The Biochemist Blog

On message (a short guide to getting started in science communication)

With Wordpress for bloggers, Instagram for photographers, YouTube for vloggers, and the world’s loudest-ever microphone in Twitter, there’s quite simply never been a better or easier time to get started in science communication. Not only are there a whole variety of different ways of getting your message out, but social media has also democratised the process. You don’t need to be a professional communicator or even an expert user, you just have to want to give it a try: this is the age of the empowered amateur. The range of technologies also means that…

November 7, 2018 Historical / Journal content / Research / Student-focused

The Bloody History of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While TB may seem to be a disease of the past in developed nations, it still kills 1.7 million people annually. Therefore, despite the advances in TB prevention and treatment, complete eradication of this deadly disease is still a global concern.

November 2, 2018 Blog Posts / Research / Student-focused / Uncategorized

OBESITY: MANIPULATING OUR GUT MICROBIOTA IN THE QUEST TO BE LEAN

This is the final instalment of my three-part series that investigates how the correlative link between the gut microbiota and our weight has come to be. Part 3 explores the range of weird and wonderful solutions the market has to offer. Can we force the microbial hand simply through our dietary choices?

September 28, 2018 Biochemical Society / Education & careers / Events / Uncategorized

Event report: Protein disulphide bonds-biochemistry, biotechnology and biomedical impact

On 31st August 2018, I attended the protein disulphide bonds- biochemistry, biotechnology and biomedical impact conference organised by the Biochemical society at the university of Kent. I am a research fellow working on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and more specifically on tau protein, which is associated with the pathogenesis of the disease.

September 25, 2018 Blog Posts / Education & careers / Events / Science communication & public engagement / Student-focused

Creating an astrobiology-related science session

In this blog Melissa talks about her experience developing and piloting a science outreach activity funded by the Biochemical Society.

September 17, 2018 Research / Uncategorized

Virophages – are they our friends or our foes?

By Dragana Catici, University of Bath

Did you know that, just like us, other viruses can get infected with viruses too? Viruses have always challenged our views of life. These small obligate parasites, with sizes ranging from 20–400 nm, have been the cause of much pain and death throughout the history of life on Earth.

September 3, 2018 Biochemical Society / Science communication & public engagement / Uncategorized

Science Communication Competition video winner – Communicating Science through Art

By Jirayu “Boo Boo” Tanprasertsuk, Ph.D. candidate in Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition, Tufts University

Jirayu was the winner of the 2018 Biochemical Society Science Communication Competition (video category). Here Jirayu explores some of his inspirations in creating his video. You can see his winning entry, “Eating for your eyes”, here. The winning written article, by Victoria Bolton, is published in the August 2018 issue of The Biochemist magazine, which you can find here.