Could reading Harry Potter help scientists cure the common cold?

EMBARGOED: Not for publication or broadcast before Wed9 May 2012

Could reading Harry Potter help science find a cure for the common cold, or studying Jane Austen make someone a contender for a Nobel Prize for physics? New research examining the influence literature has upon the work of scientists may soon help provide answers to such questions.

Launched today [Wednesday 9 May2012]What Scientists Read is an innovative project – funded by the Scottish Crucible - that sets out to discover if reading certain literature might influence a scientist’s career path, or even impact the research scientists undertake. As part of the project, researchers - from The ESRC Genomics Policy and Research Forum, and the Universities of Glasgow and St Andrews - are seeking volunteers from the scientific community across Central Scotland to be interviewed about their reading habits. The research team is also encouraging scientists from across the globe to visit the project’s website to share information on their favourite reading matter,and how this influences their work.

Speaking at the launch of the project, Chief Researcher - Dr Christine Knight, commented:

“From Frankenstein to 2001, science has long influenced fiction. But relatively little is known about thesignificance of the leisure reading of scientists upon their career choices, the experiments they carry out, or how they approach ethical issues relating to their work. In establishing the importance of literature to science, not only will we be conducting interviews with Scotland’s scientific community, but we are also encouraging scientists from Adelaide to Anchorage to visit our website and let us know what they are reading, and why.

“We hope the results of the What Scientists Read research will provide an insight into how literature might inspire young people to pursue careers as scientists, as well as the impact fiction can have in making science more relevant and engaging to the wider public. The project may also help writers understand the reach of their work throughout the scientific community.”

The project is keen to hear from any scientists from Central Scotland who are willing to be interviewed about their reading habits. Scientists from across the globe are also invited to feed into the research by visiting the What Scientists Read website, and contributing to the discussion by answering a brief series of questions.

Ends

For interviews and further details contact:

Chris Berry, ESRC Genomics Forum Media Officer:

Tel: 0131 651 4746 – Mob: 07931 736692 – Email:

Dr Christine Knight, ESRC Genomics Forum Policy Research Fellow

Tel: 0131 651 4743 – Email:

Notes to Editor

  • What Scientists Read is funded through a Scottish Crucible Project Grant. Additional funding for What Scientists Read is provided by the ESRC Genomics Policy and Research Forum. The project is supported by the Universities of Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow.
  • Scottish Crucible is the highly successful, professional and personal leadership and development programme developed by NESTA for experienced postdoctoral researchers and those in their first academic position. What Scientists Read team members Dr Christine Knight and Dr Sarah Dillon were participants in Scottish Crucible 2011, which was sponsored by the Scottish Funding Council, NESTA, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University, University of the Highlands and Islands, and Strathclyde University.
  • The ESRC Genomics Policy and Research Forum pioneers new ways to promote and communicate social science research on contemporary life sciences and ensures that research from the Genomics Network informs policy, scientific practices and public debate. Based at the University of Edinburgh, the Forum runs a programme of national and international activities to draw natural and social scientists, policy makers, regulators, civil society and business into an ongoing dialogue about the relationship between genomics and society. The Forum is part of the ESRC Genomics Network (EGN).
  • The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the UK's largest organisation for funding research on economic and social issues. It supports independent, high quality research which has an impact on business, the public sector and the third sector. The ESRC's total budget for 2011/12 is £203 million. At any one time the ESRC supports over 4,000 researchers and postgraduate students in academic institutions and independent research institutes. More at