Last Monday the Science Museum hosted a talk about the Longitude Prize: ‘What makes a winner?’
I went along as I’ve been following the news about the prize since the public vote last year, and was very pleased when my choice of research area ended up being the most popular.
The event took place in the ‘Who am I?’ gallery in the Wellcome Wing. Guests were greeted with drinks and a chance to peruse the gallery, before taking their seats for some talks and a discussion panel session.
Steve Cross commends the public's choice of antibiotic resistance as the focus of the #longitudeprize. pic.twitter.com/SZEPlxBUg9
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
First speaker tonight is @RogerHighfield. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
. @RogerHighfield hopes to stimulate the next generation of #longitudeprize entrants.
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
It took a while for Harrison to get his reward for his achievement – @RogerHighfield hopes it won't be the same this time! #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
The #longitudeprize should be a massive, multinational collaborative effort.
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
"Through innovation, collaboration & thinking outside the box…" #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Next speaker is @TamarGhosh. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Aims of the #longitudeprize: pic.twitter.com/FYKNdBkXx5
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
#longitudeprize The test must be: pic.twitter.com/exYW4iHwAu
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Minimal resources required for the diagnostic. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
A hard challenge, but it is meant to be! @TamarGhosh #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Part of the judging team is @wellcometrust Director, @JeremyFarrar. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
First deadline is May 31st, submission dates every 4 months after that. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Panel discussion time! #longitudeprize pic.twitter.com/TOk84vfW4j
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Imran Khan interested in the public engagement aspect of the #longitudeprize. @BritSciAssoc
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Chennai Declaration acknowledged global issue of antimicrobial resistance. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
This isn't the ultimate solution, but a helpful step. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
The beauty of a challenge prize over a grant, is that it allows flexibility & creativity – plus interdisciplinary work. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
AMR causes more deaths than the most dangerous cancers. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Could the 30-minute diagnostic restriction be too restrictive? #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Low cost means considering mass-market, across the globe. Pennies rather than pounds, ideally. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
How ready does the technology have to be to win the #longitudeprize? Needs to have been tested as a prototype, against criteria.
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
How is the #longitudeprize inclusive for modern-day John Harrisons? (People without access to/experience of trials, resources.)
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
The #longitudeprize is very open, particularly to partnerships. Try going down academic routes via collaborations with universities.
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Also prizes at different stages of the competition. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
What are the implications of this diagnostic for patient-doctor relationships, personalised medicine, etc.? #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Important to bring in consumer-oriented industry. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
"Transformational change" are the watchwords for the diagnostic. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Need to find balance between what's common and the mortality/morbidity in choosing what pathogen to test for. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Diagnostic also to help in reliability of deciding not to treat with antibiotics. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
One goal of #longitudeprize is not to waste what antibiotics we have left.
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Need to do large, complex studies when looking at biomarkers & host response. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Challenge question has to be specific enough for someone to win – but not so specific that only 1 group could possibly win. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
#longitudeprize is a global challenge – in the question and in the prize itself.
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Registering = expressing an interest in entering the #longitudeprize. @nesta_uk
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Need to remember that the technology is generic enough to fit into all hospital infrastructures. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Is the committee too large? And are all criteria equal? #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Need to cover as many disciplines as possible, due to collaborative nature of prize. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Trade off between specificity & efficacy of test. All criteria should be considered roughly equal. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
.@innovate_uk also happy to help bring partnerships together. #longitudeprize @nesta_uk
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Help available for start-ups – money from research councils, etc. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Globally, governments looking at appropriate level of antibiotic prescription. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Don't worry about money – get your idea out there! The money will follow a good idea. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
End product not necessarily the be-all and end-all – extra innovation just as important! #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
Perfect opportunity to find answers within junctions between disciplines. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
"Look forward with inspiration." Prof Chris Toumazou. #longitudeprize
— Debbie Gilpin (@deblogscience) March 16, 2015
If you would like to enter the competition, you need to register your interest on the official website.
