In addition to producing an extensive conferences programme and educational events, the Biochemical Society also organises science policy events, often in conjunction with other organisations.
Policy Lunchbox brings together peoplw working in science policy to discuss pertinent issues with experts. Lunch is provided free of charge.
View the Policy Lunchbox programme.
Lunchtime discussion and networking for those working in science education policy. Lunch is provided free of charge.
View the Education Policy Lunchbox programme.
The Society sponsors the Sense About Science 'Standing up for Science' media workshops for early career researchers, meaning that our members have access to priority spaces at these events. Find out more here.
You may be interested in the Society's Education department events. They host and take part in a range of events from workshops for schools and public outreach to careers conferences. More details are available here.
The Biochemical Society sent six young members to 'Voice of the Future 2013' - an opportunity for scientists aged 16-35 to put their questions to an assembled panel of MPs at the House of Commons. The event, organised by the Society of Biology, took place at Portcullis House on Wednesday 20 March. Click here for more details.
This panel discussion and debate, held in collaboration with the Royal Society of Chemistry, BioCentre and University of Bristol explored the science and ethics of synthetic biology and what it could mean for the UK. The event brought together senior members of the scientific community, along with policy makers and other stakeholders with whom we explored some of the questions and perceptions surrounding synthetic biology. Click here for further details, including a link to the video recording.
As part of Biology Week, we ran a special joint Education and Policy Lunchbox on the subject of research careers. Full details, including a link to a write-up, are available at our Eventbrite page. Lunch was followed by short contributions from our panellists and discussion with the audience. Policy and Education Policy Lunchboxes are lunchtime networking events jointly organised by the Biochemical Society, British Ecological Society and Society for Experimental Biology.
In response to the government's continued rhetoric on 'science for growth', Science Question Time brought together a cross-disciplinary panel to discuss science, growth, and how the latter could be defined and delivered. Jointly organised by the Biochemical Society and the Campaign for Science and Engineering, our guest chair this time was Dr Jack Stilgoe of the University of Exeter.
Find out more and listen to a podcast of the event
The Biochemical Society, Society for Experimental Biology and the British Ecological Society partnered to organize a unique bioscience communication training workshop for doctoral research students and postdoctoral research staff. The workshop was held at Charles Darwin House, London, on 7 June. You can read blog posts about the day here and here, and participants are reminded of the Facebook group here.
This Talkfest brought together those interested in science, science communication and its politics for discussion and cake. Panelists included Dr Michael Brooks (New Statesman; New Scientist), Dr Steve Cross (UCL), Dr Simon Lewis (UCL) and Dr Felicity Mellor (Imperial College London).
Sense About Science held a Standing up for Science media workshop in Manchester on Friday 23 March 2012. As partners, the Biochemical Society was assigned five priority places for our early career researchers. Click here for more details.
Science Question Time powered into 2012 with a debate on the future of nuclear energy, held at the Institute of Physics on Thursday 15 March. Was a mature debate on this issue possible? Jointly organised by the Biochemical Society and the Campaign for Science and Engineering, our guest chair this time was Geoff Brumfiel of Nature.
The Biochemical Society sent six young members to 'Voice of the Future 2012' - an opportunity for scientists aged 16-35 to put their questions to an assembled panel of MPs at the House of Commons. The event, organised by the Society of Biology, took place at Portcullis House on Wednesday 14 March. Click here for more details.
This Talkfest brought together those interested in science and its sounds for discussion and cake. Panelists included Kate Arkless Gray (AudioBoo), Dr Martin Austwick (UCL), Thom Hoffman (BMJ), Dr Thomas Lean (British Library) and Michelle Martin (BBC).
The Society hosted the 2011 Publishers for Development (PfD) Conference on Friday 2nd December, 2011. The meeting was attended by representation from a variety of publishers and discussed some of the most pertinent issues in availability, access and use of scientific journals for developing country librarians, researchers and the publishers cooperating with them. For further information, visit the PfD website, read the PfD press release or visit the Talking Post blog.
