Biography:

Dr Amy Sanders works for the Wellcome Trust, a charity funding innovative biomedical research and public engagement, in the UK and internationally.

Amy was responsible for the Trusts programme of activities marking Darwin Year in 2009 and managed a portfolio of projects including; Darwin-inspired experiment kits for every UK school; an animated fly-through of the evolution of life on earth shown on BBC 1 as part of David Attenboroughs Darwin programme; an online drama and games about genetics co-produced with Channel 4 Education; a series of stand-up poetry workshops; and several art exhibitions.

Prior to joining the Wellcome Trust, Amy worked as a project manager and facilitator in stakeholder and community engagement for a consultancy called Dialogue by Design and before that in science education for the British Science Association. Amy has a degree in Zoology, a PhD in Evolutionary Biology and a diploma in Science Communication.

Abstract:

Using multi-media to take Darwin and the contemporary science of evolution to new and larger audiences

To commemorate the Darwin anniversaries in 2009, the Wellcome Trust, the UKs largest charity, commissioned and funded a series of innovative projects aimed at bringing Darwin, evolution and contemporary biology to the widest possible audience. The projects included an animated fly-through of evolution of animal life, based on cutting edge science and narrated by David Attenborough, which reached over 6 million television viewers on BBC 1; online games and widgets featuring viruses, DNA and inheritance which were played 14 million times; and a UK-wide educational initiative which engaged 5-19 year-olds in over 6000 schools in practical science experiments supported by online videos and interactives. A common thread through all of these successful projects was the focus on contemporary science of evolution as opposed to purely historical or biographical treatments of Darwin and his ideas. As well as taking a very modern approach to the content, the projects also made use of a wide range of multi-media and new media approaches, such as social networks, blogs,online video, interactives, animations, games and user-generated content, alongside the more traditional television and print media. This paper discusses the relative successes of such approaches in engaging with a wide and diverse public on the subject of Darwin, evolution and the natural world and reflects on the impacts of the initiatives in the UK.