Skip to main content
Research and Business
Wind turbines against a blue sky reflected in ground water

Seed

Seed is designed to spark new collaborative partnerships and give them space to develop. It is not a scheme for project ideas, instead it is designed to start conversations that will lead to cross-disciplinary collaborations. There is no brief other than to talk, explore ideas connected to our research and just see what happens.

Through Seed, BSI scientists and creatives connect based on their approach, their creative ambitions and professional interests. Matching of partners will be done by participants and an expert panel of academics and creatives with a wealth of experience of working across disciplines.

Call for Seed participants is currently open - closing date 26 April 2024. 

 

Summary of Seed funding 

  • Brings together creatives, academics and BSI scientists.
  • Partners are matched using the online tool: Well-sorted. This allows participants to contribute to the matching alongside an internal panel.
  • Initial meetings are held to introduce partners (costs of the creatives’ time is covered).
  • Creative partners are then further funded to allow at least three hours of conversations (up to £550 in total).
  • Sharing event at the end of the conversations to discuss the experience.

Funding to spark new Art-Science collaborations 

  • Dr Alison Lane (Durham Psychology) and Lady Michaelle St Vincent

    A 2023 Seed conversation between Dr Alison Lane (Durham Psychology) and Lady Michaelle St Vincent (https://ladymichaellestvincent.myportfolio.com/) has sparked a new collaboration to explore the interaction between the perception of colour and with that of smell.
    Dr Lane (Psychology) with artwork

  • Art-Science - Open Exhibition

    A conversation held in the very first Seed round (2021) has led to a new exhibition planned to be held at the Botanic Gardens in 2025. Creative responses are being invited now to images collected by Dr Robert Banks during his 50 year career at the frontier of biosciences research.
    Microscopy image of a nerve cell, or neuron, from the cortex of the cerebellum, courtesy of Dr R W Banks.

Dr Alison Lane (Durham Psychology) and Lady Michaelle St Vincent

A 2023 Seed conversation between Dr Alison Lane (Durham Psychology) and Lady Michaelle St Vincent (https://ladymichaellestvincent.myportfolio.com/) has sparked a new collaboration to explore the interaction between the perception of colour and with that of smell.
Dr Lane (Psychology) with artwork

Art-Science - Open Exhibition

A conversation held in the very first Seed round (2021) has led to a new exhibition planned to be held at the Botanic Gardens in 2025. Creative responses are being invited now to images collected by Dr Robert Banks during his 50 year career at the frontier of biosciences research.
Microscopy image of a nerve cell, or neuron, from the cortex of the cerebellum, courtesy of Dr R W Banks.
BSI Art-Sciences News

How to Apply

To take part please submit your interests using Well Sorted (an online form and sorting tool): https://www.well-sorted.org/study/submitItems.php?id=DurhamBSICreateSeed. Or by email to [email protected] (please limit submissions to two areas of interest).

Deadline: 26 April 2024

Where matches are identified we will help to arrange the initial Seed conversations. If after their first meetings, the partners want to continue their conversations we will provide funds (of up to £550) to cover the creatives partner’s time and travel. Our minimum expectation is that the partners will take part in a series of 3, one hour-long meetings, this can include the initial conversation. A short report is required from matched partners (30 August 2024) and an in-person meeting will be arranged for the Autumn term for those taking part to share their experiences.  

 

Timeline

December 2023

BSI Create Seed funding schemes open for applications

26 April 2024

Closing date for expressions of interest

26 April 2024

Well Sorted opens for sorting for one week

10 May 2024

Applicants notified of outcome

31 May 2024

Initial conversations begin

31 May 2024

Follow-on Funding Forms accepted to fund further conversations

31 May – 30 August 2024

BSI Create collaboration period

 

 

    

About the BSI

We support research at the boundaries of the life sciences and other physical sciences including physics, mathematical sciences & computer science. Our research takes a fresh, interdisciplinary approach to fundamental biosciences processes and systems which have real-world applications e.g. in drug discovery or the development of novel materials. Our community is drawn from across scientific disciplinary boundaries and career stages. We are united by a commitment to collaborative research and to fostering a supportive research culture.

Find out more here: