Yorkshire schoolchildren discover hidden worlds
Posted on 7 June 2004
The project, called 'Hidden Worlds-Secret Lives', is being taken into schools in the Scarborough/Selby/Harrogate area by CNAP, a research centre based at the University of York. Microscopes are taken into the school to show the children the detail and complexity of tiny organisms. By showing children these worlds, their curiosity about the world and the structure of living things is stimulated.
The project, which is part-funded by Yorkshire Forward, brings together science and art, as the children, led by a local artist, produce artwork based on what they have seen under the microscope. This could be in the form of painting, creative writing, clay modelling or dance.
Professor Dianna Bowles, CNAP's Director, said: "The children are able to communicate scientific information very effectively through art, the artwork produced to date is excellent and offers a fascinating insight into children's perception of science."
The images that the children see under the microscope are varied, from bed-bugs to bacteria. The children may have heard of many of the specimens in their everyday lives, but have never realised the complexity of them.
There are around 15 schools in the area taking part in the project, with a total of 55 schools in the Yorkshire region being visited up to July 2005. Participation in the project is free of charge and it is closely linked to the National Curriculum's Key Stage 2. Teacher training is also provided.
As well as visiting schools, the 'Hidden Worlds-Secret Lives' project can often be found visiting libraries and community centres in the region, running drop-in sessions for adults and children.
Notes to editors:
- CNAP is a bioscience research centre in the Department of Biology at the University of York. It aims to solve problems for industry, society and the environment through its research. One of CNAP's central objectives is to increase public engagement with bioscience through a programme of high quality outreach activities. These activities are funded through external grants and from core funding to CNAP from the Garfield Weston Foundation. Full details of all outreach activities can be found on www.understandingbiology.org
- The Hidden Worlds - Secret Lives project is part-funded by Yorkshire Forward for a period of 18 months and is part of a larger programme for development of their Bioscience Cluster through bio-education. Funding for the bio-education development programme was been awarded to Professor Dianna Bowles OBE, CNAP Director and Weston Chair of Biochemistry. For further information on the Hidden Worlds - Secret Lives project please contact Nicola Smith, CNAP's Schools Officer (email: ns14@york.ac.uk, telephone 01904 328769/ 07717 878886).
- For further information on the work of the Regional Development Agency please visit the website www.yorkshire-forward.com The bioscience cluster in Yorkshire and Humber is one of the most exciting in the UK with a strong bioscience knowledge base, with seven specific Centres of Research Excellence. There is an emerging community of entrepreneurial ventures, favourable quality of life and important related industries, such as medical devices and CROs. The biosciences community within the region, is projected to grow by some 10 per cent over the next five years. Built on a foundation of world-leading academic strengths within the region's nine universities and dedicated research Centres of Excellence, Yorkshire and Humber has evolved into a dynamic multidisciplinary 'cluster' for life- and bioscience research and industry. Already employing over 10,000 personnel, the industry benefits from an estimated annual private sector bioscience R&D spend of over £213 million, and ploughs over 39 per cent of its annual turnover back into research. Home to a rapidly developing core biotech and mature pharma industry, including the multinational companies Johnson and Johnson, Smith & Nephew and Galileo Pharmaceuticals, the region's major commercial strengths lie in the fields of drug discovery and development, tissue engineering/biomaterials, plant biotechnology and contract research.