We've started an annual tradition of making videos at Halloween for The Periodic Table of Videos.
This year it is all about blood - both real and fake!
Last year's video was slightly more violent, and was centred on pumpkins.
And the year before that we looked at candles - a video that remains one of most popular.
Happy Halloween to all!
Friday, 29 October 2010
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Advice to aspiring scientists
We get all sorts of emails at The Periodic Table of Videos. In most cases we try to respond.
Recently a young viewer emailed The Professor asking for advice.
The writer asked what they should do to be good at chemistry and succeed at university.
I thought I'd share the reply written by Professor Poliakoff, because it's good advice for anyone.
The Professor wrote:
"I spoke to my students and they suggested the following things:
1. Make sure that you learn the material and concepts rather than just memorising them.
2. If you don't understand, always ask questions.
3. Enjoy it, it's fun!
4. Go and see your tutor or lecturer
5. Practise by looking at exam questions to help you understand the concepts
6. Don't think that you are stupid if you don't understand something
And finally one from me:
Don't be frightened of making mistakes. It's mistakes that help you learn."
Finally, here's an old video I did with The Professor in which he discussed his university days.
Recently a young viewer emailed The Professor asking for advice.
The writer asked what they should do to be good at chemistry and succeed at university.
I thought I'd share the reply written by Professor Poliakoff, because it's good advice for anyone.
The Professor wrote:
"I spoke to my students and they suggested the following things:
1. Make sure that you learn the material and concepts rather than just memorising them.
2. If you don't understand, always ask questions.
3. Enjoy it, it's fun!
4. Go and see your tutor or lecturer
5. Practise by looking at exam questions to help you understand the concepts
6. Don't think that you are stupid if you don't understand something
And finally one from me:
Don't be frightened of making mistakes. It's mistakes that help you learn."
Finally, here's an old video I did with The Professor in which he discussed his university days.
Sunday, 24 October 2010
Shortlisted!
Physics and astronomy website Sixty Symbols has been shortlisted for an award.
It's the "physics.org web awards" and we're in the President's Prize category (because I think the unusual website didn't fit in any of the normal categories!)
Sixty Symbols started last year with the plan of making sixty films featuring experts from the University of Nottingham.
However when we reached sixty, viewers seemed hungry for more so we embarked on a "second sixty".
I film and edit the videos (and run the website) but all the credit really belongs to the physicists and astronomers.
They've really got into the spirit of Sixty Symbols, which is about smart physics but making it interesting to everyone... And making videos with a human touch and sense of humour.
Each category in the "physics.org web awards" will be awarded in pairs - a people's choice and judges award.
Our category has some scarily prestigous judges...
And we're up against some pretty tough competition!
But you can go ahead and vote at www.physics.org/awards
Here are a few of my favourite videos from the project...
It's the "physics.org web awards" and we're in the President's Prize category (because I think the unusual website didn't fit in any of the normal categories!)
Sixty Symbols started last year with the plan of making sixty films featuring experts from the University of Nottingham.
However when we reached sixty, viewers seemed hungry for more so we embarked on a "second sixty".
I film and edit the videos (and run the website) but all the credit really belongs to the physicists and astronomers.
They've really got into the spirit of Sixty Symbols, which is about smart physics but making it interesting to everyone... And making videos with a human touch and sense of humour.
Each category in the "physics.org web awards" will be awarded in pairs - a people's choice and judges award.
Our category has some scarily prestigous judges...
And we're up against some pretty tough competition!
But you can go ahead and vote at www.physics.org/awards
Here are a few of my favourite videos from the project...
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Quizzing The Professor
There's still some nice videos to come from my recent trip to India with Professor Poliakoff.
Photos from the trip on Flickr
After two of his lectures at the Asian Science Camp, we ran a Q&A session with the students - filming both the questions and answers.
Here's the first of a few videos we'll be posting:
And here's bit of an overview of the India trip for those who missed it.
Photos from the trip on Flickr
After two of his lectures at the Asian Science Camp, we ran a Q&A session with the students - filming both the questions and answers.
Here's the first of a few videos we'll be posting:
And here's bit of an overview of the India trip for those who missed it.
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
A really, really nice guy
One of the first videos I've posted for the My Favourite Scientist project is about a microbiologist called Stanley Falkow.
To be honest, I'd never heard of him.
But it didn't take much research to realise Professor Falkow is one of the top dogs... perhaps a future Nobel Prize winner?!
In the video he's described (by Dr Alan McNally) as "a really, really nice guy... a wonderful man".
That's not a description always attributed to successful scientists.
But below the video I'll explain why I agree with this assessment.
It was hard to find photos of Professor Falkow for this video.
I emailed Stanford University for help, but things were moving slowly.
So I figured, why not email the man himself?
