perspectives
Surrey 2009
contents
perspectives
Gemma Webster (2009 Winner) ......................................4 Helen Atherton ...................................................................5 Jon Bridge ...........................................................................6 Rebecca Broadbent .........................................................7 Duncan Casey ...................................................................8 Caroline Catmur.................................................................9 Laura Dixon ......................................................................10 Tom Doel ...........................................................................11 Robert Ellis .........................................................................12 Adam Elliston ....................................................................13 Ralph Evins ........................................................................14 Susannah Fleming ...........................................................15 Natasha Fox .................................................................... 16 Amy Freund .................................................................. 17 Indryani Ghangrekar ..................................................... 18 Ross Harrington ............................................................... 19 Marion Hogg .................................................................. 20 Joshua Howgego .......................................................... 21 Lyndsay Hughes ............................................................. 22 Nick Humphreys ............................................................. 23 Christopher Jones .......................................................... 24 Carl Lewis ........................................................................ 25 Bethan Lowder ............................................................... 26 Penelope Mason ............................................................ 27 Abby McCormack ......................................................... 28 Kola Mudashiru ............................................................... 29 Alun Newsome ............................................................... 30 Zeenat Noordally ........................................................... 31 Funmi Obembe .............................................................. 32 Susanne Pfeifer ............................................................... 33 Andrew Russell ................................................................ 34 Ian Sandall ...................................................................... 35 Jeremy Springer ............................................................. 36 Radu Sporea .................................................................. 37 Rosamond Watling ....................................................... 38 Karen Weynberg ............................................................ 39
welcome! perspectives: the poster session with a difference
perspectives
perspectives is a poster competition for PhD students and postdocs at the very start of their research careers that challenges them to think about the social implications of their research. The competition is organised by the British Science Association and funded by Research Councils UK.
The aim of the competition is not only to challenge young scientists to communicate complex ideas at the cutting edge of scientific discovery but also to develop their communication skills and gain a real appreciation for the impact that their research could have on society. This year, 36 finalists were selected from over 100 applicants to present their posters at the British Science Festival in Surrey this September. These finalists were visited by a panel of judges including scientists, science writers and communicators who chose a final winner. Every year this task becomes more difficult as the judges comment on the outstanding quality of both the posters and the finalists’ delivery.
Alice Taylor-Gee, Science in Society Manager British Science Association, 2009
WHAT’S IN A LABEL? Helen is an 87 year old lady who lives in a residential care home. What do we know about her? She has late-stage Alzheimer’s disease, she’s hard-of-hearing, she has trouble communicating, she has mobility problems, she can become very confused and she’s incontinent. But what do we know about the real Helen? ‡ 3HRSOH ZLWK GHPHQWLD DUH LQ GDQJHU RI EHLQJ VHHQ DV
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Email your doctor? Subject: Just another routine appointment? Sent: 01/01/2010 01:15 From: anotherpatient@patient.com To: gp@doctor.com Dear Doctor, I have been wondering why I don’t have the option to email you when I have a health concern? I have a busy life, and sometimes it is difficult to find the time to wait in your surgery just because I have athletes foot AGAIN :) Is it because you are worried about the security of emails? Are you concerned about whether it is fair to the patients who don’t have access to email and the internet? Are you worried you will be bombarded with emails about every little thing? Or do you think about the worst case scenario; a patient emailing you about something urgent and life-threatening? If we can figure this out soon we might be able to change health care delivery for lots of people. Or better still reduce the number of times I have to sit in your unexciting waiting room. Best wishes, A. Patient.
These bad bugs cause diarrhoea, sickness – and can kill.
Its a question of wealth as well as health.
At home, we wash, clean and disinfect to prevent disease.
It costs millions each year, when pathogens get into our drinking water, food and bathing waters from the environment.
