Dr Emma Yhnell

If you haven’t heard of FameLab… why not?! FameLab is a science communication competition designed to engage and entertain. Sounds great right? I am an advocate for all things involving science communication! The FameLab competition has some very simple yet vital rules. You have only three minutes to present on a topic of your choice…

When I saw the #WhyWeDoResearch campaign on Twitter back in 2016 it looked like a really interesting initiative. So, I was quick to drop the lead Claire Whitehouse (ClaireW_UK) an email and volunteer to take part in and host a Tweetchat. The campaign uses social media (specifically Twitter) to raise awareness, understanding and opportunities about…

As 2018 draws to a close and I write my final blog post of the year, I wanted to use this as an opportunity to reflect on the year. Whilst it would be easy to focus on all of the positives (as social media often does), I think it is important to say that my…

As a scientist, it can be all too easy to get caught up in the world of academia, but the truth is that for our research to make a real difference, we need to be engaging with policymakers. The Royal Society’s Pairing Scheme ‘gives policymakers and research scientists an opportunity to experience each other’s worlds’,…

It’s fair to say that I do quite a bit of public speaking, it is something that I not only feel passionate about but also really enjoy. So when I was asked to speak as part of a TEDxCardiffUniversity event I knew it would be a fantastic opportunity to give a talk on this infamous…

We are often told that various schemes, workshops and courses will be good for our CV and I always cautious about whether this will necessarily be true. But the Welsh Crucible is a programme that I found to be not only CV enhancing but it genuinely changed the way that I view academia and where…

I was honoured to be awarded the 2018 Charles Darwin Lecture at the British Science Festival in Hull. I recently attended the festival and gave my lecture, in this post, I wanted to reflect on the experience and share my top tips for anyone thinking of applying next year. I have to admit, upon receiving…

As an early career researcher, enthusiasm and passion for your subject are vital. However academic research can be tough and sometimes it can be a real test to maintain enthusiasm and develop resilience to criticism! It is a really competitive arena and rejected manuscripts, fixed term contracts and constant battles for funding all contribute to…

In the search for new treatments, science often focuses on medication first. But drugs aren’t the only way to fight illness, particularly when looking at brain diseases. My research looks into how playing specially designed computer games might help people who are living with Huntington’s disease. Huntington’s is a brain disorder that gets progressively worse over time,…