React issue 7

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Contents

React Magazine @react_magazine

1 Karl Landsteiner by Gesa Junge 2 NCL News by Claire Tweedy 3-4 Glamorous Laboratories by Anna Walsh 5-6 NCL Research: Toxicity Models by Emily Hudson 7-8 NCL Research: Sustainable Fish Cities Campaign by Annie Russel 9-10 Opinion Piece: Science is great: Spread the word By Calum Kirk 11-12 Issue Theme: Biomimetrics by Ross Law 13-14 Issue Theme: Beam Bridges by Joe Crutwell 15 Redisovery of Hidden memories by Hannah Swinburne 16 SciFi: Einstein-Rosen Bridges by Gesa Junge 17 Computer-connected brains by Thomas M.Hall 18 Puzzle 19 North East Postgraduate Conference 20 Listings

Get Involved! {react} magazine gives students the opportunity to explore science communication, and we want to make your voices heard. Scientist or not, if you’re interested we’ve got several different ways for you to get stuck in. Prior experience is not necessary!

Budding science writer?

We want our content to be interesting, contemporary and accessible to all who care to read it.

Contributing to {react} is not about writing technical 1000 word reports; we are looking for imaginative and insightful articles, from longer features and interviews to reviews and opinion pieces. You can write for our print issues, next published in autumn 2015 or help to create bespoke content for our website. If you would like to get more involved in editing the magazine, or are a budding writer but don’t feel ready to submit your own articles quite yet, you can apply to be on our editorial team.

Get in touch by email: info@reactmagazine.co.uk Determined Doodler? {react} magazine isn’t just about the writing. We pride ourselves on being strongly design-led (we hope a quick flick through will demonstrate this!) and we don’t want to look like your average science magazine. {react} relies on student artists, designers, and layout editors to help bring our stories to life. You don’t need loads of experience, just an interest in the project and a willingness to learn on the job!

Get in touch by email: hannah.scully@live.co.uk Printed on a termly basis, the magazine will be distributed on campus and available to local schools, sixth form colleges, and in public venues across the city. Our online content will be updated throughout the year, so there is always plenty to do.

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Editorial Hello everyone,

Welcome to issue 7!

This will be the last issue of the year, so we hope you enjoy it. The theme this time was “bridging the gap” and we’ve had some great submissions for features: The lead article centres around biomimetics, which is the concept of technology imitating nature, and in “Glamorous Laboratories” we learn just how much science is behind the claims used to advertise cosmetics. In the Newcastle Uni Science section you can learn about bridging the gap between the lab and the clinic using models of liver cells and how the Fish cities programme is driving more sustainable fishing practises. We also have some more literal takes on the issue theme with an article on beam bridges and one on Einstein Rosen bridges. And of course there are our regular puzzle and science profile sections as well.

We hope you enjoy this issue. If you would like to get involved in the next one, please do get in touch! Both of us editors are leaving at the end of the year so we could really use your help.

Thanks, Calum and Gesa

The Team EDITORS: Gesa Junge, Calum Kirk SUB EDITORS:

DESIGN TEAM: VanessaYong, Helene Pans, Hannah Scully

NEWS EDITOR: Clare Tweedy

ILLUSTRATORS: VannessaYong, Helene Pans, Hannah Scully, Luke Hartley

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Hannah Scully

SPECIAL THANKS: Dr Maths

NOTES: Cover by Hannah Scully References for all articles in this magazine are available online at reactmagazine.co.uk Creative Commons description @ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en_GB

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Profile Science Hero: Karl Landsteiner

by Gesa Junge Karl Landsteiner was an Austrian scientist born in Vienna in 1868. His father, a well-known journalist,died when he was 6 years old and Karl was raised by his mother.

He began medical school at age 17 and quickly

developed his interests in medicine, as well as chemistry. After he graduated, he went on to spend a decade working his way around various labs in Europe studying organic chemistry and learning from some of the most respected scientists of his time such, as Emil Fischer and Roland Scholl. He returned to Vienna and to medicine eventually, taking up a post at the Vienna Institute of Hygiene to work on pathological anatomy. It was here that he became interested in immunology and serology. In 1900 he published a paper in which he mentioned a process known as interagglutination,the destruction of red blood cells when blood from two donors was mixed, which until then was thought to have a pathological cause such as an infection or genetic abnormality.

Landsteiner however suspected that this reaction was due to an intrinsic factor that was different between individuals and he continued his research.

He found willing test subjects in the scientists working in his lab and used their blood (and his own) to show that some combinations of blood would lead to clumping whereas others did not. He suggested at least two classes of blood existed, and called them groups A and B. These groups have very slight but crucial differences in the sugar molecules that are attached to the surface of their red blood cells (antigens). He extended this later to include groups 0, which has neither antigen and can be given to anyone (universal donor) and AB which contains both antigens and can receive any donor blood (universal recipient).

Up to this point, blood transfusions had been

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attempted, but without the knowledge of blood groups and their compatibility it was pure luck if they worked or not. Sometimes a patient’s life could be saved, but most blood donations ended badly as incompatible red blood cells interacted, causing the red blood cells to burst (haemoloysis), releasing haemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying molecule within red blood cells) which then damages the kidneys. These reactions were often deadly, but without the availability of donor blood, so were any procedures or diseases leading to massive blood loss (surgery, complications in child birth, ulcers, injuries, etc.). It took some time for Landsteiner to convince colleagues of his theory, and the real-life proof came in 1907 when the first successful blood transfusion was carried out.

In 1922, Karl Landsteiner moved to the USA to work at the Rockefeller Institute in New York where he would spend the rest of his life. He officially retired in 1939 but continued to work in haematology, and a year later published some work he had done in collaboration with Alexander Wiener on the Rhesus factor, another major determinant in blood donor compatibility. People carrying the Rhesus factor (Rh positive) cannot donate blood to Rh negative patients because these will form antibodies against Rh, again destroying the red blood cells and leading to haemolysis.

Landsteiner died in 1943 from a heart attack, allegedly pipette in hand at his lab bench. He left an impressive legacy with 346 papers published and (most importantly) making a real impact on human lives, made possible by his broad interests and the ability to work across disciplines (chemistry and immunology).The Landsteiner classification of blood groups laid the foundations, but it took more work from other scientists, such as Richard Lewinsohn’s discovery of anticoagulants, to make blood transfusions a safe, routine medical procedure and, later on, make it possible to store blood in blood banks.

Karl Landsteiner was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology for his discovery in 1930 and the amount of lives saved due to blood transfusions is probably in the billions.

* Illustration by Hannah Scully

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News

by Clare Tweedy Newcastle-developed IVF technique put before parliament A potentially ground-breaking IVF-based technique that would allow women suffering from mitochondrial disease a greater chance of giving birth to a healthy child has been put before parliament. The technique, developed at Newcastle University and supported by the Wellcome Trust, involves the transfer of the mother’s nuclear DNA to a donor egg with healthy mitochondria. The transmission of mitochondrial disease may then be avoided. It is believed that 1 in

6500 children are born with severe mitochondrial disease every year. Though relatively rare, the disease can have devastating effects on both the affected child and their family. While muscular and neurological problems are the most common symptoms, mitochondrial disease may also lead to death early in life. If passed through parliament, the pioneering IVF technique could be licensed for use in Newcastle for the first time.

