The Sumner Lab

Insect Research Group, University College London

Outreach and Citizen Science

WaspLove computer game

Step into the shoes of a wasp colony – see how well you can raise a successful colony. WARNING: This computer game is highly addictive!! http://wasplove.com/

Citizen science

Big Wasp Survey (co-founder with Prof Adam Hart; 2017-current). A citizen science initiative that harnesses the sampling power of the public to help us learn more about the diversity and distribution of social wasps across the UK. Over 6000 people have taken part. This project is unfunded, and runs on the good will and support of the public, and modest sponsorship from the Royal Entomological Society. bigwaspsurvey.org

Popular science writing – mostly about wasps

I love sharing my passion for the world of wasps with the public. Here are some general -public articles I’ve written.

I’m also currently writing a popular science book about wasps. Watch this space.

 

Equality in Science

Soapbox Science

Soapbox Science (co-founder with Dr Nathalie Pettorelli (ZSL); 2011-current). Science engagement and equality initiative. Multi-award-winning initiative that seeks to promote the visibility of women in science. Public outreach events that bring female scientists to the streets to discuss their science, raising their public profiles and the making public the issue of equality in science soapboxscience.org. Watch a film.

Athena SWAN

Seirian was Academic Lead for the Bronze Athena SWAN award for the School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol. She is leads the Athena SWAN committee for the Division of Biosciences, UCL.

Recent articles on Gender and Science:

Sumner S. & Pettorelli N. 2021 Changing the academic system for women in science. In: Womanthology.

Sumner (2015) Four steps to killing off sexism in science. The Guardian Higher Education, September 2015

Pettorelli & Sumner (2015) Opportunity knocks for the Tories to boost gender equality in science. The Conversation, May 2015

Pettorelli & Sumner (2014) Women scientists take to their soapboxes on London’s South bank. The Guardian, 27th June

Sumner, S. & Pettorelli, N. (2013). Women in Science: Changing the game for women in science: it’s not a one-stop-shop. The Independent

Pettorelli, N. & Sumner, S. (2013). On a soapbox for women in science. The Guardian

Sumner, S. (2013). Breaking the taboo: advice that could help retain women in science. Soapbox Science Blog.

Sumner, S. & Pettorelli, N. (2013). Soapbox Science: Bringing Science to the Streets. British Ecology Society Bulletin.

Pettorelli, N., Else, L. & Sumner, S. (2012). Empowering Men to Balance the Gender Gap in Science. Science.

Sumner, S. & Pettorelli, N. (2012). Top Recommendations from Top Women in Science. Nature.

Pettorelli, N. & Sumner, S. (2012). Plug the leaky career pipes for women by challenging social norms. The Independent.

Sumner, S. & Pettorelli, N. (2011). The high cost of being a woman. New Scientist (UK), pp. 26-27.

Sumner, S. & Pettorelli, N. (2011). Women in Science: Getting women to stay in the field. The Independent.

Pettorelli, N. & Sumner, S. (2011). Conservation of an endangered species: the female scientist. Guardian Higher Education.

Media Interest: