Diag====| HTTP [https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/tag/dlam-feed/rss/] ⌉ array(6) {
["headers"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2403 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(12) {
["content-type"]=>
string(34) "application/rss+xml; charset=UTF-8"
["date"]=>
string(29) "Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:22:30 GMT"
["server"]=>
string(6) "Apache"
["x-powered-by"]=>
string(10) "PHP/8.3.31"
["expires"]=>
string(29) "Thu, 19 Nov 1981 08:52:00 GMT"
["cache-control"]=>
string(35) "no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate"
["pragma"]=>
string(8) "no-cache"
["link"]=>
string(194) "<https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-json/>; rel="https://api.w.org/", <https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-json/wp/v2/tags/3>; rel="alternate"; title="JSON"; type="application/json""
["set-cookie"]=>
string(140) "spo_10112_fa=835dd0b2695588e851ef477a8aa831a7; expires=Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:52:30 GMT; Max-Age=1800; path=/edtechunchained/; Secure; HttpOnly"
["last-modified"]=>
string(29) "Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:47:05 GMT"
["etag"]=>
string(34) ""8ec008d5bde259dd134ea2a25d69cb8f""
["vary"]=>
string(15) "Accept-Encoding"
}
}
["body"]=>
string(27283) "<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
>
<channel>
<title>dlam-feed – EdTech Unchained</title>
<atom:link href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/tag/dlam-feed/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained</link>
<description>Making sense of EdTech in uncertain times</description>
<lastBuildDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:47:05 +0000</lastBuildDate>
<language>en-GB</language>
<sy:updatePeriod>
hourly </sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>
1 </sy:updateFrequency>
<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5</generator>
<item>
<title>Lessons from the Aspiring Manager Programme: Beyond Managing</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/lessons-from-aspiring-manager-programme/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/lessons-from-aspiring-manager-programme/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[JGblog]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:18:11 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[CPD]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam-feed]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/?p=80</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As part of my career development I started the Aspiring Manager Programme this past January with support from my line manager. The programme provides a framework to develop core management skills and behaviours to set aspiring managers up for success in future management roles. This post is a reflection of the programme following the core […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As part of my career development I started the Aspiring Manager Programme this past January with support from my line manager. The programme provides a framework to develop core management skills and behaviours to set aspiring managers up for success in future management roles. This post is a reflection of the programme following the core workshops.</p>
<h2>The Aspiring Manager Programme</h2>
<p>It runs 2 cohort intakes per academic year beginning in October and January and requires a nominating manager to support your application (usually your line manager). If interested, you can find further details through the <a href="https://human-resources.ed.ac.uk/learning-development/leadership-programmes/aspiring-manager">Aspiring Manager Programme dedicated web page.</a></p>
<p>The first phase of the programme involves attending an onboarding session, starting working on weekly prompts and attending the first of two main workshops. The weekly prompts feel like school home work but I have to admit that they are helpful to reflect on key topics about becoming a manager and successfully supporting a team.</p>
<p>During Workshop 1 we explored our motivations and management styles whereas Workshop 2 was dedicated to team development, constructive feedback and managing challenging conversations through real-world scenarios and role-playing activities. Not being a big fan of group activities I found them more interesting than I initially envisaged. The break up rooms had the right timing and length to avoid making them boring or annoying.</p>
<h2>Workshops Reflection: What is important as a good manager</h2>
<p>While reflecting about our management styles and what we consider important as a manager, some of the most cited ingredients were the ability to empower and support , fairness, creating a safe environment, clear communication and leading by example. The latter was clearly something important for most if not all the participants as future managers-leaders.</p>
<p>Workshop 2 addressed these core “ingredients” and was actually really good. One of the concepts that I liked as it matches my personal views about how I like to work although I did not know it had a name is “Psychological Safety”, a concept developed by Harvard professor Amy Edmondson. It refers to creating an open, safe and trusting environment for the staff, where they are allowed to speak up, admit mistakes, ask questions, and propose new ideas without fear of punishment or humiliation. The other element that I found of great importance is communication, not only to provide clear instructions but also when it comes down to having difficult conversations, coaching or supporting a team member. No matter how much you may know, it is never that easy, requiring constant practice to keep honing these skills. I think that getting this right is probably one of the most challenging parts of being a good manager and building high-performance teams.</p>
<p>On the other hand, while reflecting on the concept of leading by example, my attention was drawn to Japan as it has some of the most impressive examples of great leadership and leading by example, in particular, in the face of adversity. Some well known examples during periods of financial downturn are Nintendo´s President who chose to halve his salary to avoid laying off employees and preserve talent for future success and Japan Airlines CEO Haruka Nishimatsu who slashed his own salary and gave up executive perks during 2007 and 2009 while the airline faced severe changes to recover from financial debt. He famously stated that if a leader doesn’t share the pain, they cannot expect the followers to endure it which sets a quite high benchmark for leadership solidarity. I would say this is key as a leader and/or manager to avoid an organizational disconnect that may likely impact performance and long term results.</p>
<h2>Final Thoughts</h2>
<p>We are used to think about management or being a manager as being responsible for the operational activity of the team, work planning, setting priorities, dealing with a wide range of issues, supporting team members and dealing with People & Money for multiple administrative tasks (which may likely include screaming time to time). <span style="font-size: 1rem;">At some point during the activities, I defined a team as a living organism, where every member has its particularities, and hence requiring constant adjustment or fine tuning aka management from a manager in order to achieve a suitable balance. Like a garden with different plants, each one displaying different qualities, requiring different nutrients, water intake and sun in order to thrive. </span>Through the different conversations with other participants and my peer group, it unfolds that, as a manager you manage tasks, but you also lead people and the best way to lead is by showing (leading by example). It turns out that one of the most important things a manager can do isn’t “managing” at all—it’s leading by example, otherwise, none of the other elements involving being a manager may have the expected results.</p>
<p>As we progress into the final part of this adventure, it is time to reflect about the most important lessons I have learned as this is that last activity for us before being able to complete the course.</p>
<p>If you are considering joining the programme, go for it. I get bored quite easily and thought it may be just another boring set of activities and now I have to admit that it is actually a really good experience plus the facilitator is brilliant so I strongly recommend it.</p>
<p>What does good management look like to you?</p>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/lessons-from-aspiring-manager-programme/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>How to survive and pass the ITIL 4 Foundation exam</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/itil-foundation-exam-tips/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/itil-foundation-exam-tips/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[JGblog]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Mar 2025 11:31:48 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ITIL]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam-feed]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/?p=40</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I recently attended the ITIL 4 Foundation training course organised by ISG and successfully passed the exam. Here’s some thoughts about my experience and some tips that I learned while studying for the exam. This is a 3 days in-person course that prepares attendees for the ITIL exam. It was delivered by a training partner […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I recently attended the ITIL 4 Foundation training course organised by ISG and successfully passed the exam. Here’s some thoughts about my experience and some tips that I learned while studying for the exam.</p>
<p>This is a 3 days in-person course that prepares attendees for the ITIL exam. It was delivered by a training partner of Axelos who managed to turn a usually dry content into a set of engaging sessions with the help of timely coffee breaks.</p>
<p>As part of my role in DLAM, we currently implement ITIL practices and I was eager to learn more about ITIL so that I could better support the different services using best practices.</p>
<h4>My experience in 30 seconds</h4>
<p>I found the course really useful to have a better understanding of ITIL framework and key concepts. ITIL also helps to understand why UniDesk works the way it does here at the University. Another positive from the course was to meet and interact with other staff involved in ITIL practices.</p>
<p>The main downside is that by the end of each day everyone’s brain is saturated with information and no matter how much I like processes and workflows…it is a lot of to take in. On the other hand, the quizzes and mock exams that are introduced throughout the training sessions are really good to review, reflect on the concepts and refresh the brain.</p>
<h4>Main Tips and Takeaways</h4>
<p><strong>Before the course</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Consider checking some ITIL courses available on Linkedin Learning to get a grasp of the basic concepts if you are not familiar with the ITIL framework.</li>
<li>Consider buying a revision guide. I bought the ITIL Foundation Essentials by Claire Agutter (there are different guides so check and decide which one you like it better) and found it very useful before the course and specially once completed to easily review the concepts (ie on the bus) instead of login into the course content platform.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>During the course</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Ask questions</li>
<li>Add notes (the course platform allows to easily add notes)</li>
<li>Get proper sleep (if possible)</li>
<li>Bring your own coffee in the morning in case catering is delayed</li>
<li>Bring layers as you never know how cold or warm you may feel the room</li>
</ul>
<p><strong> </strong><strong>After the course (Exam prep)</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Learn the terminology. There are multiple questions in the exam about key concepts definitions.</li>
<li>Understand the relationships between ITIL concepts.</li>
<li>Review the Mock Exams (you can find additional mock exams online) and practice until you are able to consistently achieve the desired mark.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Tips for the online exam</strong></p>
<p>The ITIL® Foundation exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 60 minutes.</p>
<p>The online exam is an online proctored exam. It felt weird having someone “overseeing” you but without actually seeing them. However, once I started the exam I was fully focused on the questions and this was not an issue.</p>
<ul>
<li>Make sure that you take the exam in a suitable room (ie: the room should only have one door and your camera needs to show that door, my understanding is that if you have two doors, they have to be in view)</li>
<li>Wherever you are taking the exam, ensure no one open the doors while you take the exam</li>
<li>You will need to keep a clean desk and cover any extra monitors (you need to show it with your webcam)</li>
<li>The proctor will gently review that all the requirements are met for the room, reading the requirements feels worst than it its (ie: I had to cover my two monitors while using just the laptop to take the exam)</li>
<li>Read carefully the questions, don’t rush.</li>
<li>If you get stuck on a test question, move on and come back later</li>
<li>Keep an eye on the clock however, I can assure you that you will have plenty of time.</li>
<li>Learn the key definitions and watch out for certain keywords (this would help you connect the wording to the right concept)</li>
<li>Book your exam (important thing to remember!)</li>
</ul>
<h4>Conclusion</h4>
<p>Do I recommend the course if you are interested in ITIL, IT or Service Management? Yes!</p>
<p>I took the exam on Monday after completing the course the previous Friday.</p>
<p>We were advised to let the content sink during the weekend and schedule the exam from Sunday on wards and not more than 1 week after completing the course so that we still have the concepts fresh in the mind. I practiced the mock exams a few times until being consistent at getting at least 30 out of 40 and…I got more than 30 in the exam <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f642.png" alt="🙂" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /></p>
<p> </p>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/itil-foundation-exam-tips/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>AI, Instructional Design and Midjourney</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/ai-instructional-design-midjourney/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/ai-instructional-design-midjourney/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[JGblog]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 15:06:38 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[artificial intelligence]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam-feed]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/2024/04/12/welcome/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[One of the tools that got my attention a while ago is Midjourney as a result of noticing astonishing images made by an artist I know. I only started using it recently and I have been surprised by the potential it has and at the same time it has forced me to think about the […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of the tools that got my attention a while ago is Midjourney as a result of noticing astonishing images made by an artist I know.</p>
<p>I only started using it recently and I have been surprised by the potential it has and at the same time it has forced me to think about the pros and cons of AI.</p>
<p>It is described by its creators as by its creators as “text-to-image AI where your imagination is the only limit”. One of the things I was curious about is the possibility to use Midjourney to create specific images that could be use in online courses or as feature images in posts as I sometimes struggle to find the right image.</p>
<p>I got myself a basic account to do some tests and I have selected some of the Midjourney generated images below to illustrate this post and the featured image.</p>
<p>As an instructional designer, part of the job may involve creating or editing certain creative assets. Most of the Authoring eLearning tools would nowadays provide access to a library of images, yet sometimes you may need something very specific. Same applies for blogs, there are a good number of bank photos but you may not always find what you want or you may spend too much time scrolling through a content library.</p>
<h3>Creating an image for an online course</h3>
<p>Let’s say that I need an angry dinosaur having a discussion to illustrate a conflict management slide for a course…</p>
<p><strong>Prompt:</strong> angry customer with a dinosaur face discussing with a customer assistant, v 5.1 –style raw</p>
<p>If you look at the woman’s character, do you notice some strange things? The pen seems to be floating, the elbow and the hand are a bit odd.</p>
<p>And…the dinosaur body is…well…interesting.</p>
<p>This was the first attempt at this prompt which shows some of the AI limitations at the moment. Usually, by iteration and clarifying the instructions within the prompt, the image can get closer to the idea I had in mind although there is a high chance that it may still require some manual editing. On the positive side, if there is no similar image via the image bank, this can be very helpful.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-10" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face_discussing_with__693c87f4-6ee4-4d49-8993-22e400cf358d_0-300x300.png" alt="angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face_discussing_with__693c87f4-6ee4-4d49-8993-22e400cf358d_0-300x300.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face_discussing_with__693c87f4-6ee4-4d49-8993-22e400cf358d_0-150x150.png 150w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face_discussing_with__693c87f4-6ee4-4d49-8993-22e400cf358d_0-768x768.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face_discussing_with__693c87f4-6ee4-4d49-8993-22e400cf358d_0.png 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Created with Midjourney</span></p>
<h3>Creating a flat illustration</h3>
<p>Now, using a more elaborated prompt to create a flat illustration, the result was not bad although it took a few iterations to get something that I was satisfied with. Still, the right arm looks like a bit strange to me.</p>
<p><strong>Prompt:</strong> Discover the world of scientific exploration with this flat illustration featuring a chemist wearing glasses, with a smile and happy eyes, diligently working in a research laboratory. Engaged in experiments, she skillfully handles a [object that is used]. This minimalist UI illustration, perfect for GUI applications, boasts a clean white background and a bright color scheme that highlights the focus and determination of the scientist. Immerse yourself in the pursuit of knowledge and celebrate the passion for discovery in this vibrant and engaging visual representation.–ar 1:1 –v 5 –s 100</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-21" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_Discover_the_world_of_scientific_exploration_with_th_3e40d1d4-b449-436c-ac7a-a03fc5b90a92_2-300x300.png" alt="chemist_in_laboratory_flat_illustration" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_Discover_the_world_of_scientific_exploration_with_th_3e40d1d4-b449-436c-ac7a-a03fc5b90a92_2-300x300.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_Discover_the_world_of_scientific_exploration_with_th_3e40d1d4-b449-436c-ac7a-a03fc5b90a92_2-150x150.png 150w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_Discover_the_world_of_scientific_exploration_with_th_3e40d1d4-b449-436c-ac7a-a03fc5b90a92_2-768x768.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_Discover_the_world_of_scientific_exploration_with_th_3e40d1d4-b449-436c-ac7a-a03fc5b90a92_2.png 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Created with Midjourney</span></p>
<p> </p>
<h3>The fun side of AI</h3>
<p>So far, I have found being able to communicate with AI fascinating. It can be exciting when you manage to create a prompt that returns what you expected or frustrating when you get just the opposite and even funny when you look at some of the results based on not good enough prompts or the AI not quite understanding what you meant in your prompt (as you may note looking at the image below!).</p>
<p><strong>Prompt</strong>: funny t-rex dinosaur, working as it support with headphones sitting in a chair in front of a computer, cartoon style, happy face, with scottish kilt ,v 5.1 –style raw –</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-20" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_a_sco_7a10e2a8-157e-4fdb-a78a-fa28ac0cb4a0_3-300x300.png" alt="funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_scottish_kilt" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_a_sco_7a10e2a8-157e-4fdb-a78a-fa28ac0cb4a0_3-300x300.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_a_sco_7a10e2a8-157e-4fdb-a78a-fa28ac0cb4a0_3-150x150.png 150w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_a_sco_7a10e2a8-157e-4fdb-a78a-fa28ac0cb4a0_3-768x768.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_a_sco_7a10e2a8-157e-4fdb-a78a-fa28ac0cb4a0_3.png 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Created with Midjourney</span></p>
<p>Like many radical innovations, the fear is for a potentially good tool to end up being used in a harmful way. It feels like a tsunami and either you sink or you ride the wave. I believe that, a good starting point, is to have a better understanding of its advantages and limitations, so that we can work towards and ethical and safe use of AI.</p>
<h3>Thoughts about AI and Midjourney</h3>
<p>Some quick thoughts based on my initial experience (note that I am not an AI expert or a designer)</p>
<p><strong>Pros</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>You can create almost anything that you can conceive in your mind</li>
<li>It enhances your creativity by exposing you to creative options you may have not considered</li>
<li>It can speed up the creative process using AI as a starting point and then adding manual input to create the final artwork.</li>
<li>It can be used as inspiration, as creative prompts.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Cons</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Achieving a perfect image out of a prompt is not always possible, it requires iteration and often some final human touch.</li>
<li>Complexity of copyright ownership/infringement (in theory, there is no copyright in the “raw” outcome as there is no creative human input unless it is modified, there are risks based on regulations in different countries, changes in terms of service, existing images…)</li>
<li>Current controversy with copyright (it is worth reading <a href="http://docs.midjourney.com/hc/en-us/articles/32083055291277-Terms-of-Service" class="broken_link">Midjourney Terms of Service </a> and to check or seek advice depending on the intended usage of the images, especially for commercial use)</li>
<li>Devaluation of manually created artwork</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Opportunities</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Learning how to communicate to AI and train it to help us</li>
<li>A powerful additional brain that can be used for good</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Challenges</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Data usage</li>
<li>Data waste as a result of the crazy amount of both good and awful content being generated.</li>
<li>Concerns about Midjourney stealing work .</li>
<li>Ensuring that we are able to establish ethical boundaries so that we do not end up fighting against Skynet like in Terminator!</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Lessons learnt</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Talking to AI is not so different than talking to humans (bear with me…). If you want AI or a human to understand you, you need to communicate the right way. Also, even if you use the right words, AI may not get what you ask for!</li>
<li>There is a learning curve, it can be frustrating and also good fun.</li>
<li>To achieve the best results, i would say that, at least at the moment, human input is required to edit what AI presents.</li>
<li>The key to create successful prompts is to use a positive language! If I want a “clear background”, the trick is adding “clear background” in the prompt rather than requesting “no dark background”. In essence, anything we may not want in the image, has to be changed into a positive keyword for Midjourney to better understand what we want.</li>
<li>It requires a good conversation regarding copyrights and commercial use of creative work produced in collaboration with AI tools.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Final thoughts</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Although this AI tool is pretty amazing from a creative perspective, I have found that it can be time consuming to design or adapt certain prompts (hence the rise of prompt designers). Therefore, I may have spent more time trying to achieve a decent image with the prompts than finding a good enough image through the image bank or image library. It is also likely that a prompt designer may be able to achieve better results in less time.</li>
<li>With the right knowledge and experience, it allows creating fascinating art and creative assets that otherwise, unless being an artist or a creative, may be near impossible to achieve.</li>
<li>It can be a complementary tool to create certain digital assets that may be difficult to find and may be used as a first draft before editing the image through human input.</li>
<li>There are some Midjourney users creating fascinating pieces of work however I don’t feel it is a tool that anyone can use to create a great creative asset in five minutes. Even knowing about prompt design, it seems that it requires some good skills to achieve really good outcomes.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>If you feel like giving it a try you will need a Discord and Midjourney account. There are several good tutorials online in case you may want to give it a go.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/ai-instructional-design-midjourney/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
"
["response"]=>
array(2) {
["code"]=>
int(200)
["message"]=>
string(2) "OK"
}
["cookies"]=>
array(3) {
[0]=>
object(WP_Http_Cookie)#2417 (7) {
["name"]=>
string(9) "PHPSESSID"
["value"]=>
string(26) "h5lul41snogitg89gd3ht780ub"
["expires"]=>
NULL
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
["port"]=>
NULL
["host_only"]=>
bool(true)
}
[1]=>
object(WP_Http_Cookie)#2419 (7) {
["name"]=>
string(12) "spo_10112_fa"
["value"]=>
string(32) "835dd0b2695588e851ef477a8aa831a7"
["expires"]=>
int(1781581950)
["path"]=>
string(17) "/edtechunchained/"
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
["port"]=>
NULL
["host_only"]=>
bool(true)
}
[2]=>
object(WP_Http_Cookie)#2418 (7) {
["name"]=>
string(8) "RCKBMHKB"
["value"]=>
string(85) "027ff8be59-56fd-48NMXirnhVpb_gCATSKv6MocANvGkwQr_HAla4gX_Dp9hv9pjuBjkxVrDguWXi4V74ulg"
["expires"]=>
NULL
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
["port"]=>
NULL
["host_only"]=>
bool(true)
}
}
["filename"]=>
NULL
["http_response"]=>
object(WP_HTTP_Requests_Response)#2402 (5) {
["data"]=>
NULL
["headers"]=>
NULL
["status"]=>
NULL
["response":protected]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Response)#2415 (10) {
["body"]=>
string(27283) "<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
>
<channel>
<title>dlam-feed – EdTech Unchained</title>
<atom:link href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/tag/dlam-feed/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained</link>
<description>Making sense of EdTech in uncertain times</description>
<lastBuildDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:47:05 +0000</lastBuildDate>
<language>en-GB</language>
<sy:updatePeriod>
hourly </sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>
1 </sy:updateFrequency>
<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5</generator>
<item>
<title>Lessons from the Aspiring Manager Programme: Beyond Managing</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/lessons-from-aspiring-manager-programme/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/lessons-from-aspiring-manager-programme/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[JGblog]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:18:11 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[CPD]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam-feed]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/?p=80</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As part of my career development I started the Aspiring Manager Programme this past January with support from my line manager. The programme provides a framework to develop core management skills and behaviours to set aspiring managers up for success in future management roles. This post is a reflection of the programme following the core […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As part of my career development I started the Aspiring Manager Programme this past January with support from my line manager. The programme provides a framework to develop core management skills and behaviours to set aspiring managers up for success in future management roles. This post is a reflection of the programme following the core workshops.</p>
<h2>The Aspiring Manager Programme</h2>
