Harnessing muscle-specific atrophy susceptibility to disentangle the mechanisms of disuse atrophy in human skeletal muscle
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: School of Medicine
Abstract
Skeletal muscles, which surround our bones, are crucial for movement. However, skeletal muscles are also important for the health of our whole body e.g. control of blood sugar (to prevent diabetes). The health of our muscles is directly linked to levels of physical (in)/activity. For example, physical inactivity causes our muscles to shrink in size and, if sustained, is linked to poor health outcomes. In contrast, exercise is linked with improved health. However, there are numerous situations where immobilization is enforced e.g. when recovering from a severe illness or operation, people often remain bedbound for days or even weeks. Similarly, after a fall or fracture, limbs may be immobilized to aid bone healing.
This proposal will investigate the underlying reasons for muscle wasting in response to disuse in humans, and explore the time-course of this (i.e. does most wasting occur in the first few days?) We will recruit 24 volunteers who will be assigned to one of two groups, who will undergo either 5 or 15 days of single leg immobilization (via a leg brace) with a study day before and after. During this study day, we will measure a number of factors relating to skeletal muscle and whole-body health to see how these have been impacted by immobilization (e.g. muscle building/ breaking down rates, muscle blood flow etc.). We will also look at these responses in two different muscles of the leg: one that has been shown to be much more prone to muscle wasting than the other. The idea behind this innovative approach, is to help us identify the key features regulating muscle loss, which should be more pronounced in "atrophy susceptible" muscle.
Taken together, this project could have groundbreaking implications for understanding muscle changes during periods of disuse, and associated health outcomes. Moreover, this project will form the basis for identifying optimal strategies (exercise, nutrition or drug-based) to counter the adverse effects of skeletal muscle disuse.
This proposal will investigate the underlying reasons for muscle wasting in response to disuse in humans, and explore the time-course of this (i.e. does most wasting occur in the first few days?) We will recruit 24 volunteers who will be assigned to one of two groups, who will undergo either 5 or 15 days of single leg immobilization (via a leg brace) with a study day before and after. During this study day, we will measure a number of factors relating to skeletal muscle and whole-body health to see how these have been impacted by immobilization (e.g. muscle building/ breaking down rates, muscle blood flow etc.). We will also look at these responses in two different muscles of the leg: one that has been shown to be much more prone to muscle wasting than the other. The idea behind this innovative approach, is to help us identify the key features regulating muscle loss, which should be more pronounced in "atrophy susceptible" muscle.
Taken together, this project could have groundbreaking implications for understanding muscle changes during periods of disuse, and associated health outcomes. Moreover, this project will form the basis for identifying optimal strategies (exercise, nutrition or drug-based) to counter the adverse effects of skeletal muscle disuse.
Technical Summary
Skeletal muscles serve as the central node for locomotion and whole-body metabolic health. Muscle contraction in the form of exercise is well established to improve metabolic health and induce favorable physiological adaptations (e.g. muscle mass gains, mitochondrial biogenesis) and secondary health benefits (e.g. improved insulin sensitivity, reduced adiposity). In stark contrast to this, a loss of muscle contraction in the form of "disuse" (e.g. through casting immobilization or bed-rest, for example) has the opposite effect; causing muscle atrophy, associated functional decline and inducing muscle insulin resistance. There is however, a poor understanding of the metabolic and molecular regulation of disuse atrophy (DA) in humans. Herein I propose a clinical study to address a number of knowledge gaps in relation to the regulation of DA in humans. Recruiting two groups of subjects (total n=24) to distinct periods of (unilateral lower limb) immobilization, the temporal aspect of disuse atrophy will be explored. Moreover, I will take the highly novel approach of contrasting responses of "atrophy resistant" (i.e. tibialis anterior) with "atrophy susceptible" muscles (i.e. medial gastrocnemius) to immobilization. This unique study design will allow me to characterize how atrophy susceptibility is linked to the putative processes regulating DA i.e. muscle protein turnover, cell signaling, vascular adaptation and global gene expression - in the hope of determining true cause-effect relationships for the development of DA. These studies will shed light on the concept of atrophy resistance; identifying positive and negative regulators of muscle mass maintenance and afford us cause-effect relationships between metabolic and genomic changes and those of disuse atrophy, directly in humans. Furthermore, the molecular signatures generated may be employed as predictors of future intervention targets to mitigate disuse atrophy and associated health detriments.
