Blog

26/10/2017

Retreating is crucial to advance

We are very proud to share this latest KEC blog by Babaraham Institute post docs, Clara Novo, Danika Hill and Claire Senner.  In a drive to bring the International postdoc community together, our BI pioneers tell us exactly how they established the first EU-LIFE joint postdoc retreat.

20/10/2017

A PhD life for me!

In the second of our ITN (Innovative Training Network) blog series, PhD student in Babraham’s Signalling Programme, Piotr Jung, lab tells us why this program is so important for advancing knowledge of key biological concepts. 
 

19/10/2017

Chromos VR at Science Museum Lates

Zahra Fahmi, a researcher in the Lipkow laboratory, describes her involvement in the Chromos project showcase at the ‘CelluLates’ event at the Science Museum, London

17/10/2017

Schools' Day - igniting a passion for science

As he starts to plan Schools' Day for 2018, Michael Hinton, part of the Public Engagement team, looks back at the event in previous years and reports views from students, teachers and from both junior and senior researchers who run projects on the day.

16/10/2017

​Success for The Royal Society Worm Project at Cambridge Young Scientist Journal Conference

Guest blogger Ella Willsmore, a student at Colchester County High School for Girls, describes her experiences at the Young Scientist Journal conference in Cambridge, during which she won a prize for her poster, which outlined her work with Olivia Casanueva's group on a Royal Society Partnership project.

09/10/2017

Networks pave the way for early stage researchers

In the first of our series of KEC Blogs from Innovative Training Network (ITN) students, we hear from PhD student Christina Courreges about her involvement and the legacy of a recent workshop held at the Babraham Institute.  
 

05/10/2017

Postdoc policies gain momentum

As one of the sponsors of the first National Post Doc meeting held in Cambridge recently, Babraham Institute are proud to report on the success of the event. BI Post doc and co-organiser, Dr Sven Sewitz, shares his view of the event and tells us what plans are in store for next year.

03/10/2017

The Pampisford Society visit labs and facilities

The public engagement programme at the Babraham Institute seeks to engage people of all ages. As well as working with school students and teachers, the Institute interacts with adult community groups from across Cambridgeshire.  Here Tacita, the Institute’s Public Engagement Manager, discusses a recent event with the Pampisford Society.

26/09/2017

Cutting edge ideas appeal of the Cambridge Bioinformatics Hackathon

The Cambridge Bioinformatics Hackathon is underway and already generating lots of ideas and solving bioinformatics-based problems.  In this latest KEC blog, guest editor, Kevin Dialdestoro from Genestak, tells us what he is expecting from the event and why Genestak was keen to support this and (hopefully) future Hackathons.  

26/09/2017

Returning To Work After Parental Leave

What is it like returning to work after parental leave? Two returners, Laura Biggins and Laura Norton, write about their recent experiences at Babraham.

19/09/2017

Summer student placements - it's more than just the lab work!

Shaun Png is another undergraduate on a summer placement, working in Rahul Roychoudhuri's group. He explains how it's not just being at the bench that makes the Babraham Institute a great place to work.

14/09/2017

Replication and repair

As part of their knowledge exchange activities, Babraham Institute Group Leaders travel far and wide to discuss their research findings. In this latest blog, Dr Jon Houseley explains why a niche conference in Rome was exactly the right platform to promote his recently published work and build scientific support for a potentially controversial discovery.

11/09/2017

What do you expect from scientific research? Come and tell us!

ORION is a EU funded project to facilitate Open Science and Responsible Research and Innovation in the Babraham Institute and other European research funding and performing organisations. Open Science is about making research more accessible, which is increasingly important for improving the quality of research and for assessing it. Whether citizen or researcher, this project needs you. Get involved! 

08/09/2017

Summer student placements - an undergraduate's view

In the second of a series of posts written by summer placement students, undergraduate Alice Buckingham explains her project and what brought her to the Institute.

31/08/2017

Transplanting science - bringing together basic biology and clinical care

Our research collaborations take many shapes and forms, often looking beyond academic research into industry or the clinic. The value of these partnerships in driving innovative and effective research progress is becoming increasingly apparent and supporting more partnerships like this is a vital part of our work to maximise the impact of the Institute’s research.
 
In this latest blog, clinician Dr Gavin Pettigrew tells our Knowledge Exchange Manager, how a collaboration with the Linterman lab has resulted in some surprising and interesting discoveries with potential benefits for scientists, doctors and patients.

24/08/2017

Summer student placements - a sixth-form perspective

Millie is an A level student who joined the Institute during summer 2017 to gain a few week's of experience of working in the lab. Each year we welcome a number of students from schools and universities to work on short-term project that help them to develop their skills and confidence in research. Here Millie explains how her placement led her to discover the complexities of Bioinformatics.

22/08/2017

Stem cells under the microscope

"There has never been a better time to be a stem cell biologist".  In this latest KEC Blog, Dr Rugg-Gunn speaks of his excitement and enthusiam for his research field and shares his account of the recent Interntation Society for Stem Cell Research conference.

16/08/2017

Core Facilities find a common voice

BI’s staff and scientists find many routes to share their knowledge and know-how, often creating networks or co-creating events in respective their fields.  In this blog, Head of Bioinformatics Facility, Dr Simon Andrews tells us why he applied for KEC funding to establish the Bioinformatics Core Facilities group and how this group helps to develop his research interests.

16/08/2017

A technical services perspective on Public Engagement

Run as part of the visit by Generating Genius students as described in the previous blog, Oliver Burns from the Institute's Technical Services team describes the interactive tour he has developed to show visiting students how much work it takes to keep a research lab working safely.

31/07/2017

Generating Genius

25/07/2017

Inspiring the next generation of scientists?

Kirsti Hornigold, from Heidi Welch's group, ran science workshops for Year 2 and Year 3 at her childrens' school in Saffron Walden

14/07/2017

Making hay while the sun shines

Not surprisingly, the recurring theme that ran through the recent UKRO conference, that brings together European Liaison Officers from across the UK to talk about the EU’s science programme Horizon 2020, was Brexit. In her Blog, International Grants Manager, Dr Cheryl Smythe, explains why its important to make the most of current EU funded schemes.
 
 

14/07/2017

Speaking about genome folding in a pub – my Pint of Science experience

Clara Novo, a Post-doctoral research scientist in the Rugg-Gunn lab, describes how the Pint of Science scheme and collaboration with a jewellery maker have brought her research to a new audience.

12/07/2017

Linking with policy

There has never been a better time for scientists to engage in policy.  In times of snap elections, BREXIT and changing governments overseas, the need for scientific input and evidence has never been greater.   But what are the global and local opportunities for influencing policy and how can scientists get involved? In this blog, our Knowledge Exchange Manager, shares her account of recent policy engagements through conference and parliamentary events and highlights what these could lead to in the future.