Transforming science for young people: Marie Neurath and Isotype books for children

This Follow-on project enhances the value of the original research undertaken in the 'Isotype revisited' project (AHRC AH/E00895/1) by identifying approaches to science communication that will engage young people and the general public.

It aims to create new audiences for the approach to science communication taken by Marie Neurath in her books for children, produced in the 1940s and 1950s. The illustrations in these books, in series such as the 'Wonder world of nature' and 'Wonders of the modern world', were innovative in their approach to the design of complex information.

The project team includes members of the original 'Isotype revisited' group; colleagues at the Institute of Education at Reading and their students; teachers and children in primary schools in Reading; project partners Design Science, a science communication and education agency; and House of Illustration, a gallery in London.

The team will produce innovative and creative worksheets and animated video for primary school science teaching. The resources will include guidelines for teachers about how to produce worksheets using illustrations based on Marie Neurath's explanatory illustrations. Consultation with teachers and teacher educators as part of the design process will ensure that their ideas and needs are taken into account. Pilot schools will be involved in evaluating the effectiveness of the resources to ensure they are relevant and effective.

A curated and designed public exhibition will demonstrate the cultural impact of Marie Neurath's work, in particular raising awareness of her distinctive approach to illustration, using comparison, scale and 'before and after' scenarios, combined with functional use of bold colours. To engage new audiences with this work, this public-facing exhibition at House of Illustration, in summer 2019, will show examples of Marie Neurath's illustration from the children's books, as well as sketches, drawings and correspondence that show the iterative nature of the design process. Design Science will contribute ideas for the contemporary interpretation of the material to engage non-specialist audiences in science. House of Illustration will advise on design and curation of the exhibition, and provide a venue in the cultural quarter at Kings Cross, London.

The non-academic beneficiaries of the 'Isotype revisited' Follow-on project include primary school teachers (including trainees) and their classes; people with interests in illustration, education, design and science communication; and design practitioners. Our enthusiastic project partners Design Science and House of Illustration will also benefit from the project. Design Science will enhance its profile through opportunity to showcase its science communication work to teachers and academics. House of Illustration will benefit from being able to host original material from the Isotype Collection at Reading. They will be recognised as the first gallery to host an exhibition focussed on Marie Neurath's approach to illustration in children's information books. Both partners will benefit from being involved in a project funded by AHRC as it reinforces the value that they can add to research and its impact, and their commitment to it.

We will capture evidence of impact through qualitative and quantitative measures. Our Impact Evaluation Report will detail feedback about the new teaching resources as a result of their use in primary schools, and comments arising from the exhibition. We will ask our project partners to tell us about any benefits (such as new contacts and projects) that have occurred as a result of their engagement with the Follow-on project.

Our project partners are keen to assist in the delivery of the impact of this Follow-on project, and this is reflected in their expertise and in-kind contribution to the project:

Design Science brings expertise in exhibition design, film and graphic design, and is committed to working collaboratively in pursuit of excellence in the contribution that design makes to science communication. Their main contribution to the project is the development of resources for primary school science and to curation and design of the exhibition.

House of Illustration will contribute expertise in curation and design of the exhibition. They have agreed to provide a venue for the exhibition and to provide publicity, technician costs, graphic design materials, framing and conservation, and an opening event.

Support for the project is also provided through the staff and pupils at the primary schools that offer placements to trainee teachers at the Institute of Education, University of Reading.

We aim to deliver impact by
- demonstrating the role that design can play in successful science communication
- reaching new audiences and delivering cultural impact through an exhibition in London of Marie Neurath's books and preparatory work that was the result of working in collaboration with scientists, teachers and children
- benefitting primary school children and teachers through innovative and creative resources for key stage 1 and key stage 2 science, including animated video adaptations of Marie Neurath's work
- reaching new audiences via a web portal on the 'Isotype revisited' web site that will include worksheets and sets of images/explanations from the books that align with national curriculum topics
- writing non-academic papers in design and in education journals (eg Eye magazine and Books for keeps) to reach new audiences and to gauge reactions

We propose to capture information about these anticipated benefits by
- spending time in primary schools to see how teachers and children use the resources, and to gather feedback about their effectiveness. We will work with our pilot primary schools from the Institute of Education at Reading, and provide questionnaires and guidance for capturing feedback from children.
- recording numbers to demonstrate project reach: for example, attendance at the exhibition and public lectures; website visits; downloads; enquiries about the project.