Last Friday saw the beginning of British Science Week (well, ten days, but that’s not as catchy), from 10th -19th March. Run by the British Science Association, this celebration of all things scientific – from technology and biology, to engineering and maths – encourages the community to host events, with the aim of reaching a wide audience to broadcast the importance of science.

At The Scott Partnership, we love all things science and are up-to-date with a broad range of industry topics relevant to our clients. This is what science means to the team:

“As a communicator, what I love about science is its ability to answer questions that help us make sense of the world. When I talk to scientists, I like the fact that they are often unwilling to make statements or assumptions about products, projects or technologies without having the supporting data to back up their claim. PR and communications specialists are often accused of ‘spin’ and with fake news now attracting many headlines – and consumers becoming more and more sceptical – I think we could all learn a thing or two from the cautious objectivity science demands.” ­Louise Reid, Director of Client Services.

“British Astronaut Tim Peake’s mission to the International Space Centre in 2016 captured the whole nation’s imagination, opening the door to what life is like in space. While in space (as well as regularly updating social media and presenting a BRIT award!), Tim was furthering UK and global science by conducting experiments that would contribute towards research into novel materials, life in space, the human body, fluid physics and new technologies to name a few. Tim made it his own, personal, mission to make his trip accessible, educational and interesting to the UK population and offered an exciting view of life in space. I’m a fully paid up member of Tim’s fan club!” Georgia Smith, Account Manager.

By making their knowledge accessible to a wider audience, scientists like Tim Peake inspire people of all backgrounds to consider the implications of a whole host of endeavours.

“Science has the ability to bring the world together with discoveries; currently there are global networks of researchers collaborating to further our understanding of the world. For example, British and Canadian scientists have been developing methods to improve the ecosystems of the dying Australian coral reefs as a result of global warming. To me, it’s reassuring that scientists across the globe are pooling their knowledge for the greater good.” Alex Walton, Junior Account Executive.

Taking things along a different path we turn towards true crime, and the leaps scientific innovation have made in the name of forensics. “I am a big fan of anything to do with forensics and the benefit that forensic science has on criminal investigations! That I find fascinating. Especially the way facial reconstruction models, with the use of cutting-edge technology, allow investigators to piece together evidence to identify victims and suspects.” Scott Girling-Heathcote, Account Manager.

In the world of medicine, there’s no doubt that science means a lot to many people. At TSP, we gain interesting insights into many specific applications of science in healthcare: “Technology in medicine really makes a difference to people’s lives – for example, magnesium cardiovascular scaffolds are easily implemented and are a simple solution to the epidemic of heart disease that much of the globe is currently facing. Blocked arteries are one of the most common diseases worldwide, but are easily operable. It’s amazing how relatively simple surgery, with the help of scientific innovation, can help solve such a widespread problem.” – Trystan George, Junior Account Manager.

Whether from a science background or not, the team here are continuously inspired by the discoveries made every day:

“I’ve been passionate about science since studying biology and psychology at A-level. I’m not a scientist but I feel like I’m a part of the scientific community by promoting the truly incredible work our clients and their customers are involved in and ensuring it gets the promotion and recognition it deserves. The communication of science to a wide audience is so important and in 2016 there were some amazing science stories, including how stem cells injected into stroke patients enabled them to walk. I’m constantly inspired and encouraged by ground-breaking research and novel technologies that are being developed to benefit us and the world we live in.” Sarah Morley, Senior Account Manager.

“My first employer in the science arena was a large pharmaceutical company. I’ve been lucky enough to work on projects that involved respiratory, cardiovascular, immunology, and oncology drugs. Working within a large corporate environment, it is very easy to forget the huge part that you play in delivering drugs to patients and how those drugs can literally save their lives. I love science because it allows me in a small way to contribute to improving the quality of life for people that, in turn allows them to return to a level of functionality that makes life worth while.” Ruth McKinney, Senior Account Manager.

To me, it’s clear that the diversity of science allows anyone, no matter what interests, to be inspired by science. The British Science Association aims to reach out to all communities in the UK and bring science to them, amplifying the impact across a nation.

Don’t forget to Tweet any of your science activities throughout the week to @ScienceWeekUK #BSW17, and let us know what you get up to @TSPScottPR.

By Lizzie Randall, Junior Account Executive at The Scott Partnership.