Talks
Alchemy and Air
Suitable for Year 9, 10 & 11, 6th Form and adults.
Running time: 1 hour.
This talk can include several demonstrations if facilities are available.
In the summer of 1909 a German scientist, Fritz Haber, demonstrated a single chemical reaction that changed the world forever. His experiment showed for the first time that it was possible to convert the endless supply of nitrogen from the air into an invaluable resource that would define the first half of the 20th century.
Forgotten Knowledge
The discovery and loss of a cure for scurvy
Suitable for Year 9, 10 & 11, 6th Form and adults.
Running time: 1 hour.
Of all the slang names for the British, none is more iconic than 'Limey'. While the the term provokes majestic images of the Golden Age of Sail, scurvy cost countless sailors and seamen their lives. It was once not unheard of for nine out of every ten members of a ship's crew to have succumbed to scurvy by the time it returned to port. The results of James Lind's work on the HMS Salisbury in 1747, which led to a cure, without doubt saved innumerable lives. Yet in Cherry-Garrard's account of Robert Falcon Scott's 1911 expedition to the South Pole, he writes: "There was little scurvy in Nelson's days; but the reason is not clear, since, according to modern research, lime-juice only helps to prevent it." So why did Lind's results get forgotten?
Life, the Universe and my Sock Drawer
Suitable for Year 9, 10 & 11, 6 Form and adults.
Running time: 1 hour
A talk introducing the concept of entropy, and how it governs everything from the fate of the universe to inevitable mess of my sock drawers. Created originally as a short talk for introducing the movie 'Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' at SciScreen events, it was later expanded to a full-length talk as part Nation Science and Engineering Week 2012 where I gave the talk to several schools around Cambridgeshire. Depending on facilities availible the can contains several demos and lots of chances for audience participation.
Chirality and Molecular Structure workshop
Suitable for Year 9 and up.
Running time: 1 or 2 hours.
No requirements. Extra chemical modelling sets may be required for larger groups.
A workshop focusing on the shape and structure of organic molecules and how this affects their physical and chemical properties. The group will be led through a series of exercises requiring the use of chemistry modelling kits to appreciate the shape of many common organic molecules, and the importance this has. Great fun for anyone who likes building things.
It's Not Just Pretty Pictures!
Suitable for all ages.
Running time: 30 minutes.
Being able to visualise the shapes of the various building blocks inside the cell has greatly expanded our understanding of life. Traditionally this is done by X-ray crystallography, yet despite a lack of pretty pictures, mass spectrometry really can provide interesting answers where other solutions can't. And don't worry - I'll also explain what all those complicated words mean.
The Science Behind '2001: A Space Odyssey' & '2010: The Year We Make Contact'
Suitable for all ages.
Running time: 20 or 30 minutes.
Requires audio & video.
A short talk about the science behind '2001: A Space Odyssey' and '2010: The Year We Make Contact'. Created for introducing the movie '2010' at SciScreen events. The talk covers the scientific concepts in the movies '2001' and '2010' including gravity, sound in space and artificial intelligence, which are presented in unique realism in the films. Using video clips from '2001' to demonstrate the science, the talk also recaps the plot of Kubrick's masterpiece.
Published Work
- Evolution and divine creation: where's the contradiction?
- Andrew Holding
- Guardian - Comment is Free - Belief - 29th Febuary 2012
- How Does Laser Eye Surgery Work?
- Script: Andrew Holding
- Naked Scientists - Science Scrapbook - 12th August 2011
- ThinkCon at the Cambridge Science Festival - Can you make a difference?
- Andrew Holding
- Guardian - Science Blogs - 22nd Febuary 2011
- Opening up climate science can cut off the skeptics
- Andrew Holding
- Guardian - Science Blogs - 25th November 2010
- Forgotten knowledge: the discovery and loss of a cure for scurvy
- Andrew Holding
- BlueSci - October 2010
- Truth and consolation
- Andrew Holding
- Guardian - Comment is Free - Belief - 8th September 2010
Awards
April 2012
Finialist in the British Science Association 'Prove it' competition.
Shortlisted for British Science Association Media Fellowship.
January 2012
Wellcome Trust People Award
October 2011
FameLab South of England Finalist
June 2011
Shortlisted for UnLtd / HEFCE Recognition Award - Outstanding Non Teaching Staff Social Entrepreneur.
May 2011
Shortlisted for British Science Association Media Fellowship.
January 2011
UnLtd Catalyst grant for Social Entrepreneurship.
October 2010
Nominated for Society of Biology Science Communication award by the Medical Research Council.
Activities
May 2012
Speaker at Ignite London on the science and history of a cure for scurvy.
Speaker at the British Science Association SciScreen event held at Arts Picturehouse Cambridge for a showing of Dr Strangelove.
April 2012
Launched season 4 of The Science of Fiction on CamFM.
Provided two sessions at SciBarCamb on delivering science using stand-up comedy.
Invited to speaker at Sawston Village College careers day, to talk about my work as a researcher and a communicator.
March 2012
Invited to speak to the 'School's Zone' at the Cambridge Science Festival to encourge pupils to undertake public engagement.
Organised first 'Geek Cabaret' in Cambridge. An evening of Science, Comedy and Music.
Organised and performed at Bright Club in Cambridge at the Portland Arms with Robin Ince.
Speaker for Cambridge University's School Challenge Days and Schools Masterclasses on the subject of 'Entropy'.
