LabNotes Project
Lorraine Kerr
SynthSys University of Edinburgh
KE Scotland Conference, 5 October 2012
LabNotes Project
• Collaboration between – Scientist – Dr Lorraine Kerr – Composer – Dr Jane Stanley – Social Scientist – Dr Christine Knight – Freelance film maker – Martin Clark
• Compose a musical work and create a short accompanying film inspired by a specialised robot used in laboratory research at SynthSys, University of Edinburgh
• Harness the fascination of the general public with robots and challenge common conceptions
• Professional and personal leadership and development programme
• For experienced post-doctoral researchers and those in their first academic position
• Open to all academic disciplines as well as industry-based researchers
• Increase innovative capacity amongst highly promising research leaders of the future who are building their careers in Scotland
• Enhance participants’ ability to think creatively and innovatively in their work
• Increase participants’ understanding of how research can impact on society and how they could communicate their work to a wider audience
• Project fund criteria – Interdisciplinary – Innovative – Sustainable – Cross institution
Kinetic Parameter Facility - KPF
• Core experimental resource
• Hub of high-end state-of-the-art quantitative equipment and expertise
– Synthetic and systems biology research
– Parameterisation of mathematical models
– Used by variety of researchers across UoE and beyond
• Housed in purpose-built controlled environment laboratory
KPF Platform: People and Instruments
Gene Expression
qPCR
Protein Expression
Molecular Interactions
Surface Plasmon Resonance
Liquid handling robot
Auto Isothermal Titration Calorimetry
Automation
HPLC-MS
Eliane Salvo-Chirnside
Lorraine Kerr
Sarah Martin
Thierry Le Bihan
Martin Barrios-Llerena
Bioanalyzer
Molecular Analysis
Applications of Robot
High throughput nucleic acid extraction – Silica membrane based – Illustra RNAspin 96 (GE Healthcare)
• Total RNA – Plants (Arabidopsis seedlings) – Yeast – Mammalian cells (MRC-5)
• Genomic DNA from blood – Soay sheep
Assay set up • Genotyping • qPCR for gene expression • Screening • Biosciences KTN SPARK award
Methods
• Sonic and visual “study” in robotic gesture
• Machine movements related to human gestures – “punching” – “dabbing” – “dipping” – “rippling” – “patting”
• Piano – robot gestures are pianistic in character
• Robot must be programmed (“choreographed”) to perform a range of operations – composer, film maker and scientist worked closely together on this
• Musical score will showcase sonic “analogues”: musical patterns imitating physical motion
Outputs
1. 10 minute integrated music and film piece
2. Musical-gestural language analogous to the robot’s movements
3. Innovative, audiovisual method for arts-science engagement and public engagement with science
4. Article for Tecan Journal (international journal of the robot manufacturer)
5. Article for science communication community
Project so far…
• Several preparatory meetings – meeting the robot
• Practicalities of filming & arrangements – engineer availability
– working in busy lab with other equipment & users
– equipment noise
– light & reflections
• Filming
Robot video
Filming
Filming
Project so far…
• Rough cut of film
• Initial composition
• Refinement of film
• Composition
• Dissemination – Article in Tecan Journal
– Published Feb 2012
– Invited presentation at ESRC Genomics Network Conference
Next: Public Engagement
• Harness the fascination of the general public with robots and challenge common conceptions
• Online dissemination through YouTube and Vimeo
• Launch event at Cameo Cinema, Edinburgh – Planning for Jan 2013
• Festivals – Science Festivals (eg Edinburgh) – Experimental film festivals (eg, Ann
Arbor Film Festival) – International experimental music
festivals (eg, ISCM World Music Days)
Acknowledgements
• Eliane Salvo-Chirnside
• Paul Noble
• Funders