Jen McAlinden

The focus for this research is interdisciplinary, traversing art, science and early years education. There is an established basis for this approach, referred to as STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths) education, and expansion on the more established STEM education approach.

The objective is to establish if and how illustrative creative play can be used to help children develop an early understanding and appreciation of microbiology whilst fostering a sense of ‘biophilia’ and/or ‘Ecophilia’.  Using fungal mycelium as the focus organism, activity books, online resources, workshop formats and interactive materials will be developed. These will be designed to engage and educate preschool children (aged 3-5) through pictorial exploration. The materials will be developed in this research through illustration and sculpture, with my personal creative practice at its heart. My own creative practice is based in visualisation of microbial life and introducing a sense of its beauty, ubiquitous nature and vital role in life on Earth. Within this research, I will explore mycelium and it’s fruiting bodies as both subject matter and as material through development within my personal creative practice.

The subject of the materials will be visualisation and conceptualisation of mycelium as it is associated with personal microbiomes and ecosystems in Scotland. Research aims to creatively engage children in microbiology, to facilitate better understanding through visual representation and interactive play, focussing on microorganisms that are vitally important, but often invisible within a child’s daily life. 

Names of Supervisors:

• Mick Peter, Paul Harrison and Alan Prescott