Centre for Inflammation Research

Public Engagement News - 2018

Read about our 2018 public events and activities

World Pneumonia Day

A globe in the shape of a pair of lungs, and the text "World Pneumonia Day"
November 2018: Teaching the public about infections, the immune system and antibiotics through fun hands-on activities.

Supercytes Teacher Training in Selkirk

Teachers sat around the table playing the Supercytes card game
November 2018: CIR researchers ran an interactive workshop to train Borders Biology teachers how to use our “Supercytes” game-based schools’ resource, focused on immunology and inflammation.

Phoebe wins second place for her Three Minute Thesis

Phoebe Kirkwood 3MT slide
November 2018: Phoebe Kirkwood from CIR has been awarded second prize in the prestigious international Universitas 21 3 Minute Thesis competition.

Vote for Phoebe!

Phoebe Kirkwood presents her three minute thesis with a presentation
October 2018: The final section of the 3MT competition sees Phoebe up for a public vote.

PhD student shortlisted for Max Perutz Science Writing Award

September 2018: EPSRC Proteus IRC / OPTIMA PhD student Helen Parker has been shortlisted for a prestigious writing prize.

Science Insights 2018 – Blog #3

Hands adjust a specimen under a microscope
Jessica O'Loughlin is from Stornoway on the Western Isles, and was part of the strand who had focused sessions at the Little France and Central campuses.

Science Insights 2018 – Blog #2

Pupil uses a pippette
Lauren McCreadie is from St Margarets High School (North Lanarkshire), and was part of the strand who had focused sessions at the Western General Hopsital and Easter Bush campuses.

Science Insights 2018 – Blog #1

Pupils visit the zebra fish facility
Rachel Kelsey is from Linlithgow Academy, and was part of the strand who had focused sessions at the Western General Hospital and Easter Bush campuses.

Science Insights 2018

A group of pupils who took part in Science Insights
July 2018: Science Insights is an exciting work experience programme designed to give 5th year high school pupils a real insight into the work and life of research scientists. 

Art meets science at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

The Cheyne Gang choir and students from the University of Edinburgh
August 2018: On 21-22 August 2018, EPSRC Proteus IRC took part in the Edinburgh International Book Festival for the second year running, under the title 'Creativity for Breathing' and supported by the Wellcome Trust.

CIR researchers appear on Channel 4's 'Food Unwrapped' TV show

A cup of coffee with a foam heart
July 2018: Profs Jonathan Fallowfield and Peter Hayes appeared on a Channel 4 show to talk about coffee and liver health.

Proteus Public Engagement Strategist receives a PgCert in Academic Practice

A member of the public "diagnoses" lung disease with a dummy torso and an endoscope.
July 2018: Dr Helen Szoor-McElhinney, Public Engagement Strategist for the CIR-based Proteus collaboration, has earned a Postgraduate Certificate.

MRC's zone for "I'm a Scientist: Get me out of here!" is a success

Logo for I'm a Scientist: Get me out of here
June 2018: Prof Damian Mole and PhD student Eoghan Forde tackled an array of questions during this year's "I'm a Scientist: Get me out of here!" online event.

CIR welcomes Youth Grand Challenges prize winners

Youth Grand Challenges logo
July 2018: Runners-up of this year's Youth Grand Challenges STEM competition paid a visit to CIR as part of their prize.

MRC CIR 2018 Trainee award for "Excellence in Public Engagement"

Headshot of PhD student Lisa Kelly
June 2018: The 2018 trainee award for "Excellence in Public Engagement" was presented to Lisa Kelly at the MRC Centre for Inflammation Research at the University of Edinburgh Away Day on 25th June 2018.

CIR PhD student wins University 'Three Minute Thesis' competition

Phoebe Kirkwood receiving her prize for the three minute thesis competition
June 2018: Phoebe Kirkwood has won the University of Edinburgh's 'Three Minute Thesis' competition, sending her on to the national finals.

MRC Festival of Medical Research 2018: Supercytes Teacher Training

Teachers sit around a table playing the Supercytes card game
June 2018: The MRC CIR ran a free interactive workshop to train teachers how to use our “Supercytes” game-based schools’ resource, focused on immunology & inflammation.

Supercytes Primary School Workshop

May 2018: Donald J. Davidson ran a Supercytes primary school workshop, trialling adaptations to the Supercytes resource designed to help younger learners.

MRC CIR takes part in the Edinburgh International Science Festival

Two children hold a net with plastic balls inside
April 2018: The MRC CIR participated at the Edinburgh International Science Festival with a brand new Amazing Immunology workshop

Mentoring scheme for Castlebrae High School students

A hand points to a tablet, which some students are learning from.
May 2018: A mentoring scheme between pupils and researchers from across Edinburgh BioQuarter has been set up at Castlebrae Community High School

CIR PhD student through to the "Three Minute Thesis" competition final

Phoebe Kirkwood presents her three minute thesis with a presentation
April 2018: PhD student Phoebe Kirkwood will compete in the University of Edinburgh's TMT final.

CIR researcher teams up with the Science Ceilidh

A group of ceilidh dancers in a local community hall, posing with the ceilidh band in the background.
April 2018: PhD student Francesco Vacca helps explain scientific concepts using traditional Scottish ceilidh dancing!

Amazing Immunology School Workshop

Calum Bain explains about Denny and the T Team to a classroom
March 2018: 'Amazing Immunology' workshop goes on tour!

Edinburgh International Science Festival 2018: Careers Hive

Edinburgh International Science Festival logo
March 2018: CIR researchers take part in the Careers Hive 2018, part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

Public Engagement Fellowship for Donald J. Davidson

Headshot of Dr Donald J Davidson, Principal Investigator at the Centre for Inflammation Research
February 2018: The MRC CIR’s Academic Lead for Public Engagement & Communication has been awarded a Beltane Public Engagement Fellowship in Infectious Diseases.

Public Lecture: "Fat Lot of Good! Appendicitis & the Benefits of Specialised Fat Tissue."

Professor Damien Mole uses two girls in a demonstration inside a lecture theatre.
January 2018: Prof Damien Mole and Dr Cecile Benezech gave a  public talk as part of the "Let’s talk about health" public lecture series run by the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine.