k5SL6o8BGA9SvUoHU86HExQTuki11Xy/s320/Louise+Mackenzie+photo+credit+Chris.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Louise
Mackenzie, Life Support, 2013 (image Chris Foster)<o:p></o:p></div>
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The latter part of Danto’s
quote is well suited to the Synthesis exhibition at Manchester Science
Festival. <span lang="EN-GB">Showcasing
work across the art-science genre, it represents an eclectic field. Works on paper, canvas and ceramic stood
alongside installations and sculptures.
Amidst new graduates (myself included) were the works of established
artists such as Ivan Smith, Jo Berry, Lizz Tuckerman, the fast-paced, visceral
video work of Gina Czarnecki and the serene yet startling glass micro-biology
work of Luke Jerram.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UxKWCU7i3X1-rv6lqwRUGPwSAik_3VQvYz6SNSzIEgav47VQxCbwwynGqcjCewKd9OoMz8ufpvV0kYDBu1ySVFD995nrsIq_ko_8n0yvhSMtjNhQcgvRdYgO0XfGD2jit27W9jHT6TUX/s1600/Evolution+and+Atrophy+Artist+Tracie+Shaylor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UxKWCU7i3X1-rv6lqwRUGPwSAik_3VQvYz6SNSzIEgav47VQxCbwwynGqcjCewKd9OoMz8ufpvV0kYDBu1ySVFD995nrsIq_ko_8n0yvhSMtjNhQcgvRdYgO0XfGD2jit27W9jHT6TUX/s320/Evolution+and+Atrophy+Artist+Tracie+Shaylor.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Tracie
Shaylor, Evolution and Atrophy, 2011 (image John Lynch)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was particularly drawn to the work of
Tracie Shaylor and Eddy Dreadnought.
Both were eerie renditions of semi-human objects, conjuring thoughts of
futures unknown (Shaylor) and futures
past (Dreadnought). Dreadnought’s work
had a garbological, post-human quality.
In pale skin tones and bone coloured hues, objects of unknown origin,
strangely familiar (part of a discarded child’s scooter, a row of plastic
hooks) were presented, slab-like on a matt black surface, under the surgical
glare of a large lamp. The precision and
formula of the arrangement giving the appearance of archaeological finds,
geometric equations and anatomical parts, all at the same time. Shaylor’s work in contrast felt more physical. In a dingy half-light, held within cages
reminiscent of the work of Mona Hatoum, stand jars of pickled specimens. On closer inspection the objects are dismembered
male genitalia. There is a sense of
preservation and, set against the grimy brick walls of the gallery space, also
one of dysfunction. Alongside are perfect,
shining aluminium discs; preserved upon them distorted images that, despite the
material, have an organic quality. The
spherical shimmering surfaces convey something foetal and at the same time alien
that, when combined with the caged specimens, give the unsettling feeling of a
future world beyond our comprehension.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBcoH1i5wmfcbQzrWB3e2ubZO_Vrctxqqvcnb4AsmQRVeIhck6NUEU04thtSl7dvXnNa3vnNN1cqVoNCDlBuryfey-WDIR4kdx2UU7PBSgQO2VRoVNgVTmdHA_nix4ooJbIwAEXCO1AzE/s1600/0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBcoH1i5wmfcbQzrWB3e2ubZO_Vrctxqqvcnb4AsmQRVeIhck6NUEU04thtSl7dvXnNa3vnNN1cqVoNCDlBuryfey-WDIR4kdx2UU7PBSgQO2VRoVNgVTmdHA_nix4ooJbIwAEXCO1AzE/s320/0125.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Eddy
Dreadnought, Embryology of Thought, 2013 (image John Lynch)<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is the desire to push beyond what exists
in the world that I think is the most important element of the Synthesis
exhibition. It inspires us to think of
what is possible, if not yet realised.
