Message from the Chief Executive, Linda Conlon 



Dear Friend,
 
I hope you and your family continue to stay well.

Much has happened in the past month since my last column. A new President-elect for the United States, promising news about potential vaccines for COVID-19 and another lockdown for England.

Humans are nothing if not adaptable! Talking to colleagues and friends across the country, it seems we all took the lockdown measures in our stride this time around; ‘shutting up shop’ quickly and without fuss.

Another development of recent weeks is the rising indignation that most regional science centres do not receive the same funding treatment as our friends in the arts. The Government is distributing £1.6bn to the cultural sector to help it during the pandemic. Yet, despite science and technology playing a pivotal role in defining the culture of modern society, the vast majority of the UK’s regional science centres are not even eligible to apply for a share of this funding. This is illogical and unfair. This argument for equality is gaining traction on social media and in the news – including a letter from me in the Financial Times. (See below for details.) 


As always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or experiences to share, please get in touch by emailing info@life.org.uk.

Stay safe.



 

Science centre calls for a level playing field on funding



You may have seen Linda Conlon recently on BBC Look North or quoted in The Journal newspaper, highlighting the injustice that the vast majority of regional science centres were ineligible to apply for the Government's Cultural Recovery Fund to help with the financial hardships caused by the pandemic. Linda's message has now reached the nationals, with a letter printed in the Financial Times on 5 November.

Life has shared the media coverage over the past few weeks on its @ScienceAtLife channels on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, and the support has been phenomenal, with hundreds of likes, retweets and comments.
And with last week's research from Newcastle University revealing the North has been the most severely impacted by the pandemic and this has increased inequality in England, Life's work to inspire local youngsters to aspire to STEM careers has never been more important.

What can you do to help? Let's keep the message on the news agenda: please like and retweet our posts on social media.

 
Read the Financial Times letter >

Life's safe alternative to trick-or-treat



Since opening our doors again in August, we’ve worked hard to reopen areas of the science centre safely and provide our visitors with the richest experience possible. For October half-term, Space Zone and Brain Zone were open again and visitors also enjoyed some spooky extra activities, including a live show and the chance to make a monster.

Visitors were encouraged to don Halloween fancy dress costumes as a safe alternative to trick-or-treating. The baby Dracula pictured above – aka Alexander, aged 15 months – had Instagram users under his thrall, with 148 'likes' to scoop first prize in Life's fancy dress competition! (Click the image to see the full image.)

We were delighted by the feedback which included high praise for our friendly team and an appreciation for the variety of activities on offer. This response is fairly typical: “Such an amazing day! Fantastic measures in place to keep everyone safe. Lots of brilliant hands-on activities... fantastic team who went above and beyond”.

The science centre is now closed again for England's second lockdown, but the team look forward to welcoming visitors back soon!

 

Welcome to the team, Bethan!


 

Bethan Ross joined the Life team earlier this month as its Audience Research and Evaluation Manager. The position is funded by the Inspiring Science Fund, a joint initiative of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Wellcome. 

Bethan formerly worked as Senior Audience Researcher for the Science Museum Group, where she worked across all five of its venues. Earlier in her career, she worked at Life as a Science Explainer and Exhibit Developer.

 
New adult events to shock and thrill

 

We have all rejoiced at the promising news on potential COVID-19 vaccines. But with reports that the speed of development might dissuade many from taking a vaccine when one is available, Life Science Centre is holding a virtual Science Speakeasy to debate whether a COVID-19 vaccine should be compulsory.

Put the fire on, pour yourself a cocktail and join Life on the evening of 1 December for a lively debate: Persuading the public to vaccinate: gentle nudge or hard jab?

Looking ahead to next summer, we're thrilled to announce that live music will return to Life's Time Square! The DMA's, Becky Hill and the Pixies will take to the stage for the outdoor gig, organised by the team at Live from Times Square.

 
Register for Science Speakeasy >
Book tickets for live music gigs >

Highlights from #LifeGoesONline

Follow us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram for our latest content, and visit the online content hub to find all of our activities in one place. 
 

Local COVID-19 research


 
  • A project involving experts at Newcastle University is successfully detecting non-infectious traces of coronavirus in sewage, providing an early warning for local outbreaks across the country.

    The project has already worked successfully in an area in the South West of England, where sewage sampling data showed a spike in coronavirus material despite relatively low numbers of people seeking tests.

    It has now been rolled out across more than 90 wastewater treatment sites in the UK, covering approximately 22% of the population in England.

    Read the full press release >


     
  • Researchers at Newcastle University are involved in a study to understand the risks of COVID-19 transmission on public transport and to identify the best measures to control it.

    The investigation will involve taking air and surface samples on parts of the transport network to measure background levels of the coronavirus. The researchers will develop detailed simulations of the way the virus could potentially spread through airflow, from touching contaminated surfaces and from being close to someone infected with the virus. 


    Read the full press release >

     
  • Academics at Northumbria University are part of an international team investigating the effects of social distancing on mental health, quality of life and the use of social media amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

    While public health measures such as social distancing are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, it is widely acknowledged that these types of restrictions can make people feel isolated, lonely and can increase stress and anxiety.

    The team is now asking members of the public over the age of 18 years to take part in the study by completing an anonymous 10-minute survey online.

    Read the full press release >
More local COVID-19 news >

Life recommends



Check out these Netflix documentaries to keep your brain clogs moving during the second lockdown:
  • The Social Dilemma reveals how the algorithms of social media platforms are designed to keep you hooked, with some of the people behind developing them sounding the alarm about their own creations.
  • In David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, the renowned broadcaster looks back on his career, sharing personal insights on how wildlife habitats have changed dramatically within his lifetime.

Support us



The International Centre for Life (Life) is a science village that is part of the fabric of Newcastle upon Tyne and a valued resource to the region. The groundbreaking research and patient therapies that take place here have led to international recognition.
 
From the thousands of babies born with the help of fertility treatment received onsite, to the patients with debilitating diseases who have benefitted from research and clinical treatments, Life has made a difference to so many. There is nowhere quite like it in the world – a place where researchers, clinicians, science communicators and educators work side-by-side on one site, sharing expertise and ideas and creating a unique circle of science.
 
The charity Life Science Centre is at the heart of this circle. Welcoming about 300,000 visitors a year, its mission is to help people of all ages, from all communities, explore science and to discover its relevance to their own lives and to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals. This mission has never been more crucial than it is today. 

COVID-19 has had a massive impact on us. Please support us so that we can continue to make a difference. Click the button below to make a donation.

 
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