Planned Impact
In addition to academic beneficiaries this work will also benefit the wider public, the commercial private sector and charities. Academic beneficiaries will be the wider muscle biology/ physiology community via provision of innovative knowledge on: i) disuse adaptation in response to different temporal periods of immobilization, ii) the causes of atrophy resistance and susceptibility, and iii) the relationship between disuse atrophy and nutrient metabolism/ delivery. The wider public will eventually benefit from this work in the form of improved exercise and nutritional advice for those at risk of disuse atrophy, ultimately (it is hoped) decreasing healthcare expenditure. On this basis, within 10 years (should bona fide biomarkers of atrophy resistance arise from this work as anticipated) this could reduce public healthcare expenditure by providing more catered and informed healthcare. For example, were an individual with a more atrophy susceptible transcriptome be scheduled for surgery with an established period of post-operative immobilization, early pharmacological and/ or nutritional intervention could be implemented as a preventative measure. Therefore, this work could have a marked impact on provision of therapy in people undergoing enforced periods of reduced activity and/ or immobilization. Additionally, knowledge of the metabolic and molecular basis of temporal and muscle specific atrophy will generate a list of potential therapeutic targets (e.g. from pathways associated with muscle adaptation) which could positively impact conditions associated with disuse/ reduced use (e.g. sarcopenia, hip fracture patients). This could act to reduce the economic burden of a number of highly prevalent clinical situations, including older age within 10 years, giving time for rigorous substantiation work and clinical trials; perhaps even with drug repurposing options being explored. Importantly, as the PI is a member of the MRC-ARUK Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research they are uniquely positioned to conduct BBSRC funded basic research and interact with those engaged in seeking evidence-based 'treatments' and understanding for improving muscle and whole body health across the lifespan. In this environment, the translational process may begin as soon as the end of the second year of this project and facilitate the cross-council prioritization of lifelong health and wellbeing research. The commercial private sector will benefit in the development and commercialization of innovative personalized healthcare approaches informed by the proposed mechanistic, metabolic and molecular work, and also by informatics work applied for as future funding i.e., to mine baseline blood and muscle samples to establish predictors of 'responder' status and, hopefully, assign appropriate atrophy prevention paradigms. These impacts will be felt within the third year as results of these immobilization periods are presented and published. Charities will also benefit in much the same way, particularly those charities that support increased quality of life in individuals with problems that involve muscle-linked metabolic decline such as obesity, frailty, loss of mobility and increased risk of falls (e.g., Research into Ageing, ARUK, Abbeyfield).
People |
ORCID iD |
Bethan Phillips (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Bass JJ
(2021)
The mechanisms of skeletal muscle atrophy in response to transient knockdown of the vitamin D receptor in vivo.
in The Journal of physiology
Bass JJ
(2021)
Atrophy Resistant vs. Atrophy Susceptible Skeletal Muscles: "aRaS" as a Novel Experimental Paradigm to Study the Mechanisms of Human Disuse Atrophy.
in Frontiers in physiology
Carrick L
(2023)
Exploring the utility of bedside tests for predicting cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults
in AGING MEDICINE
Deane CS
(2021)
Transcriptomic meta-analysis of disuse muscle atrophy vs. resistance exercise-induced hypertrophy in young and older humans.
in Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle
Deane CS
(2021)
Dietary protein, exercise, ageing and physical inactivity: interactive influences on skeletal muscle proteostasis.
in The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
Deane CS
(2019)
The acute transcriptional response to resistance exercise: impact of age and contraction mode.
in Aging
Deane CS
(2021)
Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on the willingness of older adults to participate in physiology research: views from past and potential volunteers.
in Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme
Hardy EJ
(2023)
Loss of muscle mass in the immediate post-operative period is associated with inadequate dietary protein and energy intake.
in European journal of clinical nutrition
Hardy EJO
(2022)
The time course of disuse muscle atrophy of the lower limb in health and disease.
in Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle
Description | To date, this work has shown that there are differences in the rates of muscle wasting in different muscles of the same individual when unloaded, and these losses appear to predominate in the first few days of unloading. Diminished rates of muscle protein synthesis (building) appear to underlie these differences. Further, as a model- the atrophy resistant atrophy susceptible (ARAS) paradigm as used in this work has potential for better understanding skeletal muscle decline and mitigation in future studies. Beyond this we have also shown that neural dysregulation is a key component of functional loss following muscle disuse in humans; and alongside MPS should be a target for future interventions. Finally, a systematic review associated with this award highlights between muscle variability in terms of disuse atrophy rates and magnitude, as well as the impact of disuse situation (i.e., healthy vs fracture vs ICU). The clinical relevance of this award has been shown in a 'spin-off' study highlighting the potential efficacy of neuromuscular electrical stimulation to mitigate early mass and functional declines during disuse, and the importance of supportive nutrition. |
Exploitation Route | The methods paper on the ARAS provided above may be used as a resource for others wishing to employ this experimental model. |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | Follow-on clinical audit of ERAS in relation to anabolic stimuli |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
Description | BBSRC International Partnering Award |
Amount | £18,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/T018550/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2020 |
End | 03/2022 |
Description | TREE Public Engagement with Research, Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund |
Amount | £3,401 (GBP) |
Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2020 |
End | 10/2020 |
Description | Utilising proteomics to better understand, and develop strategies against, inactivity-induced muscle wasting |
Amount | £18,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2021 |
End | 03/2023 |
Description | Wellcome Prime Scholarship |
Amount | £36,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2020 |
End | 03/2022 |
Description | BBSRC International Partnering Award |
Organisation | Ritsumeikan University |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This is a BBSRC International Partnering Award directly linked to this project to further understand mechanisms of muscle disuse atrophy and initiate a strong scientific collaboration. I/ we will provide staff (tenure and post-doc), analytical training and analysis. |
Collaborator Contribution | This is a BBSRC International Partnering Award directly linked to this project to further understand mechanisms of muscle disuse atrophy and initiate a strong scientific collaboration. Ritsumeikan will provide staff (tenure and post-doc), animal-model experiments and host collaborative visits. |
Impact | No outputs to date |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | MyAge Consortium Membership |
Organisation | University of Birmingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Membership of the UKRI Ageing Network- MyAge |
Collaborator Contribution | Provision of MyAge network and associated events |
Impact | MyAge are co-sponsoring a symposium led by myself at this years Physiological Society Annual Meeting. |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | NTU MRI Time-course |
Organisation | Nottingham Trent University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The clinical research fellow associated to this award, and myself, have been working collaboratively with NTU to run an MRI time-course study to determine the true temporal aspects of disuse atrophy. |
Collaborator Contribution | NTU have provided free-of-charge MRI scans (and associated staff time) for this project. |
Impact | Data for this collaboration is still being analysed. They have been included in a PhD thesis which has been successfully defended and will be included in future manuscripts. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Title | iMOB Clinical Trial |
Description | An immobilisation intervention to determine the temporal and mechanistic basis of disuse atrophy, followed by varied rehabilitation arms to try and recover muscle mass and function, including standard resistance exercise training (RET), low-load RET with blood flow restriction and electrical nerve stimulation. |
Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Physical |
Current Stage Of Development | Initial development |
Year Development Stage Completed | 2019 |
Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
Impact | None as yet. This trial has been registered for a National Clinical Trials (NCT) record locator. |
Description | AFAO Conference Presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | We presented our C. elegans spaceflight outreach efforts at the Association For Academic Outreach conference 2019. The main objectives were too; 1) outline our initial plans for outreach and, 2) evidence our actual outreach outputs. This presentation led to establishing contacts with members of the audience for future outreach-related activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Agewell 2021 Presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Agewell presentation on "Surgical Prehabiliation" in Birmingham UK |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | BBC Southwest Spotlight Feature |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Assisted BBC Southwest in producing a feature on the MM experiment and how it fits into the bigger picture of improving muscle health on Earth. This included interviews and footage of worms, experiments, facilities, and human muscle studies. The release of the feature was timed to correspond with launch. This lead to several direct contacts from the public, other media outlets, and local schools. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC radio news interview for space week |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interview with BBC radio Devon to celebrate space week. Discussed the MME, impacts of spaceflight on the body, the ISS, ways to the moon and influencing and engaging future generations to be aware of spaceflight. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Big Bang East Midlands |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Attended Big Bang East Midlands and interacted with roughly 2000 people, mostly primary and secondary school students. Activities included looking at normal and mutant worms, handling spaceflight hardware, and talking about science and spaceflight. Students and teachers were both enthusiastic with requests for school visits and expressions of interest in pursuing careers in science and engineering. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Big Bang South West |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | The Big Bang Fair SW 2019 saw nearly 6000 visitors through the doors: 84 secondary schools, 39 primary schools and about 400 home educated children with their parents/carers from the across the south west region. Activities included looking at C. elegans and discussing worms as a model for biology and biological changes in spaceflight. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Big Bang South West |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Participated in the Big Bang South West. Roughly 1900 10-19 year olds attended. Activities included looking at C. elegans and discussing worms as a model for biology and biological changes in spaceflight. Post event follow up with participating schools indicated a high level of interest from the participants. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Big Bang University West England (UWE) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Activities included looking at C. elegans and discussing worms as a model for biology and biological changes in spaceflight. Post event follow up with participating schools indicated a high level of interest from the participants. