Genome and Epigenome
Lead Research Organisation:
John Innes Centre
Department Name: Contracts Office
Abstract
This project aims to understand how genomes are regulated and give rise to phenotypes, and how genomes evolve in response to varied growing environments and adapt to duplication and hybridization. Key outcomes include deeper understanding of the mechanisms of heredity, including how genome regulation and genetic variation contribute to phenotypic variation, including multi-genic variation that underlies complex yield-related phenotypes. We will also identify new avenues for breeding using knowledge of how meiosis, recombination and polyploidy shape genomes. This will enable new ways of exploiting wild germplasm and improve understanding of the genomic and phenotypic consequences of new hybrid and polyploid formation. With respect to wheat, this project will meet key research needs identified by the “wheat strategy working group” for the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). These include unlocking the potential of wheat genome resources by understanding regulation of its polyploid genome. The genomic foundations of this work, accurate long-range sequence assembly of multiple wheat lines, have already been established in collaborations with EI and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). This work strengthens a variety of key research partnerships. Nationally these include the DFW National Wheat Programme, EI and the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI). Internationally this supports work in the International Wheat Yield Partnership (IWYP) and CIMMYT. These outcomes map directly onto the BBSRC Strategic Research Priority Agriculture and Food Security, Research Councils UK (RCUK) priorities in Global Food Security, and the Government’s Agri-technology Strategy, because they will accelerate the discovery of useful new genetic variation for crop improvement and facilitate the rapid and precise integration of new germplasm and genetic variation into crop plants. This will establish new ways of working with researchers and plant breeders, and provide important new opportunities for academic and commercial innovation in crop improvement.
Organisations
- John Innes Centre, United Kingdom (Lead Research Organisation)
- Institute of Science and Tech (Austria) (Collaboration)
- University of Leeds, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University of Copenhagen, Denmark (Collaboration)
- University of Cambridge (Collaboration)
- University of Grenoble (Collaboration)
- Elsoms Seeds (Collaboration)
- University of California, San Francisco, United States (Collaboration)
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) (Collaboration)
- French National Institute of Agricultural Research (Collaboration)
Publications
Antoniou-Kourounioti RL
(2018)
Temperature Sensing Is Distributed throughout the Regulatory Network that Controls FLC Epigenetic Silencing in Vernalization.
in Cell systems
Baduel P
(2018)
Genetic basis and evolution of rapid cycling in railway populations of tetraploid Arabidopsis arenosa.
in PLoS genetics
Berry S
(2017)
Slow Chromatin Dynamics Allow Polycomb Target Genes to Filter Fluctuations in Transcription Factor Activity.
in Cell systems
Berry S
(2017)
Disruption of an RNA-binding hinge region abolishes LHP1-mediated epigenetic repression.
in Genes & development
Bloomer RH
(2017)
Fine-tuning timing: natural variation informs the mechanistic basis of the switch to flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana.
in Journal of experimental botany
Bloomer RH
(2020)
The Arabidopsis epigenetic regulator ICU11 as an accessory protein of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Boden SA
(2019)
How can developmental biology help feed a growing population?
in Development (Cambridge, England)
Busoms S
(2018)
Fluctuating selection on migrant adaptive sodium transporter alleles in coastal Arabidopsis thaliana.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Calderwood A
(2021)
Total FLC transcript dynamics from divergent paralogue expression explains flowering diversity in Brassica napus.
in The New phytologist
| Description | We have generated a number of key findings: 1.1 We have developed a new model of epigenetic memory, where transcription acts antagonistically to Polycomb-based silencing, which has enabled us to evaluate both trans and cis inputs to epigenetic regulation. A combination of chromatin biochemistry and computational analysis enabled us to show that epigenetic silencing at the Arabidopsis FLC locus involved distinct phases that were associated with different protein complexes and different timescales, a paradigm relevant for Polycomb silencing in all organisms. We have defined a new phase in the Polycomb mechanism instrumental in natural variation of silencing at Arabidopsis FLC, mediated by a combination of noncoding SNPs. We have demonstrated that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is an important mechanism in the antisense-mediated regulation of Arabidopsis FLC transcription. We identified a role for the FLL2 coiled coil protein to help promote LLPS of the RNA-binding protein FCA and found that 3' RNA processing components colocalize with FCA in these nuclear bodies in vivo. These bodies promote proximal polyadenylation of many transcripts in the Arabidopsis genome. We have uncovered the role of chromatin remodeling in temperature dependent tissue specification programme controlling fruit dehiscence. Working with a team at Peking University we have shown that the RNA modification m6A is enriched on the COOLAIR antisense transcript and functions to promote transcription termination. Working with a team at SLU, Uppsala, we have demonstrated that the quantitative transcription of FLC involves switching between opposing chromatin states that influence transcriptional initiation and elongation. We have established the co-transcriptional link between alternative processing of antisense transcripts at FLC and a change in chromatin environment, providing a new paradigm in chromatin-based gene regulation. We have also shown how FRIGIDA, the transcriptional activator of FLC, is sequestered into nuclear bodies early upon cold exposure. We have identified a putative histone demethylase activity that is physically coupled to Polycomb Repressive Complex 2, and shown how a chromatin complex involving FLD, LD and SDG26 link the co-transcriptional RNA processing of antisense transcripts at FLC to delivery of chromatin modifications at the locus. The auxin response factor, ETTIN, mediates auxin response in a non-canonical fashion that is TIR1/AFB-independent. We have used biochemical and biophysical approaches to establish that ETTIN activity is regulated via direct interaction with the auxin hormone. ETTIN regulates target gene expression by recruiting components that modifies histone methylation/acetylation. In addition, we have characterised cross-talk between the non-canonical (ETT-dependent) and canonical (TIR1/AFB-dependent) pathways through genetic and protein-protein interactions between ETTIN and another auxin response factor, ARF4. In addition to the stated objectives we have investigated the molecular mechanisms of cold sensing in Arabidopsis. We established VIN3-luciferase screen to identify regulators of cold sensing and modelled short and long-term cold sensing mechanisms. As a result, we discovered the major mechanism for long term temperature sensing in vernalization, resulting from reduced dilution of a stable protein (NTL8) due to slowed growth at low temperatures. Additionally, we proposed a new paradigm for epigenetic memory in Drosophila (in collaboration with the Ringrose group, Berlin), where the early rapid cell cycles in the embryo keep the chromatin state naive so that epigenetic states can be properly initialised. 1.2 We have characterised the role of H2A.Z nucleosome dynamics in defense gene regulation and its response to temperature. We studied the role of SWR1 chromatin remodeling complex and H2A.Z nucleosomes in environmental responses using gene expression analyses and chromatin dynamics in the context of environmental responses. We have found that while H2A.Z nucleosomes in general repress gene expression of growth and developmental genes at lower ambient temperatures, they have been shown to be essential for inducible expression of key genes in response to microbial pathogens. 