Unreal Reality Shows
Exploring the portrayals and predictions of reality shows in science fiction
Science in Science Fiction
A side interest of mine is researching into representations of science and scientists in science fiction, and the use of science fiction as a pedagogic tool for both formal teaching and public engagement.
Public Outreach talks
I offer Science of Sci-Fi public talks on topics including Spacecraft, Cosmic Catastrophes, The science of "Interstellar", or Our Moon in Science and Science Fiction. These can be pitched at a variety of levels and lengths depending on audience. Examples of these include:
- Online talk: Mars in Science and Science Fiction, National Astronomy Week (November 2020). This talk can be found on youtube as part of the session at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dccLkDVt4dU.
An 18 minute version of this talk can be found online here: - Public talk: “By the Light of the Silvery Earth: the Moon in Science and Science Fiction, at Warwick Museum (Jul 2019) and Warwick University (December 2019)
- Public outreach talk on “The Science of Interstellar”, delivered to three different groups (2018-2020) including at the Artix Arts Centre, Bromsgrove, as part of an Arts and Science festival (2020).
- “Science of Sci-Fi: Spaceflight” science outreach talk designed for public science communication (delivered five times to different groups, ranging from schools to amateur astronomy societies, 2014-2020).
Habitability and Science Fiction Studies
- Poster: "Cosmic Catastrophes", National Astronomy Meeting, Warwick, UK, July 2022.
- Article: "Changing Conceptions of Solar System Habitability in Dan Dare Between the 1950s and the 2010s", Foundation, Vol 50.3, 76-90 (#140, Winter 2021)
- Poster: "Exploring Science Perceptions through Science FictionLink opens in a new window", National Astronomy Meeting, Bath, UK. July 2021
- “Who’s Moon”, chapter in “Doctor Who and Science: ideas, identities and ideologies”, eds Orthia & Harmes, McFarland (https://doctorwhoandscience.wordpress.com), Publication: December 2020 (Amazon)
- Member, Science Fiction Research Association (2020-date)
- Summer research student project on further exploring Cosmic Habitability (2019) – publication now in preparation.
- Lecture and seminar: “Neocatastrophism” using historical and fiction examples as part of interdisciplinary taught postgraduate module on Habitability (2018-2021)
- Publication on use of cosmological simulations to estimate cosmic habitability (Stanway et al, 2018, MNRAS, 475, pp. 1829-1842)
If you're interested in the science of science fiction, you may wish to read my "Cosmic Stories" blog entries on the subject!
Gathering Clouds
Exploring the role and impact of astronomical clouds and nebulae in science fiction.
We are the Martians
Did humanity originate elsewhere? Why does Mars appear so prominently as the origin of the human race in science fiction?
Gathering Clouds
Exploring the role and impact of astronomical clouds and nebulae in science fiction.
We are the Martians
Did humanity originate elsewhere? Why does Mars appear so prominently as the origin of the human race in science fiction?