Category: Science

Creating a Successful Training Environment

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There’s something that underpins an excellent working laboratory and it’s not difficult to guess what that is; It’s the staff. But understanding how we arrive at the finished product of a well rounded, educated, and knowledgeable Biomedical Scientist (BMS) is a bit more of a complex task.

Developing a Biomedical Scientist from their initial days in the laboratory through to a competent and knowledge hungry BMS is a process in itself and I think it’s important to discuss the importance of how we can start out on the right foot. Ultimately at some point you will either be involved with training a biomedical scientist or you may be one that is currently training and so I would like this article to serve as a primer on the training environment itself. Training is not a task, it’s a culture.

It’s always important to start out on the right foot. It’s often said that failing to prepare is preparing to fail and I think this is as true in the laboratory as it is anywhere else. So if you’re a BMS in training or a training officer responsible for the training environment itself, or someone with a bit of an interest in training then this is the article for you.

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Why You Shouldn’t Be Worried About the Long Term Effects of a COVID Vaccine.

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Very often, I find myself hearing the same problems brought up about a popular science topic and thinking about how many times I will have to produce an answer to that problem. Very rarely has it been quite as bad as recently. With the introduction of the new COVID vaccines into circulation, and the imminent vaccination of thousands, people have been somewhat concerned about aspects of the vaccine. In this article, I plan to address the topic of long term effects and why it shouldn’t stop you getting vaccinated.

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The COVID Herd Immunity Strategy

For almost everyone currently not in hibernation, COVID-19 is without a doubt the most discussed and apparently controversial topic on the go. From social media to the political discussions of Westminster, everyone is having their say. Regardless of position, what it is, is prime opportunity to witness science in action. I’d like to spend some time picking apart the idea that herd immunity is the best strategy moving ahead.

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The Molecular Landscape

Molecular biology is a hot topic at the moment and yet, it’s one that the general public have a hard time nailing down. It is a vast topic that encompasses a number of wider scientific areas and provides unique insights for scientists and clinicians engaged in diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. So what is it and how does it help?

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Genes and Genomes

For many years, the field of genetics has been undergoing a diverse change. The nomenclature in common use has continued to change and develop in new ways as the field grows more complex with ever more fascinating areas of study. The suffix “omics” has overtaken a large portion of what we scientists can now study and I plan to dedicate this article to genomics, giving you an understanding of what it is and why it is the next big thing for many who work on the level of the gene. Continue reading →

The Update!

I’ve had some free time recently away from everything. Specifically I spent a couple of weeks on holiday in the obviously sunny and ever prospering midlands of England. That being said I have now arrived slap bang into my final year of university. I use the phrase “slap bang” for a reason. It’s only day four and already I’ve been busy. But with what?

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The Haematology Laboratory

In my previous post I provided an overview of my time on placement. What I’d like to do with this post, is give a little more insight into the on goings of the haematology laboratory, the sections within it that a biomedical scientist can work in and what goes on in these sections.

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The Placement Year

As I mentioned in previous posts, there are a number of criteria that must be met in order to attain registration as a biomedical scientist. Today I will be discussing the placement year. Details of what went on during my placement year, how I coped and what I felt like throughout the year.

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Bacteria Turning Type A/B blood into Type O

So, I had other plans for what my first scientific based post was going to be. However, as you may have noticed. The scientific community has rather obsessively purported this story around the globe. As a scientific blogger and specifically as the “Blood Geek” I really think I should make comment on this article and explain to you all what the fuss is all about and whether it is, everything it’s cracked up to be.

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Where’s all the science?

Eh, Blood Geek? I came here for some high quality science and I’ve seen none yet. What are you doing?

So you’re still here so far. Perhaps you’ve only just stumbled here and you’re wondering to yourself. Where is all the science? Well I’m here to answer that question for you and I’m writing a whole post about it because I want to leave my readers without a doubt in their minds as to the direction of this blog.

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