The team behind Science Question Time brought the public the nerdiest quiz of the year. On Monday 28 November, helped by some very special guests, we dredged up the year’s breakthroughs and blunders in science – taking in its highs and lows in the media, as well as use and abuse in politics. Click through for more information.
The Heads of University Biological Sciences (HUBS) Winter Meeting
Topic: Biosciences in the UK: Challenges and Opportunities
Date: 10 November 2011
Venue: Charles Darwin House, London
View the meeting programme
Science Question Time made a guest appearance at the London Science Festival on Tuesday 25 October. Jointly organised by the Biochemical Society and the Campaign for Science and Engineering, this time we discussed the future of pharmaceuticals. The debate was chaired by Professor Clive Page of King’s College London.
Find out more, listen to a podcast and read a storify of this event
This Talkfest brought together those interested in science online for discussion and cake, talking about science and science communication as a hobby. Panelists included Stephen Curry (Imperial College London), Linda Davies (Imperial College London), Amy Sanders (Wellcome Trust) and Robert Simpson (Oxford University).
Science Question Time came back to Charles Darwin House, London on Wednesday 24 August. Jointly organised by the Biochemical Society and the Campaign for Science and Engineering, this time the issues of science and higher education were discussed. The debate was chaired by William Cullerne Bown, founder of Research Fortnight and Research Europe.
Find out more and read a report of the event
A joint event between the Biochemical Society and the BioCentre
Topic: The Age of Personalised Medicine: Genes, Privacy and Discrimination? (more information) PDF
21 July 2011, Charles Darwin House, London
Find out more and view speaker presentations
Science Question Time returned on Tuesday 5 July at Imperial College London tackling the issue of impact. Jointly organised by the Biochemical Society, staff at Imperial College and the Campaign for Science and Engineering, the event was chaired by James Wilsdon, Director of the Royal Society's Science Policy Centre. Find out more, listen to a podcast and read a report of this event
The Heads of University Biological Sciences (HUBS) Spring Meeting
Topic: The future of bioscience teaching: How to do more with less Date: 11 - 12 May 2011 Venue: Weetwood Hall, Leeds View the meeting programme
Topic: Exploring Synthetic Biology (more information) (PDF)
20 April 2011, Charles Darwin House, London
This science blogging Talkfest event focused on women and science online. Panelists included Hannah Devlin (The Times), Heather Mendick (Goldsmiths), Martin Robbins (Lay Scientist and Guardian blog) and Jenny Rohn (Lablit).
Find out more, read reviews and listen to a podcast of the event
The second Science Question Time took place on Wednesday 30 March 2011 and focused on science education in schools. Panellists were Hilary Leevers (Campaign for Science and Engineering), Michael Reiss (Institute of Education) and Alom Shaha (Physics Teacher)
The first Science Question Time took place on 16 February 2011. This exciting venture is jointly organised by the Biochemical Society, the Campaign for Science and Engineering and staff at Imperial College London. Invited panelists, which included Sir Mark Walport, and the audience discussed the broad challenges facing the science sector in this spending review period. Find out more, read reviews and listen to a podcast of the event
Topic: Life Sciences, politics and money
Date: 10 November 2010
This Talkfest-branded event focused on science blogging in the UK. Panelists included active bloggers Petra Boynton (UCL), Jon Butterworth (UCL), Andy Lewis (creator of The Quackometer blog), Mark Henderson (The Times), Alok Jha (the Guardian) and Ed Yong (creator of Not Exactly Rocket Science blog).
Find out more and view a list of attendees' favourite blogs (science and non-science)
Topic: The recognition and accreditation of bioscience degrees
Date: 11 - 12 May 2010
Venue: Weetwood Hall, Leeds
View the meeting programme and speaker presentations
Topic: UK Biology - A Global Perspective
Date: 11 November 2009
Venue: Royal Society, London
Topic: Challenges to maintaining standards
Date: 5 - 6 May 2009