Where Art Meets ART: Creative Exploration of Fertility Research and Treatment

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses the use of artworks to improve understanding and advance knowledge of the causes of infertility, and of future prospects for IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:

⚫ Professor Adèle Marston (Director of the Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology), discussing her artwork 'It Takes Two'

⚫ Dr Sarah-Jane Judge (Public Engagement Manager at the Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology), discussing the 'New Horizons in Fertility Research' project

⚫ David Mola (glass artist), discussing his artwork 'The Inner Forest'

⚫ Lucy Munro (Research Assistant at the Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology), discussing her artwork 'The Canvas of Life'

⚫ Dr Gerard Pieper (Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow at the Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology), discussing his artwork 'A Leap through Life'

⚫ Dr Muriel Erent (Laboratory Manager at Warwick Medical School), discussing her artwork 'Genetic Mosaic: Gene Transfer Through Generations'

⚫ Aleksandra Byrska (PhD researcher at Warwick Medical School), discussing her artwork 'The Journey of Life Unfolding'

⚫ Dr Cerys Currie (Postdoctoral Researcher at Warwick Medical School), discussing her artwork 'The Tale of Oocyte Development'

⚫ Professor Geraldine Hartshorne (Scientific Director of the Coventry Centre for Reproductive Medicine), discussing donation of human embryos to research

⚫ Robyn Kerr (poet and hotel manager), reading her poems 'Mother in Waiting' and 'Hope'

How might creation of and engagement with artworks help patients, scientists and artists to communicate with one another, and develop new insights into fertility? The project New Horizons in Fertility Research has been exploring this question in relation to egg cells and early human embryos.

Bespoke artworks created as part of the project are being used to help patients in Edinburgh and Coventry understand, and visualise, aspects of (in)fertility and related research.

Meanwhile, scientists and researchers are seeking to improve their understanding of patient views and experiences – and to find new perspectives on research questions – by developing and discussing artworks as part of this project.

In this discussion, various people involved in the project – including junior and senior researchers, a glass artist, and a laboratory manager – discuss their work and what they have learned, and consider future possibilities.

PET is grateful to New Horizons in Fertility Research (a project based at the University of Edinburgh's Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology and at the University of Warwick, supported by a ScotPEN Wellcome Engagement Award) for supporting this discussion.

PET is also grateful to Jon Nicoll, who created the opening and closing music for its podcast.

Register at https://www.progress.org.uk/events/upcoming-events/ for upcoming PET events.