recent articles
The insider: the biologics boom Chemistry World (April 2009)
Invest in the UK 2009 Life Sciences Sector Report (in press)
FutureMorph: Appeared on video in the Science Council's new careers website, talking about science writing. Future Morph has been set up to show that studying science, technology, engineering or maths beyond the age of 16 isn't just a one track road to becoming a scientist or engineer - the skills and knowledge you gain are valuable in almost any career and will make you very employable.
Climate-proof crops Chemistry & Industry feature (07 July 2008)
Better yields have long been the focus of crop scientists, but now researchers have their work cut out. Climate change means that droughts and flooding will become commonplace, and decreased soil quality is also an issue. Poor harvests in some regions have already led to higher food prices globally. Thankfully, tougher crops resilient to environmental stresses are now beginning to make their way from field trials to farmers. In addition to genetic modification techniques, gene banks and wild species often hold the key to crops better suited to more challenging conditions.
RSC policy bulletin no 9 (Editing)
Engineering Life: The emerging field of synthetic biology RSC Policy Seminar Report 24 April 2008
Next generation discovery tools Chemistry & Industry feature (10 March 2008)
The tantalising prospect of time and money saved in the drug discovery process, along with improved patient safety in clinical trials and practice, has drawn interested parties from pharma, biotech and academic backgrounds into a number of exciting stem cell initiatives. The UK’s new Stem Cells for Safer Medicines (SC4SM) initiative, for example, aims to identify potential side effects of new medicines much earlier in the research process, before animal or human trials are carried out. The ultimate objective is to create a bank of stem cells, open protocols and standardised systems in stem cell technology.
Cryostar Magazine (editing)
Invest in the UK 2008 Life Sciences Sector Report
Food Security and Sustainability RSC Policy Seminar Report (09 October 2007)
Clean living labs Chemistry & Industry feature (13 August 2007) The average working laboratory consumes between five and 10 times more energy per square foot than an office building, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Speciality laboratories, such as cleanrooms and labs with large process loads, can consume up to 100 times the energy of a similar-sized institutional or commercial structure.
International Careers Report: Science in the UK and Ireland Science 22 June 2007 316: 1771-1775 [DOI: 10.1126/science.316.5832.1771]
earlier articles:
Trash or Treasure? Chemistry World feature (March 2006)
Gene therapists swarm round honeycomb lipid Chemistry World news (March 2006)
The race is on Chemistry & Industry feature (3 April 2006)
"Accommodation in the UK comes at a price, and the cost of making the wrong decision is even higher. This is especially true for biotechnology companies, which take many years to turn in a profit."
Careers: from forestry to renewables Chemistry World feature (May 2006)
Neste Oil ICIS Chemical Business feature (15 May 2006)
Sussex science ICIS Chemical Business lead news story (18 May 2006)
Lotus elite ICIS Chemical Business feature (26 June 2006)
Music videos ease pain of dental work New Scientist news brief (23 July 2006)
EU Insider ICIS Chemical Business comment (24 July 2006)
Entertainment goggles reduce pain at the dentist Cosmos (25 July 2006)
Finland kick-starts EU innovation agenda Chemistry World news (July 2006 web and August 2006 print version)
Watching films in the Dentist's chair Flipside true stories (September 2006)
Compost-ready packaging Chemistry & Industry feature (16 October 2006)
"Entrepreneurs often see opportunity in adversity. But the bioplastics industry has been waiting patiently in the wings for market forces to align in its favour for two decades. Dwindling fossil fuel reserves, limited landfill capacity and consumers with a thirst for sustainability without compromising on lifestyle mean that biopolymers - renewable polymers - are now edging into the marketplace..."
Blood & Guts Flipside feature (November 2006)
plus Flipside Extra web material on special effects (November 2006)
Chemistry in Africa Chemistry World feature (December 2006)
Fishing for gold Chemistry & Industry feature (4 December 2006)
Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals UK Sector Report Invest in the UK 2007
Science and technology copy for the Sciencehorizons launched in January 2007. Sciencehorizons is a new programme of public dialogue about the implications of future science and technology funded by the DTI's Sciencewise programme. The project is run by a consortium of Dialogue by Design, Demos, the Graphic Science Unit, BBC Worldwide Interactive Learning and Shared Practice. Sciencehorizons presents the public with visions of how new developments in science and technology over the next 15-20 years could affect our future.
The writing on the wall Flipside feature (March 2007)
Making up rules Chemistry & Industry feature (9 April 2007)
Steve Angel President & CEO Praxair Gasworld interview feature (May 2007)