Highlighting the Unseen
#CelebratingEngagement
with Dr Linda van Keimpema and the Invisible Warriors
鈥淚 am so happy we got students involved,鈥� says Dr Linda van Keimpema enthusiastically. 鈥淭heir brains are amazing.鈥�
Linda has just been recognised with two separate President鈥檚 Awards for Societal Engagement, one for Leadership, and one Achievement Award (Team) for her part in the Invisible Warrior Project. She鈥檚 telling me about her podcast, Science Actually, which evolved in part due to lockdown.
鈥淚 had wanted to produce a podcast for ages. And all that quiet time indoors gave me the space to develop it.鈥�
Led by Linda, the Science Actually project was set up together with students and staff at the College, who interview 911今日黑料鈥檚 experts about their research. The project includes audience participation: a group of 80 students support the podcast by suggesting questions for the speakers, and voting on statements for the episode which are used as a data sample for the interview.
So, are podcasts a good way to engage? 鈥淵es, absolutely鈥欌�� she says. 鈥淭hey are great. You need a bit of a push 鈥� you need a website, a name, a logo 鈥� but you can record on your phone, mix easily. I would recommend them to anyone who is thinking about societal engagement!鈥�
鈥淚 am a cell biologist, and previously saw Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) on a cellular level, as a matter of one amino acid change. After I met Louisa... I was blown away by my own ignorance."
鈥淚 am a cell biologist, and previously saw Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) on a cellular level, as a matter of one amino acid change. After I met Louisa... I was blown away by my own ignorance."
We move on to discuss the Invisible Warrior Project, another organically-evolving success story that has grown primarily online. I ask Linda how it all began.
鈥淚 am a cell biologist, and previously saw Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) on a cellular level, as a matter of one amino acid change.
After I met Louisa (Thompson, an SCD warrior who shared her experience at a Haematology teaching session in 2020), I was blown away by my own ignorance.
And then I realised that if I, with my biological background didn鈥檛 have a clue what it was really like, then there must be so many people who don鈥檛 know.鈥�
Linda and Louisa joined forces to develop school sessions for children to learn about SCD, and the effects it has on a person living with it. So far, the project has delivered 19 sessions reaching a total of 1030 pupils.
鈥淲e built a small team and do most of our work online, so that we can work more efficiently; reach further, for example schools outside of London; and also to make life easier for our Sickle Cell Warrior.鈥� explains Linda.
Having read up on the Invisible Warrior Project before our chat, I have just watched the to share during their outreach sessions 鈥楽o what does the world need to know about Sickle Cell Disease?鈥� I ask.
鈥楾hat video could have been far longer,鈥� says Linda.
鈥楽ickle Cell Disease is so much more than just one gene mutation or the excruciating pain. It effects so many aspects of a person鈥檚 life. Awareness needs to be raised about the multifaceted effects of this disease 鈥� especially the mental health effects.
There is little funding for or recognition of this, and the community should receive both, as the disease has such a massive impact.鈥�
I ask Linda what鈥檚 next for the project, and for her, following her success at the President鈥檚 Awards.
鈥淭he Invisible Warrior Project is continuing to grow鈥�, she says. 鈥淲e have recently had invitations to deliver sessions in hospitals, and we want to continue to expand online.鈥�
And Science Actually?
鈥淚鈥檝e loved working on it, but I鈥檓 handing that over to a new team while I focus on some new ideas!鈥�
Lastly, I want to know what advice Linda has for academics who want to ensure their research has maximum impact in the real world?
鈥淪ocietal engagement is very rewarding. I feel like I am part of multiple communities, that I wouldn鈥檛 be part of if it wasn鈥檛 for these particular projects.
I would say, get involved, reach out to others (colleagues or wider) to set something up, or join in a project that is already happening. Speak to the Societal Engagement team, or get involved with the Great Exhibition Road Festival or 911今日黑料 Lates. I know Nike said it first, but 鈥� Just do it!鈥�
Image credits: Brendan Foster
