The Evolution and Development of Complex Morphologies
Lead Research Organisation:
John Innes Centre
Department Name: Contracts Office
Abstract
Plant and animal organs display a remarkable diversity of shapes. A major challenge in developmental and evolutionary biology is to understand how this diversity of forms is generated. Recent advances in imaging, computational modelling and genomics now make it possible to address this challenge effectively for the first time. Leaf development is a particularly tractable system because of its accessibility to imaging and preservation of connectivity during growth. Leaves also display remarkable diversity in shape and form, with perhaps the most complex form being the pitcher-shaped (epiascidiate) leaves of carnivorous plants. This form has evolved four times independently, raising the question of whether its seeming complexity may have arisen through simple modulations in underlying morphogenetic mechanisms. To test this hypothesis, I aim to develop a model system for carnivorous plants based on Utricularia gibba (humped bladderwort), which has the advantage of having one of the smallest genomes known in plants (~2/3 the size of the Arabidopsis genome) and small transparent pitcher-shaped leaves amenable to imaging. I will use this system to define the morphogenetic events underlying the formation of pitcher-shaped leaves and their molecular genetic control. I will also develop and apply computational modelling to explore hypotheses that may account for the development of U. gibba bladders and further test these hypotheses experimentally. In addition, I will investigate the relationship between U. gibba bladder development and species with simpler leaf shapes, such as Arabidopsis, or species where the epiascidiate form has evolved independently. Taken together, these studies should show how developmental rules elucidated in current model systems might be extended and built upon to account for the diversity and complexity of tissue forms, integrating evo-devo approaches with a mechanistic understanding of morphogenesis.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Enrico Coen (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Chan J
(2020)
Interaction between Autonomous and Microtubule Guidance Systems Controls Cellulose Synthase Trajectories.
in Current biology : CB
Coen E
(2016)
Resolving Conflicts: Modeling Genetic Control of Plant Morphogenesis.
in Developmental cell
Coen E
(2018)
Early shaping of a leaf.
in Nature plants
Coen E
(2017)
On genes and form.
in Development (Cambridge, England)
Eldridge T
(2016)
Fruit shape diversity in the Brassicaceae is generated by varying patterns of anisotropy.
in Development (Cambridge, England)
Fox S
(2018)
Spatiotemporal coordination of cell division and growth during organ morphogenesis
in PLOS Biology
Kennaway R
(2019)
Volumetric finite-element modelling of biological growth
in Open Biology
Lee KJI
(2017)
Macro optical projection tomography for large scale 3D imaging of plant structures and gene activity.
in Journal of experimental botany
Lee KJI
(2019)
Shaping of a three-dimensional carnivorous trap through modulation of a planar growth mechanism.
in PLoS biology
Rebocho A
(2017)
Generation of shape complexity through tissue conflict resolution
in eLife
| Description | A new model system, the carnivorous plant Utricularia gibba, has been developed to unravel some of the principles by which 3D shapes arise during development. Utricularia has aquatic cup-shaped leaves with closed lids, which provide suction traps to capture small animals. The trap structure is thought to have evolved through modification of leaf development, but how this happened is unclear. New methodologies were developed to allow this problem to be tackled in Utricularia, including genetic transformation, localisation of gene expression, mutagenesis, genetics, genomic analysis, induction of gene activity, imaging and computational modelling of 3D cellular development. The results show that genes involved in establishing early asymmetries in plants with typical leaves, such as Arabidopsis, are expressed in a novel pattern in early Utricularia primordia and establish domains that presage the layered organisation of the traps. Inducing these genes to be active in all cells at early stages, causes primordia to switch from trap to leaf development, showing that these genes play a key role in establishing the identity and development of these structures. By following the development of traps through later stages, key transitions in shape were identified, from an initial near-spherical form to a flattened disc with extended midline. Through computational modelling of tissue and cellular growth, hypotheses were developed to account for the observed changes in shape though conflicts in rates and orientations of growth. Predictions of these hypotheses were tested by introducing fluorescent markers to quantify the cell sizes and shapes of the trap during different stages of development, and induce cells to switch markers on at particular stages and follow their descendants. The experimental data supports a hypothesis in which a field of cell polarities, in which each cell has an internal arrow or asymmetry, orients the growth of the tissue. This idea was further supported through 3D analysis of cellular glands in the wall of the traps, which revealed a pattern of arrows as predicted. The pattern of development is under genetic control, as revealed by isolation of mutants with altered trap shapes, and demonstration that these can be mapped to individual genes. |
| Exploitation Route | In addition to publications knowledge and expertise was disseminated by visits to the lab, leading to co-authored publications in diverse fields (e.g. Kaucka et al., 2017 Oriented clonal cell dynamics enables accurate growth and shaping of vertebrate cartilage, DOI:10.7554/eLife.25902; Le Garrec et al., 2017 A predictive model of asymmetric morphogenesis from 3D reconstructions of mouse heart looping dynamics, doi: 10.7554/eLife.28951). We also hosted a sabbatical visit from Yohei Koide (Japan) who will develop a programme on rice grain morphogenesis based on what he learned with us. Post docs trained in the project (e.g. Chris Whitewoods) also intend to continue working on this system when they set up their own lab. Members of the team have run and taught EMBO workshops, which include industrial participants, synthetic biology, and imaging workshops. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| URL | https://wikis.nbi.ac.uk/InnerWorlds/index.php/Inner_World_of_Carnivorous_Plants |
