Tick Tock

You’ve looked at your watch about five times in the past hour.  It’s hot and stuffy and the windows have that horrible warm-room condensation they get which leaves you boiling indoors but needing at least 15 layers of clothing to be warm outside. You’ve noticed that the overhead light bulb flickers 16 times a minute. You’re too scared to open a window in case someone thinks you’re asking a question and the person next to you is munching a tuna sandwich and spending an absolute eternity eating crisps ‘quietly’.

We’ve all been there.  Lunchtime seminars. Sometimes you end up feeling that they’ve stolen an hour of your life you’ll never get back.

Over a year ago, we risked these fears when we set up an internal seminar series for Science. But this one is different.  Its purpose is to engage and interest so talks are low on scientific jargon.  Being RHS Science, the topics are relevant and interesting to lots of people – not just scientists.  At least one window is always left open.  And there’s cake.  Better still – tea and cake.

 

‘Tea & Talk’ is an informal Friday afternoon seminar series set up through the KTP project to discuss our research activities amongst a multidisciplinary audience.  I am involved throughout the process from securing speakers and organising dates to advertising seminars and, quite excitingly, buying CAKE!

 

 

Once a month, about 30 people come along to listen, discuss and absorb some new aspect of our Science. From the private lives of ladybirds to naming orchid hybrids; from hairy plants that help to cool our towns and cities to understanding why gardens make us happy.  For the scientists themselves, the talks provide an opportunity to peer-review a new research idea, to update others on newly completed work or to simply practice a talk that they need to give at an upcoming conference. For me (and everyone else), they help transfer knowledge within and between departments, boosting awareness of our scientific activities within the RHS.

What better way to spend 45 minutes on a Friday afternoon?!

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