Science, Art and Writing (SAW) is a UK-based science education initiative that breaks down traditional barriers between science and the arts. SAW uses themes and images from science as a starting point for scientific experimentation, art and creative writing and in doing so stimulates creativity and scientific curiosity. SAW Showcase is full of stunning science images and the art these images inspired.
In 2008 Professor Anne Osbourn led a series of projects aimed at taking research science from the Norwich Research Park-based John Innes Centre and the Institute of Food Research into schools using SAW as a vehicle. The John Innes Centre and the Institute of Food Research are Institutes of the UK's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, who provided funding for the SAW project.
SAW Showcase is the printed outcome of the projects and illustrates the beauty and originality of what Anne and her team achieved. SAW is a fascinating initiative which results in a positive view of science by young people.
To request a review copy of the book, please contact:
Andrew Chapple
andrew.chapple@bbsrc.ac.uk
01603 251490
Notes to Editors:
A SAW Showcase event was held in 2008, where 15 schools presented their work inspired by the SAW projects. Photos of the event can be viewed here: http://www.ifr.ac.uk/public/SAW0708/default.html
The John Innes Centre, www.jic.ac.uk, is an independent, world-leading research centre in plant and microbial sciences with over 800 staff. JIC is based on Norwich Research Park and carries out high quality fundamental, strategic and applied research to understand how plants and microbes work at the molecular, cellular and genetic levels. The JIC also trains scientists and students, collaborates with many other research laboratories and communicates its science to end-users and the general public.
The mission of the Institute of Food Research (www.ifr.ac.uk) is to undertake international quality scientific research relevant to food and human health and to work in partnership with others to provide underpinning science for consumers, policy makers, the food industry and academia. It is a company limited by guarantee, with charitable status.
The JIC and the IFR are Institutes of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is the UK funding agency for research in the life sciences. Sponsored by Government, BBSRC annually invests around £420 million in a wide range of research that makes a significant contribution to the quality of life for UK citizens and supports a number of important industrial stakeholders including the agriculture, food, chemical, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. BBSRC carries out its mission by funding internationally competitive research, providing training in the biosciences, fostering opportunities for knowledge transfer and innovation and promoting interaction with the public and other stakeholders on issues of scientific interest in universities, centres and institutes.
The Babraham Institute, Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Food Research, John Innes Centre and Rothamsted Research are Institutes of BBSRC. The Institutes conduct long-term, mission-oriented research using specialist facilities. They have strong interactions with industry, Government departments and other end-users of their research.