£20m for National Centre for Ageing Science and Innovation Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has announced a government-funded investment of £20m for thecreation of a National Centre for Ageing Science and Innovation (NASI) at Newcastle University. Bringing together Universityled research, the NHS, and the public and private sectors, it is anticipated that NASI will support 1300 jobs. It is also expected that NASI will collaborate closely with the commercial sector in creating products that make healthy ageing

a priority, including advances in exercise, diet and the means for independent living. Newcastle University has announced it will match the government’s pledge, meaning £40m will go into the creation and development of the centre.

Age-related diseases and disability can markedly reduce quality of life for the elderly, and it is hoped that with the creation of NASI, Newcastle will be at the forefront of tackling the challenges associated with an ageing population.

Climate history of the Antarctic revealed through old photographs Aerial photographs taken in the 1940s and 50s are being used by a team at Newcastle University to examine theclimate history of the Antarctic Peninsula. The team, in collaboration with the British Antarctic Survey and the University of Gloucestershire, are comparing the old photographs to new data to examine changes in some of the Antarctic’s glaciers. The effect of climate change on the volume and mass of glaciers can be assessed through satellite imaging, though data only extends back a number of years. Photographs from the 1940s and 50s instead allow a longer spanning study

of changes, with new techniques being used to position the pictures precisely within the changed environment. It is hoped that rock structures that remain relatively unchanged can be used to connect the old and new photographs. The study, funded by the National Environment Research Council, has started to extract 3D data from thousands of photographs and pair them to modern satellite data. It is hoped that this study will help in calculating the speed at which the glaciers are changing, as well as projecting this to the anticipated changes that will occur if climate change continues at the same rate.

Yeast-eating gut bacteria may have evolved to reflect human A study led by Newcastle University, in collaboration with the University of Michigan, has recently shown that bacteria in the human digestive tract may have evolved to break down the complex carbohydrates of the yeast cell wall. Yeasts, believed to have been part of the human diet for at least the last 7000 years, have a complex cell wall made of alpha-mannan.

The study has found that this carbohydrate is a sufficient food source for a common member of the human gut microbiota, Bacteroides

thetaiotaomicron. Successful members of the gut microbiota are believed to have evolved to consume this carbohydrate, reflecting the incorporation of yeast into the human diet. The discovery could inform treatment and prevention of various bowel and autoimmune diseases, including the development of medicines that selectively improve the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, as well as implications for fighting yeast infections.

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Lead Article Glamorous Laboratories

By Anna Walsh When you first consider the beauty products advertised in fashion magazines and then the scientific research and biotechnology taking place in laboratories, these two subjects seem worlds apart from each other.

But in reality, scientific research is essential

for the production of these cosmetics and to understand exactly how they can do what they claim on the label. However, many of us blindly accept the advertisements which use buzzwords such as “anti-aging” and impressive expressions like “makes hair stronger” without actually understanding how these products interact with our bodies to produce such effects. Many of the hair care products we use claim to do miraculous things to our hair from repairing damage to renewing split ends, but how is this even possible? Some hair masks, for example Pantene’s well known “Restorative Masque and Split End Fuser” contain non-watersoluble silicones which become incorporated into the hair cuticle. These bind specifically to the damaged areas of our hair and therefore don’t wash out, providing our hair with a barrier protecting its inner keratin structure. Studies into caffeine, which is another common ingredient, have shown that it is absorbed by hair follicles where it then blocks the effects of the hormone DHT, which causes hair follicles to shrink and make hair thinner over time.

When it comes to our appearance, taking care of our skin always seems to be the main priority. A popular face cream is “Boscia BB Cream”, but which ingredients make it so special?

Additionally, a common moisturising ingredient called glycerine works by drawing water into the outer layer of our skin. Many face creams now also include sunscreen to increase the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of the cream. One of the whitest naturally occurring materials known is titanium dioxide which scatters, reflects and absorbs UV rays to stop them reaching our skin.

In recent years we’ve continuously been informed about how antioxidants are brilliant for our health and skin, and how free radicals are bad – but do you really know what they are and what they do?

Electrons are one of the components of atoms which normally exist in pairs to stabilise the atom or molecule. Free radicals are atoms or molecules which have an unpaired electron making them highly unstable and reactive. They react with our bodies by taking electrons from other molecules including DNA, cell membranes, blood vessels and certain structures of our skin which can lead to aging. Anti-oxidants give electrons to free radicals so that they don’t take electrons from us instead. They come in many natural forms in our diets including many fruits, vegetables, green tea and red wine, amongst many others. They are also found in countless face creams as vitamins A, C and E, selenium and zinc. Many people doubt whether topical applications of cosmetics containing vitamin

The ingredient Abyssine contains extract from a bacterium found in deep sea vents. It acts as an anti-inflammatory, helping to soothe and protect the skin.

Hydroxyprolisilane reduces blemishes and increases the number of fibroblasts in the skin which produce collagen, giving skin a youthful look.

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However in some cases, this method of application can be more effective than oral consumption; Studies have found that vitamin C applied topically remains in our skin at 20-40 times the concentration compared to oral vitamin C administration. The concentration of vitamin E meanwhile, can be up to 10.6 fold higher and remains within the skin for several days! Some chemicals used in cosmetics such as parabens, petrochemicals and phthalates have been shown to mimic the effects of hormones when absorbed by our bodies, potentially causing side effects at high levels including increasing the risk of cancer. However, the Personal Care Products Council maintain that the extremely low levels of these compounds deem the products safe.

Non-organic cosmetics have also been shown to cause allergic reactions in some people, so many people are now turning to their natural alternatives. Honey for example, is clarifying because it opens our pores, making them easier to unclog, and is also a natural antibacterial, so it is very effective for the treatment and prevention of acne. It is also packed with antioxidants and is naturally moisturizing to our skin which helps create a healthy glow. Olive oil is used by many people to enhance nail strength and growth.

Brittle nails are caused by over drying of the cuticle and nail bed, making it difficult to grow strong, healthy nails. Olive oil is able to penetrate the skin and the nail bed repairing damage and softening the cuticles.

A popular high-street store which sells natural cosmetics is “Lush”. When people talk about these handmade products, along with other natural brands, they use the words “natural” and “organic” interchangeably, when in fact these two terms have very different definitions within the cosmetic science industry.

Most companies are not allowed to use the term “organic” unless they have approval from the FDA. This is because the word implies that all of the plants and materials used to manufacture these products were grown in a completely pesticide free environment, which in most situations is not the case. On the other hand, there is no official board determining whether a cosmetic can be labelled as “natural” or not. In the case of “Lush”, all of their products contain mainly natural ingredients, but some also incorporate synthetic compounds. So if you’re looking for completely natural products, make sure you read the fine print on the labels!