<p>It runs 2 cohort intakes per academic year beginning in October and January and requires a nominating manager to support your application (usually your line manager). If interested, you can find further details through the <a href="https://human-resources.ed.ac.uk/learning-development/leadership-programmes/aspiring-manager">Aspiring Manager Programme dedicated web page.</a></p>
<p>The first phase of the programme involves attending an onboarding session, starting working on weekly prompts and attending the first of two main workshops. The weekly prompts feel like school home work but I have to admit that they are helpful to reflect on key topics about becoming a manager and successfully supporting a team.</p>
<p>During Workshop 1 we explored our motivations and management styles whereas Workshop 2 was dedicated to team development, constructive feedback and managing challenging conversations through real-world scenarios and role-playing activities. Not being a big fan of group activities I found them more interesting than I initially envisaged. The break up rooms had the right timing and length to avoid making them boring or annoying.</p>
<h2>Workshops Reflection: What is important as a good manager</h2>
<p>While reflecting about our management styles and what we consider important as a manager, some of the most cited ingredients were the ability to empower and support , fairness, creating a safe environment, clear communication and leading by example. The latter was clearly something important for most if not all the participants as future managers-leaders.</p>
<p>Workshop 2 addressed these core “ingredients” and was actually really good. One of the concepts that I liked as it matches my personal views about how I like to work although I did not know it had a name is “Psychological Safety”, a concept developed by Harvard professor Amy Edmondson. It refers to creating an open, safe and trusting environment for the staff, where they are allowed to speak up, admit mistakes, ask questions, and propose new ideas without fear of punishment or humiliation. The other element that I found of great importance is communication, not only to provide clear instructions but also when it comes down to having difficult conversations, coaching or supporting a team member. No matter how much you may know, it is never that easy, requiring constant practice to keep honing these skills. I think that getting this right is probably one of the most challenging parts of being a good manager and building high-performance teams.</p>
<p>On the other hand, while reflecting on the concept of leading by example, my attention was drawn to Japan as it has some of the most impressive examples of great leadership and leading by example, in particular, in the face of adversity. Some well known examples during periods of financial downturn are Nintendo´s President who chose to halve his salary to avoid laying off employees and preserve talent for future success and Japan Airlines CEO Haruka Nishimatsu who slashed his own salary and gave up executive perks during 2007 and 2009 while the airline faced severe changes to recover from financial debt. He famously stated that if a leader doesn’t share the pain, they cannot expect the followers to endure it which sets a quite high benchmark for leadership solidarity. I would say this is key as a leader and/or manager to avoid an organizational disconnect that may likely impact performance and long term results.</p>
<h2>Final Thoughts</h2>
<p>We are used to think about management or being a manager as being responsible for the operational activity of the team, work planning, setting priorities, dealing with a wide range of issues, supporting team members and dealing with People & Money for multiple administrative tasks (which may likely include screaming time to time). <span style="font-size: 1rem;">At some point during the activities, I defined a team as a living organism, where every member has its particularities, and hence requiring constant adjustment or fine tuning aka management from a manager in order to achieve a suitable balance. Like a garden with different plants, each one displaying different qualities, requiring different nutrients, water intake and sun in order to thrive. </span>Through the different conversations with other participants and my peer group, it unfolds that, as a manager you manage tasks, but you also lead people and the best way to lead is by showing (leading by example). It turns out that one of the most important things a manager can do isn’t “managing” at all—it’s leading by example, otherwise, none of the other elements involving being a manager may have the expected results.</p>
<p>As we progress into the final part of this adventure, it is time to reflect about the most important lessons I have learned as this is that last activity for us before being able to complete the course.</p>
<p>If you are considering joining the programme, go for it. I get bored quite easily and thought it may be just another boring set of activities and now I have to admit that it is actually a really good experience plus the facilitator is brilliant so I strongly recommend it.</p>
<p>What does good management look like to you?</p>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/lessons-from-aspiring-manager-programme/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>How to survive and pass the ITIL 4 Foundation exam</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/itil-foundation-exam-tips/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/itil-foundation-exam-tips/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[JGblog]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Mar 2025 11:31:48 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ITIL]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam-feed]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/?p=40</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I recently attended the ITIL 4 Foundation training course organised by ISG and successfully passed the exam. Here’s some thoughts about my experience and some tips that I learned while studying for the exam. This is a 3 days in-person course that prepares attendees for the ITIL exam. It was delivered by a training partner […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I recently attended the ITIL 4 Foundation training course organised by ISG and successfully passed the exam. Here’s some thoughts about my experience and some tips that I learned while studying for the exam.</p>
<p>This is a 3 days in-person course that prepares attendees for the ITIL exam. It was delivered by a training partner of Axelos who managed to turn a usually dry content into a set of engaging sessions with the help of timely coffee breaks.</p>
<p>As part of my role in DLAM, we currently implement ITIL practices and I was eager to learn more about ITIL so that I could better support the different services using best practices.</p>
<h4>My experience in 30 seconds</h4>
<p>I found the course really useful to have a better understanding of ITIL framework and key concepts. ITIL also helps to understand why UniDesk works the way it does here at the University. Another positive from the course was to meet and interact with other staff involved in ITIL practices.</p>
<p>The main downside is that by the end of each day everyone’s brain is saturated with information and no matter how much I like processes and workflows…it is a lot of to take in. On the other hand, the quizzes and mock exams that are introduced throughout the training sessions are really good to review, reflect on the concepts and refresh the brain.</p>
<h4>Main Tips and Takeaways</h4>
<p><strong>Before the course</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Consider checking some ITIL courses available on Linkedin Learning to get a grasp of the basic concepts if you are not familiar with the ITIL framework.</li>
<li>Consider buying a revision guide. I bought the ITIL Foundation Essentials by Claire Agutter (there are different guides so check and decide which one you like it better) and found it very useful before the course and specially once completed to easily review the concepts (ie on the bus) instead of login into the course content platform.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>During the course</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Ask questions</li>
<li>Add notes (the course platform allows to easily add notes)</li>
<li>Get proper sleep (if possible)</li>
<li>Bring your own coffee in the morning in case catering is delayed</li>
<li>Bring layers as you never know how cold or warm you may feel the room</li>
</ul>
<p><strong> </strong><strong>After the course (Exam prep)</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Learn the terminology. There are multiple questions in the exam about key concepts definitions.</li>
<li>Understand the relationships between ITIL concepts.</li>
<li>Review the Mock Exams (you can find additional mock exams online) and practice until you are able to consistently achieve the desired mark.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Tips for the online exam</strong></p>
<p>The ITIL® Foundation exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 60 minutes.</p>
<p>The online exam is an online proctored exam. It felt weird having someone “overseeing” you but without actually seeing them. However, once I started the exam I was fully focused on the questions and this was not an issue.</p>
<ul>
<li>Make sure that you take the exam in a suitable room (ie: the room should only have one door and your camera needs to show that door, my understanding is that if you have two doors, they have to be in view)</li>
<li>Wherever you are taking the exam, ensure no one open the doors while you take the exam</li>
<li>You will need to keep a clean desk and cover any extra monitors (you need to show it with your webcam)</li>
<li>The proctor will gently review that all the requirements are met for the room, reading the requirements feels worst than it its (ie: I had to cover my two monitors while using just the laptop to take the exam)</li>
<li>Read carefully the questions, don’t rush.</li>
<li>If you get stuck on a test question, move on and come back later</li>
<li>Keep an eye on the clock however, I can assure you that you will have plenty of time.</li>
<li>Learn the key definitions and watch out for certain keywords (this would help you connect the wording to the right concept)</li>
<li>Book your exam (important thing to remember!)</li>
</ul>
<h4>Conclusion</h4>
<p>Do I recommend the course if you are interested in ITIL, IT or Service Management? Yes!</p>
<p>I took the exam on Monday after completing the course the previous Friday.</p>
<p>We were advised to let the content sink during the weekend and schedule the exam from Sunday on wards and not more than 1 week after completing the course so that we still have the concepts fresh in the mind. I practiced the mock exams a few times until being consistent at getting at least 30 out of 40 and…I got more than 30 in the exam <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f642.png" alt="🙂" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /></p>
<p> </p>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/itil-foundation-exam-tips/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>AI, Instructional Design and Midjourney</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/ai-instructional-design-midjourney/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/ai-instructional-design-midjourney/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[JGblog]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 15:06:38 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[artificial intelligence]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam-feed]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/2024/04/12/welcome/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[One of the tools that got my attention a while ago is Midjourney as a result of noticing astonishing images made by an artist I know. I only started using it recently and I have been surprised by the potential it has and at the same time it has forced me to think about the […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of the tools that got my attention a while ago is Midjourney as a result of noticing astonishing images made by an artist I know.</p>
<p>I only started using it recently and I have been surprised by the potential it has and at the same time it has forced me to think about the pros and cons of AI.</p>
<p>It is described by its creators as by its creators as “text-to-image AI where your imagination is the only limit”. One of the things I was curious about is the possibility to use Midjourney to create specific images that could be use in online courses or as feature images in posts as I sometimes struggle to find the right image.</p>
<p>I got myself a basic account to do some tests and I have selected some of the Midjourney generated images below to illustrate this post and the featured image.</p>
<p>As an instructional designer, part of the job may involve creating or editing certain creative assets. Most of the Authoring eLearning tools would nowadays provide access to a library of images, yet sometimes you may need something very specific. Same applies for blogs, there are a good number of bank photos but you may not always find what you want or you may spend too much time scrolling through a content library.</p>
<h3>Creating an image for an online course</h3>
<p>Let’s say that I need an angry dinosaur having a discussion to illustrate a conflict management slide for a course…</p>
<p><strong>Prompt:</strong> angry customer with a dinosaur face discussing with a customer assistant, v 5.1 –style raw</p>
<p>If you look at the woman’s character, do you notice some strange things? The pen seems to be floating, the elbow and the hand are a bit odd.</p>
<p>And…the dinosaur body is…well…interesting.</p>
<p>This was the first attempt at this prompt which shows some of the AI limitations at the moment. Usually, by iteration and clarifying the instructions within the prompt, the image can get closer to the idea I had in mind although there is a high chance that it may still require some manual editing. On the positive side, if there is no similar image via the image bank, this can be very helpful.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-10" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face_discussing_with__693c87f4-6ee4-4d49-8993-22e400cf358d_0-300x300.png" alt="angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face_discussing_with__693c87f4-6ee4-4d49-8993-22e400cf358d_0-300x300.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face_discussing_with__693c87f4-6ee4-4d49-8993-22e400cf358d_0-150x150.png 150w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face_discussing_with__693c87f4-6ee4-4d49-8993-22e400cf358d_0-768x768.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face_discussing_with__693c87f4-6ee4-4d49-8993-22e400cf358d_0.png 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Created with Midjourney</span></p>
<h3>Creating a flat illustration</h3>
<p>Now, using a more elaborated prompt to create a flat illustration, the result was not bad although it took a few iterations to get something that I was satisfied with. Still, the right arm looks like a bit strange to me.</p>
<p><strong>Prompt:</strong> Discover the world of scientific exploration with this flat illustration featuring a chemist wearing glasses, with a smile and happy eyes, diligently working in a research laboratory. Engaged in experiments, she skillfully handles a [object that is used]. This minimalist UI illustration, perfect for GUI applications, boasts a clean white background and a bright color scheme that highlights the focus and determination of the scientist. Immerse yourself in the pursuit of knowledge and celebrate the passion for discovery in this vibrant and engaging visual representation.–ar 1:1 –v 5 –s 100</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-21" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_Discover_the_world_of_scientific_exploration_with_th_3e40d1d4-b449-436c-ac7a-a03fc5b90a92_2-300x300.png" alt="chemist_in_laboratory_flat_illustration" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_Discover_the_world_of_scientific_exploration_with_th_3e40d1d4-b449-436c-ac7a-a03fc5b90a92_2-300x300.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_Discover_the_world_of_scientific_exploration_with_th_3e40d1d4-b449-436c-ac7a-a03fc5b90a92_2-150x150.png 150w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_Discover_the_world_of_scientific_exploration_with_th_3e40d1d4-b449-436c-ac7a-a03fc5b90a92_2-768x768.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_Discover_the_world_of_scientific_exploration_with_th_3e40d1d4-b449-436c-ac7a-a03fc5b90a92_2.png 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Created with Midjourney</span></p>
<p> </p>
<h3>The fun side of AI</h3>
<p>So far, I have found being able to communicate with AI fascinating. It can be exciting when you manage to create a prompt that returns what you expected or frustrating when you get just the opposite and even funny when you look at some of the results based on not good enough prompts or the AI not quite understanding what you meant in your prompt (as you may note looking at the image below!).</p>
<p><strong>Prompt</strong>: funny t-rex dinosaur, working as it support with headphones sitting in a chair in front of a computer, cartoon style, happy face, with scottish kilt ,v 5.1 –style raw –</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-20" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_a_sco_7a10e2a8-157e-4fdb-a78a-fa28ac0cb4a0_3-300x300.png" alt="funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_scottish_kilt" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_a_sco_7a10e2a8-157e-4fdb-a78a-fa28ac0cb4a0_3-300x300.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_a_sco_7a10e2a8-157e-4fdb-a78a-fa28ac0cb4a0_3-150x150.png 150w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_a_sco_7a10e2a8-157e-4fdb-a78a-fa28ac0cb4a0_3-768x768.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_a_sco_7a10e2a8-157e-4fdb-a78a-fa28ac0cb4a0_3.png 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Created with Midjourney</span></p>
<p>Like many radical innovations, the fear is for a potentially good tool to end up being used in a harmful way. It feels like a tsunami and either you sink or you ride the wave. I believe that, a good starting point, is to have a better understanding of its advantages and limitations, so that we can work towards and ethical and safe use of AI.</p>
<h3>Thoughts about AI and Midjourney</h3>
<p>Some quick thoughts based on my initial experience (note that I am not an AI expert or a designer)</p>
<p><strong>Pros</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>You can create almost anything that you can conceive in your mind</li>
<li>It enhances your creativity by exposing you to creative options you may have not considered</li>
<li>It can speed up the creative process using AI as a starting point and then adding manual input to create the final artwork.</li>
<li>It can be used as inspiration, as creative prompts.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Cons</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Achieving a perfect image out of a prompt is not always possible, it requires iteration and often some final human touch.</li>
<li>Complexity of copyright ownership/infringement (in theory, there is no copyright in the “raw” outcome as there is no creative human input unless it is modified, there are risks based on regulations in different countries, changes in terms of service, existing images…)</li>
<li>Current controversy with copyright (it is worth reading <a href="http://docs.midjourney.com/hc/en-us/articles/32083055291277-Terms-of-Service" class="broken_link">Midjourney Terms of Service </a> and to check or seek advice depending on the intended usage of the images, especially for commercial use)</li>
<li>Devaluation of manually created artwork</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Opportunities</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Learning how to communicate to AI and train it to help us</li>
<li>A powerful additional brain that can be used for good</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Challenges</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Data usage</li>
<li>Data waste as a result of the crazy amount of both good and awful content being generated.</li>
<li>Concerns about Midjourney stealing work .</li>
<li>Ensuring that we are able to establish ethical boundaries so that we do not end up fighting against Skynet like in Terminator!</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Lessons learnt</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Talking to AI is not so different than talking to humans (bear with me…). If you want AI or a human to understand you, you need to communicate the right way. Also, even if you use the right words, AI may not get what you ask for!</li>
<li>There is a learning curve, it can be frustrating and also good fun.</li>
<li>To achieve the best results, i would say that, at least at the moment, human input is required to edit what AI presents.</li>
<li>The key to create successful prompts is to use a positive language! If I want a “clear background”, the trick is adding “clear background” in the prompt rather than requesting “no dark background”. In essence, anything we may not want in the image, has to be changed into a positive keyword for Midjourney to better understand what we want.</li>
<li>It requires a good conversation regarding copyrights and commercial use of creative work produced in collaboration with AI tools.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Final thoughts</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Although this AI tool is pretty amazing from a creative perspective, I have found that it can be time consuming to design or adapt certain prompts (hence the rise of prompt designers). Therefore, I may have spent more time trying to achieve a decent image with the prompts than finding a good enough image through the image bank or image library. It is also likely that a prompt designer may be able to achieve better results in less time.</li>
<li>With the right knowledge and experience, it allows creating fascinating art and creative assets that otherwise, unless being an artist or a creative, may be near impossible to achieve.</li>
<li>It can be a complementary tool to create certain digital assets that may be difficult to find and may be used as a first draft before editing the image through human input.</li>
<li>There are some Midjourney users creating fascinating pieces of work however I don’t feel it is a tool that anyone can use to create a great creative asset in five minutes. Even knowing about prompt design, it seems that it requires some good skills to achieve really good outcomes.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>If you feel like giving it a try you will need a Discord and Midjourney account. There are several good tutorials online in case you may want to give it a go.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/ai-instructional-design-midjourney/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
"
["raw"]=>
string(28055) "HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Type: application/rss+xml; charset=UTF-8
Transfer-Encoding: chunked
Connection: close
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:22:30 GMT
Server: Apache
X-Powered-By: PHP/8.3.31
Expires: Thu, 19 Nov 1981 08:52:00 GMT
Cache-Control: no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate
Pragma: no-cache
Link: <https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-json/>; rel="https://api.w.org/", <https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-json/wp/v2/tags/3>; rel="alternate"; title="JSON"; type="application/json"
Set-Cookie: spo_10112_fa=835dd0b2695588e851ef477a8aa831a7; expires=Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:52:30 GMT; Max-Age=1800; path=/edtechunchained/; Secure; HttpOnly
Last-Modified: Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:47:05 GMT
ETag: "8ec008d5bde259dd134ea2a25d69cb8f"
Vary: Accept-Encoding
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
>
<channel>
<title>dlam-feed – EdTech Unchained</title>
<atom:link href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/tag/dlam-feed/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained</link>
<description>Making sense of EdTech in uncertain times</description>
<lastBuildDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:47:05 +0000</lastBuildDate>
<language>en-GB</language>
<sy:updatePeriod>
hourly </sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>
1 </sy:updateFrequency>
<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5</generator>
<item>
<title>Lessons from the Aspiring Manager Programme: Beyond Managing</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/lessons-from-aspiring-manager-programme/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/lessons-from-aspiring-manager-programme/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[JGblog]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:18:11 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[CPD]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam-feed]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/?p=80</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As part of my career development I started the Aspiring Manager Programme this past January with support from my line manager. The programme provides a framework to develop core management skills and behaviours to set aspiring managers up for success in future management roles. This post is a reflection of the programme following the core […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As part of my career development I started the Aspiring Manager Programme this past January with support from my line manager. The programme provides a framework to develop core management skills and behaviours to set aspiring managers up for success in future management roles. This post is a reflection of the programme following the core workshops.</p>
<h2>The Aspiring Manager Programme</h2>
<p>It runs 2 cohort intakes per academic year beginning in October and January and requires a nominating manager to support your application (usually your line manager). If interested, you can find further details through the <a href="https://human-resources.ed.ac.uk/learning-development/leadership-programmes/aspiring-manager">Aspiring Manager Programme dedicated web page.</a></p>
<p>The first phase of the programme involves attending an onboarding session, starting working on weekly prompts and attending the first of two main workshops. The weekly prompts feel like school home work but I have to admit that they are helpful to reflect on key topics about becoming a manager and successfully supporting a team.</p>
<p>During Workshop 1 we explored our motivations and management styles whereas Workshop 2 was dedicated to team development, constructive feedback and managing challenging conversations through real-world scenarios and role-playing activities. Not being a big fan of group activities I found them more interesting than I initially envisaged. The break up rooms had the right timing and length to avoid making them boring or annoying.</p>
<h2>Workshops Reflection: What is important as a good manager</h2>
<p>While reflecting about our management styles and what we consider important as a manager, some of the most cited ingredients were the ability to empower and support , fairness, creating a safe environment, clear communication and leading by example. The latter was clearly something important for most if not all the participants as future managers-leaders.</p>
<p>Workshop 2 addressed these core “ingredients” and was actually really good. One of the concepts that I liked as it matches my personal views about how I like to work although I did not know it had a name is “Psychological Safety”, a concept developed by Harvard professor Amy Edmondson. It refers to creating an open, safe and trusting environment for the staff, where they are allowed to speak up, admit mistakes, ask questions, and propose new ideas without fear of punishment or humiliation. The other element that I found of great importance is communication, not only to provide clear instructions but also when it comes down to having difficult conversations, coaching or supporting a team member. No matter how much you may know, it is never that easy, requiring constant practice to keep honing these skills. I think that getting this right is probably one of the most challenging parts of being a good manager and building high-performance teams.</p>
<p>On the other hand, while reflecting on the concept of leading by example, my attention was drawn to Japan as it has some of the most impressive examples of great leadership and leading by example, in particular, in the face of adversity. Some well known examples during periods of financial downturn are Nintendo´s President who chose to halve his salary to avoid laying off employees and preserve talent for future success and Japan Airlines CEO Haruka Nishimatsu who slashed his own salary and gave up executive perks during 2007 and 2009 while the airline faced severe changes to recover from financial debt. He famously stated that if a leader doesn’t share the pain, they cannot expect the followers to endure it which sets a quite high benchmark for leadership solidarity. I would say this is key as a leader and/or manager to avoid an organizational disconnect that may likely impact performance and long term results.</p>
<h2>Final Thoughts</h2>
