Outreach

Some examples of outreach activities discussing our research in public and in the media are given below.

Rick Maizels helped in the design of (and features in!)  the Wellcome Centre comic on Helminths: The Secret World of Parasitic Worms.

In April 2023, Rick Maizels was interviewed by Grace Ward of New Scientist and is quoted in her article "How Parasites Help Ward Off Obesity"

In November 2022, Rick Maizels was interviewed by Kathryn Hulk for her article "How wriggling, blood-eating parasitic worms alter the body" in the publication Science News Explores.

Rick Maizels took part in the BBC programme "The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry", on Radio 4 in an episode entitled "The Riddle of Red-Eyes and Runny-Noses", on 13 September 2022 :

On 30 September 2022, Rick Maizels was widely quoted in a Dutch-language news article by Karin Postelmans of the Lung Foundation Netherlands about parasites and allergies

Danielle Smyth was part of the Wellcome Centre public engagement team at The Green Man Festival in Wales, attended by 20,000 people in August 2018 - details here.

Rick Maizels joined with Claire Alexander and Lee Innes at the 2018 Edinburgh International Science Festival event entitled Friend or Foe? The Parasites that Live Within Us, chaired by Mark Stephen, on 4 April 2018. 

Members of the Maizels lab Claire Drurey and Gillian Coakley joined the 48th Glasgow Brownies to help them complete their science investigator badge. Activities included making craft parasites, biscuit cells and strawberry DNA extraction.

Claire Drurey joined the Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology Outreach team at MoSSFest, a science festival held at Mugdock country park. She enjoyed talking to members of the public about her parasite research and joining in the critter crafts .

Collaborative Project with Edinburgh College of Art. Fumi Varyani, a PhD student on the Edinburgh Clinical Academic Track programme, worked with students at the Edinburgh College of Art to create 3-D textile sculptures parasites in the gastrointestinal tract.

Kenneth Rainin Foundation Annual Innovations Symposium

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation supports cutting edge research projects that work on diagnosing, treating and curing Inflammatory Bowl Disease.

In San Francisco in July 2015 Rick Maizels, a Foundation Grantee, spoke at the annual symposium that brings together Influential and Collaborative researchers and Innovative and Creative thinkers to work towards the common goal of curing IBD.

Please click on the link below to see a short video from scientists and researchers, including Rick, on why they attend the annual event:

http://krfoundation.org/symposium/

 

BBC Radio Cambridge 'Naked Scientists' radio programme, 8 March 2015
Rick Maizels talked about 'Parasites tricking the immune system' (download audio)

Henry McSorley talked about 'Therapeutic Parasites' (download audio)

 

The Academy of Medical Sciences, March 2015
Chris Johnston talked to Quentin about his Helminth research within the Maizels group (download audio)

 

Cheltenham Science Festival, 8 June 2013
Sold out session on 'Is my immune system normal' (event link)  (PDF flyer)

British Council article, 28 June 2012
Anti Allergy Parasite (PDF download)

Wellcome Trust News, 1 September 2011
Out of Africa: what is an allergen? (article)

Daily Mail, July 2011
Can eating worms banish asthma? (article)

The Naked Scientist BBC, May 2011
Parasites and Allergies (article/podcast)

Der Spiegel, October 2010
(English PDF)or (Deutsch PDF)

The Guardian, May 2010 
Article on helminths (article) (PDF download)

Download low quality version. - right click to download link.

Download high quality version. - right click to download link.

 

 

Janice Murray and Kara Filbey's Outreach Work

Edinburgh Science Festival: Germ Attack, Discover Science 31/3/10

Life Through a Lens @ The Botanic Gardens 10/11/12

Edinburgh Science Festival 28/4/13

Science Communication Conference (SciComm13)  16/5/13

Pathways into Science: Firrhill High School 22/5/13

Beltane AGM : Summerhall Edinburgh 11/6/13

Upcoming

Ashworth Outreach Project