Competition is very high between cosmetic retailers trying to sell their products, so adverts shown on TV and in magazines are very imaginative in the way they portray products and their effects – sometimes using claims which are misleading such as “makes skin appear healthier” (as opposed to actually making it healthier). Many adverts also use meaningless scientific jargon to try and make them stand out and sound more impressive to the general public.

In the last few years more and more brands have started advertising by using phrases like “Our studies show…”, however many cosmetics companies hire an outside company to set up studies that have been designed specifically to support their desired claim.

Information given in shops and in adverts cannot always be taken as 100% fact; the information doesn’t come straight from scientific peer reviewed journals. So it is very important for us all to research exactly what we are putting on our skin and hair every day, and to bridge the gap between advertisements of cosmetics and toiletries in popular culture, and the actual scientific research and biotechnology behind these products.

*Illustrations by Vanessa Yong

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NCL Research Toxicity Models - How to find the model model

By Emily Hudson The scientist, Paracelsus, is often referred to as the father of toxicology.

His most notable contribution to the field was the adage that “the dose makes the poison” suggesting that all chemicals have the potential to be toxic, even water, given the right volume. Today this principle forms the basis for regulatory toxicology within drug development, ensuring that the dose is enough to be therapeutic but not too much that there are severe side effects in other parts of the body.

Often the best way to ensure that a drug is fit to be taken into clinical trials is to test in animals first. After all, an experiment in a test tube is less likely to be as accurate at determining toxicity in a person as an experiment in an entire organism. However, animal testing remains controversial and in 2009 animal testing for use in cosmetics was banned. There are other methods available for determining toxicity such as whole organ studies and the use of model cells but often the different methods have to be combined as there is no one perfect solution. Currently in development and showing huge potential is the B13H cell line, a cell line that has many features of rat liver cells.

An ideal model for toxicity testing would be representative of the tissue most vulnerable to drug exposure. In the human body this is the liver as it receives 75% of its blood from the gut and therefore ends up accumulating the majority of toxic molecules consumed orally.

It would only make sense, therefore, that the best model for toxicity testing would be a liver.

Unfortunately, whole human livers are hard to come by and on the rare occasion that one might become available, they are instantly reserved for transplant patients. It is sometimes possible to obtain small fragments of

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liver tissue, from biopsies for example, but more often than not they are of variable quality and can give mixed results.

Scientists have long since been trying to develop an alternative model comprising of hepatocyte cells derived from liver tissue, which can be grown and maintained in the lab. Hepatocytes are the most abundant cell type in the liver, so are a good alternative… in theory. In practice, hepatocytes do not respond well to the altered environment of a flask containing nutrient media and tend not to survive long in culture.

An area of research that is currently exploding is stem cell research which seems to have boundless possibilities. While there have been numerous success stories of regenerating entire tissues within patients the area is fraught with problems. In theory if a cell can be reprogrammed to an immature “stem cell” state then, upon exposure to the right hormones and growth factors, a cell’s fate can be redirected into any mature cell type you like. Despite this, a lot more work is required to perfect the technique as stem cells can retain a “genetic memory”.

This means that even in their newly differentiated state, they can still “remember” how they used to behave and this memory can impair their functionality in their new role.

So, is there a solution that provides an unlimited pot of cells that function and respond like hepatocytes do in the liver? Potentially the answer is yes and like many scientific

Illustration by Hannah Scully

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discoveries, was a happy accident. In 1981, when studying the regeneration of pancreatic tissue, Scarpelli and Rao found that their pancreatic cells were changing upon exposure to particular chemicals into a more hepatic like cell. Whilst this was an interesting observation, it wasn’t until 2000 that this feature of pancreatic cells was utilised in its own right. The cells, now known as B13H cells, are derived from rodent pancreatic cells which, when treated with the steroid hormone Dexamethasone, interconvert to develop a hepatocyte like profile. This promising observation could pave the way to a human equivalent; an on demand unlimited supply of human hepatocytes.

Work is currently being undertaken to ensure that these cells not only look like hepatocytes but also function like them as well. The liver is a very metabolically active organ and contains many enzymes and proteins vital to the breakdown of chemicals so that they can be excreted safely.

If the B13H cells have an enzyme profile that is similar to that of an actual hepatocyte it would suggest that they would behave similarly in toxicity studies. While hepatocytes do not like to be grown outside of an organism, pancreatic cells are more robust and can be readily cultured; providing the much needed unlimited, on demand supply of hepatocytes. Furthermore, the real good news is that it has been reported that the cost of producing these hepatocytes using steroid treatment is five million times cheaper than deriving them from stem cells.

they faced long term disruption to their immune system and the ongoing possibility of developing immunological conditions such as lupus and possibly cancer. All because of one protein difference between rodent and man.

Drug safety is vital. The way in which we test for toxicity must continue to improve so that the predictions made about the effects in humans are as accurate as possible. To do this, scientists need a model that will behave like human tissue and accurately represent the functions of that tissue. One of the most commonly used cell types for toxicity experiments is the liver, due to its likelihood of exposure to foreign compounds; unfortunately most liver models currently used have lost certain vital functions so don’t make very good predictions. However, if the B13H cells can pave the way to a cell line that can behave like human hepatocytes in the liver then bridging the gap between bench and bedside will be a gradually decreasing distance.

What would this mean for the future? The availability of an on demand supply of functional hepatocytes could reduce the requirement for animals in regulatory toxicity studies as well as potentially help provide more relevant data. While whole organisms currently represent the best model, we must not forget that there are still vast differences. This was no better demonstrated than in 2006 at Northwick Park Hospital. Six healthy young men were recruited to test a new anti-inflammatory drug, TGN1412, and a further two received a placebo. The six men taking the drug suffered a serious immune reaction within hours which resulted in one man losing his fingers and toes and all volunteers being told Background art by Luke Hartley

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NCL Research Sustainable Fish Cities Campaign

by Annie Russel Sustainable Fish Cities Campaign Annie Russell is the Marine Education officer for Newcastle University and works within a public engagement andoutreach team based at the Dove Marine Laboratory, the University’s field station. Her job involves working with young people and adults, running workshops and raising awareness of the importance of the marine environment.

Human impacts are possibly the largest threat to our oceans biodiversity. By promoting an individual’s ownership of the marine environment, we hope the legacy of our outreach projects will be the fact that we have empowered the young people and their families to become coastal guardians, helping the experts fight against marine pollution, overfishing, global warming, and invasive species as well as protect endangered species.

