The Good Science Project is delighted to announce its second research culture conference, and warmly invites all members of the Imperial community to attend. As with our first conference, The Day of Doubt, the ‘Prism of Research’ conference will be a fascinating look at the alleys and byways of our daily life scientific. We are joined by Dr Magdalena Skipper, editor-in-chief of Nature magazine; Professor Mary Ryan CBE, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise), Imperial College; Professor Dame Clare Gerada, past-President of the Royal College of General Practitioners; and by Professor Peter Openshaw CBE, professor in experimental medicine, Imperial College and College Proconsul. Many other eminent speakers also are announced.
We. use the metaphor ‘prism’ to suggest the multi-faceted, refractive, illuminating quality both of science and of Imperial College. The day will focus on what it is like to be a researcher, what aspects we cherish and what elements are a burden. Our topics are precise, but also suggestive of a multitude of perspectives: the role of academic journals in shaping university life; the likely impact of machine learning on ordinary ‘bench’ practice; the way we express the life of research outside academic circles; the importance of collegiality and friendship in science innovation. As with all Good Science Project events, the meeting is for all, will be highly discussive and collegial, and will be an excellent way to meet colleagues from other areas of the College
Please save the space. Registration opens soon on the Good Science Project website.
Full details are here:
PRISM OF RESEARCH
April 2nd, 11:00 – 19:00
Venue: LT340, Huxley Building
A conference on research culture
All are welcome to the Good Science Project’s second conference, ‘Prism of Research’. The title reflects the multi-faceted nature of the Imperial research effort, its many perspectives, and its illuminating qualities.
Our topics are diverse: the role of academic journals in promoting the good research life; the impact of AI on traditional ideas of ‘bench’ science; the importance of friendship and collegiality in scientific advancement; how artistic practice and scientific research show convergent qualities.
Join us for a ‘prismatic’ and colourful day. Speakers include Dr Magdalena Skipper, editor-in-chief of Nature magazine; Professor Dame Clare Gerada, past-President of the Royal College of General Practitioners; Professor Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise); Dr Mark Kennedy, director of Imperial’s Data Science Institute; and Chris Riley, science documentarist and film maker.
Schedule:
10:30 Registration
11:00 Introduction to the conference
With: Dr Elisa Clemente and Dr Stephen Webster
11:10 Academic publishing, research success and the directions of science
What are the various challenges of being a research scientist? How can academic journals, or universities, assist in fostering improvement? Looking into the future, what can we expect?
With: Dr Magdalena Skipper, editor of Nature
Professor Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise)
Dr Dan O’Connor, Director for Social and Human Sciences at the UNESCO (UK) Commission
Dr Melanie Smallman, Lecturer in Science and Technology Studies, UCL
12:25 Laboratory lights
A group of Imperial staff and students give their personal perspectives on research culture.
13:15 Lunch
14:30 Science refractions: three parallel sessions
‘Research, friendship, collaboration’. With Professor Peter Openshaw CBE, professor in experimental medicine, Imperial College and College Proconsul; Professor Dame Clare Gerada, past President and Chair, Royal College of General Practitioners; Professor Jonathan Mestel, Professor of Applied Mathematics and Senior Consul.
‘The show of science: research as something to see’. With Professor Ken Arnold, director of the Medical Museion, Copenhagen; Chris Riley, film maker: and Ella Miodownik, Special Projects Coordinator, London Interdisciplinary School and artist-in-residence for The Good Science Project.
‘The bench, the bee and the blooming bytes: what will machine learning do to science?’ With Dr Mark Kennedy, Director of the Data Science Institute, Imperial College; Dr Lauren Cator, Reader in vector and transmission ecology, Imperial College; and Professor Richard Wingate, professor of developmental neurobiology, KCL.
15:45 Tea
16:15 Rays of light: the plenary session
- Professor Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise)
- Dr Catriona Firth, Associate Director for People, Culture and Environment, Research England
- Daksha Patel, artist
- Dr Felicity Mellor, Director of the Science Communication Unit (chair)
17:15 VISIT TO ‘TAPESTRY OF SCIENCE’, ABDUS SALAM LIBRARY
18:00 RECEPTION
19:00 END