Art and Science Blend in Illuminating Minds: Neuron Puppets Project Receives Leeds Cultural Institute Fund
Image courtesy of Bradford Producing Hub
Bradford artist Sue Walpole and University of Leeds PhD candidate, Morgan Thomas have been awarded the Leeds Cultural Institute Follow-on Fund for their project, Illuminating Minds: Neuron Puppets in Light. This £3,000 fund is a continuation of the Leeds Creative Labs collaboration project with Bradford Producing Hub (BPH) and is designed to advance promising projects to the next stage of their development. The initiative supports participants as they test ideas, develop proof of concept, and build strategic partnerships.
Illuminating Minds merges cutting-edge research in glioblastoma—a form of brain cancer—with artistic puppetry, creating an interactive experience that makes complex neural processes accessible to the public. Morgan Thomas, a glioblastoma researcher, and Sue Walpole, an artist specialising in lantern puppetry, collaborated initially as part of the Leeds Creative Labs programme. Now, with the Follow-on Fund, they aim to refine their innovative neuron puppets, which use proximity sensors and LED lighting programmed to mimic the activity of brain cells.
“The BPH and Leeds Cultural Institute Follow-on Fund is enabling us to take a crucial step forward in making brain research both tangible and engaging,” said Sue Walpole. “Through our neuron puppets, we’re not only illustrating scientific ideas but also inviting people to interact with them in a way that’s hands-on and memorable.”
The duo’s objective is to bridge art and science in ways that deepen public understanding of neurological functions, particularly focusing on glioblastoma research. In addition to refining the puppet designs, the project will develop engagement workshops for audiences of all ages in settings such as schools, exhibitions, and public light festivals.
Sue and Morgan will work closely with key mentors, including experts from the University of Leeds School of Electronics and Engineering, Dave Lynch from Immersive Networks and sound artist Duncan Chapman. Each collaborator brings essential skills and knowledge to enhance the technical and creative dimensions of Illuminating Minds, contributing to its mechanical, sensory, and immersive components.
As part of the next stage, the project team will conduct field research at events such as Light Up North and Light Night Leeds to observe audience engagement with similar installations. This experience will help shape Illuminating Minds’ public engagement strategy and ensure it resonates with diverse audiences.
The project’s main goals are to advance the collaboration between academic research and creative practice, finalise a prototype design of neuron-inspired puppets, and implement a showcase workshop event. A highlight will be the Illuminating Minds workshop scheduled for March 2025, where the team will invite public participants to engage with the neuron puppets and provide feedback on their experience. Following this period of research and development, the pair will seek additional funding for further project development and performance.
“We are thrilled by the opportunity to continue our project with the support of the Follow-on Fund,” said Morgan Thomas. “By merging scientific research and art, we’re fostering a deeper connection with science for audiences who may not typically engage with it. This project symbolises how art and science can illuminate each other.”