<p>We are used to think about management or being a manager as being responsible for the operational activity of the team, work planning, setting priorities, dealing with a wide range of issues, supporting team members and dealing with People & Money for multiple administrative tasks (which may likely include screaming time to time). <span style="font-size: 1rem;">At some point during the activities, I defined a team as a living organism, where every member has its particularities, and hence requiring constant adjustment or fine tuning aka management from a manager in order to achieve a suitable balance. Like a garden with different plants, each one displaying different qualities, requiring different nutrients, water intake and sun in order to thrive. </span>Through the different conversations with other participants and my peer group, it unfolds that, as a manager you manage tasks, but you also lead people and the best way to lead is by showing (leading by example). It turns out that one of the most important things a manager can do isn’t “managing” at all—it’s leading by example, otherwise, none of the other elements involving being a manager may have the expected results.</p>
<p>As we progress into the final part of this adventure, it is time to reflect about the most important lessons I have learned as this is that last activity for us before being able to complete the course.</p>
<p>If you are considering joining the programme, go for it. I get bored quite easily and thought it may be just another boring set of activities and now I have to admit that it is actually a really good experience plus the facilitator is brilliant so I strongly recommend it.</p>
<p>What does good management look like to you?</p>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/lessons-from-aspiring-manager-programme/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>How to survive and pass the ITIL 4 Foundation exam</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/itil-foundation-exam-tips/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/itil-foundation-exam-tips/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[JGblog]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Mar 2025 11:31:48 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[ITIL]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam-feed]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/?p=40</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I recently attended the ITIL 4 Foundation training course organised by ISG and successfully passed the exam. Here’s some thoughts about my experience and some tips that I learned while studying for the exam. This is a 3 days in-person course that prepares attendees for the ITIL exam. It was delivered by a training partner […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I recently attended the ITIL 4 Foundation training course organised by ISG and successfully passed the exam. Here’s some thoughts about my experience and some tips that I learned while studying for the exam.</p>
<p>This is a 3 days in-person course that prepares attendees for the ITIL exam. It was delivered by a training partner of Axelos who managed to turn a usually dry content into a set of engaging sessions with the help of timely coffee breaks.</p>
<p>As part of my role in DLAM, we currently implement ITIL practices and I was eager to learn more about ITIL so that I could better support the different services using best practices.</p>
<h4>My experience in 30 seconds</h4>
<p>I found the course really useful to have a better understanding of ITIL framework and key concepts. ITIL also helps to understand why UniDesk works the way it does here at the University. Another positive from the course was to meet and interact with other staff involved in ITIL practices.</p>
<p>The main downside is that by the end of each day everyone’s brain is saturated with information and no matter how much I like processes and workflows…it is a lot of to take in. On the other hand, the quizzes and mock exams that are introduced throughout the training sessions are really good to review, reflect on the concepts and refresh the brain.</p>
<h4>Main Tips and Takeaways</h4>
<p><strong>Before the course</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Consider checking some ITIL courses available on Linkedin Learning to get a grasp of the basic concepts if you are not familiar with the ITIL framework.</li>
<li>Consider buying a revision guide. I bought the ITIL Foundation Essentials by Claire Agutter (there are different guides so check and decide which one you like it better) and found it very useful before the course and specially once completed to easily review the concepts (ie on the bus) instead of login into the course content platform.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>During the course</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Ask questions</li>
<li>Add notes (the course platform allows to easily add notes)</li>
<li>Get proper sleep (if possible)</li>
<li>Bring your own coffee in the morning in case catering is delayed</li>
<li>Bring layers as you never know how cold or warm you may feel the room</li>
</ul>
<p><strong> </strong><strong>After the course (Exam prep)</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Learn the terminology. There are multiple questions in the exam about key concepts definitions.</li>
<li>Understand the relationships between ITIL concepts.</li>
<li>Review the Mock Exams (you can find additional mock exams online) and practice until you are able to consistently achieve the desired mark.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Tips for the online exam</strong></p>
<p>The ITIL® Foundation exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 60 minutes.</p>
<p>The online exam is an online proctored exam. It felt weird having someone “overseeing” you but without actually seeing them. However, once I started the exam I was fully focused on the questions and this was not an issue.</p>
<ul>
<li>Make sure that you take the exam in a suitable room (ie: the room should only have one door and your camera needs to show that door, my understanding is that if you have two doors, they have to be in view)</li>
<li>Wherever you are taking the exam, ensure no one open the doors while you take the exam</li>
<li>You will need to keep a clean desk and cover any extra monitors (you need to show it with your webcam)</li>
<li>The proctor will gently review that all the requirements are met for the room, reading the requirements feels worst than it its (ie: I had to cover my two monitors while using just the laptop to take the exam)</li>
<li>Read carefully the questions, don’t rush.</li>
<li>If you get stuck on a test question, move on and come back later</li>
<li>Keep an eye on the clock however, I can assure you that you will have plenty of time.</li>
<li>Learn the key definitions and watch out for certain keywords (this would help you connect the wording to the right concept)</li>
<li>Book your exam (important thing to remember!)</li>
</ul>
<h4>Conclusion</h4>
<p>Do I recommend the course if you are interested in ITIL, IT or Service Management? Yes!</p>
<p>I took the exam on Monday after completing the course the previous Friday.</p>
<p>We were advised to let the content sink during the weekend and schedule the exam from Sunday on wards and not more than 1 week after completing the course so that we still have the concepts fresh in the mind. I practiced the mock exams a few times until being consistent at getting at least 30 out of 40 and…I got more than 30 in the exam <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f642.png" alt="🙂" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /></p>
<p> </p>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/itil-foundation-exam-tips/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>AI, Instructional Design and Midjourney</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/ai-instructional-design-midjourney/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/ai-instructional-design-midjourney/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[JGblog]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 15:06:38 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[artificial intelligence]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam-feed]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/2024/04/12/welcome/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[One of the tools that got my attention a while ago is Midjourney as a result of noticing astonishing images made by an artist I know. I only started using it recently and I have been surprised by the potential it has and at the same time it has forced me to think about the […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of the tools that got my attention a while ago is Midjourney as a result of noticing astonishing images made by an artist I know.</p>
<p>I only started using it recently and I have been surprised by the potential it has and at the same time it has forced me to think about the pros and cons of AI.</p>
<p>It is described by its creators as by its creators as “text-to-image AI where your imagination is the only limit”. One of the things I was curious about is the possibility to use Midjourney to create specific images that could be use in online courses or as feature images in posts as I sometimes struggle to find the right image.</p>
<p>I got myself a basic account to do some tests and I have selected some of the Midjourney generated images below to illustrate this post and the featured image.</p>
<p>As an instructional designer, part of the job may involve creating or editing certain creative assets. Most of the Authoring eLearning tools would nowadays provide access to a library of images, yet sometimes you may need something very specific. Same applies for blogs, there are a good number of bank photos but you may not always find what you want or you may spend too much time scrolling through a content library.</p>
<h3>Creating an image for an online course</h3>
<p>Let’s say that I need an angry dinosaur having a discussion to illustrate a conflict management slide for a course…</p>
<p><strong>Prompt:</strong> angry customer with a dinosaur face discussing with a customer assistant, v 5.1 –style raw</p>
<p>If you look at the woman’s character, do you notice some strange things? The pen seems to be floating, the elbow and the hand are a bit odd.</p>
<p>And…the dinosaur body is…well…interesting.</p>
<p>This was the first attempt at this prompt which shows some of the AI limitations at the moment. Usually, by iteration and clarifying the instructions within the prompt, the image can get closer to the idea I had in mind although there is a high chance that it may still require some manual editing. On the positive side, if there is no similar image via the image bank, this can be very helpful.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-10" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face_discussing_with__693c87f4-6ee4-4d49-8993-22e400cf358d_0-300x300.png" alt="angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face_discussing_with__693c87f4-6ee4-4d49-8993-22e400cf358d_0-300x300.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face_discussing_with__693c87f4-6ee4-4d49-8993-22e400cf358d_0-150x150.png 150w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face_discussing_with__693c87f4-6ee4-4d49-8993-22e400cf358d_0-768x768.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_angry_customer_with_a_dinosaur_face_discussing_with__693c87f4-6ee4-4d49-8993-22e400cf358d_0.png 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Created with Midjourney</span></p>
<h3>Creating a flat illustration</h3>
<p>Now, using a more elaborated prompt to create a flat illustration, the result was not bad although it took a few iterations to get something that I was satisfied with. Still, the right arm looks like a bit strange to me.</p>
<p><strong>Prompt:</strong> Discover the world of scientific exploration with this flat illustration featuring a chemist wearing glasses, with a smile and happy eyes, diligently working in a research laboratory. Engaged in experiments, she skillfully handles a [object that is used]. This minimalist UI illustration, perfect for GUI applications, boasts a clean white background and a bright color scheme that highlights the focus and determination of the scientist. Immerse yourself in the pursuit of knowledge and celebrate the passion for discovery in this vibrant and engaging visual representation.–ar 1:1 –v 5 –s 100</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-21" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_Discover_the_world_of_scientific_exploration_with_th_3e40d1d4-b449-436c-ac7a-a03fc5b90a92_2-300x300.png" alt="chemist_in_laboratory_flat_illustration" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_Discover_the_world_of_scientific_exploration_with_th_3e40d1d4-b449-436c-ac7a-a03fc5b90a92_2-300x300.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_Discover_the_world_of_scientific_exploration_with_th_3e40d1d4-b449-436c-ac7a-a03fc5b90a92_2-150x150.png 150w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_Discover_the_world_of_scientific_exploration_with_th_3e40d1d4-b449-436c-ac7a-a03fc5b90a92_2-768x768.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_Discover_the_world_of_scientific_exploration_with_th_3e40d1d4-b449-436c-ac7a-a03fc5b90a92_2.png 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Created with Midjourney</span></p>
<p> </p>
<h3>The fun side of AI</h3>
<p>So far, I have found being able to communicate with AI fascinating. It can be exciting when you manage to create a prompt that returns what you expected or frustrating when you get just the opposite and even funny when you look at some of the results based on not good enough prompts or the AI not quite understanding what you meant in your prompt (as you may note looking at the image below!).</p>
<p><strong>Prompt</strong>: funny t-rex dinosaur, working as it support with headphones sitting in a chair in front of a computer, cartoon style, happy face, with scottish kilt ,v 5.1 –style raw –</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-20" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_a_sco_7a10e2a8-157e-4fdb-a78a-fa28ac0cb4a0_3-300x300.png" alt="funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_scottish_kilt" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_a_sco_7a10e2a8-157e-4fdb-a78a-fa28ac0cb4a0_3-300x300.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_a_sco_7a10e2a8-157e-4fdb-a78a-fa28ac0cb4a0_3-150x150.png 150w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_a_sco_7a10e2a8-157e-4fdb-a78a-fa28ac0cb4a0_3-768x768.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-content/uploads/sites/10112/2024/04/josmedia_funny_t_rex_dinosaur_with_a_happy_face_wearing_a_sco_7a10e2a8-157e-4fdb-a78a-fa28ac0cb4a0_3.png 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Created with Midjourney</span></p>
<p>Like many radical innovations, the fear is for a potentially good tool to end up being used in a harmful way. It feels like a tsunami and either you sink or you ride the wave. I believe that, a good starting point, is to have a better understanding of its advantages and limitations, so that we can work towards and ethical and safe use of AI.</p>
<h3>Thoughts about AI and Midjourney</h3>
<p>Some quick thoughts based on my initial experience (note that I am not an AI expert or a designer)</p>
<p><strong>Pros</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>You can create almost anything that you can conceive in your mind</li>
<li>It enhances your creativity by exposing you to creative options you may have not considered</li>
<li>It can speed up the creative process using AI as a starting point and then adding manual input to create the final artwork.</li>
<li>It can be used as inspiration, as creative prompts.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Cons</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Achieving a perfect image out of a prompt is not always possible, it requires iteration and often some final human touch.</li>
<li>Complexity of copyright ownership/infringement (in theory, there is no copyright in the “raw” outcome as there is no creative human input unless it is modified, there are risks based on regulations in different countries, changes in terms of service, existing images…)</li>
<li>Current controversy with copyright (it is worth reading <a href="http://docs.midjourney.com/hc/en-us/articles/32083055291277-Terms-of-Service" class="broken_link">Midjourney Terms of Service </a> and to check or seek advice depending on the intended usage of the images, especially for commercial use)</li>
<li>Devaluation of manually created artwork</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Opportunities</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Learning how to communicate to AI and train it to help us</li>
<li>A powerful additional brain that can be used for good</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Challenges</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Data usage</li>
<li>Data waste as a result of the crazy amount of both good and awful content being generated.</li>
<li>Concerns about Midjourney stealing work .</li>
<li>Ensuring that we are able to establish ethical boundaries so that we do not end up fighting against Skynet like in Terminator!</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Lessons learnt</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Talking to AI is not so different than talking to humans (bear with me…). If you want AI or a human to understand you, you need to communicate the right way. Also, even if you use the right words, AI may not get what you ask for!</li>
<li>There is a learning curve, it can be frustrating and also good fun.</li>
<li>To achieve the best results, i would say that, at least at the moment, human input is required to edit what AI presents.</li>
<li>The key to create successful prompts is to use a positive language! If I want a “clear background”, the trick is adding “clear background” in the prompt rather than requesting “no dark background”. In essence, anything we may not want in the image, has to be changed into a positive keyword for Midjourney to better understand what we want.</li>
<li>It requires a good conversation regarding copyrights and commercial use of creative work produced in collaboration with AI tools.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Final thoughts</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Although this AI tool is pretty amazing from a creative perspective, I have found that it can be time consuming to design or adapt certain prompts (hence the rise of prompt designers). Therefore, I may have spent more time trying to achieve a decent image with the prompts than finding a good enough image through the image bank or image library. It is also likely that a prompt designer may be able to achieve better results in less time.</li>
<li>With the right knowledge and experience, it allows creating fascinating art and creative assets that otherwise, unless being an artist or a creative, may be near impossible to achieve.</li>
<li>It can be a complementary tool to create certain digital assets that may be difficult to find and may be used as a first draft before editing the image through human input.</li>
<li>There are some Midjourney users creating fascinating pieces of work however I don’t feel it is a tool that anyone can use to create a great creative asset in five minutes. Even knowing about prompt design, it seems that it requires some good skills to achieve really good outcomes.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>If you feel like giving it a try you will need a Discord and Midjourney account. There are several good tutorials online in case you may want to give it a go.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/ai-instructional-design-midjourney/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
"
["headers"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Response\Headers)#2414 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(12) {
["content-type"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(34) "application/rss+xml; charset=UTF-8"
}
["date"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(29) "Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:22:30 GMT"
}
["server"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(6) "Apache"
}
["x-powered-by"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(10) "PHP/8.3.31"
}
["expires"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(29) "Thu, 19 Nov 1981 08:52:00 GMT"
}
["cache-control"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(35) "no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate"
}
["pragma"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(8) "no-cache"
}
["link"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(194) "<https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-json/>; rel="https://api.w.org/", <https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/wp-json/wp/v2/tags/3>; rel="alternate"; title="JSON"; type="application/json""
}
["set-cookie"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(140) "spo_10112_fa=835dd0b2695588e851ef477a8aa831a7; expires=Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:52:30 GMT; Max-Age=1800; path=/edtechunchained/; Secure; HttpOnly"
}
["last-modified"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(29) "Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:47:05 GMT"
}
["etag"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(34) ""8ec008d5bde259dd134ea2a25d69cb8f""
}
["vary"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(15) "Accept-Encoding"
}
}
}
["status_code"]=>
int(200)
["protocol_version"]=>
float(1.1)
["success"]=>
bool(true)
["redirects"]=>
int(1)
["url"]=>
string(58) "https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/tag/dlam-feed/feed/"
["history"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Response)#2404 (10) {
["body"]=>
string(0) ""
["raw"]=>
string(864) "HTTP/1.1 301 Moved Permanently
Content-Type: application/rss+xml; charset=UTF-8
Content-Length: 0
Connection: close
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:22:29 GMT
Server: Apache
X-Powered-By: PHP/8.3.31
Expires: Thu, 19 Nov 1981 08:52:00 GMT
Cache-Control: no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate
Pragma: no-cache
X-Redirect-By: WordPress
Set-Cookie: PHPSESSID=h5lul41snogitg89gd3ht780ub; path=/; secure; HttpOnly
Set-Cookie: spo_10112_fa=835dd0b2695588e851ef477a8aa831a7; expires=Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:52:29 GMT; Max-Age=1800; path=/edtechunchained/; Secure; HttpOnly
Last-Modified: Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:47:05 GMT
ETag: "8ec008d5bde259dd134ea2a25d69cb8f"
Location: https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/tag/dlam-feed/feed/
Set-Cookie: RCKBMHKB=027ff8be59-56fd-48NMXirnhVpb_gCATSKv6MocANvGkwQr_HAla4gX_Dp9hv9pjuBjkxVrDguWXi4V74ulg; path=/; SameSite=None; Secure
"
["headers"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Response\Headers)#2405 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(13) {
["content-type"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(34) "application/rss+xml; charset=UTF-8"
}
["content-length"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(1) "0"
}
["date"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(29) "Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:22:29 GMT"
}
["server"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(6) "Apache"
}
["x-powered-by"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(10) "PHP/8.3.31"
}
["expires"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(29) "Thu, 19 Nov 1981 08:52:00 GMT"
}
["cache-control"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(35) "no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate"
}
["pragma"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(8) "no-cache"
}
["x-redirect-by"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(9) "WordPress"
}
["set-cookie"]=>
array(3) {
[0]=>
string(62) "PHPSESSID=h5lul41snogitg89gd3ht780ub; path=/; secure; HttpOnly"
[1]=>
string(140) "spo_10112_fa=835dd0b2695588e851ef477a8aa831a7; expires=Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:52:29 GMT; Max-Age=1800; path=/edtechunchained/; Secure; HttpOnly"
[2]=>
string(125) "RCKBMHKB=027ff8be59-56fd-48NMXirnhVpb_gCATSKv6MocANvGkwQr_HAla4gX_Dp9hv9pjuBjkxVrDguWXi4V74ulg; path=/; SameSite=None; Secure"
}
["last-modified"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(29) "Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:47:05 GMT"
}
["etag"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(34) ""8ec008d5bde259dd134ea2a25d69cb8f""
}
["location"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(58) "https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/tag/dlam-feed/feed/"
}
}
}
["status_code"]=>
int(301)
["protocol_version"]=>
float(1.1)
["success"]=>
bool(false)
["redirects"]=>
int(0)
["url"]=>
string(57) "https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/edtechunchained/tag/dlam-feed/rss/"
["history"]=>
array(0) {
}
["cookies"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie\Jar)#2401 (1) {
["cookies":protected]=>
array(3) {
["PHPSESSID"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie)#2409 (5) {
["name"]=>
string(9) "PHPSESSID"
["value"]=>
string(26) "h5lul41snogitg89gd3ht780ub"
["attributes"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2408 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(4) {
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["secure"]=>
bool(true)
["httponly"]=>
bool(true)
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
}
}
["flags"]=>
array(4) {
["creation"]=>
int(1781580150)
["last-access"]=>
int(1781580150)
["persistent"]=>
bool(false)
["host-only"]=>
bool(true)
}
["reference_time"]=>
int(1781580150)
}
["spo_10112_fa"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie)#2410 (5) {
["name"]=>
string(12) "spo_10112_fa"
["value"]=>
string(32) "835dd0b2695588e851ef477a8aa831a7"
["attributes"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2416 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(6) {
["expires"]=>
int(1781581950)
["max-age"]=>
int(1781581950)
["path"]=>
string(17) "/edtechunchained/"
["secure"]=>
bool(true)
["httponly"]=>
bool(true)
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
}
}
["flags"]=>
array(4) {
["creation"]=>
int(1781580150)
["last-access"]=>
int(1781580150)
["persistent"]=>
bool(false)
["host-only"]=>
bool(true)
}
["reference_time"]=>
int(1781580150)
}
["RCKBMHKB"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie)#2412 (5) {
["name"]=>
string(8) "RCKBMHKB"
["value"]=>
string(85) "027ff8be59-56fd-48NMXirnhVpb_gCATSKv6MocANvGkwQr_HAla4gX_Dp9hv9pjuBjkxVrDguWXi4V74ulg"
["attributes"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2413 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(4) {
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["samesite"]=>
string(4) "None"
["secure"]=>
bool(true)
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
}
}
["flags"]=>
array(4) {
["creation"]=>
int(1781580150)
["last-access"]=>
int(1781580150)
["persistent"]=>
bool(false)
["host-only"]=>
bool(true)
}
["reference_time"]=>
int(1781580150)
}
}
}
}
}
["cookies"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie\Jar)#2401 (1) {
["cookies":protected]=>
array(3) {
["PHPSESSID"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie)#2409 (5) {
["name"]=>
string(9) "PHPSESSID"
["value"]=>
string(26) "h5lul41snogitg89gd3ht780ub"
["attributes"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2408 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(4) {
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["secure"]=>
bool(true)
["httponly"]=>
bool(true)
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
}
}
["flags"]=>
array(4) {
["creation"]=>
int(1781580150)
["last-access"]=>
int(1781580150)
["persistent"]=>
bool(false)
["host-only"]=>
bool(true)
}
["reference_time"]=>
int(1781580150)
}
["spo_10112_fa"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie)#2410 (5) {
["name"]=>
string(12) "spo_10112_fa"
["value"]=>
string(32) "835dd0b2695588e851ef477a8aa831a7"
["attributes"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2416 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(6) {
["expires"]=>
int(1781581950)
["max-age"]=>
int(1781581950)
["path"]=>
string(17) "/edtechunchained/"
["secure"]=>
bool(true)
["httponly"]=>
bool(true)
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
}
}
["flags"]=>
array(4) {
["creation"]=>
int(1781580150)
["last-access"]=>
int(1781580150)
["persistent"]=>
bool(false)
["host-only"]=>
bool(true)
}
["reference_time"]=>
int(1781580150)
}
["RCKBMHKB"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie)#2412 (5) {
["name"]=>
string(8) "RCKBMHKB"
["value"]=>
string(85) "027ff8be59-56fd-48NMXirnhVpb_gCATSKv6MocANvGkwQr_HAla4gX_Dp9hv9pjuBjkxVrDguWXi4V74ulg"
["attributes"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2413 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(4) {
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["samesite"]=>
string(4) "None"
["secure"]=>
bool(true)
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
}
}
["flags"]=>
array(4) {
["creation"]=>
int(1781580150)
["last-access"]=>
int(1781580150)
["persistent"]=>
bool(false)
["host-only"]=>
bool(true)
}
["reference_time"]=>
int(1781580150)
}
}
}
}
["filename":protected]=>
NULL
}
}
Diag====| HTTP [https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/feed/] ⌉ array(6) {
["headers"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2414 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(12) {
["content-type"]=>
string(34) "application/rss+xml; charset=UTF-8"
["date"]=>
string(29) "Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:22:30 GMT"
["server"]=>
string(6) "Apache"
["x-powered-by"]=>
string(10) "PHP/8.3.31"
["expires"]=>
string(29) "Thu, 19 Nov 1981 08:52:00 GMT"
["cache-control"]=>
string(35) "no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate"
["pragma"]=>
string(8) "no-cache"
["link"]=>
string(68) "<https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-json/>; rel="https://api.w.org/""
["set-cookie"]=>
array(3) {
[0]=>
string(62) "PHPSESSID=4c1khrujqge8s8su1s2ainf1et; path=/; secure; HttpOnly"
[1]=>