The Dove Marine Laboratory’s Outreach Team is collaborating with Food Newcastle’s Sustainable Fish campaign in order to promote sustainable fishing. Fish is often thought of as being an expensive and difficult to prepare source of protein. There is also a good deal of confusion about which fish can be eaten without depleting

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local stocks. This project aims to dispel some of these myths and encourage businesses, organisations and families to eat a wider range of seafood, which will reduce overfishing on threatened species and ultimately serving to support greater sustainability. Overfishing is a global crisis which threatens our precious marine ecosystems and the livelihoods and food security of millions of people who rely on fish for food and an income. Demand for fish is rising, yet the UN FAO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation) estimates that over 75% of global fish stocks are fully exploited, overexploited or depleted. In fact within the UK only 8 out of 47 fish stocks are in a healthy state.

The Sustainable Fish City campaign has an incredible vision for towns and cities to buy, serve, eat and promote only sustainable fish.

The campaign is working to transform the way we source and consume seafood. This is an ambitious aim, so campaign efforts are focussed on those who, through their purchasing power, have the greatest opportunity to support sustainable fishing and reduce the market for endangered fish. This is being achieved by asking businesses and organisations that buy food, to sign the ‘Sustainable Fish City Pledge’. This is a public statement in support of sustainable fish, and commits the organisation to adopting a fully sustainable seafood policy.

Background by Helene Pans

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Overall, the campaign aims to: • Raise awareness of the simple and affordable steps that can be taken to buy only sustainable seafood among people and organisations well placed to make a big difference • Bring about a significant increase in the demand for sustainable fish by improving the sourcing policies of organisations that buy and serve a lot of fish • Make sustainable fish the normal expectation, building confidence among fishermen and fish suppliers that it is worth investing in better products and practices What’s the problem?

People are eating more fish than they used to and a lot of it is being caught using ecologically destructive methods. The world is now at serious risk of losing some species from our seas forever.The graphic above, entitled ‘Plenty more fish in the sea? Biomass of popularly eaten fish’ (reproduced with kind permission from Information is Beautiful) illustrates the shocking decline in popular fish species over the past century. Some scientists estimate that, at current rates of decline, the majority of the world’s fish stocks could collapse within our lifetimes. Over half a billion people depend on fish for food and their livelihood, so anything impacting fish stocks would have dire social and ecological consequences.

The good news is that there’s still time to do something about it. Fish stocks can recover if they are managed sustainably, and if we stop buying fish from badly managed stocks or that are caught with damaging fishing methodsLet’s see what we can achieve with some really concerted action. Our aim is to help cities become places where businesses, public sector and citizens consume only demonstrably sustainable fish, and protect precious marine resources, ecosystems and good livelihoods in fishing for years to come.

What has the project achieved so far?

In May 2014, representatives from academia, the fishing industry, restaurants and voluntary organisations attended the official launch event for the Sustainable Fish Cities campaign, benefitting from valuable crosssector networking. As a result of this event 9 organisations immediately signed a Fish City

pledge, with additional organisations joining since then.

The Sustainable Fish Cities campaign pledge has lead Food Newcastle to forge links with the fishing community at nearby North Shields and along the North East coast. These relationships are vital to creating a strong and diverse food partnership in Newcastle and the wider region.

Additionally, two of Newcastle University’s Marine Biology undergraduates are gathering information on peoples’ fish consumption and attitudes towards sustainable fish. It is hoped that this work can lead to fully funded comprehensive PhD studentships. The Dove Marine Laboratory has also 2 UG interns assisting to promote the campaign within the city.

What is next for the campaign?- A lot! Too many to mention but some examples include: A huge achievement by the campaign is that sustainable fish purchases have been made mandatory across NHS England as part of the Department for Health’s new hospital food standards. Additionally the biggest fresh fish supplier in the UK – M&J Seafood – have released a ground breaking new tool called the ‘Safely Sourced List’. It is a list of all their products which are rated 1-3 by the Marine Conservation Society or are Marine Stewardship Council Certified and therefore meet the criteria of the Sustainable Fish City pledge. Newcastle hopes to follow Bournemouth’s success of officially becoming the UK’s first Sustainable Fish City!

For more information on the campaign and how to get involved please visit the National Fish City Website: http://www.sustainweb.org/sustainablefishcity

Illustration by Hannah Scully

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Opinion Piece

Science is great, Spread the word!

by Calum Kirk Professor Brain Cox, he of the BBC series’ “Wonders of the Universe” and “Wonders of the Solar System”, was recently appointed Professor for Public Engagement in Science at The University of Manchester by the Royal Society. Upon receiving this new feather in his already rather impressive cap, Professor Cox noted that while Britain is leading the world in many areas of research, we still fall behind many other countries in the amount of investment put into scientific endeavour.

According to Professor Cox, less than 2% of Britain’s GDP is invested in research while the USA, Germany and South Korea invest 2.7%, 2.8% and 4% respectively. He believes we can do a lot better in this regard and that the way to do that is to engage with the public about the research that scientists do.

And in my opinion, he couldn’t be more right.

Engaging the public is not a straightforward task though, as there can be reluctance from both sides.When the public think of a scientist, they probably still think of the traditional stereotype of a solitary, white-coated person hunched over test tubes or a microscope, unaware of the outside world and utterly engrossed in “The Science”.

And at one point in history this was probably accurate. For a long time, science was only really carried out by a relatively small number of privileged people with a formal education who only discussed their work with other, similarly educated academics. They had no need to explain what they were doing to anyone else, and so a wall formed between the public and scientists. But as the UK education system has improved, everyone now has the opportunity to learn about the wonders of science, and more and more people have become interested in our work. As a result we, the scientific community,

have had to start explaining what exactly we are up to in our labs late at night.

The flip side of increased public scrutiny though is increased public support. Public engagement therefore is becoming an ever increasingly important part of a researchers skill set. Most labs and institutes carry out a number of public engagement activities each year, and “3 minute thesis” competitions for PhD and masters students are becoming more and more common. Both sides are benefiting more and more as a result; the public are informed about current research and new advancements, while researchers develop public speaking skills and appreciate their research from a different point of view. Through this cycle of increased understanding, increased support and increased investment, science in Britain will thrive and match up to our closest international competitors.

However, these benefits will only ever be achievable if researchers can overcome one particularly tricky double edged sword; accessibility. Throughout our careers we have been trained to think critically and in a scientific manner. As a result, the longer you’re in research the more you forget how much specialised knowledge you have compared to the general public. For example, you might think you’ve put together an excellent, easily accessible presentation which in reality is only understood by the really dedicated and invested members of the audience (in the medical field for example, friends and family of patients tend to be very well informed about the particular disease they have been touched by). Conversely, if you “dumb down” your engagement activities too much you can offend the audience, who will know more than you give them credit for.

So the question is how do we best engage with a public that wants to know more about science, but in a way that is neither too complex or patronising?

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Unfortunately, the honest answer is that there is no hard and fast “best way” to engage the public. The fine line between complex and patronising is just one which we have to walk, but one which does get easier with practice. And there are some great examples to follow. The Hancock, Discovery Museum and Centre for Life are all prime examples of institutions engaging all members of the public on several topics in many varied ways.

