Why I Love Science

I remember my first appearance on TV. It was almost 5 years ago at a Red Nose Rally event at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. We had to build little rockets filled with some chemical or other, which when lit would create a small explosion and shoot it into the air. I remember being interviewed by BBC South Today and saying lots of twaddle like 'science is really fun and can be quite interesting.' In reality, at the time, I couldn't have disagreed more. I had just begun studying for my A-Levels, and had purposefully avoided anything involving Maths or Science. There wasn't anything about either which struck me as interesting, and I certainly did not find it fun. I just wanted to get on the telly.

Five years later though and I have a completely different outlook on the world of atoms, quarks and gravity. This is thanks mainly to two people. The first is T, who studied physics for his undergraduate. As our relationship has grown, so has my fascination and admiration for his mind. I feel stupid compared to him, but I don't mind. I find that, having not been subjected to ruthlessly memorising the boring parts of physics - that I am like a wide-eyed child again, hearing about the fun stuff, the outstanding stuff, the stuff that simply blows my mind. How the sun was formed, that all the billions of stars we see are the same size as our sun, that when we touch things, we don't actually 'touch' them - we are merely feeling the effects of electro-static force. I could even name you some constellations in the sky.

As if the BBC were in tune with my new found fascination with science, Wonders of the Solar System has started on BBC 2. Presented by the captivating Professor Brian Cox, a physicist based at my very own University of Manchester, a researcher on the Large Hadron Collider, and the keyboard player in 90's band D:Ream. Things, it would seem, really did get better for Brian Cox. Now, whether you care about the solar system or not, it would have been very hard to miss this compelling TV series the past few weeks, or Brian Cox for that matter. A quick glance at twitter on a sunday will tell you that, or the fact that in the space of a week Cox has appeared on Radio 2 and the hugely popular Friday Night with Jonathon Ross - despite being relatively unknown. An amazing feat for a nerdy scientist.

So why is wonders so, wonderful? A lot of it is down to Cox - he has an amazing way of making the most complex theories understandable for any mind. But, for me, the most striking thing about him, is the childish fascination he still has for physics, despite having studied the topic for almost 20 years. You can hear in his giggles that the Universe simply amazes him. He explains theories by relating them to everyday objects, that are more manageable for our inferior brains. Explaining the heat loss of planet in episode 4 for example, by relating it to a cup of tea. In the very first episode Cox conducts a simple experiment to measure the energy of the sun. On discovering that the answer is an astonishing 400 million, million, million, million watts, he grins at the camera and states "and that's why I love physics." Well Brian, that is why the nation, loves you.

But it is not just about the charisma of the rock star physicist. Cox explains it well, but it is the topic itself that is, if you excuse the pun, the shining star. Where we came from is a question that has baffled and gripped the minds of civilisation almost from the very moment we came into existence. Religions sought to find the answer soon after that. But it is science, physics, that has in my opinion, come the closest. Physics, governed by the rules of mathematics, and yet it is so - magical. Wonders of the Solar System has brought the importance of this discipline, and how it can help us answer that unanswerable question, into the public and political arena. The programme has sparked articles from the likes of Suzanne Moore, as well as political debate as Cox tries to make science a key election issue.

I admit, I will never grasp the complicated equations, or truly understand quarks, but that does not mean the Universe cannot amaze me. The fact that we know so much about something so unfathomably big, is an achievement we as the human race should be very proud of. Yes there are flaws, or one big flaw if you think that we still don't know what 'dark matter' is yet we know it makes up 90% or so of our Universe, but to send a satellite into space and capture an ice-volcano erupting from Titan, now that, is a wonder.

Fuse FM Live Election Broadcast

As the 2010 UMSU election results were announced, myself and the rest of the fuse team were reporting it live, on Fuse FM and on Fuse TV. Here is a video summarising what happened.

Protests Break Out at Manchester University's Students' Union

Protests between Israeli and Palestinian supporters broke out at Manchester University's Student Union this week, in reaction to the decision to allow the Deputy Ambassador of Israel speak in the union building.

The Ambassador ended up cancelling the talk amid security fears, but anger over allowing it to happen in the first place was still rife. Action Palestine began a peaceful protest, claiming the decision contravened the 'Gaza Crisis' policy that was passed last year.

Things took a an unexpected turn when Israeli supportes turned up claiming that the policy was an attack on freedom of speech.

