Soapbox Science

Soapbox Science is back in Edinburgh!

Prepare to be blown away by some awesome science!

Soapbox Science is a novel public outreach platform for promoting women and non-binary scientists and the science they do. Soapbox Science events transform public areas into an arena for public learning and scientific debate; they follow the format of London Hyde Park’s Speaker’s Corner, which is historically an arena for public debate. With Soapbox Science, we want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy, learn from, heckle, question, probe, interact with and be inspired by some of our leading scientists. No middle man, no PowerPoint slide, no amphitheatre – just remarkable women and non-binary scientists who are there to amaze you with their latest discoveries, and to answer the science questions you have been burning to ask. Look out for bat simulators, interactive experiments or giant pictures of volcanoes. Or simply hear them talk about what fascinates them, and why they think they have the most fantastic job in the world!

To see what it is all about, watch this video from a previous Soapbox Science event held in London or have a look at the Soapbox Science website.

Come and learn about some cool science and scientists at the Mound on 1 June 2024!

This year we have the following fantastic speakers lined up:

Dr Bryony Buck

Talk title: Noisy conversations and why we think they don't work: The multiple sides of hearing loss

Dr Amina McDiarmid

Talk title: Why women are in pursuit of new drugs for Alzheimer’s disease

Ms Rosie Bristow
  • Institution: Heriot-Watt University and Fantasy Fibre Mill
  • Web: Fantasy Fibre Mill
  • Instagram: @straw_into_gold  @fantasyfibremill

Talk title: Future Fabrics: reconnecting regenerative agriculture and sustainable fashion

Dr Eleanor Gaunt
  • Institution: The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh
  • Web: Dr Eleanor Gaunt
  • X: @gauntlab

Talk title: Going viral: cracking the genetic code of viruses

Mx Alice Buckner
  • Institution: University of Edinburgh and SRUC
  • LinkedIn: Mx Alice Buckner
  • X: @al_buckner0

Talk title: Cows, methane, and climate

Dr Cristina Martínez González

Talk title: Transparent Brains: Looking Through Your Thoughts

Dr Clare McTigue

Talk title: Driving the Future with Autonomous and Un(woman)ed Vehicles

Dr Amrit Melissa Dencer-Brown

Talk title: SustainABILITY- little ways to create a happier, more sustainable life

Dr Lu Lu
  • Institution: Roslin Institute, the University of Edinburgh
  • Web: Dr Lu Lu
  • X: @LuLu_RI_UoE
  • Facebook: Dr Lu Lu

Talk title: Predicting the next pandemic virus

Prof Mathini Sellathurai

Talk title: Electromagnetic waves: From the cosmic birth of the universe to our daily communications

Dr Kenza Hammam

Talk title: Quantum Computing is fun!

Ruhee Kahar

Talk title: Young Stars

Fern Fairgrieve
  • Institution: School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University
  • Web: Fern Fairgrieve
  • Email: fern.fairgrieve@napier.ac.uk
  • X: @PhD_Fern
  • LinkedIn: Fern Fairgrieve

Talk title:  Toilet Troublemakers: The Issues What We Flush Can Cause

Dr Kate Walker
  • Institution: Centre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh
  • X: @KateWal42702982
  • LinkedIn: Dr Kate Walker

Talk title:  If cis-men could menstruate…

Dr Jessica Mitchell
  • Institution: Global Academy for Agriculture and Food Systems, Veterinary School, University of Edinburgh
  • Dr Jessica Mitchell
  • X: @CE4AMR, @JessMitch15
  • Instagram: @wild_onehealth

Talk title: What happens when antibiotic resistance goes wild?

Dr Gosha Wojcik
  • Institution: Edinburgh Napier University
  • Web: Dr Gosha Wojcik
  • Social media X: @GoshaWojcik 

Talk title: Is antibiotic resistance the new apocalypse?