1.3 We have found that DNA methylation reprogramming occurs throughout the male germline in Arabidopsis, and revealed the RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway (RdDM), which targets transposons in soma, induces methylation of genes specifically in the germline, thereby regulating gene expression and meiosis. Our data further indicate that germline-specific methylation at genes is established by RdDM-associated siRNAs produced by the meiocyte nurse cells (called tapetum) that are transcribed from transposons with similar sequences. We discovered that linker histone H1 is gradually depleted during male gametogenesis, and this developmental depletion causes heterochromatin decondensation in vegetative progenitor cells and promotes pollen fertility. Additionally, we revealed the mechanism of TE activation in the vegetative cell via DEMETER-mediated DNA demethylation, and elucidated the complex interactions between DNA methylation and histone H1. We have discovered that the DDM1/Lsh proteins facilitate epigenetic inheritance in plants and mammals by allowing DNA methyltransferases to access DNA wrapped in nucleosomes. We discovered that linker histone H1 and CG DNA methylation prevent the activity of euchromatic gene silencing pathways in plant heterochromatin, thereby enabling the maintenance of distinct functional chromatin domains. We demonstrated that DNA methylation prevents aberrant transcription within plant genes and also likely contributes to transcriptional homeostasis in animals. We have successfully developed simple bistable mathematical models for CpG DNA methylation dynamics. Using these models, we discovered that intermediate levels of CG DNA methylation can be stably inherited, indicating that epigenetic transmission of DNA methylation requires a balance of templated and untemplated methyltransferase activities. We discovered that gene body methylation regulates plant genes and influences important plant traits. In addition to the stated objectives, we have discovered that germline-specific methylation at genes is a conserved phenomenon among diverse land plants, including maize and the most basal lineage of extant land plants, Marchantia. Furthermore, in Marchantia sperm, we discovered genome-scale N4-cytosine DNA methylation that is required for sperm function, establishing N4-cytosine methylation as a functional epigenetic mark in eukaryotes. Collaborating with a team at Cambridge University, we also discovered a novel mode of meiotic recombination control via a meiocyte-specific (meiocyte, the cell going through meiosis) subunit of the general RNA polymerase II transcription factor TFIID. Collaborating with teams in Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin in France, we found that AXR1, an enzyme required for normal meiotic crossover localization, affects DNA methylation at genome-scale independently of its role in regulating crossovers. 2.1 We have demonstrated that evolutionarily recent small RNAs can be acted upon by selection and contribute to the evolution of phenotypic diversity. Also, that selection and gene flow shape genomic islands that control phenotypic variation among species. We have published the Antirrhinum genome sequence. Through a genome-wide analysis we have shown that the only loci contributing to differentiation between two Antirrhinum subspecies map to flower colour loci. We have developed bioinformatic methods for identifying inverted repeats and their presence/absence in different species, and have mapped genes controlling species traits by F2 segregation. We have provided constructs to our Japanese collaborators to transform Torenia. We performed a large-scale population genomic study to test the hypothesis that escape from extinction following the meiotic trauma of WGD was mediated by adaptive gene flow between Arabidopsis arenosa and its sister Arabidopsis lyrata. We found that A. lyrata underwent WGD more recently than A. arenosa, implicating specific pre-adapted alleles from A. arenosa rescued A. lyrata autotetraploids from early extinction. On the other hand, we found strong signals of gene flow from A. lyrata to A. arenosa specifically at other crucial meiotic crossover loci that display dramatic signatures of selective sweep in both species upon WGD. Taken together, our data suggest the hypothesis that bidirectional gene swap allowed for an escape from extinction of both nascent autopolyploids, where the merger and of these hybrids is greater than the sum of their parts. We tested the hypothesis that autopolyploidy would decrease levels of background selection and thus affect the fundamental forces governing selection. To this end we performed broad population sampling and genome resequencing, demographic, coalescent, and selective sweep analyses and found that the impacts of polyploidy on population genomic processes are subtle yet pervasive, such as reduced efficiency of purifying selection, differences in linked selection and rampant gene flow from diploids. Initial masking of deleterious mutations, faster rates of nucleotide substitution and interploidy introgression likely conspire to shape the evolutionary potential of polyploids. 2.2 We have generated genetic lines in Arabidopsis arenosa that can be used for functional analyses of evolutionarily important genes. We have begun characterizing several of these genes already by breeding alternate homozygotes in tetraploid A. arenosa carrying derived versus ancestral meiosis genes that might be involved in adaptation to polyploidy and/or climate. We have also generated and analysed 300 Arabidopsis arenosa individuals and analysed these in a biogeographic context that will form a framework for future studies. We have studied the co-evolution of two interacting meiosis genes, ASY1 and ASY3. These show clear synergies suggesting they are co-evolving rather than individually contributing quantitatively to derived phenotypes. The initial study was a detailed cytological analysis, but biochemical studies are in progress. 2.3 We have studied the evolution of "weediness" in a lineage of A. arenosa that has adapted to challenging ruderal habitats. This was coupled with the evolution of rapid cycling via the evolution of CONSTANS and FLC. We have investigated the genomic consequences of adaptation to challenging growing conditions, uncovering a striking case of fluctuating selection on a salt transporter allele that confers tolerance specifically to moderate levels of salt via structural genomic variation. We also investigated the genomic basis of parallel adaptation to challenging low nutrient, metal contaminated soils. In this study we found a near lack of convergence between species adapted to the same challenging sites, suggesting a lack of constraint on the evolutionary pathways adaptive change may follow. 2.4 The first stage of research in understanding mechanisms that influence gene expression in allopolyploid wheat has been completed. This used comparisons of gene expression, DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility between highly conserved chromosome arms of diploid Ae tauschii and hexaploid bread wheat. The dramatic patterns of reduced and differential gene expression seen in the hexaploid genome context were tightly correlated with reduced chromatin access, with DNA methylation playing a negligible role. We have generated a new set of wheat allopolyploids by crossing two Ae. tauschii lines with durum wheat. Sequencing data has been generated for the transcriptome and chromatin analyses, including ATAC for chromatin accessibility, ChIP for histone marks on active and inactive genes, and HiChIP for assessing DNA proximities of genes with different activities and chromatin compaction. We are analysing these data and testing hypotheses about chromosome crowding, physical interactions between homoeologous loci, and interactions along chromosomes. RNAseq (leaves and developing grain) for 4 new synthetic wheat lines and their tetraploid and diploid parents have been generated. Preliminary analyses show the essentially immediate imposition of dominant and repressive patterns of gene expression, in which there is preferential expression of AA, BB or DD genome homoeologs. About 30% of 1:1:1 homoeologous triads (about 51,000 genes) show these radical changes in gene expression. In independent crosses that make new synthetics there appear to be consistent patterns, and there are also DD genotype dependent patterns. In developing grain RNAseq we see a DD genes are more prone to differential regulation. Underlying these changes are rapid large-scale changes in chromatin accessibility and histone modifications consistent with rapid large-scale transcriptional re-programming upon the addition of DD genomes to AABB genomes. Analysis of DNA methylation shows remarkably stable over patterns. We are currently establishing the extent of paramutation-type mechanisms on dominant and repressive patterns of expression. Currently we are generating HiC data to assess if homoeologous chromosomes and loci interact. This may help explain the common patterns of homoeolog regulation we observe. |
