Outreach

‘MEET THE SCIENTIST’

AT BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK,

THE THINK-TANK SCIENCE MUSEUM,

BIRMINGHAM, 2012

This was an amazing day!

Our entire lab spent a day at the Think Tank Science

Museum in Birmingham, as part of the “Meet the

Scientists” activities organised by the museum, and

celebrating Brain Awareness Week.

We explained people young and old our research: why

study the brain, why work with fruit-flies, how things are

done and the wonders and excitements of science,

research and discovery.

University of Birmingham 2012 Christmas Science Lectures:

‘The 12 experiments of Christmas’

PhD students Simon Bishop and Mei Ann Lim participated in this event organised by our

University, and which involved five post-graduate

students talking about science to 280 Year 7 students

(ages 11 and 12), from several schools in Birmingham.

They engaged children in experiments that demonstrated how neurons work, why they work so fast, and how the digestive system works, to answer Christmas questions, such as “If the elves went on strike, who else could make all the presents?” and “What happens to your mince pies?”

‘BRAINS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES’,

COMMUNITY DAY, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM, 9 June 2013

Our lab presented a display addressed to children and families on using the fruit-fly Drosophila for research, and we also spoke about brain structure and evolution. We had movies and images on computer screens and a plasma screen, a microscope to look at larvae and fly brains, an olfactory test to make larvae crawl under the microscope, and a display about the different brain types across the animals and what they have in common. It was nice seeing children go home with plasticine models of the fruit-fly brain!

‘FROM TINY FRUIT-FLIES TO GREAT DISCOVERIES’

COMMUNITY DAY, BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2014

Together with our friends, the other fly-labs in the School of Biosciences, of Saverio Brogna, Yun Fan and Matthias Soller, we presented an exhibit at the British Science Festival. We had displays with microscopes, roller banner posters, models to look, hold and explore, and a video we purposely made, on a plasma screen. We spoke about why we use fruit-flies in research,and how the fruit-fly is enabling us to address questions into how cell number is regulated in development and regeneration, how genes are expressed and translated, how the brain is made and works. We also spoke about how when these processes fails they lead to disease, and how understanding them is essential to tackle cancer, regeneration and repair, and brain disease.

BRITISH SCIENCE FESTIVAL,

BIRMINGHAM LIBRARY, 6 SEPTEMBER 2014

PUBLIC EVENTS: FESTIVALS AND OPEN DAYS

OPEN DAYS

Every year, we participate in our University of Birmingham Open Days. With roller banner posters, plasma screen videos of life in the lab and science using the fruit-fly Drosophila, and we bring displays of microscopes, and fruit-flies. Prospective students can look at the flies, and ask questions about teaching and learning, and also about what it is like to do final year project in the lab, the opportunities for summer placement. And most importantly, the thrill, excitement and endless rewards of life in science!

School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham

Every year!

‘FROM TINY FRUIT-FLIES TO GREAT DISCOVERIES’

COMMUNITY DAY, BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY, 11 JUNE 2017

The Birmingham Drosophila Research Labs presented a display for families about genes, DNA, RNA, cells, yeast, flies and brains. We had microscopes, genetic markers, flies with neurodegeneration, and models of brains. All the children who stopped by went home knowing the distinct modules of the fly brain! and of course, all the important things, like that flies learn, remember, and can get brain disease, so we can use them to study things relevant to us.

BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK MARCH 12-19 2017