About
ThinkOutreach started life in Cambridgeshire, before expanding to run events across the UK. Founded by Andrew Holding, we aim to promote an interest in science, the humanities and art through new, lively and interesting methods. We achieve this by providing both training for research and through organisation and promotion of events. Our first series of public events was launched with Skeptics in the Pub, because most people prefer to socialise with a beer in their hand rather than sitting in a lecture theatre. Since then we have supported and run many events nationwide, including training researchers in comedy with Bright Club in Cambridge, at The Gravity Fields Festival and Alan Turing Institute. We support these events by working with the TV, radio and media organisations, along with producing podcasts and video content to widen our audience.
From 2011 to 2016, we held an annual event called ThinkCon as an affordable way to see some of the most entertaining and interesting communicators in their subjects.
Who we are
Andrew Holding
Andrew is a Lecturer/Assistant Professor at the University of York. He is both a chemist and a molecular biologist. He focuses his research on the interface between chemistry and biology, trying to gain insight into the mechanisms that underlie life.
Building on his founding in science, he has a wider appreciation of the sciences alongside the humanities and arts. It was because of this appreciation he founded ThinkOutreach as a platform to promote all fields and to give the public both the space and opportunity for free thought and the discovery of new ideas.
Will Thompson
Will co-produces and hosts the The Science of Fiction live radio show alongside Andrew. He is responsible for maintaining the show archives and website. Beyond ThinkOutreach Will is an open source software developer by trade, an occasional musician by night, and a cynic by nature.
People who helped us along the way...
Gaetan Lee
Gaetan Lee provided support in the training of acts and the management of Bright Club events. Originally a genetic researcher, he got distracted by promoting science to the public, having worked at the Science Museum in London and the Cambridge Science Centre. He can be found on Twitter as Gaetan Lee.
Sarah Castor-Perry
Sarah produced, edited and recorded the ThinkOutreach's podcasts. As a freelance science communicator, she has produced a wide range of material, from videos to written articles, for many organisations including 'The Naked Scientists' and the BBC. You can follow her ramblings on Twitter at @ScienceSponge.
Ginny Smith
Ginny was funded by the Wellcome Trust to produce, edit and record the ThinkOutreach's podcasts. Her Twitter account describes her as a "Freelance Sci Comm-er; presents for @nakedscientists, @cambridgetvnews, writes for @TWeDK, @dkbooks, develops school/ festival shows, finds brains fascinating."
Contact
We love to hear from people and you can contact us using the following address:
If you just want to keep up to date on upcoming events then join our mailing list using the form below, follow us on Twitter, or 'like' our page on Facebook.
Thank You
ThinkOutreach is grateful for the funding it has received from the following organisations:
