IoPPN Research Culture Insights: Alice Thomson

Neuroscience PhD students take Green Man Festival… Again!

Last August, the Green Man Festival was held in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. Known for its vibrant mix of music, comedy, and family-friendly learning activities, the festival also hosts Einstein’s Garden, a dedicated science engagement area. Designed to engage audiences of all ages, backgrounds, and interests, Einstein’s Garden offers an exciting mix of stalls, talks, performances and workshops. These explore cutting edge research from neuroscience to agriculture, all with a strong focus on interactive and fun learning.

The King's College London Green Man team consisted of six neuroscience PhD researchers, each individually exploring widely different and unique research questions. Despite our diverse focus, we are all driven by the common goal of wanting to understand brain development, and how neurodiverse individuals may experience the world differently due to differences in brain development.

Our research spans many different scales, from investigating the activity of single neurons to exploring whole human brain structure, and we aimed to explore this at Green Man. As a female-lead team, we also aimed to inspire and encourage the next generation of females in research, by demonstrating the creativity and curiosity that a research career fosters.

The Brave Little Neuron Takes Centre Stage

One of the events hosted by the CDN team was their performance of "The Brave Little Neuron". This science-themed pantomime captivated the audience with the story of a curious young girl named Daisy, who wonders why she and her friends have different talents, likes, and personalities. To find answers, Daisy visits her neighbour Jane, a neuroscientist. Jane explains to her that to understand these differences, Daisy must first grasp how her brain developed uniquely to others.

Jane tells Daisy a story of brain development, her narrative follows two immature pyramidal neurons, Nessa and Neil, on their journey to find and join their fated network in the brain. As these neurons travel through the brain, the audience learns about the importance of neurons making connections via structures called synapses, and how these connections form networks that enable complex thinking and behaviour. The pantomime also emphasises that everyone’s brain and neural networks are different, influencing how each person interacts with the world. This makes us all beautifully different.

One festivalgoer summed up our performance: “Your neurons must have really been firing this year, this was the best performance yet, I’ve learnt so much”.

Through this engaging approach, the CDN team communicate complex neuroscience concepts in a way that is accessible and enjoyable for all ages.

Nature to Neuroscience: Hands-On Workshop

In addition to the performance, the CDN team hosted a workshop titled “Nature to Neuroscience – Connections are Key”. This workshop aimed to communicate the relevance of neuroscience and neuroscience techniques to the wider public, making complex neuroscience principles accessible and engaging for everyone. The hands-on activities were a hit with both children and adults, sparking conversations and curiosity about the brain and its functions.

A CDN PhD student who was part of the team reflected: “My key take-away from this experience were the interactions during the workshop with children who had a real love of science and were so excited to learn something about how we perform research in a lab. I was explaining how we can use fluorescent proteins to label different cells in the brain and it was great to see the kids understand this concept and how it is a useful tool for scientists.”

Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists and the Public Inspiring Us!

Aiming to inspire the next generation, our time at Green Man created an open space for learning, discussion, and inspiration, showing young festivalgoers that science is not only important but also fun and accessible.

The insightful discussions and questions from festivalgoers were equally inspiring for the CDN Green Man team. The festival provided an invaluable opportunity to engage with individuals who have direct, personal experiences of neurodevelopmental conditions, the focus of much of our research. It was profoundly meaningful to share our work, learn about their perspectives on crucial research areas, and understand what truly matters. This experience was a powerful reminder that for research to be impactful, public engagement is essential and enriches the research process. It’s extremely fun too!

We reached out to Leigh Wilson, the CDN’s Public Engagement Manager, for advice on getting involved. If you're keen on joining student led public engagement initiatives, remember that there are many ways to participate, through presentations, blogs, discussions, and more. Start by exploring available opportunities and engaging with projects across different formats (there’s always room for another great mind!).

As you gain confidence and experience, you might even consider applying for funding to launch your own initiatives. King’s College London’s Public Engagement Small Grant Scheme is designed for just that! As a PhD student, this is the perfect time to dive into public engagement. Green Man was a great opportunity for PhD students to collaborate, share experiences, and connect in an inspiring setting, fostering meaningful friendships. Such experiences not only contribute to personal growth during your PhD but to valuable collaborations with fellow researchers. Be bold, connect with people, and make an impact!

Looking Forward

Green Man 2024 was an amazing opportunity for the CDN team to share their research with the public in a unique and engaging way. The festival provided a perfect setting for public engagement, allowing the team to connect with a broader audience and gain new perspectives on their work. It was a chance to improve communication skills, inspire future scientists, and showcase the importance and relevance of neuroscience research.

The CDN Green Man team would like to thank the CDN for their funding support, which made this unforgettable experience possible.

This blog is part of a ongoing series looking at research culture at IoPPN. If you would be interested in contributing, please contact aneita.pringle@kcl.ac.uk.