| Exploitation Route | nding of the principles of Polycomb epigenetic silencing and non-coding RNA-mediated transcriptional regulation is vital for the gene regulatory field in all eukaryotic organisms, as well as the plant biotechnology field. We have found that germline-specific genic methylation is conserved among land plants and is modulated by the environment such as heat. This opens an avenue to understand the regulation of plant germline development by siRNAs, and the environmentally sensitive male sterility, which is a highly desired trait in crops. Our finding that tapetal siRNAs can target methylation with mismatches also suggested a mechanism for how monocot crop tapetal phasiRNAs function to promote meiosis. We envision this will be followed up by crop researchers to search for phasiRNA targets and manipulate male fertility through this. The finding of N4-cytosine DNA methylation and corresponding DNA methyltransferases in Marchantia sperm marks the first discovery of this epigenetic mark in eukaryotes. This is opening a new field in studying the function and evolution of this new eukaryotic epigenetic modification. Our data on the ETTIN-mediated auxin signalling pathway suggest involvement in polarity transition during developmental processes throughout plant development. We have established that the pathway is conserved at least between Arabidopsis and Brassica. Although early days, it is therefore likely that our discoveries in this area will lead to increased fertility and hence seed production. A model-to-crop translation pipeline of this project could be facilitated by our interaction with breeders e.g. via the BRAVO SLoLa (BB/P003095/1). Scientifically, the characterisation of this non-canonical auxin pathway has the potential to lead us and colleagues in the auxin community in different directions regarding gene regulation including biochemical condensation/phase separation and auxin-dependent transcription factor complex formation. Several of our other findings are applicable to crop improvement, but it is still early in the process to say how they may be taken forward at this point. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
| Description | Our research is providing insights into how plant traits are inherited and evolve through genome regulation. This in turn helps us to understand how we can use this information for breeding plants, including crops, which are better fitted to our changing environment and to some of the more extreme environments they may need to be able to cope with in the future. We have discussed our findings with various industrial and commercial stakeholders. Ongoing discussions with the plant breeding industry allow us to explore how these findings can be used on a practical level, for example discussions on the potential development of double haploid homozygous lines at JIC which would allow us to improve the way in which we provide breeders with germplasm. Discussions with industry have indicated that desirable traits from a broad range of JIC Brassica research would be easier to incorporate into industrial breeding programmes if we succeed in implementing double haploid technology. Our research into the interplay between genetic and epigenetic factors is crucial to improving understanding genome regulation and how traits are inherited and exploited in crops. Team member Prof Caroline Dean's Wolf Prize for Agriculture (2020), which rewards exceptional achievements in science, is an indication of how important the research taking place in this research programme is to crop development. Our research looking into the gene FLC has supported the development of rapid cycling brassica crops such as baby leaf kale. Discussions are progressing with industry across the supply chain focused on the introduction of new vegetable products and a patent relating to this has been filed. Transcriptome timeseries data for both Brassica napus and Brassica rapa will be made available once the IP embargo comes to an end. We are continuing regular discussion with industry and policy makers to exchange ideas and knowledge and identify new targets for future research through activities such as the OREGIN and UK-BRC stakeholder meetings and the RSB Plant Sciences working group. To widen the application and impact of this research into the biomedical area, translational talks have been given at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Human Genome Centre in Edinburgh, the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Oxford, and the Systems Biology of Human Disease 2017 conference in Heidelberg. Our research findings have been incorporated into educational and training programmes to both train future scientists and encourage children to consider a career in science through regional, national and international mechanisms including (Youth STEMM Award, JIC International Undergraduate Summer Schools and the Gatsby Summer School). We are ensuring that this knowledge is passed on to future plant breeders through our training efforts, for example through lectures to undergraduate and postgraduate students including those of the JIC and UEA MSc programme in Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement. From this training programme, 47% of students go on to work in the plant breeding and related industries, which in turn support our food chain in terms of both crop and animal-based foods, contributing 7% of Gross Value Added to the UK economy (£109 billion) according to an Intellectual Property Office Report, published in 2016. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2018 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Invited participant to discuss UK participation on the EMPHASIS initiative to coordinate phonemics platforms across Europe |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a national consultation |
| Description | BBSRC Responsive Mode |
| Amount | £779,224 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/S009620/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2019 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | BBSRC responsive mode |
| Amount | £940,069 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/P020380/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2017 |
| End | 09/2020 |
| Description | EMBO Young Investigator |
| Amount | € 15,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | European Molecular Biology Organisation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 01/2019 |
| End | 12/2022 |
| Description | European Research Council Starting Grant |
| Amount | € 1,500,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | European Research Council (ERC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 08/2023 |
| Description | Gatsby Grant to Exceptional Researchers |
| Amount | £35,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Gatsby Charitable Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2018 |
| End | 04/2019 |
| Description | Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Fellowship |
| Amount | £173,026 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Global |
| Start | 04/2021 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Title | B. napus transcriptome timeseries data |
| Description | Brassica napus floral transition transcriptome timeseries for 4 accessions. PRJNA648031 - currently embagoed due to IP. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Publication 10.1111/nph.17131. Dataset underpins current BRAVO project development. |
| Title | B. rapa transcriptome timeseries data |
| Description | Developmental timeseries transcriptome dataset through the floral transition of Brassica rapa accessions R-o18 and Sarisha14 available at NCBI Sequence Read Archive, project ID PRJNA593493. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Dataet underpins the development of comparative transcriptomics techniques within BRAVO and understanding of the floral transition in B. rapa. |