| Description | We have raised public awareness of the importance of carnivorous plants for understanding development and evolution through our website The Inner World of Carnivorous Plants. Our Science paper on leaf development published in 2020 with the front cover attracted much social media attention. |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
| Title | Tools for investigating carnivorous plants |
| Description | We have carried out the first mutagenesis on a carnivorous plant, developing methods for growing and dealing with large numbers of individuals. We have developed the first transgenic Utricularia and the first carnivorous plants with genetically marked sectors. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | None yet other than our basic research |
| Description | Antirrhinum and Utricularia genomics |
| Organisation | University of Beijing |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We provide genetic material of Antirrhinum and Utricularia. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Sequencing of the material provided and collaboration over its interpretation and analysis. |
| Impact | Mainly academic interactions |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Utricularia transformation |
| Organisation | Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences |
| Department | Institute of Cotton Research (ICR) |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We provide constructs for transformations |
| Collaborator Contribution | They perform transformations and send back transformed plants. |
| Impact | Still at research phase |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Title | Computational modelling of growth and development |
| Description | A general method for simulating morphogenesis of tissues and cells. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2010 |
| Impact | Mainly on basic research on development. |
| URL | http://cmpdartsvr3.cmp.uea.ac.uk/wiki/BanghamLab/index.php/Software#Quantitative_understanding_of_gr... |
| Description | Talk at the Royal Society Winton Prize Royal Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A talk was delivered by Enrico Coen at the 2013 Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books Award event with Dara O Briain, discussing the book 'Cells to Civilizations'. A YouTube video of the talk found has been viewed by 1710 people. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | https://youtu.be/-FDkm0boWfI |
| Description | Article STEMM Champion: Sam Fox |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor article about Sam Fox (Coen Lab) as a STEMM Champion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.techcorridor.co.uk/articles/tech-corridor-women-in-steam-the-scientists/ |
| Description | Bringing the 'Self-made Shape' exhibit to 'Science Uncovered 2016' at the Natural history museum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An exhibition stand called 'Self-made shape', which communicated research findings on how form and pattern develop in different plants, was created. The stand was very interactive, consisting of a very visual display of carnivorous plants, two computer games, a video, a shrinking plastic activity and a cellophane activity. The stand was exhibited to the general public at the 'Science Uncovered 2016' event at the Natural History Museum, London, on the 30th September 2016, an event that attracted 5,789 visitors. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Bringing the 'Self-made Shape' exhibit to Norwich Science Festival |
| 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 | An exhibition stand called 'Self-made shape', which communicated research findings on how form and pattern develop in different plants, was created. The stand was very interactive, consisting of a very visual display of plants and pottery- combining science and art to explain research findings, two computer games, two videos, a shrinking plastic activity, a cellophane activity and a carnivorous plant section. The stand was exhibited at the first ever Norwich Science Festival (18th-30th October, 2016). The stand was one of two main attractions visited by 1409 students and 109 teachers from 36 high schools during the initial four 'Learning Days' alone, and by many more members of the general public throughout the rest of the festival. Members of the Coen Lab were interviewed about the Self-made Shape exhibit by Anglia News, Mustard TV, BBC Radio Norfolk and the Young Communications Team at the Forum. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/news/2016/11/celebrating-norwich-science-festival/ |
| Description | Bringing the 'Self-made Shape' exhibit to the Royal Society 'Summer Science Exhibition' |
| 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 | An exhibition stand called 'Self-made shape', which communicated research findings on how form and pattern develop in different plants, was created. The stand was very interactive, consisting of a very visual display of plants and pottery- combining science and art to explain research findings, two computer games, two videos, a shrinking plastic activity, a cellophane activity and a carnivorous plant section. The stand was exhibited to the general public at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in London for a week (4th-10th July) . The event attracted 14,371 visitors, including 2,697 students, 328 teachers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGgLfRUhW3Y |
| Description | Carnivorous Plant Eduction Stand at Fascination of Plants Day Event |
| 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 | Karen Lee and Claire Bushell Ran an 'Exploring Carnivorous Plants' stand at the Fascination of Plants day at JIC engaging school pupils and teachers. Exhibition advertised on Inner Worlds social media sites. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Chelsea Flower Show |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 157 000 attendees at the Chelsea Flower Show had the opportunity to Engage with our research at our Silver Award Winning Exhibition at the Chelsea flower show. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://genetics.org.uk/news/centenary-garden-exhibit-at-chelsea-flower-show-2019/ |