With science as its muse, art has the potential to do more than imitate
or illustrate, offering us insights into multiple futures. Some that may, with the continued
collaboration of art and science, become realities.</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Synthesis runs until 10 November at
Victoria Warehouse, Manchester</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">Louise
Mackenzie<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><b>www.loumackenzie.com<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-58877262023524757212013-10-28T14:12:00.000+00:002013-10-28T14:12:07.344+00:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-GB">Bright
Club</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Guest post by Natasha Bray</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">…And there I
was, heart pounding, palms sweating, trembling with nerves; yet apparently
ready to go up on stage armed with a microphone with the combined goal of
informing <i>and</i> entertaining. As a
neuroscience PhD student, I can recite the usual signs of the ‘fight or flight’
response, but until that evening in Nexus Arts Café I had to test out another
‘f’ – ‘funny’…<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-NV5KJM65I3UMq-dRiB8x2dZMkWPtGGx5dfPUEsBWdV4jccwP6JEASfnVqx-yPVlDv6Ny8pGECvQFPiB_RaHo3zrznNwU-BMTLNn4VjSdyrsKz_fegIHec_xbe2yqzBKZjbqCks5nvnG/s1600/Tasha+Bray+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-NV5KJM65I3UMq-dRiB8x2dZMkWPtGGx5dfPUEsBWdV4jccwP6JEASfnVqx-yPVlDv6Ny8pGECvQFPiB_RaHo3zrznNwU-BMTLNn4VjSdyrsKz_fegIHec_xbe2yqzBKZjbqCks5nvnG/s320/Tasha+Bray+2.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">As the audience
chuckled at how the world’s first brain imaging experiment involved the
scientist calling the test subject’s wife a ‘loose lady’, I silently wished
that every lab meeting were this enjoyable. I told anecdotes about the
temperamental experiments I had done, compared the brain’s blood flow to a
banker’s bonus and, somewhat less scientifically, encouraged the use of
compression socks for prolonged concentration.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Before I knew
it, there was a round of applause and I’d survived! Coming off stage felt
euphoric and the buzz remained for the rest of the evening as I listened to the
fascinating, hilarious remaining sets of a crystal chemist, a nuclear bin
man/PhD student and the only comic book historian I have (to this day) ever
encountered.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">As a researcher,
especially in a university setting, it is all too easy to become trapped in the
academic bubble and assume that everyone either a) already knows what you do, or
b) couldn’t care less. On rare occasions you may even think that some horrid
people c) know what you do, yet <i>still</i>
aren’t that interested. Bright Club, however, aims to change all that.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">In preparation
sessions, the Bright Club organisers teach all the acts how to go about writing
gags, as well as how to look like they know what they’re doing on stage. For
many (myself included) it’s the first time they’ve held a microphone outside a
dodgy karaoke bar. But after drafting, redrafting and a few practice
run-throughs, it’s time to experiment with stand-up. Bright Club is the perfect
haven for all kinds of researchers to frame their research with comedy to let
the audience know <i>why</i> a research topic
is worth their interest…and their laughs. </span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-GB">Natasha Bray has just submitted her PhD thesis about
brain stuff and will be taking to the stage for a second time at the ‘Monster’
Bright Club on 31<sup>st</sup> October at Gorilla.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/bright-club"><i>Click</i></a><i> for more information and tickets for Bright Club Manchester at
Manchester Science Festival or visit the Bright Club Manchester </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/313646034857/"><i>Facebook page</i></a><i>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-82824093391450318452013-10-25T00:08:00.000+01:002013-10-25T00:08:48.966+01:00Ice, Art & Urban Farming<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Guest Post: Caroline Ward - filmmaker and visual artist</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I was thrilled to attend the Festival launch this year. Since I
moved to Manchester in 2010, I've volunteered my skills to the festival by