| Title | ORDER:Oilseed Rape Developmental Expression Resource |
| Description | This is a web app to facilitate interrogation of time series data collected from Brassica napus. The data was collected from the cultivars Tapidor (a winter cultivar) and Westar (a spring cultivar) with the aim of deciphering how the flowering time gene regulatory network is constructed, and how it differs from the network elucidated in Arabidopsis thaliana. This will be expanded to include more data developed during the BRAVO project. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This app and data contained within has formed the basis for further work within the area. This forms a framework for the addition of further dataset developed within BRAVO and beyond. The Aionplot software via GitHub for free use. |
| URL | http://order.jic.ac.uk |
| Description | Biochemical analysis of auxin in complex with the auxin response factor ETTIN |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Department | School of Biology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Development of expression system to produce a domain of ETT recombinantly in E. coli. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Production of ETT domain in E. coli followed by NMR on the 950MHz machine at Univ Leeds and analysis or results. |
| Impact | None yet. Collaboration just started in Jan 2019. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Biochemical and structural characterisation of ETT-mediated auxin signalling |
| Organisation | University of Grenoble |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Development of tools for recombinant production of ETTIN protein. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Development of tools for recombinant production of TPL protein and providing expertise in biochemical and structural characterisation of protein-protein-ligand interactions.. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Christine Mezard |
| Organisation | French National Institute of Agricultural Research |
| Department | INRA Versailles |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are evaluating the effect of AXR1 on the DNA methylation in male meiocytes |
| Collaborator Contribution | They identified the AXR1 gene, whose mutation affects recombination during meiosis and generally the DNA methylome in somatic tissues. |
| Impact | This has led to a publication in Plos Genetics in 2020. Meiotic crossovers (COs) are important for reshuffling genetic information between homologous chromosomes and they are essential for their correct segregation. COs are unevenly distributed along chromosomes and the underlying mechanisms controlling CO localization are not well understood. We previously showed that meiotic COs are mis-localized in the absence of AXR1, an enzyme involved in the neddylation/rubylation protein modification pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we report that in axr1-/-, male meiocytes show a strong defect in chromosome pairing whereas the formation of the telomere bouquet is not affected. COs are also redistributed towards subtelomeric chromosomal ends where they frequently form clusters, in contrast to large central regions depleted in recombination. The CO suppressed regions correlate with DNA hypermethylation of transposable elements (TEs) in the CHH context in axr1-/- meiocytes. Through examining somatic methylomes, we found axr1-/- affects DNA methylation in a plant, causing hypermethylation in all sequence contexts (CG, CHG and CHH) in TEs. Impairment of the main pathways involved in DNA methylation is epistatic over axr1-/- for DNA methylation in somatic cells but does not restore regular chromosome segregation during meiosis. Collectively, our findings reveal that the neddylation pathway not only regulates hormonal perception and CO distribution but is also, directly or indirectly, a major limiting pathway of TE DNA methylation in somatic cells. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory |
| Organisation | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | CSHL partnership provides access to their sequencing laboratory and expertise in sequencing small RNAs |
| Collaborator Contribution | sequencing RNA and small RNA from new wheat hybrids |
| Impact | RNAseq data sets for analyses |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Collaboration of Martin Howard with Fred Chang on fission yeast development |
| Organisation | University of California, San Francisco |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Mathematical modelling and image analysis of fission yeast cell size dynamics |
| Collaborator Contribution | Experimental genetic and imaging approaches to fission yeast size control |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary: mathematical modelling together with genetics/imaging in fission yeast |
| Description | Elsoms |
| Organisation | Elsoms Seeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have collaborated with Elsoms Seeds company to extend our work into Brassica napus. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Elsoms Seeds produced double haploid Brasscia napus lines for us. |
| Impact | Too early to say |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Meiosis-specific TFIID in promoting recombination |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We found a TFIID component is meiocyte specifically expressed, and performed meiocyte extraction and RNA-seq with wildtype and mutants. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Identification of the allele and recombination phenotyping |
| Impact | This has led to a publication in Current Biology in 2019. Meiotic crossover frequency varies within genomes, which influences genetic diversity and adaptation. In turn, genetic variation within populations can act to modify crossover frequency in cis and trans. To identify genetic variation that controls meiotic crossover frequency we screened Arabidopsis accessions using fluorescent recombination reporters. We mapped a genetic modifier of crossover frequency in Col×Bur populations of Arabidopsis to a premature stop codon within TBP-ASSOCIATED FACTOR 4b (TAF4b), which encodes a subunit of the RNA polymerase II general transcription factor TFIID. The Arabidopsis taf4b mutation is a rare variant found in the British Isles, originating in South-West Ireland. Using genetics, genomics and immunocytology we demonstrate a genome-wide decrease in taf4b crossovers, with strongest reduction in the sub-telomeric regions. Using RNA-seq from purified meiocytes, we show that TAF4b expression is meiocyte-enriched, whereas its paralog TAF4 is broadly expressed. Consistent with the role of TFIID in promoting gene expression, RNA-seq of wild type and taf4b meiocytes identified widespread transcriptional changes, including in genes that regulate the meiotic cell cycle and recombination. Therefore, TAF4b duplication is associated with acquisition of meiocyte-specific expression and promotion of germline transcription, which acts directly or indirectly to elevate crossovers. This identifies a novel mode of meiotic recombination control via a general transcription factor. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Receptor-Hormone interaction assay |
| Organisation | Institute of Science and Technology Austria |
| Country | Austria |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have identified a potential interaction between the ETTIN (ETT) auxin response factor and the hormone auxin. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The laboratory of Jiri Friml used DARTS assay to show that ETTIN interacts specifically with auxin. |
| Impact | We have submitted a manuscript to the journal eLife, which is curretnly under review. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Understanding the effect of N6A-methylation of mRNA in meristem size control |
| Organisation | University of Copenhagen |
| Country | Denmark |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We performed in situ hybridisation on ECT genes and analysis of fruit shape in eat mutants. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The laboratory of Professor Peter Brodersen have characterised a subclass of the ECT family in Arabidopsis both genetically and molecularly. |