Institutes throughout the University also actively engage the public about current research at open days and “Meet the Scientist”-events. And of course new formats for engagement have arisen in the past decade; podcasts, online blogs and videos are become more and more common as engagement tools.

For example Radiolab is a podcast produced

by WNYC and NPR (National Public Radio) in the US and is definitely worth finding, listening to and loving. While they have a strong interest in science, their shows centre around a general theme or story rather than a specific topic; for example the show Translation” included stories on linguistic and literary translation as well as RNA translation.

The shows also often have a personal angle and therefore move into areas that you wouldn’t think were connected at all, at first. As a result they’ve had shows on biology, ecology, chemistry, physics, neuroscience, psychology, criminology, sociology, linguistics, music, art, mathematics, geology, history, medicine, philosophy and all the points in between. Check them out.

Oh, and then there’s us, {react}. We’ve been on the front lines of the engagement in Newcastle for many moons. But there are still more people out there to engage with and inspire with the wonders of science. Now, hopefully, with the appointment of a prominent figure such as Professor Brian Cox, public engagement will only gain speed, bringing the benefits to everyone.

Who knows, maybe this’ll mean that one day we’ll even be in podcast form!

Illustration by Hannah Scully

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Issue Theme Biomimetrics

By Ross Law Plagiarising Nature (Introduction) Biomimetics (AKA Biomimicry) and bionics both involve the idea of using nature’s designs to improve our own. The idea itself is fascinating; nature has spent billions of years performing research for us and now we can simply observe and replicate its results. Closer inspection reveals how ubiquitous biomimetics is in our current day industry, with its use in science, engineering and even computing. Engineering is arguably where it has had the biggest impact as evolution has proven to be an effective process for creating appropriate materials and designs for a job. But the usefulness of biomimetics are not limited to engineering and its impact on more contemporary fields like tissue engineering, nanotechnology and computer science could be even more profound.

An Evolving Field Like the organisms and processes that provide it with inspiration, the concept of biomimetics has evolved over time. It has moved to new fields, new scales and moved beyond the physical side of nature. Everything from animal behaviour, biochemistry and biology has potential answers to our research and development problems.

example of this is the winglets at the end of the wings of the Airbus A380, which were inspired by eagles’ wings that curve up at the ends, providing the optimum lift to length balance.

However, where before we studied bird wings for aerodynamics and biomechanics to make more effective robots, now we are looking at recreating structures on the micro and nanoscale as these properties can be just as important if not more so than the macro scale features. The lotus leaf, with its highly hydrophobic properties, has aided in the development of hydrophobic coatings and researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently managed to replicate the adhesive effect of a gecko’s foot, allowing them to make a highly adhesive and reusable tape.

These are just some of the innovations applying biomimetics at the small scale in engineering.

In medicine and computer science biomimetics gets even more interesting.

When it comes to taking ideas from nature we don’t simply look at the rest of the creatures on earth. In order to make more effective biomaterials and prosthetics we have to understand how our own bodies function, down to a molecular level. This makes biomimetics extremely important in the fields of biomaterials and tissue engineering as the materials you use have to be as close to their natural analogue as possible. Coatings on artificial hips are designed

The pioneers of aviation and flight were some of the first to mimic nature in their admirable but often futile attempts to defy gravity and soar like birds. What the field lacked then were the tools and understanding to truly replicate what they observed in nature. As time has passed these hurdles have been overcome, allowing us to progressively unravel the secrets behind the amazing feats natural selection has achieved. We have achieved flight now with our technology but to master it we have had to look to nature. An

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Illustration by Helene Pans

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to closely mimic the normal environment of bone forming cells (osteoblasts) encouraging bone integration with the implant. Mimicking human tissues and their environment is crucial to tissue engineering as well; knowing how cells form the extremely complex structures in the body allows you to recreate tissues, and in the future maybe even whole organs, from scratch.

The applications of biomimetics aren’t limited to the material however. The behaviour of animals has inspired research as well. The way a flock of birds drifts and morphs like one giant organism, or a shoal of fish turn and move as if they are all linked, and how ants can solve problems that they have no individual knowledge of such as building rafts and bridges out of their own bodies. How do these creatures that individually have only basic intelligence perform these feats?

This happens due to a behavioural phenomenon known as swarm intelligence, where the individual creatures follow a simple set of rules that lead to the formation of complex behaviour.

No leader occurs in the swarm; instead the behaviour of each individual can influence the behaviour of the others (if one fish sees a predator it may dart sideways and the fish next to it will attempt to stay close to it, so it will move as well, and so on). Swarm theory has been applied in robotics by researchers at Harvard University to create swarms of robots that can self-organise into specific shapes with only a simple set of coded rules. Another fascinating use of this natural phenomenon is the creation of algorithms based on the rules of a swarm to solve mathematical, engineering and scientific problems. Simulations of swarm behaviour have been used to help improve boarding plans for commercial airliners and for managing crowds in public places.

What does the future hold?

Biomimetics has moved a long way from the days of the early flight pioneers and Leonardo da Vinci. Now researchers at various institutes are striving to recreate the most complex system in nature, the brain. The brain is an incredibly powerful biological computer and can perform an estimated 1015 calculations per second (CPS).

Our current computers are rapidly approaching this level of CPS but lack the structure or

emulation of an organic brain. Understanding and mimicking the complex network of neurons and synapses in the human brain could help us create systems capable of abstract thought and problem solving. IBM have recently developed a new processor called ‘True North’ which has an architecture like that of the neurons (nerve cells) and synapses (the connections between neurons) in the mammalian brain. This architecture gives the processor the ability to identify patterns or objects and recognise speech at a fraction of the power cost compared to standard processors and it’s all thanks to nature’s help.

Hopefully, after reading this, you will have an idea of the broad scope of biomimetics and how the field is not limited to physical structures and chemical processes but influences more abstract concepts like behaviour, cognition and problem solving. Biomimetics are playing an important role in our technological development and maybe

in the coming decades we will be able to not only copy nature but improve upon it.

Refs http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/04/ biomimetics/tom-mueller-text http://www.airbus.com/innovation/eco-efficiency/ design/biomimicry/ http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2014/08/14/ a-swarm-of-a-thousand-cooperative-self-organisingrobots/ http://www.research.ibm.com/articles/brain-chip.shtml Ray Kurzweil The singularity is near

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Issue Theme Beam bridges: making our cells look into the light

by Joe Crutwell Anyone who has been even passively observing science and technology recently can agree that research has been bordering on figments of fantasy and science fiction. We’re seeing 3D printers, robots on quiz shows and even the potential for commercial space travel. The field of biology is no different.

Scientists and engineers are collaborating to correct the various ailments our environment and even our own genes have unfortunately bestowed upon us. Many prosthetic limbs are more durable and in some cases almost indistinguishable from their fleshy counterparts and people with various auditory defects now have a wide range of potential hearing aids. But what about some of our functions we don’t have prosthetics for? What of the remaining four senses?

