About
Elements reveals the science of the world around you. Science is sexy, quirky, scary, beautiful – sometimes all at once (ask a physicist!).
Agog at this state of affairs, our contributors raid labs, quiz doctors and even zip through time to bring you unique science coverage. From the latest discoveries and interviews to exciting events, rich histories and stories of science in surprising places, Elements is an offbeat destination for science news, features and comment.
Whether you like enticing articles, fun videos or evocative podcasts, so long as you love science, you’ll find a home here.
Editors and contributors
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Adam Smith Editor As a spoddy 18-year-old, Adam ditched science because he liked words too much. He studied literature and culture, and went on to become a law journalist. Now he wants some cake – and to eat it. So he’s hoping to slip into the science world and report on genetics, evolution, science policy, environment and maybe even space exploration. Any geneticist or sentient supercomputer wanting to decode Adam’s genome can contact him on the details below. Email Adam adam [at] adamesmith [dot] co [dot] uk |
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Daryl Ilbury Deputy editor Daryl is a multi-award winning broadcaster and columnist. He has over 25 years of experience in the media – as a presenter in the highly competitive arena of breakfast radio in both music and talk-formats with some of South Africa’s biggest commercial radio stations, and as an op-ed columnist with The Sunday Times, The Saturday Star, The Sunday Tribune and Leadership magazine. He holds a degree in clinical psychology and a postgraduate HDE. Email Daryl daryl [at] darylilbury [dot] com |
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Alice Lighton Deputy editor After devouring books through childhood, Alice has spent the last four years doing a physics degree at Oxford. She has worked at Wired and Technology World magazines, and was deputy editor of The Oxford Student. She loves anything physics-related, but is particularly interested in superconductors and weird magnets. She also writes a blog on tropical diseases. As well as writing about science, talking about science, and having arguments about statistics, she likes cats and single-speed bicycles. Email Alice alice [dot] lighton [at] gmail [dot] com |
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Lisa Raffensperger Deputy editor Ever since she stumbled upon the NYT’s Science Times at university, Lisa has known that this quirky niche field called science journalism was just her niche. With degrees in biology and English under her belt, she’s been working for the last four years reporting about science for NPR, the National Science Foundation, and the Economist. Lisa’s favourite things in London so far: curries, bikes, and flat whites. She could live on flat whites. Email Lisa Lisa [dot] Raffensperger [dot] 1 [at] city [dot] ac [dot] uk |
Contributors
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Kate Adams Kate is a GP in Hackney with NHS management experience. She is primary care adviser to the BMJ publishing group and joint clinical lead for urgent care in East London. Kate’s professional interests include NHS health policy, health and human rights, medical ethics and international development. Email Kate kadams67 [at] hotmail [dot] com |
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Harriet Bailey After graduating as a mathemagician last year, Harriet has worked at the Science Media Centre and contributed to the Libel Reform Campaign with Sense about Science. She hopes to work in television and report on biochemistry, genetics and infectious diseases. Her numerological background means she’s obsessed with statistics and data visualisation. When not being a science journalist she can be found on her bike, thinking up puns and reading comics. Email Harriet hamarriet [at] gmail [dot] com |
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Tilly Burke Tilly is an Italian pharmacist. Having loved her studies but keen to step outside the pharmacy, she came in London to combine her scientific skills with her journalistic ones and became a competent science writer. She loves food and sport as much as science, and a bit less than family and friends. Tilly’s motto: “Life is one and it is worth living passionately and fully.” Email Tilly attiliaburke [at] gmail [dot] com @TillyBurke |
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Jordan Constable Jordan is a keen environmental writer with a specific interest in conservation of the environment and biodiversity. Having recently completed an English degree, he hopes to go on to study for a PhD in communications following an MA in science journalism. Outside of writing, he is a keen sportsman who, when given the chance, meddles in cricket, rowing and rugby. Email Jordan jordan [at] jordanconstable [dot] co [dot] uk | |
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Danny Copley Danny is a graduate from the field of environmental science with a passionate interest in global issues from climate change through to green economics. He is also a moderate socialist, clinging on to the romantic notion of a world run on altruistic principles. He possesses a keen interest in becoming a science correspondent on radio. Other interest involves comics, sci-fi and a spot of sailing. Email Danny danny [dot] copley [at] gmail [dot] com |