| Impact | A manuscript led by Prof Brodersen was accepted in the journal Development including our contribution. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Keynote Lecture on epigenetics at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Dean gave the Keynote lecture at the Dutch Chromatin meeting at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) on the 2nd November 2018. Translational talks (outside the field of plant science) increase the impact and application of GEN Science. Her talk was entitled: 'Epigenetic switching and antisense transcription'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | 23rd IPGSA Conference (Paris) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 23rd IPGSA Conference (Paris) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://pages.wustl.edu/ipgsa |
| Description | 8-week Undergraduate Summer School 2018 |
| 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 | During 8 weeks of the summer of 2018 15 undergraduates participated in the John Innes Centre International Summer School, which provides invaluable insight and experience of research to undergraduates about to enter their final year of studies. Each student spends 8 weeks in a lab at either the Sainsbury Laboratory, the Earlham Institute or the John Innes Centre, all located on the Norwich Research Park working on a project that they have selected. Enrico Coen is a key player in the organisation and running of the summer school. Other scientists in GEN were also involved in the training and speaking to the students during their stay. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/blog/2018-undergraduate-summer-school/ |
| Description | ASM poster |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | PhD student Billy Aldridge presented a poster on the JIC annual science meeting, which sparked lots of interest and discussion. He won the runner-up award, and an opportunity for presenting his research orally during the annual science meeting next year (2018) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| 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 | Article for farming press |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Brief article written for BSPB Plant Breedig Matter magazine on hybrid breeding and farm saved seed. This will have reached a raming audience explaining variety production, the plant breeding process and breeding for important traits |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.bspb.co.uk/BSPB_Plant_Breeding_Matters_Spring_2018.pdf |
| Description | BBC Norfolk TV Interview |
| 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 | As ISP funding was publicised, local news media ran stories on the impact this will have to science, the environment, industry and the region. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | BBSRC Institute Meeting on Epigenetics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Around 100 researchers working on diverse aspects of epigenetic systems from the BBSRC institutes met at the Babraham Institute. The goal of the meeting was to identify common themes and possible synergies, both between organisms and between institutes. Avenues for future cooperation, both scientifically and in terms of collective funding, were enthusiastically explored. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | BBSRC epigenetics workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | BBSRC epigenetics workshop |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Bluebell Primary School assembly - speaking about careers in science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | On the 18th May Caroline Dean visited Blueberry Primary School and talked in assembly about careers in science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Brassica Genomics lecture x 2, University of East Anglie MSc course |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Lesture provided on the MSc course on current Brassica genomics research. Students were engaged and asked many questions. good discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Brassica genetics lecture x 2 hours for University of East Anglia Plant Breeding and Crop Genetics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Lecture of the UEA Plant breeding course on Brassica genetics, basic concepts through to current research. Students were engaged and asked questions thoughout and following lecture. Impact is training future scientists/plant breeders |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Careers talk at local school |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | On the 8 Jun 2018 Hepworth J. Promoted women in STEMM and plant biology at Dover Grammar School for Girls, Years 10-12 (approximately 150 students). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Careers talk for PhD students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Wager N. gave a talk at the ENVEast Doctoral Training Programme about doing a PhD, career choices, and her current role at the JIC. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| 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 | Clover Seeds and CN seeds visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit to JIC from members of Clover and CN Seed to discuss current industry needs and work ongoing at JIC where there could be potential interaction. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Cold Spring Harbor Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was a large conference bringing together scientists working on RNA regulation including how RNA structure affects phase transitions |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | College du France Lecture as a part of the L'oreal Women in Science Award |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Caroline Dean gave the College du France lecture highlighting her groups research into flowering time and vernalization. The lecture led to questions and discussions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Communication with Elsoms Seeds company |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I and Rachel Wells from JIC visited Elsoms Seeds company to discuss our work, the need of plant breeders, and potential future collaborations. As a result, we developed a collaboration working on Brassica napus, and are now evaluating the possibility of setting up transgenic work in Elsoms. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Conflict of interests: How do plants sense and integrate environmental signals. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited speaker at: Thermomorphogenesis 2016, (25 - 27 August 2016), Halle, Germany. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Conflict of interests: How do plants sense and integrate environmental signals? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk at BOKU, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria April 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Discussion (YouTube video) with GARNet about 'Auxin-Induced Modulation of ETTIN Activity Orchestrates Gene Expression in Arabidopsis' publication |
| 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 | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On the 31st of Auguts 2018 Prof Lars Ostergaard discussed his groups recent paper published in The Plant Cell entitled: Auxin-Induced Modulation of ETTIN Activity Orchestrates Gene Expression in Arabidopsis' with GARNet . Links shown below the video to guide the listener to more information about the research. The video has had 61 views (28.01.19) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2gI5SJkO0A&feature=youtu.be |
