People with opinions
The aim of the project was to work with two different community groups in the North East of England and it proved very challenging finding people who wanted to take part.
The writers
"Literary agency New Writing North helped in bringing together writers who would form a new group to look at stem cell research," explains the project innovator Lisa Matthews.
"With the writers I wanted the initial emphasis to be on creativity and discovery and I firmly believe that to engage in the stem cell debate you must first be familiar with the rudimentary science and have an understanding of some of the concepts and terminology associated with such a complex field of biotechnology. You cannot simply put on a public event, stand a stem cell researcher up in front of the crowd, get them to talk about their work and then say that crowd will understand the issues. To engage takes time and that’s what this project attempted to do.
"Over four weeks the writing group met and we explored basic stem cell issues from a variety of angles and using many different creative techniques. We always planned, right from the outset, to run the project for at least another year and in the second phase we will be hosting visiting speakers who will be experts in various areas of the stem cell debate, opening up more avenues of controversy and science that can be discussed and responded to."
The writers who took part in this project are:
- Beverly Addy
- Christopher Barnes
- Jackie Collins
- Rachel Cunliffe
- Barbara Gordon
- Catherine Graham
- Marilyn Longstaff
- David Mason
- Stevie Ronnie
Find out more about the writers who took part in this project
Young thinkers
As well as the writers, I visited the Angelou Centre in the West End of Newcastle and talked to the girl’s and young women’s group that meet there about stem cell research. We concentrated on compiling a list of questions the girls would like to ask a stem cell scientist. Their questions are presented here as they asked them and we hope to engage actual, working scientists to answer them. These young people showed startling insight and understanding of the issues and asked some very provocative questions.
The photographer
Photographs on this website are by Phyllis Christopher, who is engaged to record and reflect Stemistry's participants and events.
The participants
LISA MATTHEWS
Lisa Matthews is an established poet and writer who has recently completed the first draft of a novel-in-progress called The Power Station Feeling. She will be continuing to work with PEALS over the next two years.
PEALS
PEALS is a research centre within Newcastle University. As its name policy, ethics and life sciences — hence PEALS — suggests, the centre promotes research and debate on the social and ethical aspects of genetics, biology and related areas, and was recently behind a successful bid for the three partner institutions to be a Beacon for Public Engagement.
THE ANGELOU CENTRE
The Angelou Centre, based in the West End of Newcastle upon Tyne, promotes the economic independence of black and minority ethnic women through training and development.