string(132) "spo_9865_fa=ed90b7d8fac126105541600d5650d741; expires=Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:52:30 GMT; Max-Age=1800; path=/lramutsa/; Secure; HttpOnly"
[2]=>
string(125) "RCKBMHKB=027ff8be59-56fd-48XuabP1P-cJmtvlisjrW6ywthXcT7kFxB7wE-r7D6ocyy0zNZdCrldPeuOwumrhpiaf0; path=/; SameSite=None; Secure"
}
["last-modified"]=>
string(29) "Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:01:18 GMT"
["etag"]=>
string(34) ""0e0241b0d0da1df953c03c1bff9fac51""
["vary"]=>
string(15) "Accept-Encoding"
}
}
["body"]=>
string(17543) "<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
>
<channel>
<title>Leopold Ramutsamaya’s Blog</title>
<atom:link href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa</link>
<description>Leopold Ramutsamaya's Blog for personal use</description>
<lastBuildDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:01:18 +0000</lastBuildDate>
<language>en-GB</language>
<sy:updatePeriod>
hourly </sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>
1 </sy:updateFrequency>
<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5</generator>
<item>
<title>It depends!</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2026/03/27/it-depends/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2026/03/27/it-depends/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[lramutsa]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:01:25 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Conference]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Php]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[conferences]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[php]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[php-conference]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[software development]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/?p=57</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I had the pleasure of attending the PHP UK Conference in London this year. It was my second time, and it was even more exciting than the last! We had three simultaneous sessions, with 19 carefully chosen speakers and a new venue to welcome over 200 attendees. We got to connect with experienced developers, newcomers […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I had the pleasure of attending the PHP UK Conference in London this year. It was my second time, and it was even more exciting than the last! We had three simultaneous sessions, with 19 carefully chosen speakers and a new venue to welcome over 200 attendees.</p>
<p>We got to connect with experienced developers, newcomers and speakers, sharing ideas, concerns and developments across the developer community. This year, the speakers covered a wide range of technical topics, from seasoned open-source contributors like Sebastian Bergmann (the creator of PHPUnit), new product launches like Simon Hamp (the creator of NativePhp), performance enthusiasts like Volker Dusch (PHP 8.5 Release Manager) and long-time PHP contributors like Sara Golemon (PHP release manager at the PHP Foundation).</p>
<p>With so many fascinating and insightful talks, Gary Hockin’s talk on technical trade-offs really stood out to me. His talk, ‘It Depends’, aimed to explain why tech experts rarely give a straightforward ‘yes or no’ answer. It showed that every choice involves a trade-off – a ‘slider’ where getting one benefit often means giving up something else. I have had conversations with colleagues who are exploring tools to make their daily tasks easier, from visualising data within Learn, optimising queries to the database or setting up an application to try out a new AI tool – the question always is, which tool is the best?</p>
<p>Hockin’s main point is that there are no set answers when it comes to technology. Knowing that ‘it depends’ isn’t just a way out, but rather the first step towards making better, more thoughtful choices. It often means realising that every decision we make usually doesn’t have a single ‘right’ answer, rather well-considered compromises. Instead of looking for a one-size-fits-all ‘best’ solution, successful teams learn to ask more specific questions. Picking a programming language, database or framework can sometimes feel like choosing the ‘best’ car. A car that’s perfect for a racetrack won’t work for a snowy driveway and probably won’t be good for a school run with four kids. The same idea applies to our everyday jobs and decisions that come with it. The ‘best’ choice depends entirely on the situation, like the team’s experience, how much money and time we have and what the project needs to achieve.</p>
<p>From picking the best room to book for your non-anchor day at FH to deciding what lunch to have at the ISG Spring event, we need to ask the right questions and have the complete view of the slider before making the right choice. As i retreat to my everyday tasks and the decisions I must make, I am more conscious to seek the full picture, assess the slider in its entirety to ensure I have a good understanding of all the negatives and positives and ask the right questions. It is not as easy as it sounds, but with practice and constant refinement, “it depends” becomes a part of every decision we need to make.</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2026-03-27" itemprop="dateModified">Mar 27, 2026</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2026/03/27/it-depends/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Lights, Camera, Learn!</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2025/03/02/lights-camera-learn/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2025/03/02/lights-camera-learn/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[lramutsa]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 02 Mar 2025 19:56:58 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Conference]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Php]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[conferences]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[php]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[php-conference]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[software development]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/?p=32</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I had the pleasure of attending the 2025 PHP UK Conference in London on 19th of February. The speakers were amazing, and each session gave us practical tips on the challenges we face as software developers and the cutting-edge tech being developed by other developers. The conference had two tracks concurrently running most of the […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-35 alignleft" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference-300x100.jpeg" alt="PHP UK Conference 2025" width="300" height="100" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference-300x100.jpeg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference-1024x341.jpeg 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference-768x256.jpeg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference-1440x480.jpeg 1440w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p class="p1">I had the pleasure of attending the 2025 PHP UK Conference in London on 19th of February. The speakers were amazing, and each session gave us practical tips on the challenges we face as software developers and the cutting-edge tech being developed by other developers.</p>
<p class="p1">The conference had two tracks concurrently running most of the day, so you could choose which talks were most interesting. Luckily, I was there with a work colleague, so we were able to cover both tracks and not miss out on any talks. I have highlighted some of the talks that really inspired me to think differently and unlock a toolkit of ideas to level up my developer skills.</p>
<p class="p1">Craig Francis talked about “Ending Injection Vulnerabilities,” a topic that every developer should know about. Even though PHP has improved, SQL injection attacks still happen a lot. Craig showed us real-world examples that were used in production which left many reviewing their code bases. He stressed that languages make it easy to add vulnerable code with just one line of code (which works), but it’s harder to make secure code with several lines of code – something that should change by making secure code just as easy to write as insecure one. He also said that escaping inputs or using Object-Relational Mapping (ORM like Eloquent) isn’t enough. Instead, we should take a “zero-trust” approach to any data that users send and make sure that security principles like using prepared statements and validating every user input are followed. On top of that, we should make sure that we actually use the functions provided by these ORMs as they’re meant to be used, so we don’t open backdoors on otherwise secure code.</p>
<p class="p1">Liam Hammett’s session, “Beyond Requests: Supercharging API Monitoring with Guzzle Middleware,” was a real eye-opener for me. I have used Guzzle before, but Liam showed me how to use middleware to log requests, view traces, and observe metrics. This way, I can easily monitor my application’s performance. He also showed us how to use Graphana, Tempo, Prometheus, and Loki to monitor different log levels and API telemetry from our application. We have a few apps that could really benefit from this kind of logging and monitoring, like our Class Group Builder, Bulk unenrol tool or our infrastructure servers that currently host the Short Courses Platform.</p>
<p class="p1">Ivo Lukac’s shared “Learn to Appreciate Legacy,” a heartwarming story about a fictional developer named Zed, was also really moving. Through Zed’s struggles with a messy and old codebase, Ivo showed us how legacy code often contains important business logic and institutional knowledge. It hit home for me because I have often complained about “legacy code” that we have running on some of our old apps, instead of seeing its value. Ivo’s positive outlook has me rethinking how I approach maintenance work. He shared some strategies for maintaining and refactoring such code without breaking everything and leaving every file that you’ve worked on better than you found it. The lesson? Legacy code is just code that’s been pushed to production!</p>
<p class="p1">Finally, Kevin Dunglas closed off the talks with “Give Your PHP Apps Superpowers with FrankenPHP”. This modern PHP server, built on Caddy, handles concurrency easily and supports real-time features out of the box. It also boosts performance by preloading classes. The “worker mode” was the coolest part for me, as it lets you run persistent processes for tasks like queued jobs without external services. I can’t wait to try it on a side project, maybe a chat app, and see how it simplifies my workflow. As far as I could tell, for developers, it’s a game-changer, combining PHP’s simplicity with the enterprise-grade power of Go.</p>
<p class="p1">With so many exciting talks happening at the same time on two tracks, it’s easy to miss out on others. It would be awesome if the organisers could split the talks over two days so everyone can hear everything. On the bright side, this conference made me realise that PHP is still evolving and there’s always something new and exciting coming from the community.</p>
<p class="p1">As I get back to my projects, I’m inspired to pay closer attention to every input, monitor APIs smartly, respect legacy code, and use tools that push PHP to its limits. Conferences aren’t just about learning new tricks—they remind us why we love this craft. We have the chance to build a better world, one line of code at a time!</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2025-03-02" itemprop="dateModified">Mar 2, 2025</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2025/03/02/lights-camera-learn/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>A day in the life of an eLearning Systems Developer</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2024/01/26/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-elearning-systems-developer/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2024/01/26/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-elearning-systems-developer/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[lramutsa]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jan 2024 14:10:31 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam-feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[leopold ramutsamaya]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[software development]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/?p=9</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As an eLearning Systems Developer in a dynamic small team, my role revolves around creating custom web applications, university-wide platforms, and extensions for the central virtual learning environment, Blackboard Learn. With over 20 applications under our belt, each presenting unique challenges and varying complexities, my days are a blend of technical expertise, collaboration, and continuous […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: left"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-28 alignleft" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2024/01/Leopold-Photo-300x300.jpg" alt="Leopold Ramutsamaya Photo" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2024/01/Leopold-Photo-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2024/01/Leopold-Photo-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2024/01/Leopold-Photo-768x768.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2024/01/Leopold-Photo.jpg 960w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />As an eLearning Systems Developer in a dynamic small team, my role revolves around creating custom web applications, university-wide platforms, and extensions for the central virtual learning environment, Blackboard Learn. With over 20 applications under our belt, each presenting unique challenges and varying complexities, my days are a blend of technical expertise, collaboration, and continuous learning.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">The day kicks off with catching up on both personal and team support emails. This ensures I am aware of any potential challenges or issues that may shape my workday. Whether it’s a student seeking support or a system alert for an application running out of storage, addressing these promptly ensures a smooth workflow. Following this, our daily team scrum meetings provide a platform for brief but vital discussion on completed tasks, ongoing work, and potential roadblocks. These meetings help the team keep on tabs on all the work at hand and the progress being made, as well as offer help on any issues you are facing – more often than not, someone else may have faced similar issue and already have a solution or a way to handle the issue.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">With the morning meetings concluded, the day unfolds into a solo venture of coding and project planning for the rest of the day – the ability to manage and prioritise your own work becomes very crucial. Working with sprint tickets, our team follows a meticulous process that includes peer code review and writing of automated tests. This not only enhances code quality by minimizing errors but also provides a unique opportunity for professional growth as different viewpoints and solutions emerge during code reviews, creating a fertile ground for the exchange of ideas. Writing automated tests ensures that new features align with specifications without disrupting existing logic.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">Reflection becomes a crucial part of the daily routine, providing insights into lessons learned, challenges faced, and opportunities for improvement. In the ever-evolving realm of software development, challenges serve as stepping stones for professional growth. Crucially, the supportive ecosystem within the team and the section at large is the cornerstone of our success. Knowing that assistance is just an inquiry away fosters a collaborative spirit, making the complex web of software development more manageable.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is the opportunity to work on a multitude of applications, employing various technologies and catering to different stakeholders across the university. This diversity exposes me to processes beyond my immediate scope, allowing me to contribute to the resolution of challenges faced by staff and students throughout their daily routines. Each day is a unique opportunity to shape the digital future of education, one line of code at a time.</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2024-01-26" itemprop="dateModified">Jan 26, 2024</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2024/01/26/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-elearning-systems-developer/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
"
["response"]=>
array(2) {
["code"]=>
int(200)
["message"]=>
string(2) "OK"
}
["cookies"]=>
array(3) {
[0]=>
object(WP_Http_Cookie)#2464 (7) {
["name"]=>
string(9) "PHPSESSID"
["value"]=>
string(26) "4c1khrujqge8s8su1s2ainf1et"
["expires"]=>
NULL
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
["port"]=>
NULL
["host_only"]=>
bool(true)
}
[1]=>
object(WP_Http_Cookie)#2463 (7) {
["name"]=>
string(11) "spo_9865_fa"
["value"]=>
string(32) "ed90b7d8fac126105541600d5650d741"
["expires"]=>
int(1781581950)
["path"]=>
string(10) "/lramutsa/"
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
["port"]=>
NULL
["host_only"]=>
bool(true)
}
[2]=>
object(WP_Http_Cookie)#2465 (7) {
["name"]=>
string(8) "RCKBMHKB"
["value"]=>
string(85) "027ff8be59-56fd-48XuabP1P-cJmtvlisjrW6ywthXcT7kFxB7wE-r7D6ocyy0zNZdCrldPeuOwumrhpiaf0"
["expires"]=>
NULL
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
["port"]=>
NULL
["host_only"]=>
bool(true)
}
}
["filename"]=>
NULL
["http_response"]=>
object(WP_HTTP_Requests_Response)#976 (5) {
["data"]=>
NULL
["headers"]=>
NULL
["status"]=>
NULL
["response":protected]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Response)#2453 (10) {
["body"]=>
string(17543) "<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
>
<channel>
<title>Leopold Ramutsamaya’s Blog</title>
<atom:link href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa</link>
<description>Leopold Ramutsamaya's Blog for personal use</description>
<lastBuildDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:01:18 +0000</lastBuildDate>
<language>en-GB</language>
<sy:updatePeriod>
hourly </sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>
1 </sy:updateFrequency>
<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5</generator>
<item>
<title>It depends!</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2026/03/27/it-depends/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2026/03/27/it-depends/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[lramutsa]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:01:25 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Conference]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Php]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[conferences]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[php]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[php-conference]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[software development]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/?p=57</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I had the pleasure of attending the PHP UK Conference in London this year. It was my second time, and it was even more exciting than the last! We had three simultaneous sessions, with 19 carefully chosen speakers and a new venue to welcome over 200 attendees. We got to connect with experienced developers, newcomers […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I had the pleasure of attending the PHP UK Conference in London this year. It was my second time, and it was even more exciting than the last! We had three simultaneous sessions, with 19 carefully chosen speakers and a new venue to welcome over 200 attendees.</p>
<p>We got to connect with experienced developers, newcomers and speakers, sharing ideas, concerns and developments across the developer community. This year, the speakers covered a wide range of technical topics, from seasoned open-source contributors like Sebastian Bergmann (the creator of PHPUnit), new product launches like Simon Hamp (the creator of NativePhp), performance enthusiasts like Volker Dusch (PHP 8.5 Release Manager) and long-time PHP contributors like Sara Golemon (PHP release manager at the PHP Foundation).</p>
<p>With so many fascinating and insightful talks, Gary Hockin’s talk on technical trade-offs really stood out to me. His talk, ‘It Depends’, aimed to explain why tech experts rarely give a straightforward ‘yes or no’ answer. It showed that every choice involves a trade-off – a ‘slider’ where getting one benefit often means giving up something else. I have had conversations with colleagues who are exploring tools to make their daily tasks easier, from visualising data within Learn, optimising queries to the database or setting up an application to try out a new AI tool – the question always is, which tool is the best?</p>
<p>Hockin’s main point is that there are no set answers when it comes to technology. Knowing that ‘it depends’ isn’t just a way out, but rather the first step towards making better, more thoughtful choices. It often means realising that every decision we make usually doesn’t have a single ‘right’ answer, rather well-considered compromises. Instead of looking for a one-size-fits-all ‘best’ solution, successful teams learn to ask more specific questions. Picking a programming language, database or framework can sometimes feel like choosing the ‘best’ car. A car that’s perfect for a racetrack won’t work for a snowy driveway and probably won’t be good for a school run with four kids. The same idea applies to our everyday jobs and decisions that come with it. The ‘best’ choice depends entirely on the situation, like the team’s experience, how much money and time we have and what the project needs to achieve.</p>
<p>From picking the best room to book for your non-anchor day at FH to deciding what lunch to have at the ISG Spring event, we need to ask the right questions and have the complete view of the slider before making the right choice. As i retreat to my everyday tasks and the decisions I must make, I am more conscious to seek the full picture, assess the slider in its entirety to ensure I have a good understanding of all the negatives and positives and ask the right questions. It is not as easy as it sounds, but with practice and constant refinement, “it depends” becomes a part of every decision we need to make.</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2026-03-27" itemprop="dateModified">Mar 27, 2026</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2026/03/27/it-depends/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Lights, Camera, Learn!</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2025/03/02/lights-camera-learn/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2025/03/02/lights-camera-learn/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[lramutsa]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 02 Mar 2025 19:56:58 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Conference]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Php]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[conferences]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[php]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[php-conference]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[software development]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/?p=32</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I had the pleasure of attending the 2025 PHP UK Conference in London on 19th of February. The speakers were amazing, and each session gave us practical tips on the challenges we face as software developers and the cutting-edge tech being developed by other developers. The conference had two tracks concurrently running most of the […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-35 alignleft" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference-300x100.jpeg" alt="PHP UK Conference 2025" width="300" height="100" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference-300x100.jpeg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference-1024x341.jpeg 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference-768x256.jpeg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference-1440x480.jpeg 1440w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p class="p1">I had the pleasure of attending the 2025 PHP UK Conference in London on 19th of February. The speakers were amazing, and each session gave us practical tips on the challenges we face as software developers and the cutting-edge tech being developed by other developers.</p>
<p class="p1">The conference had two tracks concurrently running most of the day, so you could choose which talks were most interesting. Luckily, I was there with a work colleague, so we were able to cover both tracks and not miss out on any talks. I have highlighted some of the talks that really inspired me to think differently and unlock a toolkit of ideas to level up my developer skills.</p>
<p class="p1">Craig Francis talked about “Ending Injection Vulnerabilities,” a topic that every developer should know about. Even though PHP has improved, SQL injection attacks still happen a lot. Craig showed us real-world examples that were used in production which left many reviewing their code bases. He stressed that languages make it easy to add vulnerable code with just one line of code (which works), but it’s harder to make secure code with several lines of code – something that should change by making secure code just as easy to write as insecure one. He also said that escaping inputs or using Object-Relational Mapping (ORM like Eloquent) isn’t enough. Instead, we should take a “zero-trust” approach to any data that users send and make sure that security principles like using prepared statements and validating every user input are followed. On top of that, we should make sure that we actually use the functions provided by these ORMs as they’re meant to be used, so we don’t open backdoors on otherwise secure code.</p>
<p class="p1">Liam Hammett’s session, “Beyond Requests: Supercharging API Monitoring with Guzzle Middleware,” was a real eye-opener for me. I have used Guzzle before, but Liam showed me how to use middleware to log requests, view traces, and observe metrics. This way, I can easily monitor my application’s performance. He also showed us how to use Graphana, Tempo, Prometheus, and Loki to monitor different log levels and API telemetry from our application. We have a few apps that could really benefit from this kind of logging and monitoring, like our Class Group Builder, Bulk unenrol tool or our infrastructure servers that currently host the Short Courses Platform.</p>
<p class="p1">Ivo Lukac’s shared “Learn to Appreciate Legacy,” a heartwarming story about a fictional developer named Zed, was also really moving. Through Zed’s struggles with a messy and old codebase, Ivo showed us how legacy code often contains important business logic and institutional knowledge. It hit home for me because I have often complained about “legacy code” that we have running on some of our old apps, instead of seeing its value. Ivo’s positive outlook has me rethinking how I approach maintenance work. He shared some strategies for maintaining and refactoring such code without breaking everything and leaving every file that you’ve worked on better than you found it. The lesson? Legacy code is just code that’s been pushed to production!</p>
<p class="p1">Finally, Kevin Dunglas closed off the talks with “Give Your PHP Apps Superpowers with FrankenPHP”. This modern PHP server, built on Caddy, handles concurrency easily and supports real-time features out of the box. It also boosts performance by preloading classes. The “worker mode” was the coolest part for me, as it lets you run persistent processes for tasks like queued jobs without external services. I can’t wait to try it on a side project, maybe a chat app, and see how it simplifies my workflow. As far as I could tell, for developers, it’s a game-changer, combining PHP’s simplicity with the enterprise-grade power of Go.</p>
<p class="p1">With so many exciting talks happening at the same time on two tracks, it’s easy to miss out on others. It would be awesome if the organisers could split the talks over two days so everyone can hear everything. On the bright side, this conference made me realise that PHP is still evolving and there’s always something new and exciting coming from the community.</p>