| Description | Distinguished lecture at Penn State |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Distinguished lecture at Penn State |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | EMBL Chromatin & Epigenetics Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The PI ( C Dean) attended this international symposium and met with other researchers undertaking analysis of protein oligomers and their importance in chromatin biology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Elsoms Veg open day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Stand at the Elsoms Vegetable open day displaying the current work of JIC. Discussed many current projects with the industry members that visited the open day and trials |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Elsoms seeds visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit regarding Brassica research at JIC. Good discussion had |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Elsoms seeds visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit by Elsoms seeds to discuss Speed breeding and speed cloning of disease resistance genes . Good discussions had. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Follow up for Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Discussions with industry supporting MARDI with implementation of transcriptomics and associative transcriptomics methodology |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | GARNet 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at the GARNet 2018 conference |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Gatsby Summer School plenary lecture entitled: 'Sensing and remembering winter'. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Dean C. gave the Gatsby Summer School plenary lecture entitled: 'Sensing and remembering winter'. This lecture sparked a lot of questions and further discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Genes in the Environment newsletter issue 1 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A newsletter was developed to communicate the science taking place in the GEN ISP. The newsletter will be produced every 4 months. Issue one highlighted recent publications between Sept and Dec 2017 in the ISP as well as describing CRISPR/Cas9. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Gordon Conference 'Epigenetics' |
| 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 | This internationally recognized conference brings together epigenetics researchers from many organisms. This enabled high level discussions and important experimental planning. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Haldane Lecture: how genes & environment drive new evolutionary paths. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof Enrico Coen won the JBS Haldane Lecture for 2017. Enrico spoke about how genes and the environment drive new evolutionary paths. The lecture itself attracted an audience of a few hundred people. In addition, the lecture was filmed and released on YouTube with over 22,000 views internationally. It also raised awareness of Enrico Coen's podcasts: 1. Podcast with Enrico Coen - Defining DNA, and what is a gene? 2. Podcast with Enrico Coen - The snapdragon's tale |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Heritage day talk on thermogenesis in plants |
| 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 | I gave a talk for the general public as part of the John Innes Centre's activities for Heritage Day. The talk was well received with numerous respondents to a survey commenting they had learned a lot and that it had opened their eyes to plant diversity and plant biology. This activity also focused on images from our rare books collection which the public were also invited to take a closer look at. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Hosted year10 student for a lab visit day |
| 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 hosted students for year 10 science camp activities at JIC, which included their participation in lab activities as well as career discussions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| Description | Hybrids and Heterosis, 2 hours lecturing for University of East Anglia, Plant breeding and crop genetics MSc |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Letcures given on hybrids and heterosis to the UEA MSc students. Students were engaged and asked question during and following the lecture. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Inspiring Females Day - 3 inspiring GEN women |
| 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 | More than 250 girls from schools and Sixth Forms across Norfolk and beyond enjoyed a unique insight into science, technology and engineering (STEM) careers at a new event organised by Norwich High School. Inspiring Females: STEM took place in the John Innes Centre at Norwich Research Park on Wednesday 2nd May. In attendance were girls from Sheringham, Wymondham, Long Stratton, Reepham, City of Norwich School, Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form and Ormiston Victory Academy, as well as fellow GDST schools, Northampton High School and Sydenham High School. During the day the students had the opportunity to meet 19 inspiring women all currently working in STEM industries, and enjoyed an opportunity to network with their mentors, and explore key issues in science, art and diversity. Three of these women were Dr Judith Irwin, Dr Cecilia Lovkvist and PhD student Jade Doughty in the GEN ISP. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.inspiringfemales.org.uk/if-stem.html |
| Description | Inspiring Females Day - panel member |
| 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 | Caroline Dean was a panel member for the Inspiring Females day held at the JIC. She spoke about what it was like working as a plant scientist and her route through education to get to where she is now. She answered questions from the school students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.inspiringfemales.org.uk/if-stem.html |
| Description | International Undergraduate Summer School 2017 |
| 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 | The International summer school provides 15 students with 8 weeks of training, invaluable insight and experience of research to undergraduates about to enter their final year of studies. Each student spends 8 weeks in a lab at either the Sainsbury Laboratory, the Earlham Institute or the John Innes Centre, all located on the Norwich Research Park working on a project that they have selected. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| 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 with eastern daily press |
| 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 | As ISP funding was publicised, local news media ran stories on the impact this will have to science, the environment, industry and the region. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Invited Talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk at VIB Ghent, Belgium. Talking about the research findings of the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Invited speaker at Peking University, Beijing, China |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Caroline Dean was invited to speak at Peking University, Beijing, China, on the 1st June. Her seminar was entitled: 'Epigenetic switching and antisense transcription'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Invited speaker at Sustech Shenzhei, China. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Caroline Dean was invited to speak at Sustech Shenzhei, China on the 28th May. Her seminar was entitled: 'Epigenetic switching and antisense transcription'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Invited speaker at Wellcome Trust Plant 'Genomes in a Changing Environment' meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Caroline Dean gave the keynote lecture on the 24th October 2018 at the Wellcome Trust Hixton Hall Plant Genomes in a Changing Environment meeting. Her talk was entitled: 'Adapting to different winters'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | JIC Science Innovation Showcase |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | JIC scientists presenting their science to invited industry/companies |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | MSc lecture given at UEA on Flowering and Vernalization |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Caroline Dean gave an MSc lecture on Flowering and Vernalization leading to many questions and further discussion with the students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | MSc lecture x 2 - Brassica genetics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Two lectures on Brassica genetics given for the University of East Anglia Plant Breeding MSc course. Lectures contained information on past and current work at JIC and provoked questions and discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | MSc lecture x 2 - Brassica genomics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Two lectures on Brassica genomics presented for the University of East Anglia Plant Breeding MSc course. Lectures for the teachig part of the students gaining this qualification. Lecture provoked questions and discussion from the students in this area. Ongoing work within Brassica genomics at the institute was included. