Naked Scientists return to the radio this Sunday

As part of a new initiative being piloted at BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, from this week the University’s Naked Scientists team will also be working closely with other mid-week and daytime programmes to support the radio station in its mission to provide high quality coverage of local science stories.

Naked Scientists managing editor Dr Chris Smith, who is also a consultant virologist based in the University’s Department of Pathology, says, “Working with the BBC, we’ve come up with a way to place one of our specialist team members within the BBC newsroom during the week. They will be assisting the BBC’s journalists and producers across the full sweep of daytime programming to identify and cover significant science stories on their programmes; some of this material will also feature subsequently on our new show on Sundays.”

The new Naked Scientists show, which will also feature a number of fresh scientific voices alongside the existing programme team, will be looking to champion the cutting-edge science and technology being pioneered around the county, and also venturing into local schools, colleges and science centres to help younger listeners get to grips with the subject.

“We’re really looking forward to getting our teeth into this new series,” says Smith. “And if anyone has a story they’d like to tell us, or they want to take part, please let us know!”

Dave Harvey, Managing Editor of BBC Cambridgeshire, said: “BBC Radio Cambridgeshire has a special responsibility to report the important science and technology stories in our area and these plans will mean that our editorial team can be confident that this responsibility will be met. I also hope listeners will continue to enjoy The Naked Scientists at 6pm on Sunday, finding it as engaging and informative as ever.”