King's College London

The four-day summer school, which ran from the 8^th to the 11^th July and now in its fourth year, saw a new approach focused on the exploration of interdisciplinary approaches, with students delving into neuroscience research through a creative lens. This year’s programme involved a wide range of interactive workshops including lab visits, reflective sessions, neuroanatomy demonstrations, making, poetry and interactions with neuroscience researchers. Using inspiration gained from these activities students worked together on their Co-Lab creative project presented at a public showcase at the Science Gallery London.

The afternoon began with an introduction from Dr Leigh Wilson, Programme Director of Dev Neuro Academy (DNA) CREATE and Public Engagement Manager at the Centre for Developmental Neurobiology and the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, who outlined the programme’s origins, objectives and activities that had taken place throughout the week. The students were then invited to give presentations on the Co-Lab projects that they had been assigned, each based on one of the four key areas of Developmental Neurobiology: Behaviour and Interaction; Branching and Patterning; Growth, Maintenance and Decay; and Signals.

Presentations were delivered in the style of flash talks without the use of slides or visual aids. Instead, the students were inventive with their delivery; using poetry to tell the story of the birth of a neuron or incorporating role-play to help illustrate a scientific concept.

Audience members were then invited to take a look at the creative projects on display and test out some of the interactive exhibits. One project entitled “Music of the Mind” explored branching and patterning in the brain. Participants were invited to listen to a piece of music through a headset and draw an image in response. Numerous drawings were then incorporated onto a collaborative visual display. The students were particularly intrigued by how our brains can convert auditory rhythms and patterns into emotions, the same way that music affects neural activity of the brain. Other exhibits included an interactive art piece entitled “Recall and Remove” which used a recreation of the stacking game Jenga to show how memory is affected by trauma and pressure, whilst other creative displays explored the importance of physical touch in visual impairment and the use of glowing lights to reflect the function of neural systems.

To conclude the afternoon, the team hosted a Q&A panel with a selection of students. A variety of questions were put forward asking what the students had found most interesting during the programme, the risks they took, the challenges they faced, and what skills they had learnt to carry into the future. Upon reflecting on his experience on the programme, Federico commented, “I really connected to being able to see myself in fifteen years.” Fellow student, Vlada, commented, “… it wasn’t just a creative project, it was a learning journey – we had to dig deep”.

Many students felt that DNA CREATE helped them understand how science and art are connected and how both disciplines work together in meaningful ways. Furthermore, the possibility that art can act as a platform to help eliminate social stigma, as noted by Jeremiah, “… where there is decay there will always be growth… trying to remove the negative stigma around decay was part of our project aims”.

The programme was brought to an end with closing remarks from Dr Leigh Wilson. Thanks were given to the many contributors who helped facilitate DNA CREATE including the core organisational team, artists, neuroscience researchers, interns, professional services staff, DNA champions (students from last year) and DNA alumni.

By bringing together science and creativity, DNA CREATE offers an inclusive space to ignite curiosity and encourage fresh perspectives on the interplay between neuroscience and creative practice. Moreover, the programme fosters a supportive peer network and cultivates a sense of belonging, welcoming students into the higher education research environment and setting the scene for the next generation of creative neuroscientists.

The ongoing success of the programme is a clear reflection of the students’ enthusiasm and dedication, and the exceptional work of the DNA CREATE team. We look forward to seeing what next year brings!

Dev Neuro Academy CREATE is hosted by the Centre for Developmental Neurobiology and the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders within the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience.

Photography kindly provided by Charlie Murphy and the DNA CREATE team.