Science Communication Projects
Lee is involved in a broad number of science communication projects. From journalism to education, he works on all manner of schemes. Most of them are, frankly, bizarre.
The list below gives some indication of just what he gets up to when he's not writing about himself to pad out his website.
Let's lump these together, because they're on the same contract. Examples are listed on the Hack Writing page. So there.
International Year of Astronomy 2009 Staff Writer
Lee puts letters into words and words into sentences for The International Year of Astronomy 2009, one two-month contract at a time. See his ill-fated attempts at writing here.
At-Bristol
Lee spends part of his week working for At-Bristol, a science centre in the UK. There's even a section of this website dedicated to these shenanigans.
The Science Office
Lee's a consultant for The Science Office. Apparently he's adept at "Fotografia, Eventos, Escrita Cientifica". He honestly has no idea what the last bit means. Excreting scientific?
CAP Journal
Assistant Editor for Communicating Astronomy with the Public Journal. No apostrophe errors will get into print on his watch, and that's a triple guarantee
Space.com
Lee somehow manages to get stuff published on Space.com quite regularly, but he lives in fear of getting facts HORRIBLY WRONG and being sent to prison or similar.
Astrobiology Web-Magazine
As a journalist for NASA’s astrobiology web-magazine, Lee has articles published on a semi-regular basis. His source material is scientific papers and words from scientists. If you're a scientist he has interviewed but your work hasn't been written up, Lee apologises but suggests that you speak a bit slower next time.
Eyes on the Skies
This project was hell to do, but the end result looks good. Lee and a Portuguese buddy were responsible for putting together subtitles for approximately ONE MILLION languages. They largely succeeded, but please don't use Bulgarian, Greek or Latvian subtitles. Really, don't.
Press Officer, EPSC 2008
Lee recently found himself in the German equivalent of Newcastle, working in the Press Office of Europlanet's Planetary Science Congress. His main duties were pinning press clippings to the board and eating.
Hubble European Information Centre
Working in the Hubble press office in Munich, Lee was surprised to find himself outnumbered by Portuguese folk by a ratio of about ten to one. In between jimmeying press releases, scripts and anything else that needs a native Englisher's eye, he was taught how to say Portuguese phrases such as "yes boss" and "I am a lazy slave journalist". Obrigado indeed!
Astrobiology Activities
Lee designed and organised a month-long series of activities for Welsh kiddies to participate in. Thanks to him over 600 children learnt all about aliens. But is that a good thing?
Science Degrees
Lee has managed to get a degree in astronomy and an MSc in science communication, despite avoiding any book over 200 pages long.
SETPOINT Wales
He worked as a Science and Engineering Ambassador for SETPOINT Wales, conducting workshops in schools around South Wales. Ok kids, who can tell me something about the Solar System?
Science Festival
Lee directed the first science festival ever held in the Welsh Valleys. In August 2007 the town of Merthyr Tydfil was lucky enough to host "The Science of Romeo & Juliet", a project which knocked 20 years off the lives of all those responsible for organising it. And maybe those who attended too, we can't be sure.
Mission to Mars Activities
Lee was Senior Supervisor for the Mission to Mars activities aimed at primary school children from South Wales. He gave inspirational talks and deducted quiz points for even minor / imagined trangressions. Happy days!
University of Glamorgan
Lecturing the undergraduate Astronomy and Space (BSc) module Introduction to Science Communication, at the University of Glamorgan.
Most students passed but those that didn't are probably more suited to a business studies degree anyway.
RoCCoTO
The Robotic Cyberspace Community Telescope Observatory (RoCCoTO) venture teaches Astronomy courses in South Wales. On the odd days Lee appeared in the RoCCoTO office, he was the Project Officer. This involved pinching custard cream biscuits and educating hard-to-reach audiences about astronomy. But mostly the biscuit thing.
Astrobiology Society of Britain
Lee was Co-ordinator for the 3rd Conference of the Astrobiology Society of Britain. His contract wasn't extended due to an administrative balls up. Honest. The conference took place between July 1st and 4th 2008 in the city of Cardiff, UK. Lee has been reliably informed that it was "alright".