Our name is complicated but our mission is simple: to understand how almost every aspect of biology is controlled by “molecular signals”, which can lead to disease when they go wrong. Our findings should help the development of new medicines, and we are very keen to share our work with the wider world. Our scientists speak at science festivals, science cafes, charity conferences and open events at the University of Dundee. We also work closely with local school pupils and are currently building a new partnership with patients and carers who are affected by Parkinson’s disease.
Our scientists, students and support staff have a long-standing partnership with Baldragon Academy that aims to make science, scientists and careers in science accessible, fun and relevant to all pupils.
To date, this has translated into:
We are also exploring ways to support Baldragon Academy’s “Alternative Curriculum” with the school’s Support for Learning Team to engage pupils with the science of everyday life through a skill sharing project.
We are working with the charity Parkinson’s UK, as well as with local patients and carers, to establish a Parkinson’s Research Interest Group in Tayside. We look forward to discussing our findings with the group and to hearing what they think about our work.
In partnership with the Dundee Contemporary Arts center, the School of Life Sciences aims to help schoolchildren and teachers develop stop motion animation skills, to create animated films about aspects of biology. The Animating Science project aims to make science learning more fun by deepening the pupils’ engagement. Dr. Ian Ganley from the MRC PPU is the University of Dundee’s academic lead.
If you would like to know more about any of our public engagement projects please contact our Communications and Public Engagement Advisor by email on s.patrick@dundee.ac.uk