Lasers, loneliness, and sustainability are just some of the subjects being covered by women scientists who are taking over Speakers' Corner in Nottingham to share their knowledge with the general public on Saturday 4th July from 11am until 2pm.
Women academics from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University are bringing Soapbox Science back to Speakers' Corner to engage the public in ground-breaking research and challenge traditional science gender stereotypes.
Soapbox Science is a novel public outreach platform promoting women scientists and the science they do. The events started in London in 2011 and have since spread globally to showcase 2,500 scientists and 300,000 attendees and counting! When Soapbox Science arrives, it transforms the venue into an arena for public learning and scientific debate. Each event showcases 12 inspirational women speakers from the world of science, technology, engineering, medicine, and maths.
Dr Rebecca Dewey is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham's Faculty of Science and a past presenter and organiser of the event, she said:
It's so important for the next generation of scientists that they see people like themselves represented in science - and that means giving a platform to scientists of all genders. Each time you put dynamic, exciting speakers in front of budding scientists, you boost the chances of one of them thinking, 'yeah - I want to do that!'. That's what we do with Soapbox Science - it's not just about showcasing the science but more importantly the *scientist*. This is going to be a really fun day for people walking by Speakers' Corner, and you might learn something new!
Speakers' Corner Trust promotes freedom of speech, public debate and active citizenship. In 2008, the Trust worked with Nottingham City Council to establish Nottingham Speakers' Corner in King Street. Since then, many individuals and organisations have used the spot, just in front of the Brian Clough statue, to campaign, to protest and to hold vigils. The space is available for anyone to use.
Louise Third MBE, Chair of the national charity Speakers' Corner Trust, said:
What better place to learn from each other than to gather in the open air and listen to some amazingly talented speakers? These university scientists will inspire the next generation of women to be innovative thinkers, so we are delighted they have chosen to stand at Speakers' Corner in Nottingham.
Soapbox Science continues to prove that there's a real appetite for informal, engaging science. The last time the event ran, more than 1,000 people attended, 93% of visitors found it 'enjoyable' or 'extremely enjoyable', and most of them just happened to walk by and hadn't planned to visit. By meeting people where they are, we're not only sharing knowledge - we're building trust and inspiring future researchers.
The Facebook event page, including the line-up of speakers and their discussion topics, can be found here: https://fb.me/e/47yTLmHo6.
