Creative workshop opens the public's eyes to Diabetes

Members of the Diabetes Research Group held a very successful creative workshop 'Window into the Pancreas' on Saturday 22 February 2020.

The workshop was Led by Professor Susan Wong with the help of Dr Joanne Boldison, Dr Emma Robinson, Dr James Pearson, Dr Terri Thayer and Mrs Joanne Davies, together with our Artist-In-Residence Bridget O’Brien.

hosted 27 people who included individuals with type 1 diabetes and their families, as well as people who did not have a connection wtih type 1 diabetes.

Using creative materials, the workshop allowed an exploration of questions that included 'Where is the pancreas? What does it do? What is type 1 diabetes?'. The participants were also able to use a variety of creative materials to contribute to an artwork 'What does type 1 diabetes mean to me?'.

These art contributions will be brought together as part of an art display that will be exhibited at Llandough Hospital, later in the year.

One of the goals of the workshop was to ask participants for their comments and suggestions for our interactive contribution to the 'Science in Health' programme, at the School of Medicine, which will be attended by up to 800 year-12 school students in March 2020.

The event was supported by Cardiff University Systems Immunity University Research Institute, and an engagement grant from Wellcome ISSF.

We would like to especially thank Miranda Burdett and Abi Clarke of JDRF for their support.