Dear UKZN Community
KRISP has collaborated with a great photographer to highlight the diversity of humans, plants and animals in our mesmerizing rainbow nation. Together, we have curated a photographic exhibition that is opening this Thursday, 24 October at Community Art Gallery, Durban. Please find the invitation below and attached to this email, as well a small synopsis of the event.
Lifeblood is a photography project by Samora Chapman in collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) at UKZN. The exhibition highlights in very large photographic prints, the diversity of humans, plants and animals in our mesmerizing corner of the world.
“As a photographer I was given the assignment of searching for visual metaphors that give life to the idea of diversity,” says Samora about the project.
We are at a critical point in time, where genomics can help to record the biodiversity levels and advance scientific research and conservation efforts.
“Scientists have recently discovered that the African genome has an additional 300 million base pairs and now there is a race to identify genes that can be used to develop better treatments, diagnostics and vaccines.” Comment Prof. Tulio de Oliveira, from KRISP/UKZN. “We have a unique chance to lead the world in this subject and we would like to engage the public so they can understand South Africa diversity, with all its beauty and problems, can give us a cutting-edge in scientific and medical research”.
This exciting collaboration between artists and scientists is opening on 24 October, 7pm, at Community (3 Millar Rd) in Durban. Prints will be on sale and 50% of all proceeds go to KRISP & Genomics Africa.
No need to RSVP! All invited to enjoy this exciting Art & Science collaboration!
Warm regards
Tulio
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www.krisp.org.zaProf. Tulio de Oliveira
Director: KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), UKZN, Durban, South Africa
Professor: College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Durban, South Africa.
Affiliate Professor: Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, US.
Research Associate, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA).
Director: Southern African Treatment Research Network (SATuRN).
Vice-President: South African Society for Bioinformatics (SASBi).