Friday, December 02, 2011
Curiosity goes to Mars
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Cars, Mars and future science stars
So how did I get to be driving a convertible around Cape Canaveral, pretending to be an astronaut? It's all thanks to FameLab.
But before I hit Cocoa Beach I spent a busy autumn discussing seduction by statistics and Sex in the Brain at the Battle of Ideas, and Fear at Bishopsgate Institute. And checking out the motorbikes at Motorcycle Live 2011.
Then I hit the road as the gas bubble in the spirit level of FameLab UK. Yes, I'm the only judge attending all the regional rounds. And I can tell you, the standard this year is stonkingly high, which makes the job of judging alarmingly difficult. If you dithered too long, you still have time to video an online FameLab entry (closing date December 31st) which will also serve you as a handy public showreel.
So how did judging the UK's finest future science communicators get me to Kennedy Space Centre to see the launch of a rocket to Mars?
Well, among the 21 international FameLab competitions is a rather special newcomer. NASA will be running FameLab Astrobiology in the US, with the winner coming to the International Final at Cheltenham Science Festival 2012. So my secret mission to Washington in October was to get Team NASA FameLab prepped and ready for launch.
And as a vital piece of partnership-building, I had to attend the launch of the Mars rover, Curiosity, from Cape Canaveral in November. I failed to stow away on board, but I did see the acetylene-bright flame, the column of white smoke, and felt more than heard the rumble that followed. Then I had beer, sushi and shark kebabs by the Atlantic with a bunch of rocket scientists and astrobiologists.
Honestly, the things I do for FameLab.
But before I hit Cocoa Beach I spent a busy autumn discussing seduction by statistics and Sex in the Brain at the Battle of Ideas, and Fear at Bishopsgate Institute. And checking out the motorbikes at Motorcycle Live 2011.
Then I hit the road as the gas bubble in the spirit level of FameLab UK. Yes, I'm the only judge attending all the regional rounds. And I can tell you, the standard this year is stonkingly high, which makes the job of judging alarmingly difficult. If you dithered too long, you still have time to video an online FameLab entry (closing date December 31st) which will also serve you as a handy public showreel.
So how did judging the UK's finest future science communicators get me to Kennedy Space Centre to see the launch of a rocket to Mars?
Well, among the 21 international FameLab competitions is a rather special newcomer. NASA will be running FameLab Astrobiology in the US, with the winner coming to the International Final at Cheltenham Science Festival 2012. So my secret mission to Washington in October was to get Team NASA FameLab prepped and ready for launch.
And as a vital piece of partnership-building, I had to attend the launch of the Mars rover, Curiosity, from Cape Canaveral in November. I failed to stow away on board, but I did see the acetylene-bright flame, the column of white smoke, and felt more than heard the rumble that followed. Then I had beer, sushi and shark kebabs by the Atlantic with a bunch of rocket scientists and astrobiologists.
Honestly, the things I do for FameLab.
