The iconic Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People returns for 2024. Robin Ince hosts three nights and a matinee of his pioneering mash up of science and culture where the entire breadth of human creativity and curiosity will be on display from astronomy to art, poetry to palaeontology, music to maths and everything else in between. 

December 2024

Available on Youtube

We've misplaced the building blocks of the cosmos -- and particle physicists like Claire Malone are on a mission to find them. Despite scientists hitting a "major snag" in uncovering what exactly makes up dark matter and dark energy, she explains how questioning our fundamental understanding of nature itself invites a different, more meaningful perspective universally.

May 2021

Available on Youtube

Indira Gandhi wrote, “The power to question is the basis of all human progress.” Particle physicist Claire Malone will illuminate how—despite scientists hitting some "major snags"—questioning our fundamental understanding of nature invites a different, more meaningful perspective universally, proving that enlightenment comes from asking questions, pushing boundaries, and thinking differently.

April 2023

Available on Youtube

Particle detectors are to particle physicists as telescopes are to astronomers. They allow us to open a window into the inner workings of the Universe at the smallest length scales to understand it in terms of its fundamental constituents. But how exactly do they reveal to us the properties of the subatomic world in such extraordinary detail and with such remarkable agreement with theoretical predictions?

Claire MaIone will explore these incredible feats of engineering, with a particular focus on the ATLAS experiment at CERN. To digest the enormous flow of data produced by the collisions, ATLAS uses an advanced “trigger” system to tell the detector which particle interactions to record and which to ignore. Complex data acquisition and computing systems are then used to analyse the collision events recorded. Claire will conclude by looking to the future at what new technologies particle detectors are employing so that we can continue exploring the subject of the building blocks of our universe in ever greater detail.

November 2024

Join me on a grand tour of the known and unknown parts of the Universe in terms of its fundamental constituents.... encountering a few very cheesy Star Trek analogies along the way!

November 2021

October 2021

Join me on a grand tour of the known and unknown parts of the Universe in terms of its fundamental constituents.... encountering a few very cheesy Star Trek analogies along the way!

April 2022

This talk covers both the improvements of luminosity measurements of pp collisions at ATLAS, underpinning all measurements made by the detector and a search for one of the most theoretically viable extensions to the SM: supersymmetry.

ATLAS uses mainly event-counting algorithms to measure luminosity, which break down at higher luminosities. If the ATLAS SCT (part of the ATLAS inner detector) can be employed as a luminometer using hit-counting algorithms, this issue may be mitigated. I will show that the SCT can feasibly operate as a luminometer when recording two-or-more strip clusters with the standard binary readout mode. Thus, the SCT can measure the luminosity with an accuracy within 10% of two of ATLAS’s existing luminometers: LUCID and TileCal.

March 2022

We've misplaced the building blocks of the cosmos - and particle physicists like Claire Malone are on a mission to find them with the aid of the ATLAS detector at CERN. However, as she explains, some of the most crucial measurements performed by this ground breaking experiment are enhanced by thinking laterally about the technologies we have available to us. She draws analogies between her research into this subject and how she has also had to use a wide range of technologies to adapt how she accesses her research due to her physical disability.

December 2021

In this talk, I explore the transformative potential of generative AI in education, examining both its benefits and challenges. Just as imperfect models in physics have led to significant technological advancements, generative AI models, though far from flawless, hold tremendous promise for enhancing education. These tools offer opportunities to revolutionize teaching and learning by supporting students and reducing teacher workloads, but they also raise important ethical concerns, such as bias, data protection, and academic integrity.

We no longer have the option to keep AI separate from education. Generative AI is already being widely used by students, and educators are increasingly incorporating it into lesson planning, assessments, and teaching resources. However, we must carefully consider how AI is integrated to ensure it benefits all students fairly, supports teachers effectively, and maintains high standards of education.

I discuss how AI can be used to develop new, creative approaches to assessments, prepare students for AI-driven futures, and ensure the ethical use of these tools in classrooms and curricula. As we navigate this evolving landscape, it is essential to create policies and frameworks that balance AI's potential with the need to protect students' rights and educational integrity. By doing so, we can ensure that AI becomes a valuable asset in preparing students for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

October 2024

This talk examines the transformative role of generative AI in scientific research. As artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT and other large language models gain popularity, they are increasingly integrated into research processes. This trend brings both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, AI is revolutionising methods of data analysis and scientific workflows across fields like particle physics, enabling new approaches to solving complex scientific problems. On the other hand, the use of generative AI frequently raises concerns around reproducibility and the transparency of AI models - often referred to as the "black box" issue. This has serious implications for academic integrity and public trust in science. These challenges highlight the importance of explainable AI and responsible AI integration into research. The talk also discusses the growing need for AI literacy among researchers, addressing both technical skills and ethical considerations, to ensure AI is used effectively and responsibly in scientific inquiry. By viewing AI as a powerful tool, rather than an infallible solution, this talk encourages researchers to critically engage with AI while maintaining rigor and trust in the scientific process.

