Message from the Chief Executive, Linda Conlon
I hope this finds you and your family safe and in good health.
These continue to be the strangest of times as we all struggle to adapt to the new ‘normal’. Anxieties about the future of humanity are mixed with the more mundane challenges of everyday life. Whether that’s food shopping, home educating or video conference calls disrupted by errant dogs and small children.
Today (22 April) is Earth Day. The theme of this year’s global celebration is climate action. The numerous ‘climate emergencies’ declared in recent years have made little difference in safeguarding our planet. Yet within weeks, the current pandemic was escalated to a global emergency and has forced us to rapidly adopt new ways of living which are benefitting the planet. This pandemic will end - climate change will not. In the long term, this is a much greater threat to mankind then the virus. So what happens post COVID-19? Will we take environmental issues more seriously or revert to climate complacency? This is the subject of our next ‘Virtual Science Speakeasy’ – details are below. Why not sign up for this, or enjoy some of the other online content we’ve produced since lockdown. A bit of escapism could do us all the power of good.
As always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or experiences to share, please get in touch by emailing info@life.org.uk.
Stay safe.
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Life zooms into living room for virtual adult events
In the last column, we announced the start of a new Virtual Science Speakeasy programme with a debate on psychopathy and sociopathy. The event, on 9 April, booked up quickly, with hundreds of people from around the world, including New Zealand, India and the United States, tuning in to hear from experts, including a (non-criminal!) sociopath, and the author of the Killing Eve novels, Luke Jennings.
When asked how his psychopathic character Villanelle would respond to the current lockdown, Luke answered that she'd be impressed by the virus and want to emulate it, but that she'd miss her favourite champagne!
Registration for the next event on 14 May is now open. The theme is ‘climate hypocrisy’. Before the current pandemic, we’d never been more vocal about environmental issues, whilst still collecting frequent flyer miles, embracing disposable fashion and binging on avocados. The global crisis has had the unexpected ‘upside’ of benefitting the planet. Once this is over, will we revert to our old ways and prove we are climate hypocrites?
Capacity is limited, so click the link below to guarantee your place.
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Newcastle researchers tackle COVID-19
Around the world, research is ramping up to battle COVID-19. There's plenty going on in Newcastle and we're proud to shine a spotlight on local research by Life's partner organisations.
Northumbria University announced earlier this month that it is developing in-house research on a diagnostic breath analyser into a functioning prototype, thanks to funding from its Northern Accelerator programme.
To date, systems that diagnose diseases from breath have been unreliable. However, the new device resolves these issues and its results closely resembles results from lung samples taken surgically - opening up the potential for more accurate screening of COVID-19 in, for example, airports.
Best of luck to the researchers in developing this diagnostic tool! We'll give updates on this as they're announced in this newsletter.
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Royal appointment for Life's Chief Executive
Linda Conlon has been appointed a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) for Tyne and Wear. Deputy Lieutenants are appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant Susan Winfield OBE and are drawn from a variety of backgrounds. The Lord-Lieutenant is Her Majesty’s representative in Tyne and Wear and carries out a wide variety of duties, working closely with voluntary services, benevolent organisations and local businesses. The office was first established during the reign of Henry VIII.
Linda will assist the Lord-Lieutenant in her duties and advise on community matters. An official ceremony, planned for March, was postponed after the COVID-19 outbreak. More information on the role of the Lord-Lieutenant can be found here.
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#LifeGoesONline
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see what we’ve been producing in the past few weeks, and visit the online content hub to find all of the previous activities in one place.
Here’s a small selection of what’s been getting lots of love online.
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Life recommends
Here’s a small selection of science content we’ve been enjoying:
- The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is hosting a Facebook Live 'Ask a Scientist', with ALMA astronomer Loreto Barcos Muñoz. Head to @theNRAO on Facebook to submit your questions in advance and to watch the broadcast at 6.00pm BST this Friday.
- We're loving the Dinosaurs Unleashed app that lets you hatch an augmented reality dinosaur in your own home! There's eight different species to hatch, play with and feed. And, if you happen to live in Liverpool, you can also battle other dinosaurs at set locations during your daily exercise – perfect for socially distanced playtime.
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Support us
Life’s mission is to inspire everyone in North East England to explore and enjoy science and to discover its relevance to their own lives. As a charity, this is a particularly challenging time for us. Any support would be gratefully received. Please click the button below to make a donation.
Did you know you can also support Life every time you shop on Amazon at no cost to you? Simply visit smile.amazon.co.uk before you start shopping and search for 'International Centre for Life' in the list of charities. When you shop at smile.amazon.co.uk, Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your chosen charity.
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