2020 has created a challenge for those of us involved with engaging with the public. Usually, we host events that involve face-to-face interactions, but this is not currently possible. It has meant we have needed to be creative in order to continue providing the kind of diverse and high-quality events that we are known for at the University of Dundee.
For Dundee Science Festival, we have produced a series of self-guided walking tours with accompanying scavenger hunt focusing on some of the interesting Dundee history related to medicine and life sciences along with links to present-day research currently taking place at the University. The activity has been planned to allow people to learn about past and current science in Dundee in a mode that supports social distancing rules and allows for those without digital access to participate in the Festival.
This project has been led by the School of Life Sciences and Museum Services with contributions from researchers across the University including the School of Medicine, the School of Dentistry, the School of Health Sciences, the Centre for Anatomy & Human Identification and the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science. It has been truly a cross-University effort.
The map has been designed and illustrated by DJCAD graduate James Gemmill and is accompanied by more in-depth information on: http://uod.ac.uk/DundeeDiscoveriesMap
We hope that you get out in the fresh air and learn the many fascinating stories about Dundee, past and present.
Copies of the map can be picked up from Dundee Science Centre which will be open at weekends during the festival. Anyone living in the Dundee City Council area can also have a free copy posted to them – if you would like to receive one, please email SLS-PublicEngagement@dundee.ac.uk
The project has been undertaken thanks to support from the Wellcome Institutional Strategic Support Fund awarded to the University of Dundee. Please follow current Covid-19 guidelines when undertaking the walks.