| Description | Created 'Self-made Shape' YouTube video |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This YouTube video explains scientific findings in relation to growth, polarity, form, pattern and the development of different morphologies to a lay audience. The video currently has 1353 views (15.02.17). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGgLfRUhW3Y&t=4s |
| Description | Exploring Carnivores Talk and Demonstration in the JIC Historical Collection |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Karen Lee and Sarah Wilmot gave a talk and demonstration in the JIC Historical Collection titled 'Exploring Carnivores'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://collections.jic.ac.uk/discovering-carnivores-12th-13th-september-2013/ |
| Description | Exploring Carnivorous Plants stand at Youth STEMM Award Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Karen Lee and Claire Bushell Ran an 'Exploring Carnivorous Plants' stand at the Youth STEMM Award Conference engaging school pupils and teachers. Exhibition advertised on Inner Worlds social media sites. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Haldane Lecture at the Royal Institution |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Lecture at the Royal Institution. The lecture was recorded and has had 13,000 views on youtube |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4QS62qMImw |
| Description | Inside Science talk to gifted and talented school children |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Karen Lee gave a talk to gifted and talented school children about how scientists at JIC use carnivorous plants to understand development of complex leaf shape. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Inside science talk: Inside Carnivorous Plants |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Karen Lee gave a talk and plant demonstration titled 'Inside Carnivorous Plants' to school children and teachers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Institute open day: Exploring Carnivores for Fascination of Plants 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 | Karen Lee and Claire Bushell Ran an 'Exploring Carnivorous Plants' stand at the Fascination of Plants day at JIC engaging school pupils and teachers. Exhibition advertised on Inner Worlds social media sites. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | https://wikis.nbi.ac.uk/InnerWorlds/index.php/Fascination_of_Plants_Day_2013 |
| Description | International undergraduate summer student training |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Enrico Coen initiated and lead an annual 8 week undergraduate summer student training programme, co-hosted by The John Innes Centre, The Sainsbury Laboratory and The Genome Analysis Centre, which started in 2013. The summer school provides UK and non-UK students with the unique opportunity to spend the summer on the Norwich campus. Students are housed together to encourage a community atmosphere and an enjoyable research experience in plant and microbial sciences. They will benefit from working directly with some of the world's leading scientists at internationally-recognised laboratories. Students have been hosted in the Coen laboratory. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/news/2012/10/2013-undergraduate-research-programme/ |
| Description | Interview article in school science magazine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Sam Fox was interviewed for an article in a school magazine on the 7th March 2018. The interview was about her job as a plant scientist and the route educationally she took to get into that role. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Interview: Plant and Flower Shapes BBC4 and World Service Radio |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interviews on BBC4 and World Service Radio took place, discussing research findings on Plant and Flower Shapes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0130rft |
| Description | News Article: in Nexus Newsletter Describing the Norfolk Heritage open day focussing on carnivorous plants in the JIC historical collection. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Karen Lee released a news article in Nexus Newsletter describing the Norfolk Heritage open day focussing on carnivorous plants in the JIC historical collection. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Norwich Science Festival |
| 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 | Engagement activities with Norwich Science Festival on how genetics influences how plants grow and plant form |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Press release: "How Snapdragons keep their colour: signposting trick reveals evolutionary mechanism" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A press release was completed on the story and released to the John Innes Centre website with a link to collaborators and the paper. The story was also then promoted via the social media platform including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. To promote the story further distribution platforms including 'Eurekaalert' (for a science specific audience) and 'Vuelio' (for a more general audience) were used. Own contacts were also followed up including local news reporters to ensure the paper and story was well publicised. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/news/how-snapdragons-keep-their-colour-signposting-trick-reveals-evolutionary-... |