But these ‘pathogens’ are everywhere: in drinking wells and bathing waters; on campsites; in the countryside; at the park or on the allotment; by the seaside; at muddy, rain-soaked music festivals. Should we try to ‘disinfect’ all these places too?
I’m a soil scientist trying to understand how these microscopic cells move and survive in the environment. My work can help to find better, cheaper ways to protect us from pathogens.
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Breaching the
Walls When you swallow a tablet, how does it know where it’s going?
And how does it get there?
Drugs, vitamins and nutrients don’t come with steering. They move by bouncing randomly through your body in the blood - but most don’t dissolve in water, meaning that the way they do this still isn’t fully understood. They must then cross your cells’ protective membrane, which is a formidable barrier in itself - and one which has evolved specifically to keep out unrecognised chemicals such as drugs. The majority of any drug you take never reaches its target - it is either captured by other tissue or broken down before it reaches its goal. Research into the exact mechanisms that drugs use to travel from one cell to another may mean you can take less to achieve the same effect, making drugs safer and cheaper for everyone.
Images: National Cancer Institute, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, PLoS Med 1(1): e25.
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Images copyright Paul Barker and Lauren Grace
The laser developed to do this has other potential applications: •monitoring the greenhouse gases •missile deflection •Use in medicine However, there maybe other uses unthought of that are not so positive
•It takes existing technology and raises it a level -mobiles phones using this technology will be hack proof -landlines using this technology will no longer need cables
Free space communication is effectively a secure walkie talkie -a laser transmits information to a receiver
3Rs
Come Fly With Me
Don't be fooled by size, this tiny creature is one of the most powerful tools in biological research. Fruit flies are currently being used for research in many areas, from the study of human neurological disorders (e.g.: Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases), to understanding the basics of how the body's structure begins to be formed. My research tries to understand how the body's information store - DNA is used in different ways to carry out different tasks, for example, the formation of eyes and the timekeeping system.
Can fruit flies teach us anything about human diseases? How can studying body development of flies be related to humans? Why is it important to be able to tell the time? How does fruit fly research fit into the goals of the National Centre for the 3Rs?
getting the message RNA
RNA Editing
RNA Editing & Disease
My Research
Genes encoded within DNA are transcribed into RNA messages which can be translated by machinery in the cell to make proteins.
One way the RNA message is processed is called “RNA Editing”, which involves changing (or editing) one of the bases in the RNA message known as Adenosine for another base known as Inosine.
RNA editing has been implicated in several complex neurological disorders including Motor Neuron Disease, Prader-Willi syndrome and ischaemic stroke. Gaining insight into the process of RNA editing is critical to understanding the development of these disorders and hopefully finding therapeutics to treat them.
I am using the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster to study the effects of a loss of RNA editing in the brain. The fruitfly brain is small but relatively complex and capable of learning, memory, and intricate behaviours.
These RNA messages are processed from immature new messages into stable mature messages by various enzymes within the cell. If RNA messages are not processed correctly then the proteins may be made incorrectly, which can have serious consequences for the cell.
The family of proteins that perform the Editing are known as ADARs (Adenosine deaminases that act on RNA) and are found at highest levels in the brain and central nervous system. This RNA editing event can have serious consequences for the cell. The change of base can lead to a different amino acid being included in the protein product, which can alter the properties of the protein. A well characterised example of this occurs in the glutamate receptor in the brain, where RNA editing of one Adenosine in the RNA to Inosine changes the permeability of the receptor to calcium.
Recent research into Motor Neuron Disease has shown that there is a specific loss of RNA editing in diseased neurons compared to normal neurons. Motor Neuron Disease is a progressive, degenerative disease characterised by the death of neurons in the central nervous system. There is currently no cure for this debilitating disease which affects 1-2 people in every 100,000 per year, and little is known about what causes it. RNA editing has been implicated in the development of Prader-Willi syndrome, a congenital disorder with no known cure. Altered levels of RNA editing of the serotonin receptor have been found in the brains of patients suffering from Prader-Willi syndrome.
