WISE at the Global Science Show, 28th November 2020

The Global Science Show combined with FUTURES2020 (#FUTURES2020) offered an (unexpectedly) excellent opportunity for WISE and University of Bath researchers to share their research and interact with a truly world-wide audience.  In “normal” times FUTURES2020 would involve science busking in Bath city centre, travelling by train between Bristol and Bath performing science tricks, conducting guided engineering walks, or even doing stand-up science comedy.  However, COVID-19 put a stop to all this.

 

WISE researcher James Rand reports:

“Using the Global Science Show on Twitter (@GlobalSciShow), and after each of us created and published a set of brilliant at-home experiments and short-talks, we were able to reach a far, far bigger audience than if we had been doing physical activities. After looking at the data (what else would you expect from WISE researchers on an Informatics PhD programme?), between us our tweets clocked up some 22,000 views and over 1,000 people watched our videos worldwide – and that’s not including the many retweets. This opportunity has allowed us to grow the visibility of both IGWE, WISE and WIRC, open our research to all – including the younger generation – and demonstrates the global reach of social media for public engagement.

 

Global presenters from the University of Bath included Andy Barnes (WISE CDT), Russell Arnott, Naomi Deering, James Rand (WISE CDT) and Dr Ioanna Stamataki (a WISE graduate and now a lecturer at Bath).

 

Our research talks were varied with videos on how and why do clouds form, faecal sludge management,

flash floods, what are underwater gliders and plankton.

 

Have a look at our at-home experiments here: Turn your phone into a microscope, make an underwater glider, create a cloud at home and  understand contour lines.”