Communicating the frontiers of neuroscience through art

2008 topics:
The Moral Brain
What does it mean to be human

Poster (small or large) (Invitation to apply)
Sponsored by MRC-LMB:
Press Coverage: Cambridge Evening News 30Oct 2008, Cambridge Weekly News 6Nov 2008
Photographs of works of art by Neil Grant

Judges for ITB 2008

Sarah Campbell, Education Officer, Kettle's Yard, Cambridge
and Gillian Brodie, Local artist and scientist

(Pictured alongside Dr Harvey McMahon and Dr Nigel Unwin)

Judges for Imagining The Brain art competition 2008
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Sarah Campbell says: This is the second year I have been involved as a judge and I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to see such a fantastic range of artistic responses to the questions set by the MRC. The ability to express an idea creatively and visually is key to both an understanding of science and the role of artists in society. This competition brings these two strands together in a novel way that is a wonderful opportunity for students to develop their work.
Other comments:


Lucinda Dawkins, Emma Mayoux-Andrews and Maddy Butter: winners in Imagining The Brain art competition 2008, Neurobiology Division, MRC-LMB, Cambridge

The winners for 2008 were: Lucinda Dawkins, Emma Maynoux-Andrews and Maddy Butter
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1st prize
Lucinda Dawkins from: The Perse School for Girls
with Adam1

"I want my sculpture to be morally acceptable itself, so I use only (or mostly) recycled materials. The sculpture represents Adam, and at the centre of his brain is an apple. This explores the concept that all the moral decisions we take are based on the idea of an 'original sin'..... If morality could be pinpointed in a certain place, surely the most obvious is therefore the prefontal cortex. My sculpture explores the fact that since the prefontal cortex is a genetically inherited piece of tissue, morality is therefore 'programmed' into the brain. The prefontal cortex is represented in the sculpture by an apple.... sin has been embedded within us ... ever since the mythical Adam and Eve first took a bite of that apple." (comments)
Adam: The Moral Brain
Adam and original sin

The apple, representing sin, implanted within Adam's brain
Larger image: Adam's Apple
Summer work: Cell gymnastics, web page with sketches
Comments from judge Sarah Campbell: Lucinda Dawkin's 'Adam 1' is a striking sculpture. The judges were particularly impressed by how well the initial question had been researched and the inventive and skillful use of everyday materials. The breadth of ideas covered in the work includes science, philosophy, religion, consumerism and the environment and could be the starting point for numerous discussions. It is a highly inventive and creative response.
Comments from judge Gillian Brodie: I thought the winning piece was very clever and well executed. For me, it said that the capability of making a moral decision about something is there in all of us. The apple represents this and is always embedded somewhere, hopefully not too deep, in the back of our minds. Whether we choose to use this or not, is a different matter. But it is definitely something that exists in all of us and I feel that this is one of the vital things that distinguishes us from the animal world and makes us human. Our decisions are not all based on pure animal instinct, but of course occasionally, we can get carried away! This piece of art beautifully captured a complex scientific concept.
Genes in Action


2nd prize
'Genes in action'
by
Emma Mayoux-Andrews
Hills Road Sixth Form College


The consequences of our genes in action, addressing
What makes us Human

Details1
Details2
Details3

"DNA codes for every aspect of our physical being: hands, feet, eyes, fingerprints. To represent this on every ball is an image of a part of the body drawn in blueprint style.
Four different coloured lights represent the four different bases of DNA and the lights alternate to show how it is which genes are active as well as how they are arranged that is important."

Comments from judge Sarah Campbell: Emma Mayoux-Andrews' 'Genes in Action' is a great example of using art to demonstrate a very abstract idea. The sculpture is a successful composition and interesting on an artistic level as well as being informative and educational. The blueprint idea has been very imaginatively applied to the finished work.

Human Connections

3rd prize
'Links'
by
Maddy Butter
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

"A representation of the connections of humans with the environment, animals and machines. We rely on all three throughout our lives but often neglect to recognize this."
(Final piece)
(Without boarder)

Comments from judge Sarah Campbell: Maddy Butter's 'Links' gets to the heart of the question 'What is it to be Human?' in a succinct and vivid image. It has a playful quality to it that is also very appealing. She has also demonstrated good technical skills required to manipulate the original photographs.