I work with genetically modified flies that lack the Adar gene, which is responsible for RNA editing. These flies have problems walking and go on to develop age-dependent neurodegeneration, which can be seen as holes in the brain. I am trying use this model to understand which RNA messages are responsible for causing the holes in the brain. By gaining an understanding of the targets of RNA editing, we may be able to provide valuable insights into the disease processes associated with it. The images on this poster were taken as part of my research, they show a whole fly and a dissected fly brain stained with fluorescent antibodies.
Whereas in the 1920s, the fledgling aero industry was shielded from complaints about noise, a well informed, more conscious society has led to design requirements becoming ever more challenging. Complaints, for example, about the noise from Concord led to the U.S. Congress banning it from landing in US airports. As a result, modern aircraft emit only 1% of the sound energy emitted by aircraft designed forty years ago.
Is the airline industry regulated? How do the designers make engines quieter? Will it make holidays cheaper?
How can an engine be greener? Does this affect just the rich and privileged? Could we live with no air transport? While we all care about the environment, transport is a essential part of modern society. Even in the economic downturn, air traffic growth of 5% per year is forecast. While the efficiency of the gas turbine compares favourably with other types of power, (being more efficient per passenger than a car for example) environmental fears mean almost all new designs must reduce the environmental impact of the engine.
Rolls-Royce have designed an engine which aims to be the most environmentally friendly available. Weight is a major environmental performance issue, and reducing weight by introducing light Titanium alloys will allow the engine to attain the level of performance enhancement required to produce such an design. The weight reduction will lead to lower thrust requirements, with reduced fuel burn, emissions and noise.
GREENER
An Evolutionary Phenomenon presents
‘THE FEUD IN THE FIELD’
INSECT vs CROP
‘THE PESKY PEST’
‘THE CHALLENGED’
CT RE I D D ELD N I EA AF U V LI YO OM FR EAR N
The Farmers' Fight – What's at Stake? Insects can severely damage crops, devastating food production and even livelihoods. Chemicals such as insecticides are widely used to control these pests. However, insects can rapidly respond by becoming 'resistant' to insecticides in just over a few generations. This unique example of evolution in action places a financial and practical burden on farmers.
The use of chemicals in agriculture continues to divide opinion and this fight poses as many questions as it packs punches! “How can we use science to overcome insecticide resistance?” “Who is responsible for safety and proper use?” “The global population is rising. We need to grow more food. Does this mean we need to spray more insecticide?” “What are the alternatives to using chemicals?”
A clean comeback for old king coal? The UK has up to17 billion tonnes of indigenous coal reserves (both onshore & offshore) which have the potential to provide cheap, clean, affordable and secure energy supplies for the next 200 years.
Old King Coal-the dirty pollutant of the past
Issues with old dirty coal Groundwater contamination Death trap for miners climate change Damage to landscape Threat to aquatic animals CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants like the one shown.
New King Coal: restoring the monarchy by underground gasification What is Underground Coal Gasification? Process which can safely exploit the energy locked in the coal without mining. In-situ conversion of unmineable coal into combustible product gas. The gas is suitable for industrial heating, power generation or hydrogen and natural gas production. CO2 can be removed from the product seam thus, producing a source of clean energy with minimal greenhouse gas emissions.
Environmental benefits No ash, coal stocking & transportation No mine water recovery Smaller surface footprints at power stations No dirt handling and disposal at mine sites Low risk of surface water pollution Gas suitable for high-efficiency power generation Reduced methane & CO2 emissions CO2 capture and sequestration is facilitated Sources of low-carbon hydrogen for transport and other applications.