December 2024 & October 2024

The public being able to trust sources is an essential part of effective science communication. In this talk, I explore how generative AI is shifting the science communication landscape for better or worse.

January 2024

From content creation, real-time analytics, and automated editing to personalised viewer experiences, AI offers numerous tools to augment the craft of presenting. But it cannot substitute the human touch—embodied in genuine passion, personal anecdotes, and authentic audience connections- which make storytelling compelling and relatable. If future news events are to be presented by AI rather than someone experiencing emotional reactions alongside the audience, how will journalism change?

September 2024

The talk spotlights techniques and best practice used in making science engaging to an audience with learning or physical disabilities. I draw on my experience as the STEM Lead of the Lightyear Foundation, specifically the lessons learned from designing our Virtual Physics Labs. I walk the audience through an experiment, identifying specific strategies that need to be used when catering for this audience. Evidence has shown that our students found experiments with a tactile element more engaging eg including something to feel, smell or taste. Discussion on how techniques could be applied to other outreach activities is encouraged.

November  2023

In this talk, I discuss the many benefits to researchers of being active science communicators - for themselves, for the wider scientific community and for society as a whole. I share my own journey as a science communicator, initially speaking at conferences aimed at raising the profile of underrepresented groups in science, e.g. the disabled communities, through to delivering my TED talk at Abbey Road Studios. I now focus on overcoming the challenges that often prevent effective science communication and assisting fellow scientists to do the same, taking the field of psychedelic medicine as a case study, where researchers can need to counteract entrenched biases in order to share their findings.

October 2023 - November 2024

A fireside chat discussion exploring our experiences of accessing STEM with a physical disability.

December 2023

In this talk, I shall focus on the environment for underrepresented groups in STEM, in particular the disabled and LGBTQ+ communities, drawing from my personal experience in academia. I shall discuss the types of barriers that disabled people can face in accessing academia such as physical, technological and academic/social isolation. I will then examine what institutions can do to break down these barriers with a person-centred approach and the creation of support networks.

August 2023

2008

In this talk, I shall focus on the environment for underrepresented groups in STEM, in particular the disabled and LGBTQ+ communities, drawing from my personal experience in academia. I shall discuss the types of barriers that disabled people can face in accessing academia such as physical, technological and academic/social isolation. I will then examine what institutions can do to break down these barriers with a person-centred approach and the creation of support networks.

July 2023

Join me on a grand tour of the known and unknown parts of the Universe in terms of its fundamental constituents.... including an exclusive view of the life at a researcher at CERN

February 2020 & February 2019

This talk discusses how in our roles as science communicators, we have a vital part to play in elevating the visibility of underrepresented communities in STEM, and bridging the gaps between them. I draw comparisons between the support I have drawn from being part of a community of LGBTQ scientists and the difficulties I have faced in negotiating my research with a physical disability. I illustrate this by taking an example from my field, of a group of particles, who are apparently not very good at letting their presence be known!

October 2021 - March 2023

For more information on Improving Diversity in STEM, IGPP.

The PARI'22 keynote was featured in the Article in Journal of Science of Communication

In this talk, I draw from personal experience of completing a PhD in High Energy Physics to illustrate some of the major challenge facing people with physical disabilities in academia. I draw analogies between the community of scientists with disabilities and other minority groups in STEM. I discuss strategies that Universities should adopt to support students with disabilities as well as organizations that exist to aid access to STEM for this community from the beginning of their education. 

November 2022 - June 2023

People with disabilities are severely underrepresented in STEM fields in the UK due to the barriers they face often from an early age. This is detrimental both to the advancement of STEM and society as a whole as a plethora of evidence shows a workforce that isn’t diverse tends to narrow focused solutions. The unique ways in which disabled people interpret and interact with the world, typically perceived as an obstacle to their inclusion, are arguably among humanity’s best chances at solving some of our planet’s biggest problems.