Almost everyone would agree that sight is a crucial sense for modern living, yet we appear to have made little progress in this area compared to other advances. Diseases such as Retinitis Pigmentosa and other serious eye conditions can cause total loss of vision, and still have no effective treatment. This may be on its way to changing, but to understand how I’m going to have to take you on a whistle-stop tour of both old and recent discoveries in genetics and neuroscience. If it seems like a lot to take in, just remember that it ends with eye lasers and a sweet pair of shades.

Let’s start with the basic living biological unit, the cell. Sometimes in the field of biology people can be referred to as “talking” to cells. While the term seems misleading and can conjure some amusing imagery of scientists trying to verbally reason with small living blobs (long hours in the lab do these things to people), the basic premise is correct; communicating information to elicit a desired response. So if you want to elicit a response from the eyes, what cells do you need to communicate with?

Light enters in through the retina, and is detected by light-sensitive cells known as photoreceptors.

After passing through many intermediate cells the

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signal ends in neurons known as “retinal ganglion cells”, which open sodium channels on their surface allowing positive ions to flow in. This influx of sodium results in what is known as an “Action Potential”, which is the essential step resulting in electrical information being sent from the retina to the brain for processing. Eye diseases such as Retinitis Pigmentosa can destroy this entire system down to the ganglion cells, so is there any way to re-establish the signals that have been lost in this process?

Manipulating neurons through chemical and electrical means is still not perfect. Chemical signals such as sodium and chlorine, once introduced, tend to hang around for a while before the body can get rid of them. This means analysing the effects on nerve cells, which are supposed to produce many rapid signals in succession, is an issue and can even be toxic. Electrical signals are much quicker, but, like chemical signals, are imprecise, meaning that if you want to target a small select group of nerve cells you may accidentally also stimulate many you would rather avoid. This would be key for pinpointing the correct signals in visual processing. A technique for influencing neurons more quickly and precisely would provide great benefits to neurological research and treatments.

A potential different avenue for control of nerve cells is through the field of gene manipulation.

The ability to modify gene expression has been travelling at an electric pace in the past decade, but can they become electronic pacemakers in transgenic cells and animals?

Illustration by Vanessa Yong

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Current transgenic methods have been mostly limited to experimental research, either inducing genes to be expressed where they normally are not (e.g. you can manipulate bacteria to produce human proteins such as insulin) or deleting genes in cells to simulate common diseases and test potential treatments.

In recent years, treatments using these techniques have begun to appear. Gene therapy was first approved in 2012 with the lipoprotein lipase deficiency treatment Glybera, allowing for a prevention of this form of pancreatitis. The gene is transported into cells through a modified virus with the disease causing part removed and the desired DNA inserted to replace the faulty gene in the patient.

While this is a very good research method and a gateway to all manner of treatments, all this provides is a mechanism to get a gene into cells, so you still need a gene capable of allowing whatever is left in the eye to restore light sensitivity in some form. Is there a single gene that is capable of this?

The answer to this question is that there is, and it comes from the weird and wonderful world of microbiology. Scientists studying Algae had remarked as early as 1978 that these unicellular organisms were able to produce electrical potentials in response to light in a similar way to the human eye. This information appeared unrelated to control of human visual function until the early two thousands, when a paper was published showing one of these algae proteins expressed in flies allowed their cells to produce an electric potential when illuminated. This new found ability to directly control cells through light became known as “Optogenetic” control.

With these proteins having now been described in detail thanks to increasing genetic research and computer databases of the Algae genome, these light-gated ion channels genes were the missing piece of the “Light-sensitivity” puzzle.

Using the transgenic techniques described earlier, these genes can be introduced into human retinal ganglion cells through the previously mentioned virus delivery, which restores light-sensitivity to parts of the mammalian eye by allowing the influx of sodium ions.

This brings us back to the present day of research.

We now have a precise way of returning light sensitivity to our eyes, specific to the cells we want. Yet these single channels are not as complex as the visual pathway destroyed in many eye diseases. Research is currently taking place into producing a headset capable of processing the complex multi-coloured signals released by the real world into smaller, laser-like beam bridges of information that transmit back to our biological nerve cells.

So what would this headset look like? How would it affect the lives of individuals wearing it? These potential questions for the future have been examined brilliantly in a short film “Song of the Machine”, produced by the design practice Superflux alongside Newcastle university’s own Dr Patrick Degenaar; it follows the day in the life of a man wearing one of these conceptual headsets, which do double as (in my opinion) a pretty cool looking set of sunglasses.

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Rediscovery of hidden memories

By Hannah Swinburne Uncharacteristic behaviour, movement problems and difficulties in reasoning and judgement are often symptomatic of dementia;, but generally the most painful for both patient and family is memory loss. The gradual disappearance of names, faces, speech and life skills may feel unrelenting, but patients with dementia often experience brief patches of clarity, suggesting that memories are merely misplaced rather than destroyed.

This offers hope that if the gaps dividing the patient from their memories could be bridged, they may be able to rediscover the lost parts of themselves.

A study on a mouse model of dementia has indicated the potential benefits of two distinct treatment plans. In order to test the effects of each of these on memory, researchers observed mice attempting to make their escape from a water maze. Coloured water hid a raised platform from sight, forcing mice to rely on their memory to locate its position in order to break from tiresome swimming. The first treatment investigated was the effect of housing mice in enriched environments compared to standard laboratory housing.

Environmental enrichment aims to stimulate an animal’s senses and brain activity beyond what is usually experienced in a laboratory environment.

Typically this is achieved through visual, somatosensory (a feeling of movement or touch), physical, and other cognitive stimuli. Following exposure to enrichment, mice that had previously experienced diminished memory recall were able to complete the task more quickly. This paves the way for similar treatments in humans, suggesting that learning, socialising, physical activity and sensory stimulation really may make a difference to the lives of patients.

therefore may potentially lead to the approval of a new drug. HDAC inhibitors cause an expansion in the number of modifications to proteins involved in the packaging of DNA, hence altering the shape of the genetic material. This rearrangement causes a variation in protein expression patterns.

The presence of synaptic protein markers was found to increase in both mice housed in an enriched environment and those taking HDAC inhibitors. Synapses are junctions connecting neuronal pathways; a surge in their numbers indicates a rewiring of the brain. Reorganisation of the neuronal connections may be responsible for granting access to forgotten memories.

The Alzheimer’s Society estimates that one million people in the UK will be living with dementia by 2025. The effect these diseases have on society can be measured economically, costing the UK £26 billion a year, but are also felt socially. The disease restrains the lives of all it touches, with dementia patients commonly reporting anxiety, stress and the fear of deteriorating. Social isolation is familiar among the carers of the 37% of patients who receive no professional care. Improved treatment plans are desperately needed to lift this community; this study offers hope that sensory therapies and pharmaceutical drugs may offer the key to rediscovering hidden memories.