L A I B O R C I M I T N – A E C N A T S I S RE ng From The Field i L ear n
How Agriculture May Hold the Key to Antimicrobial Resistance We have all heard of MRSA, drug resistance and the concept of “super-bugs”. Thanks largely to a massive surge in media coverage over the last decade, awareness has been raised and subsequent measures, such as education with regards to compliance and more sparing use of antimicrobials, have been implemented in order to minimise the spread of the infections caused by such microorganisms and the development of antimicrobial resistance. It is hoped that these measures will reduce the number of observed cases and slow the development of resistance in microorganisms. However, these measures do not provide a long-term solution to microbial resistance. Fungi, a group of microorganisms, play a major role in a wide variety of diseases and infections in humans such as Candidiasis and Aspergillosis. It has been observed that some of these fungal infections show increasing resistance to antifungal treatments. This can lead to severe complications within the clinical setting, especially within patients who are immunocompromised due to recent surgery or autoimmune diseases such as HIV.
For many decades it has been known that fungi are responsible for the destruction and loss of large quantities of agricultural crops. Thus, much investment and research has been dedicated to the management of these plant pathogenic fungi. In recent decades the sensitivity of fungi to agrochemical agents has appeared to grow, with increasing quantities of antifungal chemicals required to adequately protect crops.
With the world population currently in a massive growth spurt, expecting to reach 8 billion people by 2030 the worldwide crop yield is falling further and further behind in meeting demand. Western society is also constantly seeking “organic” alternatives to intensive farming practices in order to minimise the impact of pesticide and fertilizer use. While some of the answers which science provides, such as GM crops, are unacceptable within some societies, it is believed that strategies focusing on crop protection and management will help the agricultural community reduce the increasing food shortages. By further understanding the impact and mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance, society may employ new techniques in crop protection which will help to Historically, by studying the mechanisms and increase the global crop yield. development of fungal sensitivity and resistance observed in the agricultural setting, The increasing world population is also living longer, with the average it may be possible to draw inferences on the age estimated at 67 years, thanks largely to the advances made in the methods which may be used to combat the field of medicine. One of the greatest discoveries of this century was that resistant fungi, and possibly even the of antimicrobial agents, with their ability to greatly reduce and eradicate development of resistance and sensitivity the effects of infectious diseases. However, since their first use, itself. As all varieties of fungi show similar microbes have been adapting to these antimicrobials, eventually leading characteristics, it may be possible to apply to the antimicrobial resistance we observe today. This has a massive In order to solve the problems of resistance towards knowledge gained about plant pathogenic impact on “at risk” population groups through increased mortality rates. antifungal agents, to assist in the treatment of these diseases, fungi to enable new medical breakthroughs to Due to the recent high profile nature of antimicrobial resistance, society we must first understand the reasons and methods of this be made to combat resistant fungi in the places a conscious demand on development of medical strategies to resistance. clinical setting.. deal with potentially life-threatening antimicrobial resistance.
Minding the Dangers of the Mind MENTAL HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENTS 1 in 4 people experience mental health problems! Mental health issues are a challenge in every society and touch the lives of millions worldwide.
Traditionally, mental health risk assessments are carried out by clinical experts such as psychiatrists.
However, opportunities to assess risk can be lost in the physical absence of human experts.
Developing mathematical tools based on clinical expertise would facilitate universally accessible and effective risk assessments by clinicians and non clinicians (such as social workers).
Thus positively impacting the quality of life of those affected by mental health issues and society as a whole.
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Most of the electricity we use comes from burning gas or coal. These resources are running out, Burning them causes the release of greenhouse gases - leading to climate change. Can a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution be found?
Nanotechnology …
Harness The Power of the Sun
Have you seen one of these?
But,
current solar cells could only ever convert a third of the energy from the sun into electricity. They are also bulky and €xp€n$ive.
Enter nano-crystals: By using solar cells based on By using different colour crystals more of the sun’s light can be used – and by utilising nanotechnology more energy can be extracted from each ray!
‘nano-crystals’ over half of the sun’s energy could be utilised.
These solar cells will be lighter, flexible and cheaper to make leading to many new uses…