Dr Elizabeth Burns is not only a postdoctoral research
scientist, but also an accomplished artist. Lizzie draws
inspiration from the world of molecular and cellular biology
to create striking images that both please the eye and bring
to life the invisible and dynamic processes fundamental to
life. Lizzie has been fascinated by biology and art since
childhood. She found time during a PhD and postdoc in cancer
research at Oxford University Department of Biochemistry to
combine her interests, producing paintings inspired by
sub-cellular biology.
"Applying my scientific knowledge and painting to reveal
the beauty and complexity of life has been personally very
rewarding," she says. Lizzie’s paintings have featured on the
covers of scientific journals and books, and she has also
exhibited photography, and written a play - Autodestruct -
about cancer, cloning and the ethics of human experimentation
which was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Lizzie's latest project, Medical Research Revealed, is an
exhibition of paintings, photographs, and interviews with
researchers, and was inspired by MRC's mission statement "to
promote public engagement with medical research".
Her aim is to bridge what she sees as a widening gap
between scientists and non-scientists. She hopes her
exhibition will depict the beauty of MRC funded biomedical
research, provide an insight into how science is done, and
reveal what motivates the personalities behind the science.
She will spend a year visiting MRC scientists throughout
the UK, and immersing herself in their latest work to gather
material and ideas for the exhibition. The work will be
unveiled during the BA festival of science in Salford in
September 2003. A selection
of pictures by Lizzie Burns is available for view on this
website. |