UPCOMING:

Want to be a podcaster?

The SEB Outreach, Education and Diversity working group plans to start a podcast in 2024 about diversity in science/academic careers. By interviewing people who have faced some kind of challenge to their career i.e single parent, disability, non-traditional career trajectory, the aim is to share stories that can inspire people facing similar difficulties.

We will provide the necessary equipment and support. This will be a paid opportunity, and the work will be flexible, around 10 hours per month.

We will publish the official job advert and open the application later this year. If you are interested in hearing more about this opportunity, please express your interest here:

Join the Signs of Spring Survey

The Royal Society of Biology and Field Studies Council have an open invitation to all people across the UK to participate in their Signs of Spring Survey. This initiative encourages everyone to observe and document the emergence of ten key signs of spring: bluebells, bumblebees, butterflies, daffodils, damselflies, dragonflies, frog spawn, hazel catkins, ladybirds, and snowdrops, as well as noticing the first cut of the lawn.

Your contribution is vital and you can add your sightings to their survey here: Signs of Spring (arcgis.com). By recording when and where you first encounter these signs of spring, as well as the weather conditions at the time you saw it, you play a vital role in documenting the changing seasons. The survey will remain open for submissions until 17th June 2024.

To participate, simply visit the Signs of Spring Survey page and complete the short questionnaire. Whether you're strolling through your local park or enjoying nature in your neighbourhood, keep an eye out for these signs and share your observations. Just make sure you always stay safe, remain aware of your surroundings, and dress appropriately for the weather.

For more information, please visit: https://www.sebiology.org/resource/join-the-signs-of-spring-survey.html

Can chickpeas and lentils grow in the UK?

Scientists calling for up to 100 schools to help find out.

If you are a teacher and you would like your school to take part, please contact Dr Mark Chapman.

PAST:

Freelance science writer opportunity

The SEB is looking for new science writers to commission articles for the website and magazine. This is an excellent opportunity to create/increase your portfolio and build experience as a freelance science writer. It is important to highlight we already have freelance science writers who work with SEB, but we are expanding our cohort.

We have two spots available for this paid opportunity, and the work is on-demand based on articles commissioned. If successful, you will get paid by invoice. We can help you to put together an invoice for the first time if needed. Articles are commissioned at a standard rate of £100 per 500 words.

We will only receive applications from our SEB members, so please make sure you are up to date with your membership and that you are logged in to your account to access the form. You don't need previous experience as a science writer to apply for this opportunity. Still, we want to read an example of your writing, so we ask for an original piece of writing (produced by you) on a science-related topic for a wider audience. You can use a work you did for another purpose, but it can be a new piece, too. This writing is for the application review only. The word limit is 500-600 words. You are welcome to submit a piece that is longer than this, but we will read only the first 500-600 words.

Applications will close on 31 January 2024. We aim to review the applications and give feedback by the end of February 2024.

If you have any questions, please email Rebecca Ellerington at [email protected].

You are looking forward to reading your application!