Outreach
We are disseminating knowledge about the pancreatic β-cell architecture and function, along with insights about how science works inspired by CellLab, to the general public. We are already collaborating with artists at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, resulting in the World in a Cell (WIAC) project. The team is creating immersive Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality experiences of the pancreatic β-cell by leveraging advanced gaming technologies and storytelling to drive a narrative about cell biology. This collaboration is the foundation of a new biology course that was piloted in a Los Angeles high school. Work is in progress to create a museum exhibit that will help students understand the cell. We are also working on patient education modules with a clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles that will help children understand the scientific basis of their treatments. Further, we will design educational tools that convey the large-scale, data-driven, collaborative work that CellLab facilitates, including for undergraduate and high school curricula. Finally, we will host a podcast featuring conversations between philosophers and scientists and a YouTube channel with short videos describing different elements of CellLab. These efforts will contribute to a more nuanced public understanding of scientific practice.