editing short content for the citizen science projects, last year for <a href="http://www.turingsunflowers.com/" target="_blank">Turing's Sunflowers</a> and this year for <a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/citizenscience/hooked" target="_blank">Hooked</a>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheD9ay6UxVI4u6PBoWoARFE3nXHnpGYUX8fPkkt3F_tPFJKqx2Uchyphenhyphenj611yGkwClb8hjmYWEiFIJukJ7DINm-tjPIqrAKyU712X_0oDlek2E-KAi97OIi4oPtDlWqZPNmr_YkmutfSo9dd/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-08-27+at+11.42.38+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheD9ay6UxVI4u6PBoWoARFE3nXHnpGYUX8fPkkt3F_tPFJKqx2Uchyphenhyphenj611yGkwClb8hjmYWEiFIJukJ7DINm-tjPIqrAKyU712X_0oDlek2E-KAi97OIi4oPtDlWqZPNmr_YkmutfSo9dd/s400/Screen+shot+2010-08-27+at+11.42.38+PM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I also love going to events at the festival - particularly as my
interests in art, architecture, and urban farming - never fail to be excited. At
the launch I was captivated by the approach of David Garcia, one of the architects
in the <a href="mailto:http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/ice-lab" target="_blank">Ice
Lab</a> exhibition - with a structure made of snow - the idea was to use
materials from the immediate environment which could then, merge back into the
environment. It reminded me of Robert Smithson’s sculpture <a href="mailto:http://www.robertsmithson.com/earthworks/spiral_jetty.htm" target="_blank">Spiral
Jetty</a>. The exhibition is fascinating and covered in a previous <a href="http://manchestersciencefestival.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/ice-lab-architecture-in-extreme.html" target="_blank">post</a>. My
inner kid also liked the Star Wars style structures that feature in so many
of the ice labs.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvsV2r8i1lt9U0ucNB_Qjord2pemN_yefVZZFF8aBSzI1wfjyzCq1nnMbldrkNqs26rHG1Tfj4_pMHCN2kZ36qsKSrVhIx3qWkDmIeZwZNlRInqz48wIq1arE7aAqGUfBquj-K1ON0Xy_/s1600/spiral_jetty_800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvsV2r8i1lt9U0ucNB_Qjord2pemN_yefVZZFF8aBSzI1wfjyzCq1nnMbldrkNqs26rHG1Tfj4_pMHCN2kZ36qsKSrVhIx3qWkDmIeZwZNlRInqz48wIq1arE7aAqGUfBquj-K1ON0Xy_/s320/spiral_jetty_800.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">There's so much going on at the festival, here’s my own
navigation through the programme. As an art, film and urban naturalist, my top
picks are:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="mailto:http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/silence" target="_blank">What is Silence</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="mailto:http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/science-fish-chips" target="_blank">The Science of Fish and Chips</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="mailto:http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/bees" target="_blank">Urban Naturalist: Bees</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="mailto:http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/urban-farming" target="_blank">Urban Farming: Aquaponics</a><br />
<a href="mailto:http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/ice-lab-david-garcia" target="_blank">Architecture in Extreme Environments</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="mailto:http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/ice-lab-chasing-ice" target="_blank">Chasing Ice</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="mailto:http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/ice-lab-march-penguins" target="_blank">March of the Penguins</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/art-climatechange" target="_blank">What
can Art Bring to Our Understanding of Climate Change?</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/ice-lab-white-silence" target="_blank">The
Great White Silence</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XNdZd70VGVaPgVAmFuZP5ImHIDXNy49Vt83str1JejLFvIBXJkHjtuhbQg0V6sheuDFN5HuZAt5MdXS68DgLZnO-Q1UOFuW7JZRR8U6zec0IlsJtqmEgT4vzXJ89iQUyjwXqt4cPlZ6f/s1600/BFI_Great-White-Silence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XNdZd70VGVaPgVAmFuZP5ImHIDXNy49Vt83str1JejLFvIBXJkHjtuhbQg0V6sheuDFN5HuZAt5MdXS68DgLZnO-Q1UOFuW7JZRR8U6zec0IlsJtqmEgT4vzXJ89iQUyjwXqt4cPlZ6f/s400/BFI_Great-White-Silence.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">A special mention goes to the Great White Silence -
its one of my favourite films and fully restored to its original glory by the <a href="http://www.bfi.org.uk/" target="_blank">BFI</a> (where I used to work many moons ago).
