Igniting the Sparkle: Young Researchers Inspiring the Next Generation
Researchers are continually being asked to explain their work and its context in society. There are obvious challenges in
explaining complex research principles to a young audience but children's capacity to assimilate research ideas may
challenge some pre-conceptions and a well presented narrative or explanation may spark a child's interest in a way that
could leave a lifelong fascination with research subjects.
Newcastle Institute for Creative Arts Practice offered the opportunity for researchers who would like to develop their
engagement skills and gain experience of working with young people and creative practitioners. Seven Stories, the National
Centre for Children's Books, invited researchers to work with them in the design and delivery of a 'Big Ideas Event', where
we used children's books and a range of participatory techniques, to engage new audiences in research.
The Big Ideas Event took place in the Seven Stories Artist Attic and engaged 50 children aged between 10 and 12 years old.
There were options for researchers to do presentations to groups of different sizes and there was a video booth at the
event to capture the young people's understanding of the research.
I had the privilege to work with creative practitioners, professional story tellers, and experts in public engagement,
cartoonists, and staff from Seven Stories to develop a narrative structure, cartoons and participatory activities to explain
my research to young people.
I used the book ‘Tuesday’ by David Wiesner in process of trying to deliver the big idea behind my research. The book
helped me intrigue the curiosity and the investigator spirit inside the children.
As a participating researcher, I gained an understanding of audience need around communications and presentation, I
learned new skills in presenting and sharing ideas and most importantly, I developed a greater knowledge of children’s
books and how they can communicate complex ideas to explore the ways in which film and visual art can aid the
dissemination of research.
The children had the opportunity to find out what researchers do and how it relates to the world they know. They learned
about careers in research and whether they want it for themselves throughout enjoying a rich and stimulating event that
expanded their knowledge and insight into academic life and specific fields of research. They were curious and playful and
they immersed in our presentation and were challenged to understand the big Idea behind it.
I was very honoured to take part in this mutual learning experience and I am more confident now when disseminating my
research to new audiences. I am glad that Newcastle University and the Faculty of Medical Sciences gave us this
opportunity to share our research and engage with the public.
Written By: Rihab Gam, Marie Curie ESR Fellow (CellEurope Project), Institute of Cellular Medicine, The Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University
The Big Ideas Event Film and Interviews
credit: Produced Be Seven Stories the
National Centre for Children’s Books,
Commissioned through Newcastle
University NICAP, Film production
Arpeggio Films.
Photographs: ©Damien Whotton
Photography.
Researcher Rihab Gam interacting with the children participating in The Big Ideas Event