EXPLORING HIDDEN WORLDS OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2015 sheffield.ac.uk/krebsfest KREBSFEST THE WORK OF SIR HANS KREBS EXPLORING HIDDEN WORLDS Sir Hans Krebs was The KrebsFest is a celebration of the scientific awarded the Nobel Prize research of Sir Hans Krebs, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for Medicine in 1953 for his pioneering work at the in 1953 for discovering University of Sheffield. At the festival we will explore the citric acid cycle, Krebs’ legacy through a series of public events and also known as the Krebs exhibitions including talks from Nobel Prize winners. cycle, while working at the University of Sheffield. KrebsFest is open to everyone and it’s free. The cycle explains one All venues are fully accessible. of the most fundamental processes of life: the All events are subject to change. For the latest conversion of food into information, see: sheffield.ac.uk/krebsfest energy within a cell. For further information: Krebs was born in Hildesheim in northern Germany in 1900. sheffield.ac.uk/krebsfest He followed in his father’s footsteps and studied [email protected] medicine before deciding his future lay in research rather than medical practice. Krebs, who was Jewish, 0114 2220563 left Germany in 1933 after he was dismissed from his post at the University of Freiburg following Hitler’s @UniShefEngage #krebsfest rise to power. He initially worked at the University of Cambridge before he took up a post at the University of Sheffield in 1935 where he worked for 19 years. 02 03 KREBSFEST EVENTS There are lots of exciting, free events taking place during KrebsFest. Find out more about each event further in the brochure. 15 October to Winter Garden Exhibition Pages 8–9 3 November 15 October to Western Bank Exhibition Pages 18–19 early 2016 2 November to Winter Garden Activities Page 9 3 November 9 November Nobel Prize Winner Talk – Page 10 Sir Richard Roberts 13 November KrebsFest Public Night Pages 14–17 18 November Nobel Prize Winner Talk – Page 11 Professor Jules Hoffman 25 November Nobel Prize Winner Talk – Page 11 Sir Paul Nurse AN URBAN RETREAT – INSPIRED BY THE KREBS CYCLE The Krebs cycle and our relationship to the natural environment have inspired the development of proposals for the rejuvenation of the University of Sheffield garden on the corner of Durham Road and Clarkson Street. Sheffield-based artists Owen Waterhouse and David Appleyard are working with Professor Nigel Dunnett of the University’s Department of Landscape to create a garden showcasing the best in urban planting design in combination with a feature artwork that draws people to the space. The proposals are currently in development and we expect A ‘work in progress’ reveal of Dr Florence Blanchard’s to see activity on site during Autumn 2015 – check the Krebs cycle depiction – see page 14. project webpage for regular updates: sheffield.ac.uk/efm/ estatesdevelopment/projects/durhamroad 04 05 TODAY’S CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH THE GRANTHAM CENTRE The Grantham Centre for Sustainable The great legacy of Sir Hans Krebs, both for Sheffield and Futures is an ambitious and innovative the world, is in demonstrating how we can use scientific collaboration between the University methods and understanding to uncover the hidden workings of Sheffield and the Grantham of life. In 1988 the Krebs Institute was established at Foundation for the Protection of the the University of Sheffield. The Krebs Institute brings Environment. Our sustainability research together scientists to build on this legacy in understanding creates knowledge and connects it those mechanisms in biology that underpin life on earth. to policy debates on how to build a fairer world and save Molecular science research at Sheffield is embodied within natural resources for future generations. One example of three projects that describe our vision for the next 10 such research is that undertaken in the Plant Production and years: Imagine, the Grantham Centre and Florey. Protection (P3) centre where world-leading scientists are translating our basic plant and soil sciences research into practical solutions to feed the world’s expanding population. IMAGINE: IMAGING LIFE grantham.sheffield.ac.uk The University of Sheffield is establishing a world-class centre FLOREY INSTITUTE: TACKLING INFECTIOUS DISEASE developing and applying revolutionary microscope technologies, that allow Inspired by the work of Nobel Prize scientists to see the intricate inner winner Sir Howard Florey, we are workings of life in unprecedented striving to save lives by understanding detail. We are using these insights how infective bacteria (pathogens) to unravel how microbes like the MRSA bacteria grow interact with our immune system (the and evade the immune system and how solar energy is host). Sir Howard Florey was a former converted into chemical energy during photosynthesis. Chair of Pathology at the University of Sheffield. He went on to carry out the first clinical imagine-imaginglife.com trials for penicillin – a drug that saved millions