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Team:UCL PG/Social
From 2013.igem.org
In the quest of finding a top cell sorter machine to carry out high-throughput screening in our directed evolution experiment, we met Arnold Richard Pizzey. He is an electronic, mechanic and cell sorter expert in UCL Cancer Institute. We are deeply impressed by his works, especially by his latest innovation, an advanced cell sorter prototype which can potentially sort thousands and thousands of mutants every few hours. We are going to test out the prototype with our iGEM project!
Further conversation with Arnold had opened up our mind of the detailed mechanistic charge powered sorting machines. His feedback and insights laid down the foundation of the evolution protocol we are trying to establish.
Maunel Wolf is a German Artist and Product-designer interested and present in wide range of crafts, using various methods and materials. If one had to choose two words that describe the style of his portfolio, they would need to be: Dynamic and Powerful! His campaigns and various artistic projects, range from high definition art work and classic drawings to furniture and clothing-designs. Having won various awards and prices for his artistic output, Manuel can be regarded as a talented uprising artist with outstanding sense for combination of style and material.
Image of initial drawing for iGEM poster: People manipulating mKeima.
Manuel’s CV shows that he always has been interested in arts and crafts as well as science. ‘Interest’ is one of the key factors to his work he said: “I am exploring the world. If I see something of interest to me, I want it to make it readily accessible to others. I want them to be interested… To me, my art is the converter-tool needed to translate outstanding research to the public. This is the first step to get a greater public response.”
We recently had a chat via Skype with the Germany based multitalented artist, discussing the possibility of working together in an attempt to initially get the public interested and, in a long term, involved in science based research. His approach is the obvious one: “We produce art and make it public”.
Engaging with the public via this straight forward approach inspired us to be more optimistic about the link between science and public awareness and engagement. Manuel agreed to work with team SPECTRA, because: “Cancer is such a devastating development within the body. Raising awareness is very important. I like aspects of competitions like iGEM, especially that it shows research from a different point of view – more accessible, like I try to do within my art.”
This is what we should aim for: Make our work more accessible to others!
The conversation with Manuel was inspiring and got us a new collaborator for the world of arts. We am sure that the powerful and dynamic style Manuel produces with his art will help us being recognized by more people – interest them – inspire them.