Despite being semi-retired, Professor Falkow replied almost immediately with a charming and friendly email.
It would be wrong to share his personal correspondence, but he seemed genuinely surprised that someone chose him as a "favourite".
Not only that, but Professor Falkow watched the finished video and was kind enough to say some nice things about it.
He was very humble for someone whose work has doubtless helped save countless lives.
As the video says, he seemed a "really, really nice guy".
Oh yeah, and he supplied the photo I needed.
To be honest, I'd never heard of him.
But it didn't take much research to realise Professor Falkow is one of the top dogs... perhaps a future Nobel Prize winner?!
In the video he's described (by Dr Alan McNally) as "a really, really nice guy... a wonderful man".
That's not a description always attributed to successful scientists.
But below the video I'll explain why I agree with this assessment.
It was hard to find photos of Professor Falkow for this video.
I emailed Stanford University for help, but things were moving slowly.
So I figured, why not email the man himself?
Despite being semi-retired, Professor Falkow replied almost immediately with a charming and friendly email.It would be wrong to share his personal correspondence, but he seemed genuinely surprised that someone chose him as a "favourite".
Not only that, but Professor Falkow watched the finished video and was kind enough to say some nice things about it.
He was very humble for someone whose work has doubtless helped save countless lives.
As the video says, he seemed a "really, really nice guy".
Oh yeah, and he supplied the photo I needed.
Sunday, 17 October 2010
A letter from Sheila
We receive all sorts of great messages and do our best to read all of them (replying when we can).
Here's a nice one we recently received from a Periodic Table of Videos fan that I thought worth sharing (with the writer's permission).
Dear Periodic Video Staff,
Hello!
My husband Bruce and myself really enjoy your videos and informative content on FB, YouTube and your official site.
I am getting my Masters in Chemistry and have a desire to continue my studies mostly in the lab doing research etc.
My first career was as a CNN Headline Newscaster in Radio and TV and I retired and went back for PharmD and then fell in love with Chemistry and Physics and knew I couldn't just stand behind a Walgreens counter all day:).
I NEED the lab. I have a wonderful home lab thanks to my adorable husband, who is very supportive with my crazy theories and ideas.
That is what I love about Chemistry. It is still very much a pioneering field and like Physics, many things are yet to be discovered about the Universe and how elements can improve our lives if used respectively and treated properly.
My gg grandfather Nicoli was a Chemist and Pharmacist from Samos, Samos Greece (a Hellenistic Jew).
I come from a long line of chemists, physicists and pharmacists:).
The Professor looks very much like my Dad Nathan (he was a Professor too).
I enjoy watching him very much! I've enclosed a pic of my dad (right) and myself (above).
My dad truly looks like Albert Einstein. He passed away in 2001.
We travel quite a bit and we would be so excited to actually meet the Professor someday in England (we have a son in England).
I would be delighted to perhaps do a video sometime with you guys!
Thank you again,
Best wishes
Sheila
Here's a nice one we recently received from a Periodic Table of Videos fan that I thought worth sharing (with the writer's permission).
Dear Periodic Video Staff,
Hello!
My husband Bruce and myself really enjoy your videos and informative content on FB, YouTube and your official site.I am getting my Masters in Chemistry and have a desire to continue my studies mostly in the lab doing research etc.
My first career was as a CNN Headline Newscaster in Radio and TV and I retired and went back for PharmD and then fell in love with Chemistry and Physics and knew I couldn't just stand behind a Walgreens counter all day:).
I NEED the lab. I have a wonderful home lab thanks to my adorable husband, who is very supportive with my crazy theories and ideas.
That is what I love about Chemistry. It is still very much a pioneering field and like Physics, many things are yet to be discovered about the Universe and how elements can improve our lives if used respectively and treated properly.
My gg grandfather Nicoli was a Chemist and Pharmacist from Samos, Samos Greece (a Hellenistic Jew).
I come from a long line of chemists, physicists and pharmacists:).
The Professor looks very much like my Dad Nathan (he was a Professor too).
I enjoy watching him very much! I've enclosed a pic of my dad (right) and myself (above).My dad truly looks like Albert Einstein. He passed away in 2001.
We travel quite a bit and we would be so excited to actually meet the Professor someday in England (we have a son in England).
I would be delighted to perhaps do a video sometime with you guys!
Thank you again,
Best wishes
Sheila
Thursday, 14 October 2010
A mysterious new science project
Today I started filming on a new video project all about science.It's still a bit mysterious - but I thought the die-hard loyal viewers might enjoy seeing a project like this evolve from day one.
You can subscribe on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/FavScientist
Or follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/favscientist
Be among the very first to sign on!
A full website and Facebook page, etc, are still in the pipeline.
More soon...
And don't worry, usual service on projects like Periodic Table of Videos and Sixty Symbols won't be affected.
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