| Description | Press release: "How Snapdragons keep their colour: signposting trick reveals evolutionary mechanism" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A press release was completed on the story and released to the John Innes Centre website with a link to collaborators and the paper. The story was also then promoted via the social media platform including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. To promote the story further distribution platforms including 'Eurekaalert' (for a science specific audience) and 'Vuelio' (for a more general audience) were used. Own contacts were also followed up including local news reporters to ensure the paper and story was well publicised. The press release led to the following articles: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/17/science/snapdragons-colors-genes.html https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environment/norwich-scientists-discovery-of-genetic-gymnastics-in-snapdragons-brings-new-insight-into-evolution-1-5294260 https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/snapdragons-spanish-pyrenees https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171116142146.htm |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/news/how-snapdragons-keep-their-colour-signposting-trick-reveals-evolutionary-... |
| Description | Press release: "Leap forward in understanding plant organ growth" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A press release was completed on the story and released to the John Innes Centre website with a link to collaborators and the paper. The story was also then promoted via the social media platform including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. To promote the story further distribution platforms including 'Eurekaalert' (for a science specific audience) and 'Vuelio' (for a more general audience) were used. Own contacts were also followed up including local news reporters to ensure the paper and story was well publicised. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/press-release/new-model-is-a-leap-forward-in-understanding-plant-organ-growth/ |
| Description | Press release: "Leaves possess a molecular compass" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A press release was completed on the story and released to the John Innes Centre website with a link to collaborators and the paper. The story was also then promoted via the social media platform including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. To promote the story further distribution platforms including 'Eurekaalert' (for a science specific audience) and 'Vuelio' (for a more general audience) were used. Own contacts were also followed up including local news reporters to ensure the paper and story was well publicised. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/news/leaves-possess-a-molecular-compass/ |
| Description | Press release: "Snapdragon enters the genomic age" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A press release was completed on the story and released to the John Innes Centre website with a link to collaborators and the paper. The story was also then promoted via the social media platform including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. To promote the story further distribution platforms including 'Eurekaalert' (for a science specific audience) and 'Vuelio' (for a more general audience) were used. Own contacts were also followed up including local news reporters to ensure the paper and story was well publicised. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/press-release/snapdragon-enters-the-genomic-age/ |
| Description | Science Cafe Public talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Enrico Coen and Scott Boden gave a joint Science Cafe talk entitled 'Cereals and Snapdragons' to the general public in Oct 2018 as a part of the Norwich Science Festival. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Short course for students on how to chair and introduce a speaker |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A short course for students on how to chair and introduce a speaker was undertaken aimed at undergraduates and postgraduates. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Skype interview with MSc student from Central St Martins University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Discussions and advice on carnivorous plants, our research and scientific thinking for creation of an installation exploring plants in the environment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Smithsonian magazine coverage of modelling work on how plants make leaves |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Coverage of our Science publication on understanding how leaf shape evolved through the study of carnivorous plants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/deciphering-how-plant-genes-drive-weird-wonderful-dive... |
| Description | Soapbox Science Norwich Science Festival: how plants shape their leaves |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | On the 27th October 2018 Beccy Horn in the Coen Lab stood on a raised platform in Norwich City Centre and spoke to the genral public about their research that understands how the different shapes of leaves are formed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Talk at the Edinburgh Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A general talk on principles in systems biology was presented, in relation to the book Cells to Civilizations, short-listed for the Winton Book prize. no actual impacts realised to date |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sosCIIZROdw |
| Description | Talk at the Norwich Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | On the 24th October 2016 Enrico Coen gave a talk titled: "Why is a Snapdragon like a Fruit-fly?" to the general public at the Norwich Science Festival 2016. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Taught on a Genetics Society Communicating Science Course |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | In April 016 Enrico Coen taught at a Genetics Society Communicating Science Course how to effectively disseminate your research to others. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| Description | Visit to home educated students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Science discussion with home educated school children |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Webcast: Carnivorous Plants in 3D: The Stuff of Horror Films! Scientific American blog by Carin Bondar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A Scientific American blog was written by Carin Bondar about Karen Lee's work within the Coen laboratory, titled 'Carnivorous Plants in 3D: The Stuff of Horror Films!'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Webcast: Inner world of Carnivorous plants |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A video and website were produced by Enrico Coen and Karen Lee describing the research undertaken in the GRO (Growth And Development Underpinning Yield) institute strategic programme at the JIC on the Inner world of Carnivorous Plants . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014,2015,2016 |
