Dr. Ann Lackie

- a brief biography
   
Ann Lackie read Zoology at the University of London's Bedford College and obtained her doctorate in parasitology at the Molteno Institute, University of Cambridge. She remained in Cambridge for a further three years as Assistant in Research in Parasitology and Research Fellow at New Hall, before moving to a Lectureship in the Department of Zoology, University of Glasgow. Between 1976 and 1989, when she resigned to write and broadcast, she
  • ran a research group on insect immune mechanisms and their evasion by parasites that was funded by MRC, NERC, SERC, AFRC, and WHO, amongst others;
  • wrote research papers, reviews, book chapters, and edited Zoological Society of London Symposium volume 56;
  • organised sessions at national and international conferences, and convened the ZSL's Symposium on 'Immune Mechanisms in Invertebrate Vectors';
  • was Visiting Associate Professor at Oregon State University in 1983.
Since leaving academic life, Ann has written novels and short stories (published under her writer's name of 'Ann Lingard') and non-fiction articles, and co-edited a book about the history, geography and natural history of Otmoor, Oxfordshire. With regard to broadcasting, she devised and presented her own regular programme on Radio Oxford about 'the science of the countryside', and recently devised the BBC Radio 4 series, 'Nature's Magic'. Further details and links to webcasts, articles and BBC Radio, and much more, can be found on Ann's own website, www.annlingard.com

With a foot in each of the 'two cultures', she is uniquely placed to help bridge the gap between art, fiction and science; this is a particular enthusiasm, and she has organised events, written articles, given talks and run workshops for writers, with this aim. Another rôle to which Ann is strongly committed is to help non-scientists - and particularly those who have no further opportunity of education - understand the ideas, excitement and dilemmas of modern science, by giving easy-to-understand talks and workshops.

Projects and consultancies

Science talks, workshops and other events
  • 'Talking Science in Cumbria': Outreach Associate of PEALS Research Institute, Newcastle University; Wellcome Trust Engaging Science Award, July 2003-June 2005. Talks and workshops on eg. stem cells, Human Genome Project, genetic modification, cloning, to rural and community groups such as Young Farmers, WI, Rotary, Townswomen's Guild, Soroptomists, U3A, Humanists, Quilters' Guild, primary and secondary schools, and many others.
  • Café Scientifique. Cumbria's first Café Sci, in Cockermouth. It is currently sponsored by Jennings Brewery.
  • Creative Science. Workshops for Heads of Science from secondary schools, July 2005
  • Big Brother House: workshop/event about GM animals, for secondary schools; 2004, 2005
Science on radio
  • 1997-1998 Radio Oxford; choosing themes, interviewing, and presenting regular programme on science of the countryside
  • 2004 Nature's Magic: originator and Scientific Consultant for series of 5 Radio 4 programmes, mixing reports by 18th and 19th century naturalists about unusual animal phenomena with interviews with modern scientists about the use to which the phenomena have been put in contemporary science.
  • Leave nothing but footprints: a 15-minute radio play, short-listed and commended for BBC Radio’s Moving Stories competition, 2006.
  • Seaside Pleasures: a 45-minute play about Emily Gosse, under consideration for Radio 4.
Science and art
  • Games of chance: the parasite's roulette wheel. A joint project with the artist and sculptor Rebecca Nassauer; short-listed for the Sci-Art Consortium's year 2000 Awards.
  • Thread of Life: a workshop about images of science – genes, cells and tissues – with the Quilters’ Guild. 2005
  • A different point of view: a proposal for a video, music and writing project about achondroplasia: with Rebecca Mellor (artist) and Steve Marshall (composer).
Science in fiction

Four published novels that use some science, or scientists as characters: Figure in a Landscape and The Fiddler's Leg (both published by Headline); Floating Stones, an e-book published by Online Originals; and Seaside Pleasures, published by Littoralis Press. Seaside Pleasures was described by Matt Ridley as 'A very fine piece of writing that, uniquely among modern novels, makes real use of science rather than wearing science on its sleeve. Tremendously good plot, story and narrative style, fascinating history and even better science. A true two-culture achievement.' Wellcome Trust History of Medicine grant towards research expenses for next novel, The Embalmer's Book of Recipes.

Science, art and fiction: conferences, workshops and other events
  • Putting the science into fiction: illustrated talks and/or workshops. For example, University of Cambridge Discovery Series, 2004; NHM Darwin Centre Live, 2003; Linnean Society, 2004; Zoological Society of London, 2004; UEA Creative Writers' courses, 2006; Anglia Ruskin University writers, 2006; QMUL writers, 2006; Romantic Novelists' Association annual conference 2006; Authors North 2006; Edinburgh International Book Festival 2006
  • Ards Arts Collective Sci-Art conference Belfast, February 2006 — as invited participant; to give a talk (Starlight and seaweed — putting the science into art), run a workshop for scientists and artists (What do you see?) and take part in discussion panel.
  • Four scientists in search of an author: Adam Street Club, London, April 25th 2006: organised an event for PEN, with four scientists talking to fiction-writers about their lives in and out of the lab.
  • Dana Centre, Science Museum, London, May 10th 2006: The Subtle Science Short Story Challenge (see also 'events' on www.scitalk.org.uk); organised an event for 60 fiction-writers; the event included subsequent visits by writers to the scientists' labs, and the option of entering the short story competition, sponsored by Guardian Unlimited.
  • Words and Pictures: explaining science; Wolfson College, Oxford, 1998. Originated, organised, marketed and ran the one-day conference. Speakers included Susan Greenfield, Georgina Ferry, Tim Hunkin, John Carey, Ian Stewart.
  • Natural History Museum, London, 2001-2; Scientific Consultant for proposed major exhibition about parasites.
  • Words and Pictures: explaining science through art and writing: Cumbria Institute of the Arts, Carlisle, 2003. Suggested the idea, and then employed as Consultant to arrange the programme of speakers and exhibitors.
  • The Excitement of Science (Annual Dalton Commemoration Event): Cockermouth, 2003 — 
    Consultant and help with organising this event at which writers of 'popular science' give illustrated talks to the general public. Invited speakers have included Frances Ashcroft, Trevor Norton, Chris McManus, Matt Ridley, Richard Fortey, Jenny Uglow, Vivienne Parry and Quentin Cooper.
Recent and current projects
  • tEXtPERIMENT: 2005. Science Consultant, encouraging playwrights from NW England to include science and scientists in their plays; in collaboration with Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, and North-West Playwrights; part-funded by Arts Council NW.
  • Footsteps in the Sand: 2005. Creative Partnerships/CARA Award with Stephen Burrowes, Settlebeck High School, aimed at enthusing Year 9s (13-14 year-olds) about science: using ‘the science of the shore’ as stimulus, followed by instruction and support in creative writing (stories, poems, articles and posters), audio interviewing and the use of digital imagery. February 2006, both invited to facilitate the qualitative evaluation 'strand' at CARA's Digging for Diamonds conference, London.
  • SciTalk: 2005 —; with Peter Normington of ARDUS funded 2005/6 by NESTA and now partly supported by British Mycological Society and the Biosciences Federation. A website and database of scientists who would enjoy meeting and talking to fiction-writers about their work; publicising the project includes writing articles and giving talks about the project throughout the UK. See, for example, Science Fusion.
  • Wellcome Science: regular columnist on 'public perception' of science, Science from the Outside