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Sheherazade Goldsmith Sheherazade Goldsmith was a freelance lifestyle journalist and advocate of a wide range of environmental and ethical issues. She has been columnist for the Sunday Times, You magazine and Harpers Bazaar. She also edited A Slice of Organic Life and A Green Christmas, published by Dorling Kindersley. She is now doing a science journalism MA at City so that she can learn about all the stuff she wrote about for the last 10 years. Email Sheherazade sheherazadeg0 [at] gmail [dot] com |
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Anita Goraya Anita has been a GP for 16 years. She is interested in how clinical medical research translates into practice, patient journeys, the history of medicine and organisational development within the NHS. Anita has written extensively for the GP professional press, and now wants to bring her incisive, analytical and reflective insights to a wider public udience. Anita has two pre-teenagers, a penchant for crisps and an aspiration to achieve Nirvana. Email Anita anita [dot] goraya [at] gmail [dot] com |
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Jinan Harb Self-confessed neat freak Jinan studied physiology at King’s College London before realising she preferred talking and writing about science to actually doing it. She is fascinated by all fields of life science, particularly the human kind. She hopes to provide an awe-inspiring selection of stories, exploring everything from brains to genes to healthcare in as interesting a way as possible. Email Jinan jinan_harb [at] hotmail [dot] com |
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Pip Hobbs Pip split her time between science and theatre growing up. Loving the outdoors, she decided to study earth sciences, where she discovered she was better at telling people about science than actually doing it. After internship in fire fighting took her to the US she wound up as press officer for an environmental group, where she caught the journalism bug. She has since cut her teeth reporting in radio and online in Switzerland. Email Pip pip [dot] hobbs [at] gmail [dot] com |
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Maria Inês Maria Inês grow up in Geneva and Lisbon and ended up studying for a BSc in biomedical sciences in London. After her graduation she realised that she didn’t want to limit her passion for science to lab work and therefore she felt the need to get involved in science journalism where she could expand her knowledge and share it with others. Maria Inês loves cosmopolitan cities for their multiculturalism. Email Maria ines_neiva [at] hotmail [dot] com |
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Greg Jones Having completed a degree in biochemical engineering at UCL, Greg spent some time gaining experience in radio and television. He is now working towards a career in science journalism where he hopes to feed our natural curiosity through entertaining and engaging reporting. An accomplished commentator, boisterous chef and elastic pianist, Greg hopes to instill his passion for science in every reader and inspire new generations to pursue careers in the noble field of scientific endeavour. Email Greg gregcjones88 [at] gmail [dot] com |
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Oluwafunmilayo Olateju Oluwafunmilayo studied mass communication during her undergraduate degree in Nigeria. She hails from Nigeria where she worked with the National Space and Research Development Agency. Presently in the UK to explore the scientific world, she is a lady full of passion about stories from Africa. Email Oluwafunmilayo duduyemmy82 [at] gmail [dot] com |
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Rafi Meguerditchian As a biology graduate from the Lebanese American University, Rafi moved to London in September 2011 to pursue his career as a science communicator. His preferred subject area lies somewhere in between technological innovation and public health. Email Rafi rafimegs [at] hotmail [dot] com |
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Gena Ng After five years studying banking and finance, Gena decided it’s not her thing after all and switched to mass communications. She’s a huge fan of National Geographic and aspires to work for the institution. An avid photographer, Gena rarely leaves home without her DSLR. In fact, she’s got a plethora of broken bag straps due to lugging that heavy thing around. She also loves coffee and travelling. Email Gena genanyr [at] gmail [dot] com |
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Xue Xue studied for a degree in film and is now studying for an MA in science journalism at City University. She worked for Radio CUC in China as announcer, and she has always had a passion for journalism. She loves food, travelling and museums (especially the V&A ). One of her favourite quotations is “forget the diet, just give me cup cakes”. Her interest lies in food, health and environment. Email Xue xue890225 [at] hotmail [dot] com |