| URL | https://wikis.nbi.ac.uk/InnerWorlds/index.php/Main_Page#.Vt61a03cuUl |
| Description | Webcast: Watch 'The Inner Worlds of Carnivorous Plants,' going viral: blog in Digital Journal |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A blog was written in Digital Journal titled: Watch 'The Inner Worlds of Carnivorous Plants,' going viral. It discusses the research in the Coen lab at JIC into the growth and evolution of carnivorous plants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/346984 |
| Description | Women of the Future 2017 Conference |
| 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 3rd Women of the Future Conference took place on Wednesday 29th November 2017. 170 young girls from 17 schools across Norfolk and Suffolk attended the unique event. The event is specifically aimed at Year 10 girls, and aims to raise aspirations, broaden horizons and facilitate engagement with world class scientists and leaders and promote careers in STEMM subjects. The lack of women in STEMM careers continues to be a real cause for concern for employers. At the John Innes Centre we are committed to promoting equality and diversity for all our staff and students and in addition recognise the importance of inspiring the next generation of female STEMM professionals. Having first been launched in 2015, this year's event built on the success of the previous two conferences, giving the participants a great chance to meet and speak with more than 27 female role models and exhibitors from a diverse range of industries. There was also fascinating line-up of speakers that included science author and presenter Dr Emily Grossman, Senior Advisor for Medical Applications at CERN Dr Manjit Dosanjh, and JIC Research Fellow Dr Philippa Borrill. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/blog/women-of-the-future-2017/ |
| Description | Women of the Future Conference 2018 |
| 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 Women of the Future 2018 event took place with 200 girls from yr 10 (14-15 yr olds) 5 GEN female people involved: -Speakers Jemima Brinton & Mikhaela Neequaye (Jemima is a researcher in crop genetics, Mikhaela is a Phd student in food nutrition). Science Chat on the Sofa with Speakers (Auditorium) -Chaired by Samantha Fox -Closing Remarks - Samantha Fox -Meet a professional session: Mikhaela Neequaye, Natalie Wager, Jess Hughes, Penny Hundleby |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/blog/the-story-of-women-of-the-future-2018/ |
| Description | Workshop for undergraduate summer students from throughout the UK on behalf of the Genetics Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A workshop for undergraduate summer students from throughout the UK was run on behalf of the Genetics Society. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Year 10 Science Camp |
| 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 | Schools |
| Results and Impact | We introduced year 10 science students to life as a scientist and working in our labs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/training-careers/work-experience/year-10-science-camp/ |
| Description | YouTube video created: Evolutionary Genetics of Snapdragons |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 'A Flying Visit to the Antirrhinum Hybrid Zone in the Pyrenees' Take a tour through the hybrid zone in the Pyrenees where a population of magenta Antirrhinum pseudomajus on the east meets a yellow Antirrhinum striatum population to the west and form a rainbow of hybrid flowers over a 1km stretch. Read about how our study of this region revealed how small RNA helps maintain diversity in the region. The video creates interest and communicates to the general public the research that takes place in the Coen Lab. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muP7fSn1eaE&feature=youtu.be |
| Description | YouTube video: movie explaining the relationship between growth and division in plants |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Sam Fox (Coen Lab) and Ruby O'grady in our communications team created a video explaining the relationship between growth and division in plants after a new model was published. The video had 1587 views from the JIC tweet alone on 13.03.19 and another 250 on the JIC YouTube Channel. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvXBYL7WUDA |
| Description | Youth STEMM Award mid-term conference 2019 |
| 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 | 80 students from 8 schools in Norfolk and Suffolk attended the Youth STEMM award mid-term conference on the 26th February 2019. There were 2 talks from John Innes Centre scientists and 10 interactive stands including the Coen Lab, who displayed a range of plants and research, explaining to the students what they do for their job. Feedback from the event indicated that 95% of those that completed a feedback form (53/80) felt the event was informative as it highlighted a range of different STEMM careers out there. 80% said the event had made them inspired to pursue a STEMM related career, or take a STEMM subject at higher education. ""This exhibit has inspired me to take a higher education level in biology or as a job." |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Youth STEMM Mid Term conference 2018 |
| 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 | On the 6th March 12 schools with 146 students (aged 13-17) participated in the YSA midterm conference at the JIC Conference Centre. The event had a combination of science talks and interactive activities as a part of the STEMM showcase. The Coen lab exhibited their research on evolution, development of shape and form and genetics at the event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |