Sara Rankin is Professor of Leukocyte and Stem Cell Biology at the National Heart and Lung Institute. She is also the Institute lead for outreach and is involved in a variety of public engagement and outreach activities. She recruited Ellen Dowell, a creative producer of science engagement, to join her team and establish their brand, The Curious Act.
Together with staff and students from across the NHLI they have produced a number of creative public engagement events, including the exciting "Heart and Lung Repair Shop" and "The Heart and Lung Covenience Store". Sara and Ellen talk to Vicky Brightman about their creative approach to public engagement and the success of their science pop-up shops.
Listen to Sara and Ellen's story.
Hear more about The Curious Act and their engagement activities.
Exploring ideas with the NHLI
Special Delivery for the Lungs by Nura Mohamed
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a disease affecting the lungs. Current drugs cause side effects, however research is exploring the use of tiny machines called nanoparticles to deliver the drugs and prevent side effects. Discover more about these tiny machines and how they work.
Special Delivery for the Lungs by Nura Mohamed
About arterial hypertension in the lungs and the new research being developed to help deliver drugs.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a disease affecting the lungs. Current drugs cause side effects, however research is exploring the use of tiny machines called nanoparticles to deliver the drugs and prevent side effects. Discover more about these tiny machines and how they work.
The Heart and Lung Convenience Store
About the pop-up science shop in Hammersmith.
Highlights film from The Heart and Lung Convenience Store, a pop-up science shop that opened in Hammersmith's Kings Mall from 19th October - 1st November 2015 as a science engagement activity with the National Heart and Lung Institute.
Who's Living in Your Lungs?
Learn from scientists who are researching microbes in the lungs.
In this shop demo, join scientists researching microbes in the lungs and discover how different species of bacteria are identified using DNA extracted from throat samples.
Professor Sara Rankin leads an engagement workshop with members of the public at the pop-up shop.
NHLI scientists collaborated with designers to develop the content for the shop, including interactive exhibits, activities and installations.
Members of the public were given the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the tools of the trade.
The team considered what a repair shop for the heart and lungs might look like, including what products and services it would sell.
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