British Crystallographic Association

2013 is an exciting time for crystallography – the Bragg centenary!
STFC have very kindly funded a stand at this year’s Big Bang Fair, which will be totally dedicated to crystallography!

The Big Bang Fair is a massive science and engineering public engagement/outreach event in London, predominantly aimed at children aged 7-18 with major companies and scientific bodies displaying stands with demonstrations and hands on activities. It is also home to the national science and engineering competition, where children have the opportunity to present their science projects to the public (and judges).

Can you help? The BCA is working with Diamond Light Source, ISIS and STFC to develop the stand and we need lots of enthusiastic crystallographers to come along and tell everyone how great crystallography is, through the medium of hands on activities, lasers, and sweets.
The fair is expecting 75,000 people (mostly children) through the doors over the course of four days, so to make sure nobody expires through exhaustion, it will be essential to have as many people around as possible (probably between 12 and 15 people each day). Then everyone can have regular breaks and a chance to look around the other stalls.

Volunteering for one day would be great, for all four days would be fantastic! Diamond will be providing public engagement training on a date as yet to be decided, but in advance of the Big Bang Fair, and there will be write ups for all activities available, detailing what we hope people will get from them.

We are hoping that we can provide some financial assistance towards accommodation and travel, although many of you will be able to source this from your institution’s public engagement funding. Either way, you shouldn’t be out of pocket!

The crucial dates are: 14-17 March for the Big Bang Fair itself, but we need to know as soon as possible if you can make it.

Tell your friends, your students, your postdocs and anyone who may be vaguely ‘crystallographic’ or interested in talking about science to the public!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Best wishes,
Ross Harrington
(BCA outreach and Education officer)
Email: ross.harrington@newcastle.ac.uk

As part of the Bragg Centenary Celebrations, there will be an “In Our Time” programme devoted to Crystallography on BBC Radio 4:

“Crystallography. Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the history of crystallography, the study of crystals and their structure. Developments in crystallography have touched most people’s lives, thanks to the vital role it plays in diverse scientific disciplines – from physics and chemistry, to molecular biology and mineralogy.  The history of crystallography began with the work of Johannes Kepler in the 17th century, but perhaps the most crucial leap in understanding came in the early 20th century and the discoveries of the father-and-son team the Braggs. Their work revolutionised our perception of crystals and their atomic arrangements, and led to some of the most significant scientific findings of the last century – such as revealing the structure of DNA.”

The show is on air at 9am and 9.30pm on Thursday 29th November and online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01p0s9s

Melvyn will be in conversation with Prof Mike Glazer (Oxford), Dr Chris Hammond (Leeds) and Prof Judith Howard (Durham).

Please listen to the programme and encourage others to do so!