<p class="p1">As I get back to my projects, I’m inspired to pay closer attention to every input, monitor APIs smartly, respect legacy code, and use tools that push PHP to its limits. Conferences aren’t just about learning new tricks—they remind us why we love this craft. We have the chance to build a better world, one line of code at a time!</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2025-03-02" itemprop="dateModified">Mar 2, 2025</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2025/03/02/lights-camera-learn/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>A day in the life of an eLearning Systems Developer</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2024/01/26/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-elearning-systems-developer/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2024/01/26/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-elearning-systems-developer/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[lramutsa]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jan 2024 14:10:31 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam-feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[leopold ramutsamaya]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[software development]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/?p=9</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As an eLearning Systems Developer in a dynamic small team, my role revolves around creating custom web applications, university-wide platforms, and extensions for the central virtual learning environment, Blackboard Learn. With over 20 applications under our belt, each presenting unique challenges and varying complexities, my days are a blend of technical expertise, collaboration, and continuous […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: left"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-28 alignleft" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2024/01/Leopold-Photo-300x300.jpg" alt="Leopold Ramutsamaya Photo" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2024/01/Leopold-Photo-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2024/01/Leopold-Photo-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2024/01/Leopold-Photo-768x768.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2024/01/Leopold-Photo.jpg 960w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />As an eLearning Systems Developer in a dynamic small team, my role revolves around creating custom web applications, university-wide platforms, and extensions for the central virtual learning environment, Blackboard Learn. With over 20 applications under our belt, each presenting unique challenges and varying complexities, my days are a blend of technical expertise, collaboration, and continuous learning.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">The day kicks off with catching up on both personal and team support emails. This ensures I am aware of any potential challenges or issues that may shape my workday. Whether it’s a student seeking support or a system alert for an application running out of storage, addressing these promptly ensures a smooth workflow. Following this, our daily team scrum meetings provide a platform for brief but vital discussion on completed tasks, ongoing work, and potential roadblocks. These meetings help the team keep on tabs on all the work at hand and the progress being made, as well as offer help on any issues you are facing – more often than not, someone else may have faced similar issue and already have a solution or a way to handle the issue.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">With the morning meetings concluded, the day unfolds into a solo venture of coding and project planning for the rest of the day – the ability to manage and prioritise your own work becomes very crucial. Working with sprint tickets, our team follows a meticulous process that includes peer code review and writing of automated tests. This not only enhances code quality by minimizing errors but also provides a unique opportunity for professional growth as different viewpoints and solutions emerge during code reviews, creating a fertile ground for the exchange of ideas. Writing automated tests ensures that new features align with specifications without disrupting existing logic.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">Reflection becomes a crucial part of the daily routine, providing insights into lessons learned, challenges faced, and opportunities for improvement. In the ever-evolving realm of software development, challenges serve as stepping stones for professional growth. Crucially, the supportive ecosystem within the team and the section at large is the cornerstone of our success. Knowing that assistance is just an inquiry away fosters a collaborative spirit, making the complex web of software development more manageable.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is the opportunity to work on a multitude of applications, employing various technologies and catering to different stakeholders across the university. This diversity exposes me to processes beyond my immediate scope, allowing me to contribute to the resolution of challenges faced by staff and students throughout their daily routines. Each day is a unique opportunity to shape the digital future of education, one line of code at a time.</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2024-01-26" itemprop="dateModified">Jan 26, 2024</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2024/01/26/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-elearning-systems-developer/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
"
["raw"]=>
string(18396) "HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Type: application/rss+xml; charset=UTF-8
Transfer-Encoding: chunked
Connection: close
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:22:30 GMT
Server: Apache
X-Powered-By: PHP/8.3.31
Expires: Thu, 19 Nov 1981 08:52:00 GMT
Cache-Control: no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate
Pragma: no-cache
Link: <https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-json/>; rel="https://api.w.org/"
Set-Cookie: PHPSESSID=4c1khrujqge8s8su1s2ainf1et; path=/; secure; HttpOnly
Set-Cookie: spo_9865_fa=ed90b7d8fac126105541600d5650d741; expires=Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:52:30 GMT; Max-Age=1800; path=/lramutsa/; Secure; HttpOnly
Last-Modified: Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:01:18 GMT
ETag: "0e0241b0d0da1df953c03c1bff9fac51"
Vary: Accept-Encoding
Set-Cookie: RCKBMHKB=027ff8be59-56fd-48XuabP1P-cJmtvlisjrW6ywthXcT7kFxB7wE-r7D6ocyy0zNZdCrldPeuOwumrhpiaf0; path=/; SameSite=None; Secure
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
>
<channel>
<title>Leopold Ramutsamaya’s Blog</title>
<atom:link href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa</link>
<description>Leopold Ramutsamaya's Blog for personal use</description>
<lastBuildDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:01:18 +0000</lastBuildDate>
<language>en-GB</language>
<sy:updatePeriod>
hourly </sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>
1 </sy:updateFrequency>
<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5</generator>
<item>
<title>It depends!</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2026/03/27/it-depends/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2026/03/27/it-depends/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[lramutsa]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:01:25 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Conference]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Php]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[conferences]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[php]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[php-conference]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[software development]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/?p=57</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I had the pleasure of attending the PHP UK Conference in London this year. It was my second time, and it was even more exciting than the last! We had three simultaneous sessions, with 19 carefully chosen speakers and a new venue to welcome over 200 attendees. We got to connect with experienced developers, newcomers […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I had the pleasure of attending the PHP UK Conference in London this year. It was my second time, and it was even more exciting than the last! We had three simultaneous sessions, with 19 carefully chosen speakers and a new venue to welcome over 200 attendees.</p>
<p>We got to connect with experienced developers, newcomers and speakers, sharing ideas, concerns and developments across the developer community. This year, the speakers covered a wide range of technical topics, from seasoned open-source contributors like Sebastian Bergmann (the creator of PHPUnit), new product launches like Simon Hamp (the creator of NativePhp), performance enthusiasts like Volker Dusch (PHP 8.5 Release Manager) and long-time PHP contributors like Sara Golemon (PHP release manager at the PHP Foundation).</p>
<p>With so many fascinating and insightful talks, Gary Hockin’s talk on technical trade-offs really stood out to me. His talk, ‘It Depends’, aimed to explain why tech experts rarely give a straightforward ‘yes or no’ answer. It showed that every choice involves a trade-off – a ‘slider’ where getting one benefit often means giving up something else. I have had conversations with colleagues who are exploring tools to make their daily tasks easier, from visualising data within Learn, optimising queries to the database or setting up an application to try out a new AI tool – the question always is, which tool is the best?</p>
<p>Hockin’s main point is that there are no set answers when it comes to technology. Knowing that ‘it depends’ isn’t just a way out, but rather the first step towards making better, more thoughtful choices. It often means realising that every decision we make usually doesn’t have a single ‘right’ answer, rather well-considered compromises. Instead of looking for a one-size-fits-all ‘best’ solution, successful teams learn to ask more specific questions. Picking a programming language, database or framework can sometimes feel like choosing the ‘best’ car. A car that’s perfect for a racetrack won’t work for a snowy driveway and probably won’t be good for a school run with four kids. The same idea applies to our everyday jobs and decisions that come with it. The ‘best’ choice depends entirely on the situation, like the team’s experience, how much money and time we have and what the project needs to achieve.</p>
<p>From picking the best room to book for your non-anchor day at FH to deciding what lunch to have at the ISG Spring event, we need to ask the right questions and have the complete view of the slider before making the right choice. As i retreat to my everyday tasks and the decisions I must make, I am more conscious to seek the full picture, assess the slider in its entirety to ensure I have a good understanding of all the negatives and positives and ask the right questions. It is not as easy as it sounds, but with practice and constant refinement, “it depends” becomes a part of every decision we need to make.</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2026-03-27" itemprop="dateModified">Mar 27, 2026</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2026/03/27/it-depends/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Lights, Camera, Learn!</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2025/03/02/lights-camera-learn/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2025/03/02/lights-camera-learn/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[lramutsa]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 02 Mar 2025 19:56:58 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Conference]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Php]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[conferences]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[php]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[php-conference]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[software development]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/?p=32</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I had the pleasure of attending the 2025 PHP UK Conference in London on 19th of February. The speakers were amazing, and each session gave us practical tips on the challenges we face as software developers and the cutting-edge tech being developed by other developers. The conference had two tracks concurrently running most of the […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-35 alignleft" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference-300x100.jpeg" alt="PHP UK Conference 2025" width="300" height="100" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference-300x100.jpeg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference-1024x341.jpeg 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference-768x256.jpeg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference-1440x480.jpeg 1440w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2025/02/PHP-UK-Conference.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p class="p1">I had the pleasure of attending the 2025 PHP UK Conference in London on 19th of February. The speakers were amazing, and each session gave us practical tips on the challenges we face as software developers and the cutting-edge tech being developed by other developers.</p>
<p class="p1">The conference had two tracks concurrently running most of the day, so you could choose which talks were most interesting. Luckily, I was there with a work colleague, so we were able to cover both tracks and not miss out on any talks. I have highlighted some of the talks that really inspired me to think differently and unlock a toolkit of ideas to level up my developer skills.</p>
<p class="p1">Craig Francis talked about “Ending Injection Vulnerabilities,” a topic that every developer should know about. Even though PHP has improved, SQL injection attacks still happen a lot. Craig showed us real-world examples that were used in production which left many reviewing their code bases. He stressed that languages make it easy to add vulnerable code with just one line of code (which works), but it’s harder to make secure code with several lines of code – something that should change by making secure code just as easy to write as insecure one. He also said that escaping inputs or using Object-Relational Mapping (ORM like Eloquent) isn’t enough. Instead, we should take a “zero-trust” approach to any data that users send and make sure that security principles like using prepared statements and validating every user input are followed. On top of that, we should make sure that we actually use the functions provided by these ORMs as they’re meant to be used, so we don’t open backdoors on otherwise secure code.</p>
<p class="p1">Liam Hammett’s session, “Beyond Requests: Supercharging API Monitoring with Guzzle Middleware,” was a real eye-opener for me. I have used Guzzle before, but Liam showed me how to use middleware to log requests, view traces, and observe metrics. This way, I can easily monitor my application’s performance. He also showed us how to use Graphana, Tempo, Prometheus, and Loki to monitor different log levels and API telemetry from our application. We have a few apps that could really benefit from this kind of logging and monitoring, like our Class Group Builder, Bulk unenrol tool or our infrastructure servers that currently host the Short Courses Platform.</p>
<p class="p1">Ivo Lukac’s shared “Learn to Appreciate Legacy,” a heartwarming story about a fictional developer named Zed, was also really moving. Through Zed’s struggles with a messy and old codebase, Ivo showed us how legacy code often contains important business logic and institutional knowledge. It hit home for me because I have often complained about “legacy code” that we have running on some of our old apps, instead of seeing its value. Ivo’s positive outlook has me rethinking how I approach maintenance work. He shared some strategies for maintaining and refactoring such code without breaking everything and leaving every file that you’ve worked on better than you found it. The lesson? Legacy code is just code that’s been pushed to production!</p>
<p class="p1">Finally, Kevin Dunglas closed off the talks with “Give Your PHP Apps Superpowers with FrankenPHP”. This modern PHP server, built on Caddy, handles concurrency easily and supports real-time features out of the box. It also boosts performance by preloading classes. The “worker mode” was the coolest part for me, as it lets you run persistent processes for tasks like queued jobs without external services. I can’t wait to try it on a side project, maybe a chat app, and see how it simplifies my workflow. As far as I could tell, for developers, it’s a game-changer, combining PHP’s simplicity with the enterprise-grade power of Go.</p>
<p class="p1">With so many exciting talks happening at the same time on two tracks, it’s easy to miss out on others. It would be awesome if the organisers could split the talks over two days so everyone can hear everything. On the bright side, this conference made me realise that PHP is still evolving and there’s always something new and exciting coming from the community.</p>
<p class="p1">As I get back to my projects, I’m inspired to pay closer attention to every input, monitor APIs smartly, respect legacy code, and use tools that push PHP to its limits. Conferences aren’t just about learning new tricks—they remind us why we love this craft. We have the chance to build a better world, one line of code at a time!</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2025-03-02" itemprop="dateModified">Mar 2, 2025</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2025/03/02/lights-camera-learn/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>A day in the life of an eLearning Systems Developer</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2024/01/26/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-elearning-systems-developer/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2024/01/26/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-elearning-systems-developer/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[lramutsa]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jan 2024 14:10:31 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dlam-feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[leopold ramutsamaya]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[software development]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/?p=9</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As an eLearning Systems Developer in a dynamic small team, my role revolves around creating custom web applications, university-wide platforms, and extensions for the central virtual learning environment, Blackboard Learn. With over 20 applications under our belt, each presenting unique challenges and varying complexities, my days are a blend of technical expertise, collaboration, and continuous […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: left"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-28 alignleft" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2024/01/Leopold-Photo-300x300.jpg" alt="Leopold Ramutsamaya Photo" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2024/01/Leopold-Photo-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2024/01/Leopold-Photo-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2024/01/Leopold-Photo-768x768.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-content/uploads/sites/9865/2024/01/Leopold-Photo.jpg 960w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />As an eLearning Systems Developer in a dynamic small team, my role revolves around creating custom web applications, university-wide platforms, and extensions for the central virtual learning environment, Blackboard Learn. With over 20 applications under our belt, each presenting unique challenges and varying complexities, my days are a blend of technical expertise, collaboration, and continuous learning.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">The day kicks off with catching up on both personal and team support emails. This ensures I am aware of any potential challenges or issues that may shape my workday. Whether it’s a student seeking support or a system alert for an application running out of storage, addressing these promptly ensures a smooth workflow. Following this, our daily team scrum meetings provide a platform for brief but vital discussion on completed tasks, ongoing work, and potential roadblocks. These meetings help the team keep on tabs on all the work at hand and the progress being made, as well as offer help on any issues you are facing – more often than not, someone else may have faced similar issue and already have a solution or a way to handle the issue.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">With the morning meetings concluded, the day unfolds into a solo venture of coding and project planning for the rest of the day – the ability to manage and prioritise your own work becomes very crucial. Working with sprint tickets, our team follows a meticulous process that includes peer code review and writing of automated tests. This not only enhances code quality by minimizing errors but also provides a unique opportunity for professional growth as different viewpoints and solutions emerge during code reviews, creating a fertile ground for the exchange of ideas. Writing automated tests ensures that new features align with specifications without disrupting existing logic.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">Reflection becomes a crucial part of the daily routine, providing insights into lessons learned, challenges faced, and opportunities for improvement. In the ever-evolving realm of software development, challenges serve as stepping stones for professional growth. Crucially, the supportive ecosystem within the team and the section at large is the cornerstone of our success. Knowing that assistance is just an inquiry away fosters a collaborative spirit, making the complex web of software development more manageable.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is the opportunity to work on a multitude of applications, employing various technologies and catering to different stakeholders across the university. This diversity exposes me to processes beyond my immediate scope, allowing me to contribute to the resolution of challenges faced by staff and students throughout their daily routines. Each day is a unique opportunity to shape the digital future of education, one line of code at a time.</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2024-01-26" itemprop="dateModified">Jan 26, 2024</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/2024/01/26/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-elearning-systems-developer/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
"
["headers"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Response\Headers)#2454 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(12) {
["content-type"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(34) "application/rss+xml; charset=UTF-8"
}
["date"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(29) "Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:22:30 GMT"
}
["server"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(6) "Apache"
}
["x-powered-by"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(10) "PHP/8.3.31"
}
["expires"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(29) "Thu, 19 Nov 1981 08:52:00 GMT"
}
["cache-control"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(35) "no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate"
}
["pragma"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(8) "no-cache"
}
["link"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(68) "<https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/wp-json/>; rel="https://api.w.org/""
}
["set-cookie"]=>
array(3) {
[0]=>
string(62) "PHPSESSID=4c1khrujqge8s8su1s2ainf1et; path=/; secure; HttpOnly"
[1]=>
string(132) "spo_9865_fa=ed90b7d8fac126105541600d5650d741; expires=Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:52:30 GMT; Max-Age=1800; path=/lramutsa/; Secure; HttpOnly"
[2]=>
string(125) "RCKBMHKB=027ff8be59-56fd-48XuabP1P-cJmtvlisjrW6ywthXcT7kFxB7wE-r7D6ocyy0zNZdCrldPeuOwumrhpiaf0; path=/; SameSite=None; Secure"
}
["last-modified"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(29) "Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:01:18 GMT"
}
["etag"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(34) ""0e0241b0d0da1df953c03c1bff9fac51""
}
["vary"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(15) "Accept-Encoding"
}
}
}
["status_code"]=>
int(200)
["protocol_version"]=>
float(1.1)
["success"]=>
bool(true)
["redirects"]=>
int(0)
["url"]=>
string(37) "https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/lramutsa/feed/"
["history"]=>
array(0) {
}
["cookies"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie\Jar)#2400 (1) {
["cookies":protected]=>
array(3) {
["PHPSESSID"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie)#2458 (5) {
["name"]=>
string(9) "PHPSESSID"
["value"]=>
string(26) "4c1khrujqge8s8su1s2ainf1et"
["attributes"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2457 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(4) {
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["secure"]=>
bool(true)
["httponly"]=>
bool(true)
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
}
}
["flags"]=>
array(4) {
["creation"]=>
int(1781580150)
["last-access"]=>
int(1781580150)
["persistent"]=>
bool(false)
["host-only"]=>
bool(true)
}
["reference_time"]=>
int(1781580150)
}
["spo_9865_fa"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie)#2459 (5) {
["name"]=>
string(11) "spo_9865_fa"
["value"]=>
string(32) "ed90b7d8fac126105541600d5650d741"
["attributes"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2460 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(6) {
["expires"]=>
int(1781581950)
["max-age"]=>
int(1781581950)
["path"]=>
string(10) "/lramutsa/"
["secure"]=>
bool(true)
["httponly"]=>
bool(true)
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
}
}
["flags"]=>
array(4) {
["creation"]=>
int(1781580150)
["last-access"]=>
int(1781580150)
["persistent"]=>
bool(false)
["host-only"]=>
bool(true)
}
["reference_time"]=>
int(1781580150)
}
["RCKBMHKB"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie)#2461 (5) {
["name"]=>
string(8) "RCKBMHKB"
["value"]=>
string(85) "027ff8be59-56fd-48XuabP1P-cJmtvlisjrW6ywthXcT7kFxB7wE-r7D6ocyy0zNZdCrldPeuOwumrhpiaf0"
["attributes"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2462 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(4) {
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["samesite"]=>
string(4) "None"
["secure"]=>
bool(true)
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
}
}
["flags"]=>
array(4) {
["creation"]=>
int(1781580150)
["last-access"]=>
int(1781580150)
["persistent"]=>
bool(false)
["host-only"]=>
bool(true)
}
["reference_time"]=>
int(1781580150)
}
}
}
}
["filename":protected]=>
NULL
}
}
Diag====| HTTP [https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/feed/?tag=dlam-feed] ⌉ array(6) {
["headers"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2501 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(12) {
["content-type"]=>
string(34) "application/rss+xml; charset=UTF-8"
["date"]=>
string(29) "Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:22:30 GMT"
["server"]=>
string(6) "Apache"
["x-powered-by"]=>
string(10) "PHP/8.3.31"
["expires"]=>
string(29) "Thu, 19 Nov 1981 08:52:00 GMT"
["cache-control"]=>
string(35) "no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate"
["pragma"]=>
string(8) "no-cache"
["link"]=>
string(194) "<https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-json/>; rel="https://api.w.org/", <https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-json/wp/v2/tags/4>; rel="alternate"; title="JSON"; type="application/json""
["set-cookie"]=>
array(3) {
[0]=>
string(62) "PHPSESSID=bn3lekpn7701fef9ro5a96rshh; path=/; secure; HttpOnly"
[1]=>
string(139) "spo_1225_fa=e9a2fc2dadd47324977d1854fc4d5fc4; expires=Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:52:30 GMT; Max-Age=1800; path=/colouring-books/; Secure; HttpOnly"
[2]=>
string(125) "RCKBMHKB=027ff8be59-56fd-48B2MMx4bJWl9ToGuI3BVROEh_zXfEvqQyMQEdS4SL6Wfya3f5YxPigOOnpnDPGMmoTN0; path=/; SameSite=None; Secure"
}
["last-modified"]=>
string(29) "Thu, 02 Nov 2023 12:18:03 GMT"
["etag"]=>
string(34) ""221cda3f7e784c10bc5b919084bbdff3""
["vary"]=>
string(15) "Accept-Encoding"
}
}
["body"]=>
string(119818) "<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" >
<channel>
<title>DLAM Feed – Colouring books blog</title>
<atom:link href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/feed/?tag=dlam-feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books</link>
<description>The 'we have great stuff' colouring books are openly licensed resources created by University of Edinburgh students and staff for everyone to enjoy.</description>
<lastBuildDate>Thu, 02 Nov 2023 12:18:03 +0000</lastBuildDate>
<language>en-GB</language>
<sy:updatePeriod>
hourly </sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>
1 </sy:updateFrequency>
<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5</generator>
<image>
<url>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2020/02/cropped-avatar-roundel-bright-pink-72dpi-32x32.png</url>
<title>DLAM Feed – Colouring books blog</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books</link>
<width>32</width>
<height>32</height>
</image>
<cc:license >Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0</cc:license><dc:rights >Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0</dc:rights> <item>
<title>Colouring Book Volume 3 available on Edinburgh Diamond Service</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/volume-3-on-edinburgh-diamond-service/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/volume-3-on-edinburgh-diamond-service/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jackie Aim]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Nov 2023 12:18:03 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Edinburgh Diamond]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ISBN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ISSN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[publishing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=2088</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 2</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span>‘We Have Great Women in STEM’ colouring book Our volume three colouring book ‘We Have Great Women in STEM’ is now available on Edinburgh Diamond, the University of Edinburgh’s digital service for hosting Diamond Open Access books and journals. Hosting our books on Edinburgh Diamond Although we have our books available on the Colouring Books website having them […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 2</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">‘We Have Great Women in STEM’ colouring book</span></h2>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">Our volume three colouring book <a href="https://books.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-diamond/catalog/book/ED-9781912669622"><span class="s2">‘We Have Great Women in STEM’</span></a> is now available on <a href="https://books.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-diamond/index"><span class="s2">Edinburgh Diamond</span></a>, the University of Edinburgh’s digital service for hosting <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_open_access"><span class="s2">Diamond Open Access</span></a> books and journals.</span></p>