It's the poignant story of Captain Scott’s race to the South Pole yet reveals wonderful
moments like penguins captured on film for the first time in this environment.
And finally - to Chasing Ice - a brilliant film that just goes to show the value
of picking up a camera (well several cameras) and persisting against ice
and snow to show the world just what damage we are doing to the planet – I can’t
think of a better way to show climate change in action.</span><img class="ajT" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif" /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">PS my track for the <a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/citizenscience/hooked/playlist" target="_blank">HookedPlaylist</a> is: </span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10pt;">Violin Phase </span></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10pt;">by Steve Reich (see video)</span><br />
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mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-9199910542888257822013-10-24T09:57:00.001+01:002013-10-24T09:57:06.144+01:00Ice Lab: Architecture in extreme environments<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">Guest post: Frances Keating, Conservator, MOSI</span></div>
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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">When
you think of Antarctica, you are most likely to envisage one of the many images
we routinely associate with the planet’s most remote and mysterious continent;
possibly amazing landscapes of seemingly endless snow and ice, night skies
glowing green with auroras, landmarks such as Mount Erebus or the flag at the
south pole, or maybe you first think of the Antarctic wildlife, seals and cute
looking penguins….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">The
interesting thing about the new ‘Ice Lab’ exhibition is that the angle is
completely different from any of these familiar images. The focus is on a
largely untold story of Antarctic architecture past, present and future, the
lifestyle of the people who have to live on Antarctic research bases, and the
science that these people undertake. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">Having
had the privilege to go to Antarctica, the exhibition resonates particularly
vividly for me, for it explains the reality of a harsh and challenging
environment instead of reinforcing any misconceptions of a snowy idyll, where
‘storms’ sound about as ferocious as the scene inside a shaken snow-dome. It
explains the difficulty all the international Antarctic Research programmes
experience trying to provide adequate structures to house scientists and base
crew; buildings that somehow need to withstand winds of up to 200mph and remain
stable under the weight of large quantities of snow without collapsing. As well
as surviving the extreme elements, modern Antarctic dwellings also need to have
far greater longevity than earlier constructions and are now being designed to
incorporate the latest energy-generating technology to enable sustainability
and self-sufficiency. The potential to move a whole research base from location
to location is also now a reality. For many decades the most flexible living
accommodation in Antarctica has been the very basic shelter provided by disused
shipping containers which are relatively easy to hook onto vehicles and drag
across the snow, which seems positively primitive in comparison to the new wave
of space-age looking mobile bases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwXKUx3wZiB4mc0LQ5YM3rIsaPMf80IsvraW1XrFsD-RAtL1Gi4vj6z-sqOfTsxfNczHlUEnitjtjPQJ9WxIlRu_Fng9fpdv4-YKnSQa4SWYrCXlZ3KNY2RSc9WGU_rlA9smB1aPpg2Y_/s1600/Halley+VI,+Copyright+A.Dubber,+British+Antarctic+Survey+(Image+2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwXKUx3wZiB4mc0LQ5YM3rIsaPMf80IsvraW1XrFsD-RAtL1Gi4vj6z-sqOfTsxfNczHlUEnitjtjPQJ9WxIlRu_Fng9fpdv4-YKnSQa4SWYrCXlZ3KNY2RSc9WGU_rlA9smB1aPpg2Y_/s320/Halley+VI,+Copyright+A.Dubber,+British+Antarctic+Survey+(Image+2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halley VI</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
exhibition also contains objects that explain how base communities interact,
particularly at times of celebration such as ‘Midwinter’ (the day which falls
at the midpoint of the winter season when there is 24 hours of darkness). In
Antarctica, the separation from family and friends puts far greater emphasis on
occasions and everyone pulls together to try and make these times extra
special. I find it fascinating to think that objects such as menu cards from
festive dinners in the 1950s and 60s so closely resemble what would be found on
an Antarctic base today. The necessity to handcraft these small tokens and
gestures stands as evidence that Antarctica remains a place where resources are
minimal. Only supplies that have a justifiable degree of usefulness will ever
make the long, expensive, and logistically challenging journey, therefore
making it impossible for anyone to indulge in a plethora of materialistic
possessions during their stay. This is possibly the aspect of being in
Antarctica that affected me the most personally- the realisation that we actually