In a second experiment, where drugs named HDAC inhibitors were administered, mice showed increased recall. Promisingly, this effect is currently being investigated in human clinical trials, and

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Illustration by Hannah Scully

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Science Fiction Wormholes: Bridges in Space and Time

By Gesa Junge Science fiction would just not work without wormholes.

It’s an odd term for a short cut through time and space but it makes sense when you think about the hole a worm leaves when going through an apple for example, creating a shortcut between two points on the surface. The technical term for a wormhole is Einstein-Rosen Bridge, as it was Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen who proposed a solution to the theory of relativity that would allow for changes in space time causing such shortcuts. These bridges would connect two points (mouths) in space time via a channel (throat) which may be a shortcut between the two points, saving a space traveller a few thousand years of travel. The mouths would likely be black holes but this varies with different theories. However, even though possible theoretically, no wormhole have been discovered to date. And even if someone did find one somewhere, would anyone be able to use them? And for what? Where would we go??

The SciFi world provides somewhat conflicting data on wormholes: As we know from Star Trek, wormholes are generally unstable on at least one end (except the Bajoran wormhole), while the rift located just under Cardiff remains more or less stable for most of Doctor Who. And then there is the Bifrost in Thor which is not only stable but can be opened and closed on demand.

So wormholes may be stable, or not. Or probably are but only at one end. Who knows, we haven’t found any yet!

But, theoretical physicist Kip Throne recently suggested that unstable wormholes could be stabilised by “exotic matter” which is essentially negative energy density and negative pressure to even out the huge gravitational forces that would be causing the wormhole in the first place (because the mouth is a black hole).

Theoretically. The next problem is then that anything other than exotic matter (like, say, a spaceship) would destabilise the wormhole and it would collapse.

Scientists led by Eric Davis in Toronto are currently working on solving this though, so watch this space.

So where do wormholes come from?

Well, in Star Trek wormholes are caused by red matter, in The Avengers they originate from Tesseracts and in Interstellar they just appear from thin air. According to the Quantum Foam Hypothesis, virtual particles are constantly appearing and disappearing, which would make it possible for wormholes to also spontaneously appear (and disappear, which could be crucial if you’re in the process of traveling through one). Theoretical or not, wormholes are fascinating things, and there is actually research being done on them so who knows what scientists will find in the future. And if you’re really interested, here’s the math behind the potential wormholes: “If a Minkowski spacetime contains a compact region Ω, and if the topology of Ω is of the form Ω ~ R x Σ, where Σ is a three-manifold of nontrivial topology, whose boundary has topology of the form dΣ ~ S2, and if, furthermore, the hypersurfaces Σ are all spacelike, then the region Ω contains a quasi-permanent intra-universe wormhole” (if someone could explain that to me that would be great!). And we know from SciFi that people and things can travel through wormholes, for example Dr Bishop in Fringe, or a bus full of people in Dr Who. Unfortunately, even if someone were to find a wormhole, pull together enough exotic matter to stabilise it and keep it open, any existing wormholes would likely be tiny; about 10-33 cm (blink and you’d miss it!) but that may only be a matter of time as our universe is expanding and therefore so are wormholes, so eventually there may be some wormholes big enough for a human to go through. The next questions would then be: where would this human end up? Any volunteers…?

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Computer-connected brains: science fiction or science future Thomas M.Hall, Institute of Neuroscience I visit Charlotte on a Saturday morning, arriving to the smell of fresh baking. After seeing her grandchildren, we head to the village hall for a surprisingly competitive monthly bake-off. But I’m not here just for tea and cake. A year ago, aged 73, Charlotte suffered a stroke, leaving her wheelchairbound and with her right arm almost completely paralysed. One day she was working as a freelance architect; the next, she was unable to even write or dress herself.

But six months later, in 2034, Charlotte became one of around 200 patients worldwide fitted with a revolutionary new medical device called a ‘braincomputer interface’, or BCI. Back at home, she shows me the scar on her scalp where doctors implanted thousands of microscopic electrodes in the part of her brain that controls her right arm — the part that was ‘disconnected’ by the stroke.

A tiny cable runs from her scalp, under her skin, to the BCI, which appears as a bump on her chest, like a pacemaker. From there, a cable runs to another set of electrodes implanted in Charlotte’s spinal cord. The device charges overnight, but it’s switched off now, and Charlotte’s paralysed right arm lies awkwardly across her lap. She switches it on, and suddenly her arm comes to life. It’s jerky for a moment, but the movement soon becomes quite natural. She reaches for her tea, and explains how it works. The BCI records the tiny electrical signals produced by her brain when she ‘thinks’ about moving her arm. It translates this information into electrical impulses that are delivered, painlessly, to her spinal cord, activating the nerves to her arm and making her muscles contract.The BCI has been lifechanging. She’s not yet back to work, but can dress herself, use a keyboard and bake again. She can’t imagine what life would be like without it.

OK, so that was science fiction! But it’s very possible that within 20 years Charlotte’s scenario will be reality. Across the world, scientists are working hard to solve the remaining challenges.As a neuroscientist, my research focuses on one of the key challenges: studying which brain signals would be best for controlling such a device. The technology already exists to record brain signals from the motor cortex (the part of the brain controlling dexterous arm movements) over many months.

But for most patients, a BCI needs to work for decades, otherwise the benefits don’t justify the risks of surgery.As well as having a long lifespan, the brain signals also need to be stable. If they constantly changed, Charlotte would wake up each morning not knowing how to control her arm. The problem is that the brain reacts to having electrodes implanted in it. The ‘foreign’ material leads to microscopic scarring (called gliosis). Over time, this causes neurons to die, or be pushed away from the electrode. Currently, we can’t record from individual neurons indefinitely.With my supervisor, Andrew Jackson, I am studying a different type of brain signal, called the ‘local field potential’, or LFP, which includes very lowfrequency patterns of brain activity.

Recording individual neurons is a bit like being at a noisy football stadium, trying to use microphones to record the voices of individual fans during the chaos of the match. Recording LFPs is like using the same microphones to record the chanting of the crowd, or the swell of the ‘Mexican wave’. Our research shows that we can make a reasonable estimate of what an individual neuron (football fan) is saying based on what these slower LFP signals (sounds of the crowd) are doing.

Importantly, these LFP signals appear to be stable over time. And they may have another advantage.

BCIs need dramatic miniaturisation, but the major barriers are processing power and battery life.

Our low-frequency LFP signals may help, because they can be processed efficiently with low-power electronics. We made these discoveries in rhesus monkeys, who controlled an experimental BCI device using LFP signals. Monkeys are irreplaceable models in our research, because the neurons that control their arm movements are so similar to ours (whereas in rats, for example, they’re very different).

In other work from our lab, Andrew Jackson and Jonas Zimmermann have shown that temporary arm paralysis in monkeys can be partially reversed by spinal cord stimulation — suggesting that a BCI like Charlotte’s is achievable. (adapted from MRC writing competition entry)

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'Mazing Mathematics

by Dr Maths Calculation Maze Challenge 1 Start in the top left-hand corner square “=2”. Find a route to the bottom righthand corner, ending up with the value 6.

