Tuesday 3 April 2012 Award-winning science journalist and broadcaster Sue Nelson will be sharing her passion for all things scientific when she visits Leeds in April to give a talk at The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL). A former Science correspondent for BBC TV and co-author of How to clone the perfect blonde, Sue is a Radio 4 science presenter, writes for specialist and national media on scientific topics from Maths to astronomy, and is a partner in the agency Boffin Media. Sue’s talk on 25 April is entitled Blondes, rockets and a life scientific. As well as highlighting how we have science to thank for much that we take for granted in the modern world, Sue will recall her meetings with many of the remarkable scientists she has met during her career. “Science has given us heat, light, mobile phones and the ability to download Angry Birds,” said Sue. “No wonder scientists have some of the best jobs in the world – from studying penguins in Antarctica to building spacecraft for Mars.” “In my talk I’ll be highlighting some of the amazing people I’ve interviewed throughout my career, the research that excites me most, and hopefully the audience will become as inspired and enthused as I am about the world of science.” The talk is the second of GSAL’s Mark Bailey lectures, a series of public lectures started in 2010 in honour of GSAL’s former head teacher who is now High Master at St Paul’s School, London. Mike Gibbons, Principal and Chief Executive of GSAL, said, “The first Mark Bailey lecture was a great success, and future events will demonstrate our intellectual strength across a range of subject areas. With science at GSAL going from strength to strength we are delighted to welcome Sue Nelson, whose expertise in communicating scientific ideas will bring the subject alive and show our students where the study of science might lead them.” While pupils at GSAL are required to study science at GCSE, science subjects are becoming increasingly popular as a choice for AS and A level. Compared with the cohort sitting AS levels this year, applications to study AS level science next year are up by 21% for Biology, 31% for Chemistry, 26% for Psychology and unchanged for Physics. The public lecture takes place on Wednesday 25 April at 7.00pm, and places can be booked by calling GSAL on 0113 229 1552. General Senior School News
