:: gia’s blog ::

The teaser for Brian’s new Horizon is out.

Remember: Horizon, December 2, BBC2, 9pm.

I’ve been very encouraged reading the science and technology page on the new website for the Office of the President-Elect. Obama seems to be mentioning science a lot, both in education and on its own:

America risks being left behind in the global economy: Revolutionary advances in information technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology and other fields are reshaping the global economy. Without renewed efforts, the United States risks losing leadership in science, technology and innovation. As a share of the Gross Domestic Product, American federal investment in the physical sciences and engineering research has dropped by half since 1970.

Too many Americans are not prepared to participate in a 21st century economy: A recent international study found that U.S. students perform lower on scientific assessments than students in 16 other economically developed nations, and lower than 20 economically developed nations in math performance. Only one-third of middle class physical science teachers are qualified to teach in that subject, and only one-half of middle school math sciences have educational background in that subject area.

• Invest in the Sciences: Barack Obama and Joe Biden support doubling federal funding for basic research over ten years, changing the posture of our federal government from being one of the most anti-science administrations in American history to one that embraces science and technology. This will foster home-grown innovation, help ensure the competitiveness of US technology-based businesses, and ensure that 21st century jobs can and will grow in America.
• Invest in University-Based Research: Barack Obama and Joe Biden strongly support expanding research initiatives at American colleges and universities. The U.S. faces a challenge in funding younger researchers. Obama and Biden will provide new research grants to the most outstanding early-career researchers in the country.
• Restore Scientific Integrity to the White House: Good policy in Washington depends on sound advice from the nation’s scientists and engineers and decision-making based on the needs of all Americans. Obama and Biden will restore the basic principle that government decisions should be based on the best-available, scientifically-valid evidence and not on the ideological predispositions of agency officials or political appointees.(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
• Make Math and Science Education a National Priority: Obama and Biden will recruit math and science degree graduates to the teaching profession and will support efforts to help these teachers learn from professionals in the field. They will also work to ensure that all children have access to a strong science curriculum at all grade levels.
• Increase Science and Math Graduates: Obama and Biden will improve science and math education in K through 12, to prepare more students for these studies in college. They will work to increase our number of science and engineering graduates and encourage undergraduates studying math and science to pursue graduate studies. They will also work to increase the representation of minorities and women in the science and technology pipeline, tapping the diversity of America to meet the increasing demand for a skilled workforce. The challenges of the 21st century can only be met by combining many skills from people with many backgrounds. America’s diversity is a clear competitive advantage if we use it.
• Advance Stem Cell Research: Despite recent advances pointing to alternatives like adult stem cell and cord blood, embryonic stem cells remain unmatched in their potential for treatment of a wide variety of diseases and health conditions. Barack Obama has been a long-term supporter of increased stem cell research. He introduced legislation while a member of the Illinois Senate that would allow embryonic stem cell research in Illinois. Obama has cosponsored legislation to allow greater federal government funding on a wider array of stem cell lines. Obama believes we need high ethical standards that allow for research on stem cells derived from embryos produced for in vitro fertilization, embryos that would otherwise be needlessly destroyed.

I really love the guy.

Phew! I can finally say something about this. Brian was up for Dawkins’ job, down to the final three (or was it four?!), but didn’t get it. And the winner is…

**UPDATE** 02/11/08 I just emailed Jonathan with the messages and told him about the Facebook Group which now has over 34,000 members. He replied immediately and admitted that he’s being worn down by all of this and the messages of support and the active support of everyone is a really big help. Please, keep doing everything you can. We want Wossy!

OK. I have to stop my self-imposed exile from blogging for this. I just went out into Brixton and was confronted with the real world for the first time since yesterday morning.

All the headlines are about the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand hoo-haa. Last one I saw, as I was leaving Sainsbury’s, was something about Gordon Fucking Brown ‘demanding action’ or something. I hope Gordon is actually spending a bit more time and energy on working out what can be done about the Congo, which is on the verge of all-out war, rather than stoking the fire being used to light the torches in the tabloid-led witchunt… but I fear that mightn’t be the case.

Now, as regular readers will know, I have a bit of a history with Jonathan Ross here. Very briefly: 18 months ago I was working on a film, one of the stars of said film was on Jonathan Ross’ show, I recorded it, edited out all references and clips from other shows/films and only left stuff about the film I was working on, put it on YouTube (where I also had trailers and short videos from said film)… and Jonathan Ross’ production company had it taken down. So I got a ‘mark’ against my YouTube account.

I wasn’t happy.

I blogged about it and Jonathan got in touch, came on here, talked to people in the comments, was generally a decent guy and, long story short, changed his company’s YouTube policy because everyone here convinced him it was the right thing to do. So now dorks all over the world can see their favourite stars being interviewed on his show. Fab.

We’ve emailed each other a bit since then, about the X-Files, about CERN, and recently, he did something about my husband on his show that ended up not making the final cut. He had got in touch beforehand to invite us both to the recording…

He’s a lovely guy. I’ve been a fan of his since the 80s and genuinely think he’s hilarious.

To counter the tabloid hysteria, I’d like to collect some messages of support for Jonathan Ross here in the comments and I’ll email him later to let him know about them. I ONLY want messages of support. If you are Outraged from Ipswich, then why not go vent your spleen at the Daily Mail’s site instead? K? I will delete negative messages.

So, please, leave comments and let others know they can leave messages for him here, too.

**UPDATE 30/10/08**
I was just sent these photos from Dave at Karmarama of their protest in ’solidawity’ for Jonathan today at the BBC.

*UPDATE 2 30/10/08 **
Join the Facebook Group supporting Jonathan and Russell
Lodge your complaints against Jonathan’s 12 week ban here.

I was looking for a photo of me on Flickr and stumbled across these pics of Brian and me at SciFoo.
Brian
Me
Brian
Me

Oh. How I love Sarah Silverman.

(there’s swearing in this so don’t turn up loud at work)

The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.

“The Great Schlep aims to have Jewish grandchildren visit their grandparents in Florida, educate them about Obama, and therefore swing the crucial Florida vote in his favour. Don’t have grandparents in Florida? Not Jewish? No problem! You can still become a schleper and make change happen in 2008, simply by talking to your relatives about Obama.”

More here

There have been many times over the years when I’ve been extremely proud of my lovely husband. His appearance on Newsnight the other night is right at the bloody top of the list. Delight with me in the massive smackdown he gives to Sir David King who, believe it or not, is the President of the British Association of the Advancement of Science. Seriously.

“On this day, of all days.”

There have been many times over the years when I’ve been extremely proud of my lovely husband. His appearance on Newsnight the other night is right at the bloody top of the list. Delight with me in the massive smackdown he gives to Sir David King who, believe it or not, is the President of the British Association of the Advancement of Science. Seriously.

“On this day, of all days.”