Welcome

Grinning like cat with a dairy

Emma is an honest-to-goodness robot scientist who, when she’s not developing intelligent systems, writes for Forbes, the FT and Global Business Magazine. She also frequently appears on Sky News and the BBC talking about the future of artificial intelligence and robotics.

Her interest in neuroscience led to her first popular science book: Swearing is Good for You: The Amazing Science of Bad Language (Profile (UK), W. W. Norton (USA), Anansi (Canada) November 2017).

Her pub, conference and convention talks lead to packed houses and requests for more. Emma is available for personal appearances, television, internet, and radio work.

Emma’s literary agent is Carrie Plitt at Felicity Brian associates.

 

If you’d like to get in touch, use the contact form below

Swearing is Good for You

Swearing is Good for You is my first popular science book, which looks at the science of swearing. I argue (using peer reviewed science!) that swearing is both big and clever. It’s likely to have been one of the first forms of language that we developed and, since then, it’s been helping us to deal with pain, work together, manage our emotions and improve our minds.

9781781255773_1

Available now in the UK and Australia, and on preorder in the US and Canada.

Speaking

Forthcoming Events

 

Thursday 7th June 2018: Cheltenham Science Festival
Saturday 16th June 2018: Buckingham Science Festival
Sunday 23rd September 2018: New Scientist Live
Friday 26th October 2018: Norwich Science Festival
November 2018: Tata International Literary Festival, Mumbai

 

Highlights of Recent Events

NerdNite London, 16th May

Pint of Science, 14th May

White Heat – Brighton Science Festival, Saturday 17th February 2pm

Good and Bad Language (with Sam Leith) Friday 16th March, 6pm

Edinburgh International Science Festival, Thursday April 5th, 5:30pm

Royal Institution – 8th February 2018

Talks at Google (Guest Staring Damien)

Stylist Live! – 12th November 2017

Science Oxford – 16th November 2017

Science Museum Lates – 25th October 2017. Two full houses for the link between swearing, gaming, and pain.

Nineworlds convention: the neuroscience of swearing, and artificial intelligence 

A/W 2013 – Commentator on Sky News – robotics, autonomous vehicles, and the impact of AI on the economy.

May 2013 – BBC Four Thought on the benefits of swearing.

Spring 2013 – BBC Academy Expert Women trainee.  (Audition tapes one and two)

May 2012: Cosy Science. Alan Turing: the Enigma of Intelligence, Talk & Q&A

Praise for Emma’s Public Speaking: “Emma Byrne has the unique ability to make science and the lives of scientists accessible to everyone. Making people cry during her description of Alan Turing’s death and explaining Genetic Algorithms in an entertaining yet comprehensible way are just two examples of her skills both as a writer and a presenter.” Dr Simone Stumpf, City University

“Emma was very knowledgeable about her subject and made it easy to understand for a science novice like me!”

“Emma’s talk about Alan Turing was perfectly balanced between his troubled life and his ground-breaking work.”

“Emma Byrne gave an engaging and lively talk about Alan Turing and his life. She succeeded in making familiar material seem new, exciting and even moving. She answered audience questions with wit and enthusiasm. Highly recommended. Five stars”

Writing

My journalism experience includes:

My copywriting experience includes work for hire for a number of startups in the medical and financial technology fields.

My science communication activities include work that has been featured on BBC’s Horizon programme, BBC Radio 5 and a number of outlets including the Melbourne Age and the New Scientist.

I am a recipient of a British Science Association Media Fellowship (2008) .

You can see a portfolio of my work here.

Independent booksellers

  • Are you an independent bookseller?
  • Do you stock Swearing is Good for You?
  • Do you think that me signing copies or making an appearance would help rather than hinder your business?

If so use the form below! If I’m travelling through your area[1] I will come and sign/do a talk/wear a sandwich board advertising your shop for half an hour. You guys rule and I want to help any way I can. Even if you’re not in London it’s worth getting in touch. I tend to get about a bit [2].

[1] Snarf
[2] Double snarf!