<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">Hosting our books on Edinburgh Diamond</span></h2>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">Although we have our books available on the <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/colouring-books/download-the-books"><span class="s2">Colouring Books</span></a> website having them on Edinburgh Diamond is a more sustainable and long term way of preserving them. Check out our Edinburgh Diamond Catalogue series: <a href="https://books.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-diamond/catalog/series/we-have-great-stuff"><span class="s2">‘We have Great Stuff’</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">To find out more about the Edinburgh Diamond Service visit their <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/research-support/edinburgh-diamond"><span class="s2">University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Diamond website</span></a>.</span></p>
<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">Volume 3 colouring book reference</span></h2>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3"><span class="s3"><a href="https://books.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-diamond/catalog/book/ED-9781912669622"><span class="s4">Edinburgh Diamond: We have Great Women in STEM, Volume 3</span></a></span></li>
<li class="li4"><span class="s1">ISBN: 978-1-912669-62-2</span></li>
<li class="li3"><span class="s6">DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.2218/ED.9781912669622"><span class="s4">https://doi.org/10.2218/ED.9781912669622</span></a></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">For the references and more information on volumes one and two please read our <a href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/edinburgh-diamond/">previous blogpost on Edinburgh Diamond</a>.</span></p>
<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">About the</span><span class="s1"> </span><span class="s1">book</span></h2>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">This third volume was created by our Interactive Content summer intern Ally McKay, she is studying illustration at Edinburgh College of Art. The images for the book were collated from in person and online workshops Ally held during the summer, and also includes some of her own illustrations. She also met with inspiring women in STEM who work and study in the University.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">Ally says about her internship:</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<blockquote>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">Creating the book was such a fun and useful experience for me. As an illustration student, it’s usually me creating the pictures but getting to run workshops and collect submissions from the university of Edinburgh community reminded me how much talent we have in our organization. I loved the opportunity to dig into the history of some of UoE’s women in STEM of the past, and also meet with women doing amazing work in STEM today. The project couldn’t have been possible without support and guidance from Stewart Cromar and Jackie Aim, as well as all the amazing volunteers that submitted work!</span></p>
</blockquote>
<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">Book distribution</span></h2>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">The volume three physical books were printed to coordinate with our Ada Lovelace Day celebration on Tuesday 10th October 2023. They were distributed to various locations including Argyle House, Residence Life Office and the Health and Wellbeing Centre at Bristo Square. They are also available to <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/colouring-books/download-the-books"><span class="s2">download</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">We have paper copies of volume three at Argyle House that are freely available to UoE staff and students, please <a href="mailto:interactive-content@ed.ac.uk"><span class="s2">email us</span></a> if you would like a copy. We can send them out via internal mail only.</span></p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-11-02" itemprop="dateModified">Nov 2, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/volume-3-on-edinburgh-diamond-service/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>We Have Great Women in STEM Colouring Book Out Now!</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/we-have-great-women-in-stem-colouring-book-out-now/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/we-have-great-women-in-stem-colouring-book-out-now/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Oct 2023 10:49:39 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Digital Skills]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=2049</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span>It’s finally here! The third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” colouring book has been in the works all summer, and is finally ready to be shared! This edition has been a huge group effort, and took a lot of collaboration from the Edinburgh community. Over a series of three workshops, UoE students, professors, […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span><h2>It’s finally here!</h2>
<p>The third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” colouring book has been in the works all summer, and is finally ready to be shared!</p>
<p>This edition has been a huge group effort, and took a lot of collaboration from the Edinburgh community. Over a series of three workshops, UoE students, professors, and employees came together to learn about digital art and highlight our incredible women in stem by contributing illustrations to the colouring book.</p>
<p>There is so much talent here at Edinburgh and I am extremely grateful to all who took time out of their busy schedules to help me with this project.</p>
<p><strong>Huge thank you to our illustrators:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">August Enger</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Jackie Aim</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Jenna Owen</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Karen McPhail</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Kirsty Tragis</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Sharon Chen</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Claudia Earl</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Catherine Munn</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Dagmar Danielsen</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Ally Mckay</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Alysha Wilson</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Maarya Sharif</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Mayu Ishimoto</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Wenwen Wang</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Zequn Wang</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>And another huge thank you to all the contributors that made this project possible:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Cait MacPhee</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Estifa’a Zaid</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Frances Blow</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Hannah Shuttleworth</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Holly Bridge</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">JC Denis</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Jenny Gracie</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Lothian Health Services Archive</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Maria Fanourgiaki</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Marialuisa Aliotta</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Mylaine Holin</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Nisha Grewal</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Orianna Ball</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Rosa Santomartino</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Sally Shaw</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Sarah Ressel</div>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Where to get your copy</h2>
<p>There are a limited number of free copies of the book available at Argyle House, Residence Life Office and the Health and Wellbeing Centre at Bristo Square.</p>
<p>If your are University staff and would like a copy or a small box for your department, delivered via internal mail, please get in touch (whilst stocks last).</p>
<p>Please contact: <a href="mailto:interactive-content@ed.ac.uk">interactive-content@ed.ac.uk</a></p>
<h3>Online copies</h3>
<p>This publication is also available online at: <a href="https://edin.ac/colouring-book">https://edin.ac/colouring-book</a></p>
<h3>Flickr</h3>
<p>There are high-resolution (300 dpi) colouring book images available for you to download, reuse and share.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/interactive-content/albums/72177720311677507" data-uoe-button="info-sign" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/interactive-content/albums/72177720311677507">Colouring book Flickr album (volume three)</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Happy colouring!</p>
<p>-Ally</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-10-16" itemprop="dateModified">Oct 16, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/we-have-great-women-in-stem-colouring-book-out-now/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Ada Lovelace Day 2023 – Book Launch</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/ada-lovelace-day-2023-book-launch/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/ada-lovelace-day-2023-book-launch/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Stewart Cromar]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:45:29 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Ada Lovelace Day]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=2075</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span>At this year's Ada Lovelace Day Ally McKay will officially launch her brand-new Women in STEM colouring-in book.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span><p><strong>On Tuesday 10th October 2023, the University’s Information Services team are celebrating Ada Lovelace Day 2023 which is an <a href="https://findingada.com/">international celebration day</a> of the achieveme</strong><strong>nts of women in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science,_technology,_engineering,_and_mathematics">science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)</a>.</strong></p>
<p>They have an afternoon of <a href="https://thinking.is.ed.ac.uk/ada-lovelace-day/ada-lovelace-day-2023/">talks, activities and training</a> planned for Ada Lovelace Day. This will take place on the first floor of the Main Library (Central Area) from 11:00-17:00 in Room 1.07.</p>
<p>You can confirm your attendance via Event Booking now (open to all University students and staff):</p>
<p><a href="https://www.events.ed.ac.uk/index.cfm?event=showEventDetails&scheduleId=65360&start=&eventssearch=Ada%20Lovelace%20Day&eventStart=0">Book your place</a></p>
<p>P.S. Please do add yourself to the waiting list in case anyone cancels.</p>
<h2>Colouring book launch</h2>
<p>At this event Ally McKay, our very own colouring-in book creator and student intern, will officially launch her brand-new Women in STEM colouring-in book.</p>
<p>Don’t worry if you can’t attend the event, the openly licenced book will be available to <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/colouring-books/download-the-books">download</a> the same day. You will also be able to collect copies from multiple university locations (to-be-announced soon).</p>
<p>Shortly after the launch you will be also able to download high-resolution illustrations from our <a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAXbuc">Flickr account</a>.</p>
<h2>Copyright and licence</h2>
<div>
<p>Copyright © The University of Edinburgh 2023 CC BY</p>
</div>
<div>This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</a></div>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-10-04" itemprop="dateModified">Oct 4, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/ada-lovelace-day-2023-book-launch/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Behind the Scenes of “We Have Great Women in STEM”</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/behind-the-scenes-of-we-have-great-women-in-stem/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/behind-the-scenes-of-we-have-great-women-in-stem/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:03:24 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Digital Skills]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=2063</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 6</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span>By now, you’ve probably heard that the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” Colouring Book is out now, entitled “We Have Great Women in STEM.” This 10-week project was a labor of love, from researching UoE’s women in STEM, hosting art workshops, accepting submissions, to finally compiling the book. Face the Facts One […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 6</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><p>By now, you’ve probably heard that the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” Colouring Book is out now, entitled “We Have Great Women in STEM.” This 10-week project was a labor of love, from researching UoE’s women in STEM, hosting art workshops, accepting submissions, to finally compiling the book.</p>
<h2>Face the Facts</h2>
<p>One of the most challenging aspects of creating a colouring book like this was identifying who we wanted to include. Women in STEM tend to not be well recorded or represented in informational databases, and we did encounter some issues finding the women we wanted to illustrate. Luckily, the university’s website provided many great profiles, and we were able to take some great suggestions from colleagues. As I researched, I found more and more women I wanted to include– ending up with over 30 women (and one sheep) in our online database!</p>
<h2>Putting Faces to Names</h2>
<p>Because the project is so visual, it was imperative that I could hunt down open licensed images of these women so that participants could use the images without worrying about copyright. Luckily, some of the women were historical figures, and their images were so old that they entered the public domain.</p>
<div id="attachment_1763" style="width: 234px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1763" class="size-medium wp-image-1763" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-224x300.png" alt="Gertrude Hertz wears a lab coat and points to a scientific figure on a black board." width="224" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-224x300.png 224w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-763x1024.png 763w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-768x1030.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz.png 978w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 224px) 100vw, 224px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1763" class="wp-caption-text">Gertrude Herzfeld: One of the First Female Surgeons</p></div>
<p>For the more modern women, it was trickier as their images were not in the public domain yet. And on top of that, some of the women had no photos taken of them at all!</p>
<p>I spent around three weeks searching, emailing, and scouring for images of these women, and found some gems! Namely, Jessie MacGregor’s incredible portrait with her dog, and Vivien Kellem’s incredible midcentury black and white portraits.</p>
<div id="attachment_1761" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1761" class="size-medium wp-image-1761" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-300x210.jpg" alt="Jessie sits at her desk in graduation robes, writing in a book. A scruffy dog sits next to her." width="300" height="210" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-300x210.jpg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-768x538.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-1536x1075.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-2048x1434.jpg 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-1440x1008.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1761" class="wp-caption-text">Jessie MacLaren MacGregor: Fighting for Gender Equality at UoE</p></div>
<div id="attachment_1780" style="width: 251px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1780" class="size-medium wp-image-1780" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-241x300.jpg" alt="Vivien reclines on a leather sofa, wearing a fur coat and small hat. Her head is turned, facing left." width="241" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-241x300.jpg 241w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-824x1024.jpg 824w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-768x955.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-1236x1536.jpg 1236w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-1440x1790.jpg 1440w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems.jpg 1609w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 241px) 100vw, 241px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1780" class="wp-caption-text">Vivien Kellems: Engineering Entrepreneur & Women’s Rights Advocate</p></div>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-1779 aligncenter" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Vivien_Kellems-300x231.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="231" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Vivien_Kellems-300x231.jpeg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Vivien_Kellems.jpeg 512w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>I also had a lot of success reaching out to current women in STEM at the University and simply asking for their permission to be in the book, and for them to provide a photo that they held the rights to. Reaching out to University departments also proved quite successful as they usually had photos of notable alumni from previous publications.</p>
<p>Eventually, I was able to source enough photos to compile them into an online database, and publish them ready to be made into illustrations.</p>
<h2>Time to put in the Work(shops)</h2>
<p>To source illustrations, I hosted a series of three workshops during the month of July: a digital illustration workshop, traditional illustration workshop, and an online digital workshop. These were open to all members of the UoE community and held in a variety of locations to allow those in all working situations to join.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Workshop 1: Digital Illustration Workshop</strong></p>
<p>The first workshop was held in early July, and we had 8 lovely members of the UoE community come out to help us with the colouring book project. These were mostly ISG interns, who courageously tried their hand at using Sketchpad to create digital artwork- which was no easy feat!</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1951" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1952" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>I was so impressed by the group’s creativity and enthusiasm and we got some great submissions. It was also a great way to figure out how to best organise these workshops and effectively teach sketchpad.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Workshop 2: Traditional Illustration Workshop</strong></p>
<p>This workshop was hosted at ECA’s Evolution House– handy timing because the infamous Argyle House flood had just taken over the office. Jackie and I arrived armed with pencils, erasers and pens and welcomed 8 more enthusiastic individuals to the workshop. We had a mix of undergraduate students, masters students, professors and employees- and we all got together and bonded over cake, drawing, and women in STEM.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2058" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2057" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Workshop 3: Online Digital Illustration Workshop</strong></p>
<p>Another accidentally well-timed workshop– the last one we offered at the end of July was online. We had 5 participants come from across many of UoE’s departments, and since I had already been through the slides for the first workshop, this one ran super smoothly.</p>
<p>We got some great submissions here and had some really dedicated participants who worked on their illustrations after the workshop ended and came up with some incredible work.</p>
<h2>Compiling the Book</h2>
<p>Now that I had so many wonderful submissions from the workshops, I headed to trusty InDesign to start formatting the final book.</p>
<p>I first converted all the photographic submissions into vectors using Adobe Illustrator’s image trace function, or cleaned up any digital submissions that were already vectorised, but just had some missing pieces.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-2067 aligncenter" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="262" height="349" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-1440x1920.jpg 1440w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 262px) 100vw, 262px" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><strong>Before</strong><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-2066 aligncenter" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-212x300.png" alt="" width="267" height="378" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-212x300.png 212w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-724x1024.png 724w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-768x1086.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-1086x1536.png 1086w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-1448x2048.png 1448w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-1440x2036.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><strong>After</strong></p>
<p>I also took a look at the women that we hadn’t gotten any submissions for and made illustrations myself for them.</p>
<p>Following loosely the formatting from previous copies, I set up my file as an A5 booklet, and decided on the fonts “Factoria” and “Video” for body and headings, respectively. I wanted the type to be kind of quirky and create shapes that would be fun to colour in, which is why I went down the sci-fi route and sourced technologically inspired fonts.</p>
<p>From there, I just popped all the final images into their pages and decided which would sit best together on the page. Then, I had two main things to fill in– the cover and the index.</p>
<h2>You Can Judge this Book’s Cover!</h2>
<p>I had two initial concepts for the book cover– one featuring a magnifying glass, and one featuring a female scientist. In the end, my team and I decided that the microscope one was more eye-catching and drew the eye to the center of the page well. I had such a fun time making all the tiny little STEM icons, and took lots of inspiration from the Star Wars edition of “Little White Lies,” incorporating halftones as a way to add contrast without taking away any colouring-in functionality.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2069" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-232x300.jpg" alt="" width="232" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-232x300.jpg 232w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-791x1024.jpg 791w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-768x994.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-1187x1536.jpg 1187w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-1583x2048.jpg 1583w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-1440x1864.jpg 1440w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-scaled.jpg 1978w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2068" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-232x300.jpg" alt="" width="232" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-232x300.jpg 232w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-791x1024.jpg 791w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-768x994.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-1187x1536.jpg 1187w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-1583x2048.jpg 1583w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-1440x1864.jpg 1440w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-scaled.jpg 1978w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I made the cover in illustrator, and created the back and front on the same document so that the images would seamlessly flow into each other when the book was opened.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-2060 aligncenter" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-300x200.png" alt="" width="722" height="481" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-300x200.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-1024x683.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-768x512.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-2048x1365.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-1440x960.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 722px) 100vw, 722px" /></p>
<h2>The Index <strong>– Celebrating Achievements</strong></h2>
<p>My last hurdle on this project was creating the index. This would go at the back of the book and would store all the information about the illustration’s source images, illustrators, reference photo attribution, and a short piece of biographical info about each women. Due to the subject matter of the book, it was important to my team and I to not just show the likeness of these women in STEM, but celebrate their achievements. Adding this info in the index was a good way to do this without taking away from the illustrations.</p>
<h2><strong>And Voilà!</strong></h2>
<p>Just like that, 10 weeks flew by and the book was all finished! I printed a proof copy, made some adjustments, and awarded prizes to the winners of this year’s call for entries contest. These individuals expressed enthusiasm, were extremely committed to the project, and made some incredible work.</p>
<ul>
<li>August Enger: <em>Jessie MacLaren MacGregor</em></li>
<li>Dagmar Danielsen: <em>Xia Peisu</em></li>
<li>Catherine Munn: <em>Brenda Moon </em>& <em>Jane Hillston</em></li>
<li>Jenna Owen: <em>Chrystal Macmillan, Charlotte Auerbach, Agnes Yewande Savage, </em>&<em> Cristina Cruikshank Miller</em></li>
</ul>
<p>I wish I could give everyone prizes, and want to give a huge thank you to all who helped make this book possible!</p>
<h2>Now What?</h2>
<p>For me, it’s back to school for one more year finishing my illustration degree. For the book, it’s off to the print shop and then it will be distributed to members of the Edinburgh community.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who helped make this book possible. I hope you enjoy colouring in the book as much as I did making it.</p>
<p>Take care,</p>
<p>-Ally</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-10-04" itemprop="dateModified">Oct 4, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/behind-the-scenes-of-we-have-great-women-in-stem/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>A Visual Guide: Photos from UoE’s School of Chemistry & School of Biology</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/on-campus-stem-image-database/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/on-campus-stem-image-database/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jul 2023 13:37:16 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Digital Skills]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1975</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span> I am excited to share that progress on the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” colouring book series is steadily moving forward. As we continue to work on this project, we want to remind you that entries for the book are still open until the 30th of July! In response to valuable […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span><p> </p>
<p>I am excited to share that progress on the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” colouring book series is steadily moving forward. As we continue to work on this project, we want to remind you that entries for the book are still open until the 30th of July!</p>
<p>In response to valuable feedback from some individuals who expressed their preference for not drawing people, I have worked with individuals across the University to curate a gallery of images featuring the STEM facilities at the University of Edinburgh.</p>
<p>All of these images are released under an open license, allowing you to freely use them as references for your entries into the colouring book.</p>
<p>The entry submission period for the colouring book remains open until the 28th of July. We encourage you to carefully review our entry guidelines, which can be found <a href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/colouring-book-contest/">here.</a></p>
<p>We are immensely grateful for your interest and enthusiasm in this project, and we look forward to receiving your creative contributions. Together, let’s celebrate the wonders of science through the pages of the “We Have Great Stuff” colouring book!</p>