need very little to survive. I learnt that human beings are incredibly
resilient and we have the ability to adapt, and accept and harmonise with the
environment around us. Antarctica is a truly unique and magical place and Ice
Lab aims to offer a tangible impression of what it is really like to be there.</span></div>
</div>
mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-77676617278383726892013-10-23T15:57:00.000+01:002013-10-23T15:57:12.550+01:00Is breathing bad for you?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Guest Post: Will Morgan, <a href="http://www.cas.manchester.ac.uk/">University of Manchester</a> & <a href="http://thebarometer.podbean.com/">The Barometer Podcast</a></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-GB">Could
a stroll down Oxford Road be bad for your health? Find out with the Barometer
Podcast team on the 29<sup>th</sup> October at Manchester Museum during a LIVE
podcast recording. Doors open at 1830 for a 1900 start. The event is free to
attend. More details are available </span></i><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/podcast-barometer"><i>here</i></a><i> and you can guarantee your seat </i><a href="http://livebarometerpod2013-estw.eventbrite.com/"><i>here</i></a><i>. Podcast team
member, Will Morgan explains some of the science behind air pollution and why
it is bad for our health.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Air pollution has been a major issue in
Greater Manchester since the Industrial Revolution, with the smoke emanating
from the many factories leading to smog settling over the city. The author
Johanna Schonpenhauer remarked in 1830 that Manchester was:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">“Dark and smoky
from the coal vapours, it resembles a huge forge or workshop.”</span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Several of <a href="http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/lowry-industrial-landscape-t00111">Lowry’s
paintings</a> depicted the smoke and haze coming from factories in Salford. As
industrialisation and motor vehicles spread across the globe, so did the issue
of air pollution. Just this week, Sydney has been blanketed by <a href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2013/10/worst-wildfires-decade-pour-acrid-smoke-over-sydney/7285/">dense
smoke</a> from bush fires, while a city in <a href="http://www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=82220">Northern
China</a> is suffering with air pollution levels that are 40 times the safe
limit recommended by the World Health Organisation. These are very visible
examples of air pollution but often the problem is what we don’t see. Even
relatively low levels of air pollution can be harmful to our health, especially
if we are exposed for long periods.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLf6JJlxEQI11-KMXMOHYd-e_8cPACZ0CIUtZETb4DylaLAc79q3mIHs2okzdLy_A8-lqUpjmybYcRIO3-c6u6Yj0O5youkMptOEM8A40WIfSpEB_1fk0GmhRmrc7a5y7-89ocuiQ8BvV/s1600/spider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLf6JJlxEQI11-KMXMOHYd-e_8cPACZ0CIUtZETb4DylaLAc79q3mIHs2okzdLy_A8-lqUpjmybYcRIO3-c6u6Yj0O5youkMptOEM8A40WIfSpEB_1fk0GmhRmrc7a5y7-89ocuiQ8BvV/s320/spider.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoCaption">
<span lang="EN-GB"> Manchester
Museum’s spider crab helps me make some pollution measurements on Oxford Road.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Breathing in the fumes from cars, factories
and anything else that involves burning fuel can have serious short and
long-term implications for our health. Air pollution has been linked to both
causing and aggravating heart and lung diseases. Globally, <a href="http://who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs310/en/">these are the leading
causes of death</a> and air pollution makes them worse. The <a href="http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/iarcnews/pdf/pr221_E.pdf">World Health
Organisation</a> recently declared that air pollution is a leading
environmental cause of cancer deaths. During and after major air pollution
events, the number of people suffering heart attacks and respiratory problems
increases. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The most dangerous type of air pollution is
from tiny particles that are suspended in the air, known as <a href="http://blogs.egu.eu/hazeblog/2013/08/08/if-it-wasnt-for-those-pesky-aerosols/">aerosols</a>
or particulate matter. These are estimated to have contributed to around <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)61766-8/abstract">3.2
million deaths in 2010</a>. A recent <a href="http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2013/">report
by the European Environment Agency</a> concluded that around 90% of people
living in European cities are exposed to levels of air pollution that are
damaging to our health. Closer to home, it is estimated that nearly <a href="http://www.comeap.org.uk/images/stories/Documents/Reports/comeap%20the%20mortality%20effects%20of%20long-term%20exposure%20to%20particulate%20air%20pollution%20in%20the%20uk%202010.pdf">29,000
deaths each year</a> in the UK occur due to particulate matter pollution.