Invited to provide an afternoon of talks for Caludon Castle as part of National Science and Engineering Week.
Invited speaker at 'Skeptics in the Pub' in Milton Keynes on the science and history of a cure for scurvy.
February 2012
ThinkOutreach's radio show The Science of Fiction returns for a third season on CamFM.
Attended BBC Academy Radio Fast Train.
Demonstrated Chemistry, Colour and Carbon Dioxide at Science Show-off 5, London.
Performed stand-up comedy at Queen's Charity Smoker on Microbiology.
Invited to speak at City Of London School for Boys on my academic work.
Invited to speak at Highgate School on my academic work.
January 2012
Recieved a Wellcome Trust People Award to fund a collection podcast projects.
Performed stand-up comedy at the Magdelene Smokers on Creationism and Evolution
November 2011
Panel Member at eSCAMPS - Communicating Science to Non-Scientists.
Organised the first Bright Club in Cambridge. A sell-out event.
Invited speaker at Ivory Tower Society - Pembroke College Cambridge. on 'The History and Impact of the Haber process'.
Invited speaker at 'Skeptcs in the Pub in Nottingham' to talk on the science and history of a cure for scurvy.
Ran workshop introducing year 9 pupils from around Cambridge to the concept of chirality as part of the 'Strech' science sessions at Perse School for Senior Girls.
Speaker at the British Science Association SciScreen event held at Arts Picturehouse Cambridge introducing Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
October 2011
Launched the second series of ThinkOutreach's radio show 'The Science of Fiction' on CamFM.
Speaker at the first Science Showoff in London.
Invited speaker at 'Skeptcs in the Pub in Newcastle' to talk on the science and history of a cure for scurvy.
Organised a screening of Tim Minchin's Storm, with producer Tracy King and animator DC Turner.
Organised a science comedy night with Helen Arney at the Cambridge Festival of Ideas.
September 2011
Invited speaker at The Festival of the Spoken Nerd.
Stand-up performer for Bright Club in London on 'Building Molecules'.
August 2011
Speaker for Cambridge University's plenary lecture series on 'Impact and Responsibility'. Organised as part of the Institute of Continuing Education's Summer School.
Speaker for Cambridge University's GEEMA Summer School on the science and history of both scurvy and the Haber process.
Interviewed for BBC Radio 5 Live's 5 Live Drive show about a Swede's attempt to build a home-made nuclear reactor.
July 2011
'Science Busking' on behalf of the Cambridgeshire branch of the British Science Association at Cambridge's Big Weekend.
Speaker for Cambridge University's Mature Student Summer School on the science and history of a cure for scurvy.
Speaker for Cambridge University's Further Education Summer School on the science and history of the Haber process.
Selected for training at the Science Museum on how to host an engaging science event.
June 2011
Invited speaker to talk on 'Public Engagement in the 21st Century: Blogging and Social Media' as part of the University of Cambridge - Centre for Personal and Professional Development's lecture series.
Speaker at 'Drinking Skeptically' in Denver, CO on the science and history of a cure for scurvy.
May 2011 - July 2011
ThinkOutreach's first live radio show series 'The Science of Fiction'' on CamFM. The show discusses examples of real science and/or the science behind fictional concepts in films, TV shows and books.
May 2011
'Kitchen Science' at the Cambridge Beer Festival, demonstrating several experiments the audience could repeat at home, as well as hydrogen and cryogenics. Organised in partnership with University of Cambridge - Community Affairs team.
April 2011
Planned and carried out 'Chirality and Molecular Structure Workshop' for the Widening Participation Team, Cambridge Admissions Office.
March 2011
Founded ThinkOutreach and organised ThinkCon 2011 to coincide with the Cambridge Science Festival. The event was funded by an UnLtd Catalyst award to promote grass-roots science outreach. Speakers included Prof David Colquhoun (UCL), Dr Sile Lane (Sense About Science) and Dr Chris Smith (The Naked Scientists).
Invited as first speaker for the British Science Association in Cambridge's SciScreen event held at Arts Picturehouse Cambridge on the science behind the movies 2001: A Space Odyssey and 2010: The Year We Make Contact before a showing of the latter movie.
Invited speaker at Cambridge Regional College to talk on the science and history of a cure for scurvy.
Invited speaker at 'Brighton Science Festival' to talk on the science and history of a cure for scurvy.
February 2011
Speaker for Cambridge University's School Challenge Days and Schools Masterclasses on the science and history of a cure for scurvy.
Founded 'Skeptics Cafe' discussion group in Cambridge as an inclusive event for women interested in science. Now run by MRC Cancer Cell Unit.
January 2011
Invited speaker at 'Skeptics in the Pub - Cardiff' to talk on the science and history of a cure for scurvy.
November 2010
'Science Busking' on behalf of the Cambridgeshire branch of the British Science Association at The Grafton Centre, Cambridge.
Repeat guest on 'The Naked Scientists' radio show broadcast answering the public's questions on science. Broadcast on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and syndicated to the rest of the BBC local stations in the east of England.
October 2010
Science is Vital - organised press coverage in Cambridgeshire, including coverage in Cambridge News.
May 2010
Guest host on CUR1350 (now CamFM) discussing the quirky science news of the week.
Producer of the 'Skeptics in the Pub - Podcast', which receives 500-1000 downloads a month (as of March 2011).
October 2009
Founder and organiser of the highly successful 'Skeptics in the Pub' talks in Cambridge.