Generation genome: life in the making. (360G-Wellcome-081783_Z_06_C)

Aim: To engage the public in current and future UK-based human molecular genetics and genomics research, providing the tools - through various public forums - to enable citizens to make informed choices and to enter the debate on both personal and societal levels. This proposal is for a national touring exhibition and associated programmes, supporting public engagement in the fiends of human molecular genetics and genomics. Generation Genome: Life in the making will acknowledge the significant investment made by the Wellcome Trust, especially through the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. At the same time, it will reflect the international effort to elucidate the structure and functions of the human genome and apply the resulting knowledge clinically . At the heart of the proposal is a major 350m2 travelling exhibition (henceforth: Generation Genome) aimed at students aged 14 and above and adults, together with 6 smaller, replicable 'exhiblets', featuring a sub-set of key Generation Genome themes. The travelling exhibition will be hosted by larger science centres and museums in the UK, and the exhiblets will be provided to both smaller and larger venues. The travelling exhibition will feature a continuously updated 'News & Views' area, a 'Dialogue Zone' and multiple opportunities for visitors to engage with topical ideas and issues at 'opinion stations'. The exhiblets will feature basic introductory material, the updated News & Views area and a small number of opinion stations. The exhibition will be accompanied by associated learning and engagement programmes, and provide the infrastructure for multi-site engagement activities featuring live links between sites hosting the main exhibition and the exhiblets. Events can then be mounted to coincide with significant developments in human molecular genetics and genomics through the life-time of the project. News and Views will be updated with the latest science discoveries and arising societal issues. Generation Genome will be delivered by At-Bristol on behalf of ecsite-uk and expects to reach at least 1 million people over a five year period.