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | MSc lecture x 2 - Hybrids and heterosis |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Two lectures given on Hybrids and Heterosis for the University of East Anglia Plant Breeding MSc course. Details of past and current work at JIC included. Lecture stimulated good discussion and questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Mardlers dinner discussions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A group of local landowners/farmers (the Mardlers) were invited to JIC for discussions on current research. The Mardlers regularly meet in the local area with a JIC representative being in attendance at every meeting. As an alternative this event was held onsite at JIC. Discussions were held about current research at JIC and opinions heard from both the science, farming and economic areas. Both scientist and other attendees were educated about opinions and practices. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | McClintock Lecture Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Caroline Dean gave the Barbara McClintock Lecture at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NY on chromatin regulation and evolutionary adaptation. The talk stimulated discussion and questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://cshlwise.org/institutional-events/mcclintock-lectures/ |
| Description | Noel Keen Special lecture at UC Riverside. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Prof Caroline Dean C gave the Noel Keen Special lecture at UC Riverside. Her talk was entitled: 'Sensing and remembering winter' discussing epigenetic memory, vernalization and temperature sensing in the field. The lecture lead to questions and further discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| 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 | OREGIN stakeholders and management meetings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Attended OREGIN stakeholder meeting. Involved in OREGIN management commitee. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Participation in a 'Lives in Science' workshop |
| 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 participated in a 'Lives in Science' workshop in a local school. During the workshop she spoke to the students about her career as a plant scientist and encouraged them to participate in interactive activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Perception and integration of environmental signals in plants |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk at: Arabidopsis 2016: Emerging Challenges in Plant Biology, Mohali, India March 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Pint of Science talk to general public |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | "Watch out, it's a trap! Find out how plants evolve carnivorous structures spoiler alert - it's actually a modified leaf. " Chris Whitewoods gave a talk to the genral public on his research in the Coen Lab on the 14th May 2018. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Pint of Science talk: 'Jumping Genes! How The Environment Influences Our Genomes' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Rebecca Mosher gave a talk entitled 'Jumping Genes! How The Environment Influences Our Genomes' as a part of Pint of Science in May 2018. "Did you feel that? I think one of your genes just jumped! Dr. Rebecca Mosher studies those jumping genes and how our cells try to keep them still. Although jumping genes can be dangerous because they cause mutations, sometimes a lucky jump can create something new and useful." |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/evolving-diversity-the-mechanisms-behind-evolution |
| Description | Plant Genomics Conference (Nanchang, China) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Plant Genomics Conference (Nanchang, China) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Presentation at University of Lausanne |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at University of Lausanne |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Presentation at the "Auxin and Cytokinin in Plant Development" conference in Prague |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | As part of the 'Auxin and Cytokinin in Plant Development' conference in Prague I was an invited speaker and gave a presentation on a novel auxin signalling pathway. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.acpd2018.org |
| Description | Press Release: Temperature resilient crops now an "achievable dream" |
| 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 story was covered in the following articles: https://www.jic.ac.uk/press-release/temperature-resilient-crops-now-an-achievable-dream/ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-5382349/Gene-editing-hope-pod-shatter-crops.html http://www.syngenta.ca/News/market-news/new-research-addresses-%E2%80%98pod-shatter%E2%80%99 https://www.svt.se/nyheter/vetenskap/varmare-klimat-inget-problem-for-grodor-i-framtiden |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/press-release/temperature-resilient-crops-now-an-achievable-dream/ |
| Description | Press release "Distinguished role model for women in science receives global award" |
| 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/distinguished-role-model-for-women-in-science-receives-global-award/ |
| Description | Press release "How Capsella followed its lonely heart" |
| 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/how-capsella-followed-its-lonely-heart/ |
| Description | Press release: "Absence of warm temperature spikes revealed as driver for vernalisation" |
| 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/absence-of-warm-temperature-spikes-revealed-as-driver-for-vernal... |
| Description | Press release: "Breakthrough study reveals new insight into "immortal" plant cells" |
| 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/press-release/breakthrough-study-reveals-new-insight-into-immortal-plant-cells... |
| 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: "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: "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: "New angle on how cells use geometry to control their size" |
| 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/news/new-angle-on-how-cells-use-geometry-to-control-their-size/ |
| Description | Press release: "Plants have a plan for all seasons" |
| 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/plants-have-a-plan-for-all-seasons/ |
| 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 | Press release: "Surprise findings turn up the temperature on the study of vernalization" |
| 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 production of 17 stories (16 online and 1 in print) following the publication of her paper. • Ad value is the estimated cost of how much your coverage adds up if you took out an advert of equivalent prominence in that publication. This is: £1,936.74 • Monthly visits is for 16 online stories is worth = £13,537,978 • Circulation in the EDP for the one printed story = 40,713 • Laura was also interviewed by BBC Radio 4 Farming Today. No stats for this as story not aired yet. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/press-release/surprise-findings-turn-up-the-temperature-on-the-study-of-vernal... |
| Description | Prime Agriculture LLP visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit by Prime agriculture to JIC to discuss ongoing work which may be of interest to crop consultants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Public Lecture |
| 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 | I presented a lecture on plant research in my group at a Science, Chemistry and Innovation event in London on 28 Nov 2018. The audience was mixed, comprising students, the general public and industrialists |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Putting it together: How do plants sense and integrate seasonal signals? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk at: Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Paris, France. This has led to the establishment of a collaboration involving scientists from France and Spain. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | RSB Plant Sciences working group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Involved in meetings of the RSB Plant Sciences working group. Regular input into RSB Plant Science development/policy on behalf of UK Brassica Research community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Radio 4 Life Scientific |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Caroline Dean participated in Radio 4's Life Scientific programme on the 8th May explaining the genetics of vernalisation to Jim Al-Khalili. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b2jdxj |