The workshop spotlights techniques and best practice used in making science engaging to an audience with learning or physical disabilities. I draw upon my own experience negotiating a scientific career with a significant physical disability as well as my role as the STEM Lead of the Lightyear Foundation, specifically the lessons learned from designing our Virtual Physics Labs. I identify specific strategies that form an essential toolkit when catering for this audience, designed to support outreach professionals in making their activities more inclusive. Evidence has shown that our students found experiments with a tactile element more engaging e.g. including something to feel, smell or taste. Discussion on how techniques could be applied to other outreach activities is encouraged.

November 2022 - July 2023

In this talk, I shall focus on the environment for underrepresented groups in STEM, in particular the disabled and LGBTQ+ communities, drawing from my personal experience in academia. I shall discuss the types of barriers that disabled people can face in accessing academia such as physical, technological and academic/social isolation. I will then examine what institutions can do to break down these barriers with a person-centred approach and the creation of support networks.

October - November 2023

Listen on the BBC World Service.

Just a few days before COP26 opens in Glasgow, the World Meteorological Organisation reported record greenhouse gas levels, despite a fall in CO2 due to pandemic restrictions. The UN Environment Programme’s Emissions Gap Report also revealed that current country pledges will only take 7.5% off predicted greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, well below the 55% needed to limit global warming to 1.5C. Worse still, many large emission producers are not on track to meet their countries’ pledges.

Rachel Warren, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, tells us the 1.5C limit is still achievable if we work in tandem with nature. Research by Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), illustrates this. Her contribution to the WMO Greenhouse Bulletin revealed that New Zealand’s indigenous forests play a bigger role in absorbing carbon from the atmosphere than previously thought.

Also on the programme, Abinash Mohanty, Council on Energy, Environment and Water, has been mapping climate vulnerability in India and explains why communities should be at the forefront of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. And particle physicist Claire Malone shares her insights on how we can help women thrive in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

October 2021

This talk discusses how science communicators have a vital part to play in elevating the visibility of underrepresented communities in STEM and bridging the gaps between them. Drawing on my experience as a member of both the LGBT+ and disabled communities, I share my journey as a science communicator, initially speaking at conferences aimed at raising the profile of underrepresented groups, through to delivering my TED talk at Abbey Road Studios. I illustrate this by taking an example from my field, of a group of particles, who are apparently not very good at letting their presence be known!

March 2024

LGBT people in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) face some unique challenges compared to other minorities in the workplace, both due to their lack of visibility as a social group and the prevailing climate within STEM. Although there are a number of support networks within the UK, LGBT people in STEM still have to overcome issues, ranging from homophobic and transphobic attitudes of other members of staff to worries about the security of their employment. In this talk, I will give an overview of the academic climate experienced by LGBT people in the workplace, specifically in STEM as well as suggesting some possible strategies to address the under-representation of LGBT people in STEM.

August 2019

In STEM there is often a culture that a person's identity is irrelevant to them doing research. However, this idea encourages people from minority groups to hide certain aspects of their identity for fear of harassment and discrimination.  This self-censorship takes time and energy away from research. This is why it is important to create an inclusive environment in STEM.

August 2023

Watch the DiSTEM Event, my talk is in part 2.

Claire’s passion to understand the world around her has led her to complete a PhD as part of the high energy physics group at the University of Cambridge. As the root of her interest is in understanding the behaviour of the fundamental particles that comprise our universe, her research focused on analysing data from the LHC at CERN to complete our understanding of the universe in terms of its basic building blocks. She is also passionate about communicating her enthusiasm for physics to as wide an audience as conceivable, as well as advocating for the inclusion of groups that are typically under-represented in science subjects. Claire has had the opportunity to speak about increasing the inclusivity of science many times, through her TED Talk and at conferences promoting the research of women and LGBTQ scientists. Throughout her career, Claire has had to devise techniques of studying to negotiate the fact that she cannot use a pen/keyboard directly due to her physical disability, cerebral palsy. In her spare time she also enjoys reading (and sometimes writing) sci-fi novels!

June 2022 & February 2022

In this talk, I draw from personal experience of completing a PhD in High Energy Physics to illustrate some of the major challenge facing people with physical disabilities in academia. I draw analogies between the community of scientists with disabilities and other minority groups in STEM. I discuss strategies that Universities should adopt to support students with disabilities as well as organizations that exist to aid access to STEM for this community from the beginning of their education. 

November 2021