Dundee Iimaging Competition Inspires Arts and Science Discovery

The Visions of Discovery exhibition, featuring images that reflect ground-breaking biomedical research being undertaken at the University of Dundee, travelled to venues in London and Cambridge during summer. Made up of winning images from a competition open to research staff and postgraduate students in the College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing and the College of Life Sciences, the resultant awe-inspiring display showcased  advances in molecular and cellular biology as well as novel clinical applications.

The exhibition went on show at the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention from August 14th at the ExCel London Exhibition and Conference Centre in London’s Docklands, a huge international annual gathering where Sci-Fi fans, writers, artists, and scientists come together for a celebration of science and literature. This year’s Convention was expected to attract as many as 8000 attendees over five days.

Speaking at the event Dr Jenny Woof, exhibition organiser and Reader in Immunology in the Division of Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing said:  “This international Convention provides an excellent opportunity to present our biomedical research to many members of the wider public in an accessible and appealing format, The Visions of Discovery images provide insights into important medical and biological issues as well as being beautiful in their own right.” The image collection from Dundee was shown alongside science displays from several Universities as well as art installations reflecting a scientific theme.

At the close of the Convention, the exhibition transferred  to the ArtCell Gallery within the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute at the University of Cambridge. The ArtCell Gallery is run by Stefanie Reichelt, a researcher and photographer whoalso runs the Light Microscopy Laboratory at the Institute; Stefanie aims to bring art that reflects scientific research into the Institute, for the mutual benefit of researchers, hospital patients and the general public.