| Description | Research presentation at the EpiPlant conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research presentation at the EpiPlant conference |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Research presentation at the Ludwig institute for cancer research in Oxford |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research presentation at the Ludwig institute for cancer research in Oxford |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Research presentation at the Society for Experimental Biology annual conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research presentation at the Society for Experimental Biology annual conference |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| 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 | Science Innovation Showcase |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | An event showcasing John Innes Centre science to industry, aiming to develop and promote new relationships between scientists and industry, breaking down any barriers and enabling productive collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.jic.ac.uk/news-and-events/whats-on/science-innovation-showcase/ |
| Description | Scientist question time at a local school |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Rebecca Horn took part in 'scientist question time' at a local primary school answering questions about what a scientists do in their jobs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Seminar given at University of Rennes entitled: 'Epigenetic switching and antisense transcription'. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On the 14th May 2018 Caroline Dean gave a seminar at the University of Rennes entitled: 'Epigenetic switching and antisense transcription'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Seventh Symposium on Plant Molecular Genetics (Sao Paolo, Brazil) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Brazilian Plant Genetics Scientific Community is hosting its Seventh Symposium on Plant Molecular Genetics, which will be held in Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brazil, from April 29 to May 3, 2019. This is a joint effort between the Brazilian Genetics Society and the plant genetics scientific community to reinforce the need of Brazil to motivate the establishment of a strong research foundation in plant biology, given the importance of agriculture for the Brazilian economy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.sbg.org.br/en/events/vii-simposio-brasileiro-de-genetica-molecular-de-plantas/welcome |
| Description | Short generation broccoli commercialisation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Discussions for the develoment of rapid cyclin brassica material for the food industry and potential for baby kale with a commercial partner. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| 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 | Soapbox Science: Norwich Science Festival 2018 public engagement |
| 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 | Caroline Dean stood on a raised platform in Norwich City Centre on 27th October 2018 and chatted to the general public about vernalization and epigenetics as a part of the Soapbox Science session of Norwich Science Festival. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Talk at JIC Science for Innovation Showcase |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The John Innes Centre invited representatives from industry to a workshop highlighting fundamental research going on at JIC that included open discussion and exchange with industry. I gave a talk at this symposium and was part of a discussion panel. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Talk entitled: 'How plants sense and remember winter' at the Max Planck Directors invitation only meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dean C. gave a talk entitled: 'How plants sense and remember winter' at the Max Planck Directors invitation only meeting, Harnack House, Berlin. The presentation triggered further questions and discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Talk on epigenetic regulation at the Systems Biology of Human Disease conference in Heidelberg |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Martin Howard gave a talk on epigenetic regulation at the Systems Biology of Human Disease conference in Heidelberg triggering further discussion and questions. We hope that by giving talks at translational meetings and conferences the application and impact of GEN research can be increased. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Ted Talk: 'Sensing and remembering winter' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Caroline Dean gave a Ted Talk: 'Sensing and remembering winter' as a part of the L'oreal Women in Science Award. There were many questions and discussions after the talk triggered by the presentation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | The Cut: Science Cafe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk at a local science cafe followed by panel debate and discussion session. Talk on Building Brilliant Brassicas ranged from researching current targets for crop improvement to genome editing. Good discussion, feedback and debate was received. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Translational talk: epigenetics at the Human Genome Centre in Edinburgh (invited speaker) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On the 4th October 2018 Prof Caroline Dean gave a talk on epigenetics at the Human Genome Centre in Edinburgh. By giving talks to fields outside of plant science the impact and application of the science will be increased. Her talk was entitled: 'Epigenetic switching and antisense transcription.' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | UEA Lecture BIO-6025B Plant Biotechnology for Sustainable Food Production by Jo Hepworth |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Lecture as part of the BIO-6025B Plant Biotechnology for Sustainable Food Production, udergraduate biology students |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | UK-BRC stakeholder online meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | |Organised/Ran the UK-BRC stakeholders meeting online. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Visit to Elsoms Seeds to discuss potention for doubled haploid production in research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Visit to Elsoms seed to discuss potential for doubled haploid production in current JIC research. Outcome of providing material to Elsoms to perform a service. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Visit to Lister Community School, East London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The PI (C Dean) visited the school and discussed with three cohorts of teenagers the prospects for science careers. I showed the L'Oreal video filmed at the John Innes Centre that described how the lab studies how plants monitor and remember seasons. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Visit to Newnham College Cambridge |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | To raise science careers as a topic to the undergraduates in this all female College |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| 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 | 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 | 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: 'How plants plan for all seasons' |
| 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 YouTube video: 'How plants plan for all seasons' was produced by the Dean and Irwin Lab. The video had received over 1000 views through the JIC twitter account and the JIC YouTube channel on the 13.03.19. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnCPKI7vZck |
| 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 |