Across Greater Manchester, between <a href="http://www.agma.gov.uk/cms_media/files/6a_public_health_england_update_for_gm_hwbb.pdf?static=1">1
in 17 and 1 in 19 adult deaths</a> are attributable to particulate matter <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>pollution.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Efforts to improve the situation have been
mixed, as air pollution is a complex conundrum for both scientists and policy
makers. If you want to hear more about this important issue, then I recommend
joining us next Tuesday at our live podcast: <a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/podcast-barometer" target="_blank">Is breathing bad for you?</a> 7pm at the Manchester Museum. See you there.</span></div>
</div>
mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-77834120054061026212013-10-22T13:44:00.002+01:002013-10-22T13:44:23.481+01:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Guest post from Liz West, artist exhibiting at the Synthesis exhibition.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">the curator of Synthesis ,Tracie
Shaylor had visited and seen recent work at Bury Light Night and immediately
wanted me in the show. The in-depth colour theory that I employ in all my light
works ties in neatly with the exhibition being part of Manchester Science
Festival.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I am most excited by site-specific work. If I was to be part of this exhibition I </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPAXvGC-z9DRVyrGMRW6bLK_V0XjNvqIGRGE1gChUZPJn3oShHxFR6gxoGuAiTxj4-nx5eMPRiQog0DF5oh3ABImLTpeG4AfF5ADBmk7DHToznkeaQWaVexgD73g7TSph_1-W6Cbtf1g5/s1600/lights.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPAXvGC-z9DRVyrGMRW6bLK_V0XjNvqIGRGE1gChUZPJn3oShHxFR6gxoGuAiTxj4-nx5eMPRiQog0DF5oh3ABImLTpeG4AfF5ADBmk7DHToznkeaQWaVexgD73g7TSph_1-W6Cbtf1g5/s320/lights.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
wanted my ideas to be responsive to the space. With that in mind last Thursday
I was given a tour of the ground floor exhibition space at Manchester's
Victoria Warehouse. I had been keen to get into the space for some time and
didn't want to waste this opportunity. <o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 7.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Upon entering the exhibition space I was blown away by the possibilities for new
work, my mind started racing. Tracie had ear-marked two particular spaces for
my work, upon inspection they are not the easiest to work with, but these are
the spaces I am excited by the most. I like a challenge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 7.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">One of the spaces was in front of a vast window looking on to the main road past the
Warehouse. A light-work would defiantly attract passers-by and act as an
advertisement for the show. I aim to rework the recent commission I made for
Macclesfield's Barnaby Festival by stacking the light boxes on top of each
other instead of presenting them side-by-side. Configured this way it would
lend itself to the space and illuminate the nearby white walls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 7.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The second space is within the main exhibition hall. A set of blue railings guard a
drop down to the floor below; this was the space I had to respond to! In this
site-specific installation conceived specially for Synthesis, I will
systematically arrange numerous multicoloured fluorescent stick-lights. The
title of work is taken from Josef Albers text ‘Interaction of Colour’, where it
is explained that a direct mixture of projected light demonstrates an additive
mixture where the sum of all colours in light is white. I am super excited
about it and as with most of my installations, you have to see them in the
flesh to fully appreciate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 7.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I can't wait to install these works and perhaps see you at the preview on Thursday
evening?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 7.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Find out more about the preview event <a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/synthesis-opening" target="_blank">here</a> and the Synthesis exhibition<a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/synthesis" target="_blank"> here.</a> The Synthesis exhibition is at the Victoria Warehouse hotel from Friday 25 Oct - Sun 10 Nov.</span></div>
