IDNA:Wizards, Fantasy Families and Genes
November 1st, 2012 by ngedc
Parents in the West Midlands could not complain they were stuck for ideas on what to do to keep the children amused during the October half term break. IDNA: Wizards, Fantasy Families and Genes provided the perfect distraction.
Background
Having successfully launched The NHS National Genetics Education and Development Centre’s (NGEDC) public awareness campaign with “Genome to Patient Care – how Birmingham has helped”; The campaign continued with NGEDC joining forces with the Midlands Regional Genetics Service to raise awareness of the impact of genetics. The IDNA Think Tank collaboration provided the perfect platform to engage, inform, and gather thoughts on genetics.
Funded by The Wellcome Trust, the IDNA exhibition at Think Tank in Birmingham is a partnership between Ecsite-uk, the UK network of science centres and museums, and At-Bristol, a leading science centre in the UK, with scientific support from the Sanger Institute in Cambridge.
Wizards, Fantasy Families and Genes
Parents, grandparents and children as far a field as Cheshire came to explore the role of their genes. Children and their guardians delighted as they created their own fantasy families with Mary Berry and Jessie J just to name two of the well known faces lining up to become a potential family member passing on their genes.
Meet The Scientist
The week long Meet the Scientist activities included Professor Alain Li Wan Po’s Genomic Medicine the Next Frontier, Dr Peter Lunt had a Penny for your Genes, and Peter Marks and his team explored X Men We’re all Mutants.
Kim Reay from West Midlands Regional Genetics Service and her fellow clinical scientists presented Magic Wizards and Genes .
Lauren Jones Clinical Scientist said “It was a great day and what I found pleasantly surprising is that although it was mainly aimed at children, the adults were also very interested and asked lots of questions. It was nice to see that our session engaged everyone, one young adult said that they would have understood genetics much more at school if it had been taught in a more relatable way e.g. like our Harry Potter genetics!”