Entry in the category: What makes us human

Blonnie Walsh
The Perse School for Girls

"I looked at family trees in relation to genetics and differences between humans. We are defined by our unique genes, which are evident both physically and psychologically. I designed 6 canvas patterns which represent the shapes of family trees...."
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Entry in the category: What makes us human

'Where we belong'
by
Sara Leonard
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

"It doesn't matter what you look like on the outside, but how you look on the inside. The mother is showing an act of love and protection towards her newborn baby and even though she is part bird she is still a human. Another idea is suggested from the two paintings behind them, the idea is 'Where do they belong?' The painting of the city symbolizes civilization and the painting of the country-side symbolizes wilderness. If the Mother and child are humans then do they belong in civilization with the humans? Or in the wilderness, because being part bird separates them too much from being human?"
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Entry in the category: What makes us human

Bryony Toop
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre



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Entry in the category: What makes us human

'Evolution'
by
Kelly Ann Day
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

"This represents the human evolutionary process and how we can hamper this by our own actions, and resort back to primitive instincts via substance and alcohol abuse."
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Entry in the category: What makes us human

'Human attributes'
by
Victoria Bristow
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

"How we continually hunt for and apply human characteristics to animals."
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Entry in the category: What makes us human

Emma Maynoux-Andrews
Hills Road Sixth Form College

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Entry in the category: What makes us human

'Tiger-tiger'
by
Mariam Ahmed
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

"Humanities link with the animal kingdom and how we often attribute peoples actions and characteristics to that of animals e.g ‘he’s as strong as a ox, she has a feline grace…etc’."
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Entry in the category: What makes us human

'Hybrid'
by
Bryony Toop
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

"A reflection of how humans are genetically linked with animals, and at our core we share the same survival instincts."
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Entry in the category: What makes us human

'Feline'
by
Neil Wells
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

"Defining femininity through feline attributes."
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Entry in the category: What makes us human

'Primate'
by
Hannah Carrington
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

"Basic movements and postures of humans are similar to that of primates. Our link to the primate world is evidenced by our physical appearance and genetic make-up."
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Entry in the category: The Brain and Morality

'Emotion'
by
Heather Bohnenstiehl
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

"The human condition is fragile, a slow down of regenerative processes takes place as we become older, and this affects our emotional, mental and physical state."
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Entry in the category: The Brain and Morality

'Mind map'
by
Ross McDowall
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

"I took pictures of three of my friends and, using photoshop edited the pictures using a variety of images to portray the variety in human minds and how outside apperances can sometimes be deceiving, but at other times, can be quite revealing."
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Imagining the brain 2008


Entry in the category: The Brain and Morality

Vimbai Katsande
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

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Entry in the category: The Brain and Morality

Charlotte Taylor
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

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Entry in the category: What makes us human

'Expression'
by
Sam Dedross
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

"The face often represents us and reflects the core of our emotional state; it is a major communicative tool."
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Entry in the category: The Brain and Morality

Nathalie Richards
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

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Entry in the category: The Brain and Morality

Kelly Hall
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

"Capturing the link between children and morality by looking at how violence shapes children's moral reasoning. The child holding the gun represents those who unfortunately have their innocence corrupted by a violent world around them, and copy the actions of those they look up to. The teddy bear represents the girl's innocence and the gun obviously represents violence and corruption of the innocent state."
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Entry in the category: The Brain and Morality

Julie Corner
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

The object in the centre of the apple of the eye is a mirror.
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Entry in the category: The Brain and Morality

Katy Tsang
The Leys School

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Entry in the category: The Brain and Morality

'Cerebral Activity'
by
Danny Malone
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

"A display of a brain active state, focussing on the electrical surges it relies upon to communicate."
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Entry in the category: What makes us human

James Perrott
Netherhall Sixth Form Centre

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Montage used for Imagining The Brain 2008
Montage of pieces from Imagining The Brain
Reception for winners, with Hugh Pelham, director of LMB, in Neurobiology Division of the MRC-LMB on 25 Sept 2008 (Picture)

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