</div>
mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-54475513723353474962013-10-10T12:37:00.001+01:002013-10-10T12:37:35.960+01:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Portraits
of Emotions </div>
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Guest blog post by artist Paul Digby, who will be exhibiting at the Synthesis exhibition at Victoria Warehouse.</div>
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The four
drawings on display are from a series of ten portrait drawings of people from
the Chapeltown area of Leeds. I worked from photographic images made in an open
studio in early 2012 where people were asked to express an emotion of there own
choice. The idea for this grew out of Charles Darwin's <i>Expressions of Emotions in Man and Animals</i>, where in this book
Darwin uses photographs by the mid nineteenth century French
Doctor/Photographer Duchenne de Boulogne of an
"Old man". </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WbSq2jGk8rmvzNeUVKdEZIuzfhei5GMNKU0g1bLM8ZDcSJI7pYhU4DaMkH_NmD8wlHolfiYPVMkOhgj1Ei0fCj3mH70mbWjsFyEiv7bpZwb9ib1nbcdZyZ5UYqUxCCFvH0CHxQlPxsYc/s1600/man.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WbSq2jGk8rmvzNeUVKdEZIuzfhei5GMNKU0g1bLM8ZDcSJI7pYhU4DaMkH_NmD8wlHolfiYPVMkOhgj1Ei0fCj3mH70mbWjsFyEiv7bpZwb9ib1nbcdZyZ5UYqUxCCFvH0CHxQlPxsYc/s1600/man.JPG" /></a></div>
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The old
man was a homeless person he worked with who reportedly had no nerve endings in
his face and was able to have electrodes attached to emulate specific emotions.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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I
initially asked people to express specific emotions but soon adapted to people's
desires to express emotions of there own choices. As the project progressed I
felt more confident to ask specific individuals if they would pose and I
selected people from the community I knew to ask.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Another
artistic reference is George Seurat and particularly his drawing style.
Although Seurat used Conte Crayon and I have used Graphite, I adapted his
process. This involved repeating a circular movement and pattern to gradually
build to a solid tone. I also used cross hatching, a similar technique for
building layered tone. For four of the ten series I </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">used paint and oil
bar on paper and </span>canvas.
Seurat lived in Paris around the same time as Duchenne but I am unsure to
whether they knew one another.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Other
references involve contemporary psychology. During the project I was influenced
by Bruce Hood's <i>The Self Illusion</i>,
which seemed to link in to the concept of portraiture. Another idea that
transfers well from psychology to art is stimuli and response. For example the
art work is the artist's response to a stimuli and the viewer's stimuli for a
response.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXBGRpX3P5VBn1wPNYAeoOr_MuHpsurIl9BW0ItAzHXoDnsD6aqfNX0usQ4FPmf9PVOEB31k5c3ULiyeagQxLHk1YJi7uNiY0sHgyrfWzKXXoT9WGm_yroA3l44i_9IjmDW-W1od8mQG8/s1600/sketch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXBGRpX3P5VBn1wPNYAeoOr_MuHpsurIl9BW0ItAzHXoDnsD6aqfNX0usQ4FPmf9PVOEB31k5c3ULiyeagQxLHk1YJi7uNiY0sHgyrfWzKXXoT9WGm_yroA3l44i_9IjmDW-W1od8mQG8/s320/sketch.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The project involved
delivering a workshop to Chapelallerton Primary School in Chapeltown to sixty
Year One children. They learnt how to draw portraits using cross hatching and
graphite on a paper with a grain.</div>
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This
project was supported by the University of Leeds School of Medicine who mid way
through the project showed the work in progress in the Charles Thackrah
Building. The full series was shown in the Union105 gallery in Chapeltown Leeds
and the ESA show space in London. I also gave a lecture to Leeds Metropolitan
University students, another supporting organisation. The project was funded by
Arts Council England.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Paul is a
contemporary visual artist with sixteen tears experience and has shown work in
including the Manchester Contemporary, the Cornerhouse and the Saatchi gallery.