As you move between the squares you change the value according to the calculation shown in the square.

For example, “=2” means set your total to 2, “-1” means subtract one from your

total, and “x2” means multiple your total by 3.

Challenge 2 What is the biggest total you can make?

Number Maze Start at the 2 in the top left-hand corner, and jump forward, sideways, or backwards, but never diagonally, the number of squares indicated by the number on the square.

The aim is to find your way to the square marked “X”.

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North East Postgraduate Conference This October marks the return of the North East Postgraduate Conference (NEPG) for the tenth consecutive year. The conference, organised by postgraduate students from a number of universities across the North East, will take place on Monday 12th October 2015 at the Civic Centre in Newcastle.

Since its inception in 2006, the NEPG has provided a free platform for postgraduate students in the North East to present and discuss their work.

A number of keynote speakers and workshops are also available each year to help students develop a range of skills, from public ngagement to entrepreneurship. This year, the conference will focus on communicating science to the public. The day will see talks from Viscount Matt Ridley and Professor Anya Hurlbert. Matt is a journalist and author who will be speaking about his new book “The Evolution of Everything”, while Anya is a Professor of Visual Neuroscience at Newcastle University who will be discussing differences in human perception.

In addition, each year the NEPG supports a local charity and this year the Lily Foundation has been selected. Founded in 2007, the charity was set up in Lily’s memory by her family to fund research in to mitochondrial disease.

In 2015, the UK government passed a bill to allow mitochondrial donation for the first time, which will allow parents to give birth to children free from mitochondrial disease. The NEPG will this year feature a panel discussion on mitochondrial research from political, clinical, scientific and public perspectives. Included in the panel will be Newcastle’s MP, patients with mitochondrial disease, research staff, and charity representatives.

This year the conference will once again benefit from a careers workshop, this time featuring representatives from industry, academia, and business. In addition, a public outreach workshop will be held to explore

the role of science in the community. This session will feature speakers from the STEM ambassador programme, as well as the Science Communication Director at Newcastle’s Centre for Life. To develop these skills further, there will be an interactive workshop on communicating science to non-scientists.

Since abstract submission opened in May, work has been submitted from a broad range of fields, from genetics to bioengineering. Abstracts may be selected for a poster or oral presentation, which provides valuable experience and feedback to students who wish to present their work on an international level in the future. Prizes for the best poster and oral presentation will be awarded on the day.

The conference will also present opportunities for students to network with national and global companies who may be able to assist them in their research. These sponsors will be on hand throughout the day to discuss these opportunities with students.The NEPG is free to attend and will mainly appeal to postgraduate students in the North East studying in the broad field of the medical biosciences.

Registration must be completed on the NEPG website (ne-pg.co.uk) before 30th September to confirm your place.

Volunteers to help on the day of the conference would be greatly appreciated, and can apply by email to volunteers@ne-pg.co.uk.

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12th A 4th Ma 21st M 21st M 23rd M 23rd M 1st Jun

4th Ju 6th Ju 8th Ju

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13th J 15th J Room 16 Jun 16th J

16th 19th 20th J 27th 27th J 27th J 29th J 30th J

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12th J 13th J 18th J 20th J 23rd J 26th J Museu 27th J 1st Au 2nd Se 5th Se

Listings 12th Aug 14 - 30th Sep 15 Great North Museum Planetarium Show Hancock 4th Mar 15 - 14th June 15 Our Brilliant Brain Show Life Science Centre 21st Mar 15 - 3rd Oct 15 We Are Astronomers Show Life Science Centre 21st Mar 15 - 3rd Oct 15 Little Bear Show Life Science Centre 23rd May 15 - 1st Nov 15 Meet the Experts Event Life Science Centre 23rd May 15 - 1st Nov 15 Game On 2.0 Exhibition Life Science Centre 1st June 15 3- 5pm Special screening: Nick Broomfield's Tales of the

Grim Sleeper + Q&A with Director King Edward VII Building

Inaugural event: Film Praxis Screening & Seminar (KVII2) 4th June 15 - 6 Sept 15 Artatomy Exhibition Life Science Centre 6th June 15 11am-1pm Behind the Scenes Tours, Hancock Archives Tour Discovery Museum 8th June 15 5:30- 7pm Where have all the villages gone?: landscape of

home and memory in Chinese literature and film Herschel Building 9th June 15 2pm - 3pm Measuring Program Progress using Information TheoryLecture Claremont Tower Room 7.01 13th June 15 7:30- 9:30pm Summer Concert Event Armstrong Building 15th June 15 11:45am - 2pm Innovate UK Funding Workshop Baddiley-Clark Seminar Room 16 June 15 - 20 Sept 15 In a Spin Exhibition Life Science Centre 16th June 15 2pm - 3pm A behavioural model for the discussion of resilience, Claremont Tower, elasticity, and antifragility. Room 7.01 16th - 17th June 15 19th - 20th June 15 11am - 3pm 20th June 15 11am - 1pm 27th - 28th June 15 10am - 4pm

27th June 15 12:30pm - 3:30pm 27th June - 5th July 15 29th June 15 8:45am - 4:15pm 30th June 15 10am - 12pm

4th Jul 15 11am-1pm 9th July 15 6pm - 7pm

12th July 15 11am – 3pm 13th July 15 8:30pm - 10pm 18th July 15 10.15am - 12.15pm 20th July 15 - 24th July 15 23rd July 15 11am – 3pm 26th July 15 11am – 3pm Museum 27th July 15 11am – 3pm 1st Aug 15 11am-1pm 2nd Sept 15 - 29th Nov 15 5th Sept 15 11am-1pm

Just Checking event Tank it Up! Exhibition CoderDojo Sessions Workshop What is your favourite number and why?

Asking the NE part of The NUMBERS Festival Harbour Day open day Numbers Festival Festival Throughout Newcastle Celebrating Numbers Teacher Conference Chance and Significance; How to be a Card Magician Maths Lectures for Secondary Schools Behind the Scenes Tours, Hancock Archives Tour Mind Change: How Digital Technologies are Leaving Their Mark on our Brains Lecture Motorbike meet Event Bright Club Newcastle Event Close-up nature photography Workshop Summer Science Camp Workshop WallQuest Family Dig 'Buy one get one free' on heritage train rides

Northern Stage Arbeia Roman Fort Life Science Centre

Animals from around the world Behind the Scenes Tours, Hancock Archives Tour Astronauts Exhibition Behind the Scenes Tours, Hancock Archives Tour

Segedunum Roman Fort Discovery Museum Life Science Centre Discovery Museum

Baltic Dove Marine Laboatory St James Park Various Discovery Museum Life Science Centre Stephenson Rail Museum The Stand Hancock Life Science Centre Arbeia Roman Fort Stephenson Railway

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