Science and the importance of cheese

Week two of “I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here!” is now upon me. This week the evictions start, so the competition is hotting up.

I had meant to get around to writing a blog-post about week one, but I have been preoccupied with more pressing matters – like getting ready for week two. I hope to serve up a digest of my experiences of this public engagement once the hurly burly of the week is over. In the meantime, you can sample a couple of very thoughtful reflections on the competition so far, one from Tom Hartley (who is in the same zone as me) and one from Andrew Maynard.

The prize for the scientist in each zone who is left standing on Friday next is £500 to spend on a science communication project. My idea — not so very original — is to make a video about the reality of science. I’d like to show the ordinary side of scientific endeavour and hopefully go some way to re-assuring school children that you don’t have to be a genius to do science.

So, as my secret weapon for week two, and since it was Father’s day yesterday, I spent the day in South Kensington with my three children shooting the trailer to the film that I would like to make.

And I present it here for your consideration. I hope you might be able to tell that we had enormous fun doing it. Best Father’s day I’ve had in many a long year.

And what has this got to do with cheese? Well, you’ll have to watch to find out.