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | British Geriatric Society Annual Winter Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation on "Muscle responsiveness to immobilisation and mitigation strategies in older age" in London, UK |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Christow Preschool |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We visited Christow Preschool (South West, UK) and engaged with the children and teachers. After an introduction to the molecular muscle experiment, preschoolers observed normal and mutant C. elegans under the microscope. Preliminary plans to do the engagement event for future cohorts were made. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Huawei + Pint of Science docu-series |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I filmed 13 3-5 minutes videos on my research profile as part of a collaboration with Huawei and Pint of Science. My theme was 'Worms in space for health on earth', and the videos covered the following; why muscle is an important organ, what happens to the body in space, why worms are a good model for research, what worms can teach us about health on earth, what the Molecular Muscle Experiment was and how it was conducted, what the Molecular Muscle Experiment 2 is, how we can translate findings in worms into humans, clinical trials in humans and how they are conducted, how are human muscle samples analysed, maths for muscle health, how to get involved in space science. These videos are currently being edited prior to release in the Chinese and international market (released via Huawei's media channels including YouTube and TikTok) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | International Society of Exercise Nutrition Annual Conference 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation on "Nutritional Strategies to Ameliorate Muscle Disuse Atrophy" in Manchester, UK |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Nottingham wonder |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We allowed the public to observe normal and mutant worms and to interact with spaceflight hardware. Roughly 400 people engaged in the activities. Several conversations were had around the value of the work, how it physically takes place, and what it is like to be a scientist. The main outcome was that those we spoke with frequently reported thinking differently about science and/or spaceflight. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Pint of Science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We presented our C. elegans spaceflight experiment at the Pint of Science 2019 event in Exeter (UK). The main objectives were too; 1) outline spaceflight-induced adaptations i.e. muscle decline, 2) why C. elegans are used for research, 3) the aims of our molecular muscle experiment and how it was conducted and 4) how spaceflight research can help health on Earth i.e. relevance to ageing research. This presentation led to members of the general public asking relevant and thought provoking questions. Positive feedback was verbally received from many members of the audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/keep-it-together-bones-and-muscles |
Description | President's Lecture 2019, The Physiological Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | ~ 300 adults and children attended The Presidents Lecture at the Royal Institution, run by The Physiological Society. This event included a talk by an astronaut (Jim Pawelczyk), followed by 2.5 hours of hands-on activities to inspire children about space and physiology. We were one of the chosen hands-on activities, which included looking at healthy and "space" C. elegans, handling hardware that has been to space and discussing worms as a model for biology and biological changes in spaceflight. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.physoc.org/events/presidents-lecture-2019/ |
Description | Research Celebration Event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A research celebration event was hosted by our academic research group to disseminate the results of previous research studies relating to aspects of public health and to promote new research studies, including those related to this award. Past research volunteers as well as their friends/ family and members of local community groups were invited. Attendees included those who would be classed as health volunteers and specific patient cohorts. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | School visit (Stoke Hill Primary) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We visited Stoke Hill Primary School (Exeter) and engaged with 3 separate primary school classes, totalling 90 school children. This consisted of allowing students to observe normal and mutant C. elegans and discussed our spaceflight experiment. General feedback was very positive. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Sidmouth Science Festival 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Attended Sidmouth Science Festival 2019 and interacted with members of the general public. Activities included looking at normal and mutant worms, observing materials (i.e. worm bags) that have been returned from space and talking about science and spaceflight. The general public were enthusiastic and very engaged with the activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.sidmouthsciencefestival.org/festival |
Description | Space physiology animation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Scientific advisor and narrator of The Physiological Society animation, "what happens to our body in space?", which is available on YouTube. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7rDrAKRqjo |
Description | Space yoga |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Helped guerilla science produce a space yoga podcast on muscle and bone in space. This particular podcast is aimed at engaging individuals who may not normally engage with science via working science into yoga sessions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
URL | http://guerillascience.org/event/space-yoga-on-youtube/ |
Description | TV Show - The Truth about Getting Fit at Home |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Episode of a BBC Television series aired of BBC1 and BBC2 and available on BBC iPlayer. Part of the BBC 'Health and Wellbeing' Collective. I have questions from audience members and colleagues about this activity, with reports of change in behaviour. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000r7bb |
Description | The Physiological Society Impact Report |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Wrote a small piece for The Physiological Societie's Impact Report, reflecting on our "Worms in Space" activity at the Presidents Lecture. No impacts know at this stage. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | We the Curious (Bristol museum) public day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We participated in an event day for the public where individuals could observe and interact with normal and mutant worms and spaceflight hardware. Use of worms for research, what it is like to be a scientist, and general topics around spaceflight were discussed. The day included free-to-enter (hello! community) access for local economically deprived catchment areas. Several people reported having learned more about research, spaceflight, and some students expressed interest in STEM for future study. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | We the Curious (Bristol museum) schools day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We participated in a schools visit day where students could observe and interact with normal and mutant worms and spaceflight hardware. Use of worms for research, what it is like to be a scientist, and general topics around spaceflight were discussed. Several students reported having learned more about research, spaceflight, and/or expressed interest in STEM for future study. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |