From splicing to the silverscreen

A website where work on gene expression sits side by side with images of scientists taking on the role of their favourite movie heroes has resulted in international success for researchers within the College of Life Sciences.

LamondLab.com, the website for Professor Angus Lamond's laboratory in the Wellcome Trust Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression has been named one of the ten best in the world by the prestigious journal `The Scientist' in their inaugural Laboratory Web Site and Video awards. It was the only site outside of North America to be selected.

One of the judges said the website was so good it made him want to work in the lab.

"The Lamond lab site sets the standard for what a lab site should aspire to provide," said judge Professor Steven Wiley, lead biologist at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

"Tons of useful information from protocols, tutorials and databases, all in a very accessible and entertaining format. The multi-language overview is truly inspired and there is even provision for the general public. There are many interesting movies and there is a wonderful humor section. I laughed until my sides hurt. After looking at this site, I wanted to change my scientific career to go to their lab."

Such an impact is not uncommon. Website creator Dr. Laura Trinkle-Mulcahy, a senior post-doctoral researcher in Professor Lamond's team, explained that lab websites provide a critical first impression of the research environment to people who want to learn more about the science and to those interested in joining the lab. "We get positive feedback about the site and job applications from all over the world," she said. "The website certainly plays a part in attracting people here."

The site, which has been running since 1998, aims to make complex research more accessible to a wider audience while also emphasizing the fun side of science. It combines detailed information about the research work taking place in Professor Lamond' s laboratory along with multimedia approaches used to communicate information to non-specialist visitors.

"My motto is that science should be fun, so we wanted a web site that reflected that," said Professor Lamond, who is Director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression.

"A lot of the work we do is extremely complex and we approach that seriously and diligently. But we are also aware that we are extremely privileged to be working in an area that is rewarding and challenging and a great deal of fun, and we also want to communicate that side of our work.

The laboratory website mixes detailed scientific and technical information with a fascinating array of spoof movie posters, pictures of team members juggling and skydiving, comedy videos of life in the lab, games and activities for children.

Scientific databases and protocols for cell biology and microscopy sit alongside images of Professor Lamond and his team as The Incredibles and Pirates of the Caribbean. There are also colouring slides for children based around a cast of cellular superheroes.

"We realised early on how important the web was going to be in communicating technical information to our scientific colleagues, but also as a means of communicating our research to a wider audience and engaging children in science" said Dr Trinkle-Mulcahy.

"The spoof movies, for example, bring people in to the site and make it easier for them to dig a lot deeper and find out information about the work we are doing. We've noticed that many people visit the site to check out a movie that they've heard about, but then stay to check out the rest of the site."

Professor Lamond also believes working on the site has provided a skills boost to members of the team.

"Through building the website we have been forced to learn new skills in communication and IT technology, which we've been able to make use of in our scientific work." he said. "It has also required a lot of creativity, which can only be a good thing."

To visit the site log on to www.lamondlab.com