<p>Remember, the deadline for submissions is the 28th of July. We can’t wait to see your amazing artwork!</p>
<h2>Check out the photos here:</h2>
<p> </p>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9642/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9642-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9558/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9558-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9601/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9601-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9599/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9599-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9621/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9621-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9667/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9667-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9704/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9704-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9673/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9673-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9664/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9664-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9607/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9607-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9566/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9566-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9680/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9680-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9559/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9559-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9682/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9682-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_6419/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6419-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9677/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9677-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9683/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9683-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9567/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9567-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9623/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9623-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9624/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9624-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_6421/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6421-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9608/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9608-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9611/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9611-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9662/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9662-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9618/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9618-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9698/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9698-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9663/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9663-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9695/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9695-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9610/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9610-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9562/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9562-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9616/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9616-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9639/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9639-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9715/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9715-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9637/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9637-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9717/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9717-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_6394/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6394-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9693/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9693-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9638/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9638-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9619/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9619-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9641/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9641-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9627/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9627-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9588/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9588-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9635/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9635-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9709/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9709-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9560/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9560-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9648/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9648-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9700/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9700-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9586-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9681/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9681-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9678/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9678-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<p> </p>
<p>Huge thanks to these individuals for taking the time to give me tours and chat with me:</p>
<p><strong>Jenny Gracie:</strong> Widening Participation and Outreach Officer, School of Chemistry</p>
<p><strong>Sarah Ressel:</strong> Postdoctoral Research Associate, Institute of Infection and Immunology Research</p>
<p><strong>Frances Blow:</strong> Postdoctoral Research Associate, Institute of Infection and Immunology Research</p>
<p><strong>Maria Fanourgiaki:</strong> Science Communicator, School of Biological Sciences</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Happy drawing!</p>
<p>-Ally</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-07-17" itemprop="dateModified">Jul 17, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/on-campus-stem-image-database/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Celebrating Women in Physics at the University of Edinburgh</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/celebrating-women-in-physics-at-the-university-of-edinburgh/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/celebrating-women-in-physics-at-the-university-of-edinburgh/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jul 2023 13:12:26 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1967</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 5</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span> Today, I had the privilege of sitting down with ten exceptional women in the field of Physics at the University of Edinburgh. During our conversation, we discussed their experiences, research, and remarkable achievements. I want to extend a special thanks to Jean-Christophe Denis, who organised this meeting. A Chat With Professor MacPhee Firstly, I […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 5</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><p> </p>
<p>Today, I had the privilege of sitting down with ten exceptional women in the field of Physics at the University of Edinburgh. During our conversation, we discussed their experiences, research, and remarkable achievements. I want to extend a special thanks to Jean-Christophe Denis, who organised this meeting.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1971 aligncenter" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait.png" alt="" width="328" height="464" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait.png 2481w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-212x300.png 212w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-724x1024.png 724w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-768x1086.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-1086x1536.png 1086w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-1448x2048.png 1448w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-1440x2036.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 328px) 100vw, 328px" /></p>
<h2>A Chat With Professor MacPhee</h2>
<p>Firstly, I had the pleasure of speaking with Cait MacPhee, an accomplished professor in biological physics and experimental molecular biophysics. She is also the co-director of the National Biofilms Innovation Centre. MacPhee, who became the first female professor in the School of Physics at Edinburgh, shared her inspiring journey in STEM:</p>
<blockquote><p>“There is no standard journey. You’ll hear different stories from different people… I initially pursued biology but found it challenging. Eventually, I decided to switch to physics for my Ph.D. as it made more sense to me, and I enjoy working with numbers.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Having been at the University of Edinburgh for 18 years, MacPhee has witnessed significant changes within the department during her tenure.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Reflecting on the past, MacPhee discussed the absence of maternity policies when she worked at a previous institution and was pregnant with her first child. The department was uncertain about how to address this situation, leading to chaotic circumstances. However, as senior male staff members have began prioritising childcare responsibilities, policies and procedures have been put in place to support out-of-work responsibilities, including childcare. MacPhee acknowledged the progress made, recounting instances of being the only woman in the room or being overlooked by male peers, while emphasising the significant improvements that have taken place.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In our conversation, I asked MacPhee about the policies and infrastructure required to encourage women to enter and thrive in STEM fields. She emphasised that real change can be achieved by starting at the grassroots level:</p>
<blockquote><p>“When children are turned off from pursuing sciences, it often happens at an early age, even before they reach secondary school. Thus, a lot of work needs to be done in primary schools, which is a particular passion of mine.”</p></blockquote>
<p>MacPhee noted that girls often receive subconscious messaging in schools that leads to repetitive thought patterns discouraging them from pursuing STEM. With a majority of teachers in arts and humanities, young girls can naturally gravitate towards the arts without proper exposure to sciences in the curriculum. She believes that schools need to empower and train their staff to integrate STEM more closely and equally into their curriculum. This involves empowering teachers to deliver science programs themselves, addressing the lack of confidence often observed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Despite the challenges and obstacles encountered, MacPhee emphasised her deep love for her work:</p>
<blockquote><p>“I genuinely enjoy what I do. I’m amazed that they pay me to do this job. The element of discovery is exhilarating. When you know something that nobody else in the world knows and have figured it out, there’s nothing quite like that feeling.”</p></blockquote>
<p>One of MacPhee’s “lightbulb” moments came during her extensive studies of biofilms, which are slimy nests of organisms found in various environments. Studying their water-repellent mechanisms led her to make ground-breaking discoveries previously unknown in biology.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2>A Chat with students and professors in physics</h2>
<p>Our conversation expanded as nine other exceptional women in physics joined us. The array of talent, dedication, and passion they brought to the discussion was truly remarkable. It was an absolute delight to explore their research and experiences and brainstorm ideas on how to encourage women in STEM across the university.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1969" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-1440x960.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
<p>Here is an introduction to the remarkable women who participated in the interview (from left to right, top to bottom):</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Mylaine Holin:</strong> Ph.D. student studying extreme conditions</li>
<li><strong>Hannah Shuttleworth:</strong> Ph.D. student in physics researching condensed matter and complex systems</li>
<li><strong>Rosa Santomartino:</strong> Leverhulme Early Career Fellow researching astrobiology</li>
<li><strong>Marialuisa Aliotta:</strong> Professor of experimental nuclear astrophysics</li>
<li><strong>Sally Shaw:</strong> Lecturer in experimental particle physics</li>
<li><strong>Orianna Ball:</strong> Ph.D. student studying extreme conditions</li>
<li><strong>Estifa’a Zaid:</strong> Ph.D. student studying particle and nuclear physics</li>
<li><strong>Nisha Grewal:</strong> Ph.D. student in the School of Physics and Astronomy</li>
<li><strong>Holly Bridge:</strong> Ph.D. student studying soft matter physics</li>
</ul>
<h2>Why did you choose to pursue STEM?</h2>
<p>To gain insights into their motivations, I asked the group about their journeys into STEM. Marialuisa Aliotta shared that she initially aspired to be a ballerina but her brother’s scientific inclinations inspired her to pursue physics and become an academic. Rosa, driven by her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut, embarked on a postdoctoral research journey in astrobiology at the University of Edinburgh. Sally, fascinated by space from a young age, found her perfect blend of astrophysics and particle physics in studying dark matter. Holly’s passion for math led her to begin her Ph.D. in physics, focusing on modelling individual-based simulations for bacteria and wastewater treatment. Hannah conducts experimental high-pressure experiments, simulating conditions akin to the centre of the Earth using diamond-tipped tools. Mylaine’s fascination with the universe’s scale and gas giant planets propelled her to study physics. Orianna, inspired by enthusiastic teachers during her schooling and her sister, conducts research on extreme conditions using the diamond anvil technique. Nisha’s affinity for mathematics led her to pursue astrophysics as a Ph.D. student to deepen her understanding of the world. Estifa’a, driven by her early enjoyment of mathematics, conducts particle physics experiments.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When discussing role models, Rosa mentioned having an astronaut living in her building during her childhood, which left an indelible impression. Others agreed that looking up to researchers and teachers played a vital role in encouraging their pursuit of STEM.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2>Have you encountered any obstacles?</h2>
<p>Our conversation also touched upon the experiences and obstacles faced by these remarkable women in their respective fields. Marialuisa recalled joining the department in 2001 as the sole female staff member in her department at the time:</p>
<blockquote><p>“When I came to Edinburgh in 2001, I was the only female member of staff for the first six years. It felt somewhat lonely, and I struggled to engage with my all-male academic counterparts. However, conditions have significantly improved since then, although challenges still persist.”</p></blockquote>
<p>The group concurred that having mentors and role models is instrumental in achieving success as women in their fields. Nisha emphasized the importance of seeing women in positions of influence and demonstrating that it is possible. Supportive mentors played a vital role in Estifa’a’s journey, instilling confidence and fostering a belief in her capabilities.</p>
<p>The women highlighted community programs like Soapbox Science and the film “Picture A Scientist” as initiatives that encourage and showcase women in STEM fields.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2>What advice do you give to the next generation of women in STEM?</h2>
<p>When asked for advice for young women pursuing STEM, Sally advised ignoring anyone who suggests they are just filling a quota, emphasising that they deserve their place. Hannah stressed the importance of not comparing oneself to others, as she had initially viewed certain male counterparts as an elite group. Rosa emphasised that perfection should not be the end goal, encouraging young women to find supportive mentors and acknowledging that imperfection is acceptable.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The women also underscored the significance of forming friendships with fellow women in STEM. Holly noted the positive impact that conversations with peers experiencing similar situations can have, encouraging those who may be shy to push themselves and seek out these connections.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2>Progress and Persistence</h2>
<p>In conclusion, the experiences, insights, and achievements shared by these incredible women at the University of Edinburgh highlight the progress made and the evolving landscape for women in STEM.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-07-17" itemprop="dateModified">Jul 17, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/celebrating-women-in-physics-at-the-university-of-edinburgh/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Digital Art Workshop Reflections</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/digital-art-workshop-reflections/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/digital-art-workshop-reflections/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Jul 2023 12:22:42 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Digital Skills]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1947</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 3</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span> Welcome back to another update on the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” coloring book series. I’m excited to share the highlights of our recent workshop and give you a glimpse of the incredible artwork created by our participants. We kicked off our month of coloring book workshops with the first session […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 3</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><p> </p>
<p>Welcome back to another update on the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” coloring book series. I’m excited to share the highlights of our recent workshop and give you a glimpse of the incredible artwork created by our participants.</p>
<p>We kicked off our month of coloring book workshops with the first session focusing on creating digital illustrations using Sketchpad. It was a great success, with 10 individuals participating. I was impressed by the talent and dedication of our participants, especially considering that many of them were creating digital art for the first time.</p>
<p>The workshop began with a short demonstration, followed by an introduction to UoE’s women in STEM. Participants then dove into the world of Sketchpad, learning to master Bezier curves and anchor points. It was no easy feat, but I witnessed their progress firsthand as they gained confidence and created stunning digital illustrations.</p>
<p>While there were a few hiccups during the workshop, overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. The participants’ enthusiasm and the quality of their work were truly remarkable.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, I’m excited to announce that the next workshop will be held this Wednesday and will focus on traditional pen-and-ink illustration. Additionally, we have an online digital art workshop planned for next week. In the coming days, I’ll be touring various STEM facilities, capturing photos to showcase the remarkable staff and facilities we have at our university.</p>
<p>Huge thank you to everyone who came along to last week’s workshop, and if you missed it, check out our <a href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/events/">events page</a> to sign up for an upcoming workshop, and don’t forget to enter your submissions before the 28th!</p>
<p>I hope you’re enjoying the summer weather as much as I am. It’s a great time to explore your creativity and dive into the world of art. Stay tuned for more updates and inspiring artwork from our workshops.</p>
<p>Take care!<br />
-Ally</p>
<h2>Hard at work!</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1951" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317.png" alt="" width="616" height="462" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317.png 4032w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 616px) 100vw, 616px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1952" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318.png" alt="" width="617" height="463" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318.png 4032w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 617px) 100vw, 617px" /></p>
<h2>A sneak peak at some submissions:</h2>
<p>Sharon Chen’s incredible portrait of Noreen Murray, co-creator of the world’s first genetically modified vaccine.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Photo credits:</strong> Photograph of Kenneth and Noreen Murray, photographic print, provided by the Murray Archive, University of Edinburgh [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noreen_Murray#/media/File:Noreen_Murray_(cropped).jpg] CC by 3.0</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_1771" style="width: 367px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1771" class=" wp-image-1771" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Noreen_Murray_cropped.jpeg" alt="Noreen Murray wears a polka dot scarf, hat, and buttoned jacket while she looks ahead." width="357" height="562" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Noreen_Murray_cropped.jpeg 558w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Noreen_Murray_cropped-191x300.jpeg 191w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 357px) 100vw, 357px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1771" class="wp-caption-text">Noreen Murray: Co-Creator of the World’s First Genetically Modified Vaccine</p></div>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1955 alignleft" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/SharonChen.png" alt="" width="391" height="553" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/SharonChen.png 724w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/SharonChen-212x300.png 212w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 391px) 100vw, 391px" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Margarita Boyko’s beautiful portrait of Jennie Lee, member of parliment.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Photo credits:</strong> 1929, Jennie Lee, photographic print, provided by Illustrated London News Digital Archive via Wikimedia, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jennie_Lee.jpg#/media/File:Jennie_Lee.jpg] Public domain image</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_1786" style="width: 286px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1786" class=" wp-image-1786" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Jennie_Lee-1.jpeg" alt="Black and white yearbook photo of Jennie Lee" width="276" height="389" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Jennie_Lee-1.jpeg 515w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Jennie_Lee-1-213x300.jpeg 213w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 276px) 100vw, 276px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1786" class="wp-caption-text">Jennie Lee: Pioneering Member of Parliament</p></div>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1954" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Drawing_1_sketchpad.jpeg" alt="" width="280" height="396" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>And I’ve been working on creating colouring pages of the women who don’t have any open licenced images available, starting with Lillian Lindsay, the first female dentist in the UK.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1960" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally.png" alt="" width="382" height="540" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally.png 3308w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-212x300.png 212w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-724x1024.png 724w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-768x1086.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-1086x1536.png 1086w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-1448x2048.png 1448w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-1440x2036.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 382px) 100vw, 382px" /></p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-07-10" itemprop="dateModified">Jul 10, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/digital-art-workshop-reflections/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>“We Have Great Stuff” Colouring Book Contest (Call For Entries)</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/colouring-book-contest/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/colouring-book-contest/#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jun 2023 13:44:37 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1901</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 2</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span>Deadline: Friday, July 28th Contest Description This is your chance to be a part of the We Have Good Stuff Colouring Book series! We’re looking for illustrations inspired by the incredible women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) from the University of Edinburgh (UoE). Help us to highlight exceptional women and their extraordinary achievements […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 2</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><h1>Deadline: Friday, July 28th</h1>
<h2 style="text-align: start">Contest Description</h2>
<p style="text-align: start">This is your chance to be a part of the We Have Good Stuff Colouring Book series! We’re looking for illustrations inspired by the incredible women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) from the University of Edinburgh (UoE).</p>
<p style="text-align: start">Help us to highlight exceptional women and their extraordinary achievements by creating black and white line drawings inspired by the images published on our online database (longlist). Submit your entry for the chance to be a published illustrator and win prizes!</p>
<p style="text-align: start">Keep watching this blog for more information and examples. Here are some previous colouring book pages from the last two editions.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1907" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/51591208796_241bbfef12_c.jpg" alt="" width="236" height="335" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/51591208796_241bbfef12_c.jpg 563w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/51591208796_241bbfef12_c-211x300.jpg 211w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 236px) 100vw, 236px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1904" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248315_d03491be93_c.jpg" alt="" width="237" height="336" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248315_d03491be93_c.jpg 564w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248315_d03491be93_c-212x300.jpg 212w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 237px) 100vw, 237px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1905" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248715_7729430d4d_c.jpg" alt="" width="238" height="336" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248715_7729430d4d_c.jpg 566w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248715_7729430d4d_c-212x300.jpg 212w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px" /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: start">Closing Date</h3>
<p style="text-align: start">Remember, entries are due by the 28th of July!</p>
<p style="text-align: start">Don’t miss this great opportunity to contribute to the We Have Good Stuff Colouring Book series and celebrate women in STEM.</p>
<p style="text-align: start">All experiences and abilities are welcome!</p>
<p> </p>
<h2 style="text-align: start">Entry Guidelines</h2>
<ul>
<li>Entrants must utilize the images available on our blog and must not include any copyrighted imagery in their entries.</li>
<li>Submissions must be done in black and white and must be outline only (no shading). See examples here.</li>
<li>Submissions must be A4 (210mm x 297mm), 300dpi</li>
<li>Landscape or portrait will be accepted. · Submissions must be entered online to our submission portal by the 28th of July.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: start">We will attempt to share and publish as many valid entries as possible (i.e. physical book and online repositories), but the final decision will be made by the project team.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2 style="text-align: start">Pre-Requisites</h2>
