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On Thursday March 26th I chaired the first of the monthly science public debates at the new Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin. The topic for debate was ‘Is the Biofuel Dream Dead?”. On the panel was Professor Keith Smith of the Institute of Atmospheric and Environmental Science at the University of Edinburgh. Professor Smith co-authored a recent controversial paper with Nobel winning chemist Paul Cruzen stating that the N2O release from agro-biofuel production negates global warming reduction by replacing fossil fuels. You can find a description of the study here and details of the debate on the science gallery website.

Got the job! Not a new full-time job you understand (I like my job here at Waterford Institute of Technology – especially as I get to teach introductory courses in cosmology and particle physics!). Nope, this is a monthly gig. I am now the host of RAW, a new series of science debates for the public that will take place once a month at the new Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin.

They rang me back an hour after the interview. The good news is you got the job.The bad news is the first debate is next week. NEXT WEEK? How Irish is that? In fairness, they seem to have a panel already organised, they just need someone to host it.I had a good talk with the gallery director in the afternoon, and we hit on a strategy. We’re going to get each panellist to give a brief 5 minute overview, then throw the discussion open to the audience. It’s a good big auditorium, with a nice cafe for discussions afterwards.

Next week’s topic is “Is the Biofuel Dream Dead?” Should be interesting as they have Keith Smith on the panel, one of the authors of THAT study, the one that claims land clearing for biofuels releases more carbon emissions than oil!

Got a job interview on Wednesday. Trinity College Dublin have opened a spanking new Science Gallery, a sort-of art gallery on the theme of science (http://www.sciencegallery.ie). I’ve seen the gallery, it’s very nice. Anyway, it turns out they’re launching a monthly series of debates on scientific topics for the public, and are accepting applications for the position of presenter/host.Quite like the sound of that. Could be v interesting, covering the gamut of scientific issues affecting society.

I gave them a ring – in fact, the deadline for application had already passed, but they said to come on up anyway. Sounds like a good crowd too.

I’ve got a ridiculous black polo neck somewhere I never wear. That’ll do, they’ll think I’m arty.

Fingers crossed.

this is a test……..

links to WIT

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