Read on to hear Anabelle’s personal reflections of a transformative workshop that fused science and creativity, and how that sparked an understanding that a career in science can harmoniously coexist with her creative nature.
Earlier this year, thanks to Suffolk young carers, I was invited to participate in a creative writing workshop with the BioImage Archive which was lead by author, Isabel Thomas.
Firstly, there were the two sessions via teams. The first session comprised of talking about what we already knew about cells and trying to plan a poem. Next session, we made some paintings by splodging paint onto paper and folding them in half. We then attempted to interpret our individual attempts and doodled on them once they had dried, in a vain attempt to make them resemble something! After that, we moved onto the writing phase. We made word banks using images of cells which were provided to inspire us to write a haiku. It was fun and fascinating to see what the others and I came up with.
Then came the in-person session. I was very nervous about meeting the other children (and important scientists) that I had only seen on the (somewhat dodgy) computer screen. Everyone was really nice. We made cubes that described us that we later used to create a poem and some people asked the scientists questions, but I was too shy. Lunch was nice with sandwiches, and everyone was offered a cookie. Even though I spend most of the time just listening to the others chatting and discussing interests, regardless of whether or not they were related, I found it very interesting as well as informative. Then came the dreaded hour when I had to read out my work (a poem about our identity, from our personality down to our cells); it was weird and not the best by far but that wasn’t the point. I’d had a very fun afternoon.
Overall, I loved this experience as it made me realise that I didn’t have to give up my creative nature to pursue a career in science.
Building Blocks
Love
Sister,
My parents.
Learning is now,
Helping people, care.
Analysist and,
Scientist plus mathematics.
Adventurous insane person,
Restless reader, creatively fun.
Recycling system working
Relentlessly, never stopping,
Differentiation is
Natures diverse
Communities
Aiding me
To live
Life
Editor notes:
A Haiku is a form of traditional Japanese poetry that is known for its simplicity and depth. Haikus often focus on nature, the seasons, or moments of beauty, and they aim to evoke emotions or insights through their concise language. The structure and thematic elements of haiku encourage poets to express their thoughts and observations in a succinct and impactful way.
Anabelle is a year 11 student from Suffolk who is currently working towards a bronze award. Her main interests are science, maths, and medicine and she aspires to work in medicine related research.