He has collaborated on projects with in the Thackray Museum, Rampton Hospital
and High Royds Hospital. Paul has work in the Wellcome Trust and Private
Collections. He sits on the Steering Group for the Yorkshire and Humber
Contemporary Visual Arts Network and teaches for the WEA.</div>
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Four of
the series of drawings will be on display in the Synthesis exhibition and Paul
will give a talk on the project, on Saturday 25th October at 4:00 both in the
Victoria Warehouse Hotel.</div>
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For more information on Synthesis see: <a href="http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/at/victoria-warehouse">http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/at/victoria-warehouse</a> </div>
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mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922809794380660886.post-91836949359485513572013-10-08T20:30:00.000+01:002013-10-08T20:30:32.192+01:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Research: The Big Picture</span></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Guest
Post: Dee-Ann Johnson, The University of Manchester </span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">What connects wishing trees in folklore, the inside of
a living chrysalis, and 5000 years of weather?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The third annual Images of Research Competition that’s what! </span></i></b></div>
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--</style><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As part of the Manchester Science Festival, we
challenged scientists and engineers at The University of Manchester to tell their
research story using beautiful images and inspiring descriptions. We asked them
to show why </span>
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--></style><span lang="EN-US">research is essential and important to
everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Open to researchers in all subjects, the
entries came with intriguing titles including: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Your eely ancestor</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">The fire empowerment</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">More than skin deep</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Standing proud</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Scientific research: A real bed of roses </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkijiOj8E54SPrjPzb2Owq-23gXiAB5-jr0o5Yr5bhyphenhyphenoBfyaQcfYF4rJ15brriTFzO1uF6FMSHwh-rAb_9WpCRa0nHi2up7F5pS8jxZPFAw3CDkSk_s3PMT_YRN7rovvrpGON8HmnvxL96/s1600/21_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkijiOj8E54SPrjPzb2Owq-23gXiAB5-jr0o5Yr5bhyphenhyphenoBfyaQcfYF4rJ15brriTFzO1uF6FMSHwh-rAb_9WpCRa0nHi2up7F5pS8jxZPFAw3CDkSk_s3PMT_YRN7rovvrpGON8HmnvxL96/s1600/21_small.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The competition presents just a taste of
the diversity and breadth of the research being conducted at the University.
But whether the subject matter is poverty, locomotion, climate change, health
or masculinity, we are sure of one thing – there is something of interest for
everyone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Our researchers are passionate about their
work and the benefits their research can bring. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDi6n_y31Wwxv-GNV5sGBjofVSAIOD9c2J-GJQTb1igKEF1DTeuf2aGK9kijiF2rnJAri6IzhQVOR1XyTRhomJuS-_XlPzTEGm-ovQvFN3acly7rlbLa3aiUNIOhHq14kBBGzF-ZxnmHhyphenhyphen/s1600/20_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDi6n_y31Wwxv-GNV5sGBjofVSAIOD9c2J-GJQTb1igKEF1DTeuf2aGK9kijiF2rnJAri6IzhQVOR1XyTRhomJuS-_XlPzTEGm-ovQvFN3acly7rlbLa3aiUNIOhHq14kBBGzF-ZxnmHhyphenhyphen/s1600/20_small.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> </span>
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--</style><style> </style><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">But now we turn the competition over to you </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Cast your vote online now and help us decide which image has
captured your imagination, raised your curiosity, or got you thinking about the
research in a different way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.manchesterimagesofresearch.co.uk/">http://www.manchesterimagesofresearch.co.uk</a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The competition runs from 7 October to 4
November 2013. The winner will be announced on 5 November 2013.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
</div>
mcrscifesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047403742408325527noreply@blogger.com0