Fuse News were on the scene.

Students Evacuated From Rooms Due To Gas Leak

Over a thousands students were evacuated from their rooms earlier this week, following a gas leak in Whitworth Park.

The leak, which was discovered in the university owned halls of residence at 5 o'clock that evening, meant the whole gas supply had to be cut off from the park, leaving its 1100 residents without hot water or heating, with temperatures below zero. Students were asked to leave thier rooms and head to friend's flats or alternatively to University Place, where food had been provided. Fuse FM were first on the scene as students made their way to University Place with their sleeping bags.

Sophie Lancaster Article for Student Direct

Animated film shows last minutes of girl attacked in Manchester

A film depicting the murder of Sophie Lancaster, 20, was shown to a crowd of hundreds in Manchester last fortnight, in the hope of raising awareness of prejudice towards subcultures.

The two-minute-long animation, which shows Sophie and her boyfriend, Robert Maltby, being kicked to death in a Lancashire park, was screened for the first time outside Manchester’s Urbis on what would have been Lancaster’s 23rd Birthday. The film was commissioned by make-up brand Illamasqua, and directed by the award winning French director Fursy Teyssier.

Lancaster and Maltby were attacked in August 2007, simply because of the way they looked. Both were ‘Goths’ and were approached by a gang of youths in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, before being kicked in the head, Lancaster suffering fatal injuries.

Maltby, a student in Manchester, went into a coma but came out of it two weeks later. During the trial, in which two teenage boys were found guilty of murder, the Judge said: “This was a terrible case which has shocked and outraged all who have heard about it. At least wild animals, when they hunt in packs, have a legitimate reason for so doing, to obtain food. You have none and your behaviour on that night degrades humanity itself.”

Sophie: Dark Angel brought in huge crowds, most of whom were Goths themselves. Despite it being freezing cold, the atmosphere was positive, with many of Lancaster’s friends and family present. After a speech from her mother, Sylvia Lancaster, the film was shown to a silent crowd. Most were moved to tears, as the animation shows Lancaster’s spirit breathing life into her boyfriend, an act of sacrifice for someone she loved.

James Reed, who had come to watch the film in support of its message said: “I think it’s something that kids definitely should watch, so that they understand that they should tolerate people that choose to be different.” He also describes his own experience of bullying; “Well, I’ve been called ‘mosher’ before and things like that. I do have some kids around where I live, and they don’t understand… some accept me, some don’t, but I choose not to give in to intimidation because this is who I am.”

Sophie: Dark Angel is now available to watch on youtube and will also be played during ad breaks on popular global music channel MTV. For more information about the work that Sylvia Lancaster is doing visit The S.o.p.h.i.e (Stamp Out Prejudice, Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere) Foundation Website at www.sophielancasterfoundation.com.

Featured in Student Direct: Mancunion 14/12/09

Film Showing Goth Murder Screened in Manchester

A film showing the murder of Sophie Lancaster, 20, was screened in Manchester on Thursday, with the hope that it will increase awareness of prejudice towards subcultures.

Sophie and her boyfriend were attacked in a Lancashire Park in August 2007, simply because of they way they dressed. Rob, a student at Manchester, survived the attack, however the repeated kicks to the head proved fatal for Sophie.

To raise awareness of the intolerance and hatred that is suffered by subcultures, make-up brand Illamasqua commissioned a two minute long animation portraying the horrific attack, in collaboration with acclaimed film director Fursy Teyssier.

Sophie: Dark Angel was launched in Manchester on a big screen outside the Urbis on Thursday, what would have been Sophie's 23rd Birthday. I went down to the screening to get some reactions from the crowd.

To listen to some of the Vox Pops, which were used on KEY 103 FM click the below link.

https://fusefm.co.uk/news/film-showing-goth-murder-screened-manchester

Joy Division Drummer on Manchester's Music Scene

Stephen Morris led a debate last week on Manchester's Music Scene: Past, Present and Future.

The Joy Division and New Order drummer was amongst other key figures of the city's clubbing fame, including owner of Sankeys Ross MacKenzie and ex Hacienda DJ Graeme Park.

Fuse reporter Sehrah Hussain and I caught up with one of the guests, as well as Stephen himself, after the debate, which happened at the prestigious Museum of Science and Industry.

To hear the interviews for Fuse FM click the link below

https://fusefm.co.uk/news/joy-division-drummer-manchesters-music-scene