The Edinburgh festivals are now well underway in Scotland’s capital city. I love this time of year, and try to fit in as many shows as possible around my work commitments. One week into the Fringe I have already seen ten shows, and I have plenty of tickets for several more between now and 25th August. I am particularly looking forward to two performances, both of which are highly relevant to my work at Edinburgh Napier University.

In the first my Edinburgh Napier colleague, and Edinburgh ScienceGrrl chapter member, Dr Clare Taylor will be addressing the question of why women are deserting careers in science. With her co-presenters Dr Pam Cameron (NovoScience) and Susan Morrison (stand-up comedian), Clare will consider possible reasons why women leave science, debate whether it’s worth doing anything about this, and – if so – highlight possible strategies to bring about change.

Women! Science is not for you! is part of the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas, organised by the Beltane Public Engagement Network and produced by Fair Pley. It takes place on Thursday 14th August 15:40-16:40 at The Stand in the Square (venue 372) in St Andrew Square. Tickets are £5 and can be bought from the main Fringe online box office, from The Stand online box office or in person at the Fringe box office on the High Street, or at the venue.

Frances Ryan presenting on online reputation

The second performance is a solo show by my PhD student Frances Ryan. Frances will be discussing the role that information plays in determining an individual’s online reputation. She will draw on the work that she is undertaking for her doctoral research (further details of which can be found on Frances’ PhD blog justaphd.com). Areas of focus will include how people determine the information that they share with (or obscure from) others, who ultimately controls information about individuals, and the EU’s Data Protection Regulation which includes “the right to be forgotten”.

Life in a digital fishbowl: managing your reputation online is one of a series of events hosted by Edinburgh Skeptics. It takes place on Monday 18th August, 19:50-20:50 at the Banshee Labyrinth (venue 156), 29-35 Niddry Street. This event is un-ticketed and free, so if you would like to come along to hear Frances’ presentation and join the discussion, please arrive early to guarantee your seat.