of lives worldwide. Our goal is to solve major issues in infectious diseases – such as anti-microbial drug resistance – through a new, holistic approach to managing infection, that is less reliant on using antibiotics to kill the bacteria. floreyinstitute.com 06 07 This E. coli is 5 million WINTER GARDEN EXHIBITION times bigger than the real bacterium. If someone Thursday 15 October to Tuesday 3 November was standing next to the 90 Surrey Street, Sheffield S1 2LH bacteria then they would be 2000km tall and stretch With funding from the Arts Council, Dr Nate Adams from the UK to Africa! and Luke Jerram, lead artist for KrebsFest, have collaborated to translate cellular flux and biochemical ORIGAMI INSTALLATION techniques into new artistic pieces to engage the public. Luke Jerram has designed a 28-metre inflatable Seiko Kinoshita is a Japanese artist, based in Sheffield, E. coli bacteria making the nano world larger than life, who uses traditional textile techniques to create which will be dramatically suspended from the ceiling of contemporary artwork and installations. Seiko, working the Winter Garden, Sheffield and then at the University with Dr Nate Adams, has created a visual art installation of Sheffield’s Firth Hall. For KrebsFest, Luke Jerram and using the form and patterns of origami to depict the Dr Adams have taken curatorial and mentorship roles, 3D shape of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) from supporting the development of the two local artist jellyfish. GFP is integral to the cutting edge imaging commissions – Balbir Singh Dance Company (see page 15) techniques being developed in Sheffield. and Seiko Kinoshita (see page 9). ACTIVITIES INFLATABLE E. COLI Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 November, 10am–4pm Making visible the microscopic world around us, this artwork was made to contemplate and consider ATOM-LABS: MACHINES IN MINIATURE the importance of bacteria in our lives. What makes jellyfish glow in the depths of the ocean? What makes egg-whites scary to germs? Although some forms of E. coli bacteria can cause illness Visit the Atom-Labs stand and find out! and even death in humans, the use of the bacteria is vital in medical research. Described as the workhorse of MAKE A BUG biomedicine, E. coli are used by scientists to replicate Inspired by the giant E. coli, young children can make DNA. One of the first useful applications of recombinant their own bug using craft materials with expert input DNA technology was the manipulation of E. coli to from scientists. produce human insulin. 08 09 PROFESSOR JULES HOFFMANN, UNIVERSITY OF NOBEL PRIZE WINNER TALKS STRASBOURG INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY THE INNATE IMMUNE RESPONSE: FROM INSECTS TO HUMANS Come and hear three Nobel prize-winners talk about Wednesday 18 November, 6pm incredible scientific discoveries that shape our lives. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2011. Book your place at sheffield.ac.uk/krebsfest Insects are a formidable zoological group: they represent an estimated 80% of existing species and put one-third All talks take place in: Firth Hall, Firth Court, of humanity at risk of severe morbidity or deaths through University of Sheffield, Western Bank, S10 2TN their ability to transmit various types of microbes. For a long time, insects have been known to be particularly resistant to infection. Professor Jules Hoffman will discuss his research into the mechanisms underlying this resistance and share results on the unexpected similarities which exist between immune defences in insects and innate immune reactions in mammals. SIR PAUL NURSE, PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY SIR RICHARD ROBERTS, NEW ENGLAND BIOLABS GREAT IDEAS OF BIOLOGY A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY Wednesday 25 November, 6pm Monday 9 November, 6pm Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2001. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1993. Three of the great ideas of biology are the gene theory, European non-governmental organisations and politicians the theory of evolution by natural selection, and the have declared that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are proposal that the cell is the fundamental unit of all life. dangerous despite all scientific evidence to the contrary. When considering the question of ‘what is life?’ these This has led to bans on research on one of the most ideas come together. The special way cells reproduce promising technologies able to solve the world’s food and provides the conditions by which natural selection takes nutrition problems. While Europe doesn’t need GMOs “yet”, place allowing living organisms to evolve. A fourth idea the developing world needs them desperately. One example is is that the organisation of chemistry within the cell Golden Rice, which could be a major player to fight Vitamin A provides explanations for life’s phenomena. A new idea deficiency. Millions of children suffer and die because of this is the central role that information management plays deficiency.