<p>We’ll be providing workshops through the month of July, so feel free to come to those for demonstrations on how to create digital images and an overview of our selected image database. Please note however, that it is not required to attend these in order to enter.</p>
<p>You are welcome to use any method of illustrating you prefer, e.g. Adobe Illustrator or Procreate, but we will be hosting workshops on Sketchpad and traditional illustration.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2 style="text-align: start">2023 Workshops</h2>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: start">Wednesday, July 5th: Digital Art Making Workshop (In person, Argyle House, room E13)</li>
<li style="text-align: start">Wednesday, July 12th: Traditional Art Making Workshop (In person, Evolution House, room 4.10)</li>
<li style="text-align: start">Wednesday, July 19th: Online Art Making Workshop (Online)</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: start">Prizes</h3>
<p style="text-align: start">There are a host of prizes available to participants, including books, art materials, and exclusive merchandise.</p>
<p style="text-align: start">All entrants will have the opportunity to be featured in a published work.</p>
<p> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: start">Eligibility</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: start">All UoE staff</li>
<li style="text-align: start">All UoE students</li>
</ul>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-06-27" itemprop="dateModified">Jun 27, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/colouring-book-contest/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Women in STEM Image Database</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jun 2023 13:44:15 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1746</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span>Use this image bank to discover some of the University of Edinburgh’s wonderful women in science, technology, engineering, and maths! Click on each photo to find out more about each woman’s career and achievements. STEM Gallery Jun 27, 2023]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span><p>Use this image bank to discover some of the University of Edinburgh’s wonderful women in science, technology, engineering, and maths!</p>
<p>Click on each photo to find out more about each woman’s career and achievements.</p>
<h2>STEM Gallery</h2>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/agnessavage-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AgnesSavage-1-e1687266597726-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/annie_numbers-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Annie_Numbers-1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Annie Hutton Numbers wears a graduation robe and hat, standing in front of a wooden wall." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/miller-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/miller-1-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Christina Cruikshank Miller in her graduation robe" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/ella_ferrier_pringle_in_1909-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Ella_Ferrier_Pringle_in_1909-1-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Isabella Pringle rests her head on her hand. She is wearing graduation robes and her hair is braided." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/elsie_inglis/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglis-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Elsie Inglis looks at the viewer. She is wearing a buttoned jacket, tie, and hat with plaid ribbon." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/jennie_lee-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Jennie_Lee-1-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Black and white yearbook photo of Jennie Lee" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/gertrude-hertz/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Gertrude Hertz wears a lab coat and points to a scientific figure on a black board." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/honor-fell/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Honor Fell sits smiling at her microscope" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/matildajclerk/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/MatildaJClerk-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Matilda J Clerk in her graduation gown" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/macmillan_chrystal_1908-1914_22704149049/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Macmillan_Chrystal_1908-1914_22704149049-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Chrystal MacMillan looks into the camera wearing a victorian lace dress with a brooch" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/marionross/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/marionross-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Marion Ross sits in a chair" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/auerbach1/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/auerbach1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Charlotte Auerbach sits at her desk with a typewriter and cup of tea" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/1024px-bessie_watson_aged_9/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/1024px-Bessie_Watson_aged_9-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Young Bessie Watson stands wearing a kilt, playing the bagpipes, with a"Votes for Women" sash." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/marybruk/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/marybruk-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Mary Brück looks through a telescope" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/sophia_jex-blake_as_a_young_woman/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Sophia_Jex-Blake_as_a_young_woman-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Sophia Jex Blake as a young woman, writing at her desk" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/brenda_moon/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Brenda_Moon-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Brenda Moon stands with a cane in her garden, touching a rose, wearing a floral dress and smiling." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/profeleanorcampbellmugshot/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/ProfEleanorCampbellmugshot-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Eleanor Campbell smiles into the camera with a body of water and some grass behind her." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/photo-on-26-03-2020-at-13-20-5/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Photo-on-26-03-2020-at-13.20-5-e1687267542904-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Jane wears a red cardigan and glasses." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/devi/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Devi-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Devi stands with arms crossed in front of a purple "Edinburgh International Book Festival" background" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/tarasj/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/taraSJ-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Tara wears her lab coat and lanyard, smiling into camera" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/boden_9539/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Boden_9539-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Lisa Boden smiles into camera" /></a>
<hr />
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-06-27" itemprop="dateModified">Jun 27, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Pixels & Pitfalls: Exploring AI’s Image Generation Struggles</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/pixels-pitfalls-exploring-ais-image-generation-struggles/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/pixels-pitfalls-exploring-ais-image-generation-struggles/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 22 Jun 2023 14:25:58 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1846</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 5</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span> As we prepare to bring you the third edition of the We Have Great Stuff colouring book series, we are considering new ways to update the format and reflect changing technology. This year’s theme, STEM, naturally lends itself to the incorporation of the buzz word of the year– Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is now […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 5</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><p> </p>
<p>As we prepare to bring you the third edition of the We Have Great Stuff colouring book series, we are considering new ways to update the format and reflect changing technology. This year’s theme, STEM, naturally lends itself to the incorporation of the buzz word of the year– Artificial Intelligence (AI).</p>
<p>AI is now touted as the miraculous tool that can enhance productivity, manage schedules, book flights, and even assist in meal planning. However, along with its popularity, AI has sparked significant controversy surrounding its ethical implications. Artists and creatives have expressed valid and pressing concerns about this highly innovative software.</p>
<h2><strong>What’s the Problem with AI? </strong></h2>
<p>One of the early achievements of AI was its ability to create “generative” images, combining various works to create entirely new visuals. While this may seem like a fascinating feat, it becomes problematic when we realize that this process often uses images posted online without consideration for copyright, proper attribution, or ethical compensation to the original artists.</p>
<h2><strong>An Expert Opinion</strong></h2>
<p>As an artist myself, this is a valid concern. Will there be any job opportunities for graduates like me with a design degree, or will they all be taken over by AI bots?</p>
<p>To see if I could incorporate AI into the colouring book, I decided to meet with two AI interns from ISG, Wietske Holwerda and Bartlomeij Pohorecki. Their unanimous response to my query was, “probably not.”</p>
<p>The AI team explained that the current state of AI is not advanced enough to be effectively employed in real projects like our colouring book. The images generated by popular AI tools like Deep AI and Dall-E may lack real-world accuracy, a critical aspect for a project like the colouring book which is centred around real individuals and technologies. Additionally, the sourcing of these AI-generated images raises concerns of copyright infringement, which could have serious consequences for a published open-source work.</p>
<p>However, they encouraged me to experiment and see what I could create.</p>
<h2><strong>Let’s Give it a Try</strong></h2>
<p>First, I tried <a href="https://openai.com/dall-e-2">Dall-E</a>, OpenAI’s image generation tool, which was among the first available online. Dall-E utilizes natural language descriptions to generate images based on requests and has been widely used for image creation.</p>
<p>I requested Dall-E to create colouring book pages featuring UoE’s very own Crystal Macmillan. The results were not terrible but fell short of expectations. The software lacked the ability to capture a reference or produce a likeness of a notable individual, making it challenging to use in a book filled with prominent personalities.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1875" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp.png" alt="" width="2887" height="2119" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp.png 2887w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-300x220.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-1024x752.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-768x564.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-1536x1127.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-2048x1503.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-1440x1057.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2887px) 100vw, 2887px" /></p>
<p>Another feature of Dall-E is the ability to edit existing images. I uploaded an image of Chrystal Macmillan to Dall-E, resulting in an army of look-alikes but nothing too helpful for the project.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1849" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09.png" alt="" width="2469" height="543" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09.png 2469w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-300x66.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-1024x225.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-768x169.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-1536x338.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-2048x450.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-1440x317.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2469px) 100vw, 2469px" /></p>
<p>Thinking that modifying an existing image might be the best approach for this project, I turned to <a href="https://www.adobe.com/sensei/generative-ai/firefly.html">Adobe Firefly</a>, an AI tool currently in beta testing by Adobe, that has been integrated into the latest version of Photoshop. This tool has significantly democratized AI accessibility for designers and creatives who already utilize adobe products every day.</p>
<p>I asked Adobe Firefly to extend a few of my images, and the results were amazing!</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1763" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz.png" alt="Gertrude Hertz wears a lab coat and points to a scientific figure on a black board." width="207" height="278" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz.png 978w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-224x300.png 224w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-763x1024.png 763w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-768x1030.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 207px) 100vw, 207px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1860" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit.png" alt="" width="427" height="278" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit.png 2016w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit-300x195.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit-1024x666.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit-768x500.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit-1536x1000.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit-1440x937.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 427px) 100vw, 427px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1764" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell.jpeg" alt="Honor Fell sits smiling at her microscope" width="205" height="286" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell.jpeg 512w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-215x300.jpeg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 205px) 100vw, 205px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1862" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-expanded.png" alt="" width="443" height="286" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-expanded.png 1110w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-expanded-300x194.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-expanded-1024x661.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-expanded-768x495.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 443px) 100vw, 443px" /></p>
<p>However, there were some issues when it came to specific details. AI lacks an understanding of space and depth, which led to some peculiar additions to Honor’s lab. Additionally, the tool tended to add creepy humanoid figures, as evidenced by those added to Gertrude and Elsie’s image.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1861" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1.png" alt="" width="298" height="194" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1.png 2016w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1-300x195.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1-1024x666.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1-768x500.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1-1536x1000.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1-1440x937.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 298px) 100vw, 298px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1863" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-felledit2.png" alt="" width="300" height="193" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-felledit2.png 1110w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-felledit2-300x194.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-felledit2-1024x661.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-felledit2-768x495.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1872" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218.jpg" alt="" width="297" height="199" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218.jpg 2560w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-300x201.jpg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-768x515.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-1536x1029.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-2048x1372.jpg 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-1440x965.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 297px) 100vw, 297px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1869" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2.png" alt="" width="304" height="198" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2.png 2016w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2-300x195.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2-1024x666.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2-768x500.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2-1536x1000.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2-1440x937.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 304px) 100vw, 304px" /></p>
<p>Next, I explored “<a href="https://www.fotor.com/">Fotor</a>,” a free and accessible online platform for AI image generation and manipulation. Fotor offered a remarkable black and white colorization tool, using AI logic to colorize lack and white photos. This worked well on the picture of Charlotte Auerbach but fell short when applied to Jessie MacGregor or Noreen Murray..</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1879" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2.png" alt="" width="3129" height="1150" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2.png 3129w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-300x110.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-1024x376.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-768x282.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-1536x565.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-2048x753.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-1440x529.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3129px) 100vw, 3129px" /></p>
<p>In summary, I find myself breathing a sigh of relief. Creatives, your jobs are safe, at least for now. AI is undoubtedly proving to be a powerful tool, but it is not without its complications.</p>
<p>However, there is a world of fun to be had when it comes to creating unusual AI altered images.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1884 alignnone" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1.png" alt="" width="333" height="227" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1-300x204.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1-1024x697.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1-768x523.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1-1440x981.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1883 alignnone" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1.png" alt="" width="333" height="227" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1-300x204.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1-1024x697.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1-768x523.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1-1440x981.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><em>Dolly and friends travel the world</em></p>
<h2><strong>So, what does this mean for the book?</strong></h2>
<p>When it comes to image generation, it may not be in the project’s best interest to rely too heavily on AI. Not only will it complicate our ability to licence the book’s images, it will produce images that simply aren’t as good as what any of you could come up with.</p>
<p>And when it comes to including AI in University work, the best practice is to of course use the helpful <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/bayes/ai-guidance-for-staff-and-students">AI guidance</a> published onto the University website, which covers use cases, citations, and best practices.</p>
<p>This is why we need participants like you more than ever to help us amplify the stories of UoE’s fantastic women in STEM and create hand-made, ethically sourced illustrations. Stay tuned for information on upcoming events and how to get involved in this project.</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-06-22" itemprop="dateModified">Jun 22, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/pixels-pitfalls-exploring-ais-image-generation-struggles/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
"
["response"]=>
array(2) {
["code"]=>
int(200)
["message"]=>
string(2) "OK"
}
["cookies"]=>
array(3) {
[0]=>
object(WP_Http_Cookie)#2513 (7) {
["name"]=>
string(9) "PHPSESSID"
["value"]=>
string(26) "bn3lekpn7701fef9ro5a96rshh"
["expires"]=>
NULL
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
["port"]=>
NULL
["host_only"]=>
bool(true)
}
[1]=>
object(WP_Http_Cookie)#2512 (7) {
["name"]=>
string(11) "spo_1225_fa"
["value"]=>
string(32) "e9a2fc2dadd47324977d1854fc4d5fc4"
["expires"]=>
int(1781581950)
["path"]=>
string(17) "/colouring-books/"
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
["port"]=>
NULL
["host_only"]=>
bool(true)
}
[2]=>
object(WP_Http_Cookie)#2514 (7) {
["name"]=>
string(8) "RCKBMHKB"
["value"]=>
string(85) "027ff8be59-56fd-48B2MMx4bJWl9ToGuI3BVROEh_zXfEvqQyMQEdS4SL6Wfya3f5YxPigOOnpnDPGMmoTN0"
["expires"]=>
NULL
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
["port"]=>
NULL
["host_only"]=>
bool(true)
}
}
["filename"]=>
NULL
["http_response"]=>
object(WP_HTTP_Requests_Response)#2500 (5) {
["data"]=>
NULL
["headers"]=>
NULL
["status"]=>
NULL
["response":protected]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Response)#2502 (10) {
["body"]=>
string(119818) "<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" >
<channel>
<title>DLAM Feed – Colouring books blog</title>
<atom:link href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/feed/?tag=dlam-feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books</link>
<description>The 'we have great stuff' colouring books are openly licensed resources created by University of Edinburgh students and staff for everyone to enjoy.</description>
<lastBuildDate>Thu, 02 Nov 2023 12:18:03 +0000</lastBuildDate>
<language>en-GB</language>
<sy:updatePeriod>
hourly </sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>
1 </sy:updateFrequency>
<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5</generator>
<image>
<url>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2020/02/cropped-avatar-roundel-bright-pink-72dpi-32x32.png</url>
<title>DLAM Feed – Colouring books blog</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books</link>
<width>32</width>
<height>32</height>
</image>
<cc:license >Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0</cc:license><dc:rights >Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0</dc:rights> <item>
<title>Colouring Book Volume 3 available on Edinburgh Diamond Service</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/volume-3-on-edinburgh-diamond-service/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/volume-3-on-edinburgh-diamond-service/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jackie Aim]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Nov 2023 12:18:03 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Edinburgh Diamond]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ISBN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ISSN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[publishing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=2088</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 2</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span>‘We Have Great Women in STEM’ colouring book Our volume three colouring book ‘We Have Great Women in STEM’ is now available on Edinburgh Diamond, the University of Edinburgh’s digital service for hosting Diamond Open Access books and journals. Hosting our books on Edinburgh Diamond Although we have our books available on the Colouring Books website having them […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 2</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">‘We Have Great Women in STEM’ colouring book</span></h2>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">Our volume three colouring book <a href="https://books.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-diamond/catalog/book/ED-9781912669622"><span class="s2">‘We Have Great Women in STEM’</span></a> is now available on <a href="https://books.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-diamond/index"><span class="s2">Edinburgh Diamond</span></a>, the University of Edinburgh’s digital service for hosting <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_open_access"><span class="s2">Diamond Open Access</span></a> books and journals.</span></p>
<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">Hosting our books on Edinburgh Diamond</span></h2>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">Although we have our books available on the <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/colouring-books/download-the-books"><span class="s2">Colouring Books</span></a> website having them on Edinburgh Diamond is a more sustainable and long term way of preserving them. Check out our Edinburgh Diamond Catalogue series: <a href="https://books.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-diamond/catalog/series/we-have-great-stuff"><span class="s2">‘We have Great Stuff’</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">To find out more about the Edinburgh Diamond Service visit their <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/research-support/edinburgh-diamond"><span class="s2">University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Diamond website</span></a>.</span></p>
<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">Volume 3 colouring book reference</span></h2>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3"><span class="s3"><a href="https://books.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-diamond/catalog/book/ED-9781912669622"><span class="s4">Edinburgh Diamond: We have Great Women in STEM, Volume 3</span></a></span></li>
<li class="li4"><span class="s1">ISBN: 978-1-912669-62-2</span></li>
<li class="li3"><span class="s6">DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.2218/ED.9781912669622"><span class="s4">https://doi.org/10.2218/ED.9781912669622</span></a></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">For the references and more information on volumes one and two please read our <a href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/edinburgh-diamond/">previous blogpost on Edinburgh Diamond</a>.</span></p>
<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">About the</span><span class="s1"> </span><span class="s1">book</span></h2>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">This third volume was created by our Interactive Content summer intern Ally McKay, she is studying illustration at Edinburgh College of Art. The images for the book were collated from in person and online workshops Ally held during the summer, and also includes some of her own illustrations. She also met with inspiring women in STEM who work and study in the University.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">Ally says about her internship:</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<blockquote>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">Creating the book was such a fun and useful experience for me. As an illustration student, it’s usually me creating the pictures but getting to run workshops and collect submissions from the university of Edinburgh community reminded me how much talent we have in our organization. I loved the opportunity to dig into the history of some of UoE’s women in STEM of the past, and also meet with women doing amazing work in STEM today. The project couldn’t have been possible without support and guidance from Stewart Cromar and Jackie Aim, as well as all the amazing volunteers that submitted work!</span></p>
</blockquote>
<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">Book distribution</span></h2>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">The volume three physical books were printed to coordinate with our Ada Lovelace Day celebration on Tuesday 10th October 2023. They were distributed to various locations including Argyle House, Residence Life Office and the Health and Wellbeing Centre at Bristo Square. They are also available to <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/colouring-books/download-the-books"><span class="s2">download</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">We have paper copies of volume three at Argyle House that are freely available to UoE staff and students, please <a href="mailto:interactive-content@ed.ac.uk"><span class="s2">email us</span></a> if you would like a copy. We can send them out via internal mail only.</span></p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-11-02" itemprop="dateModified">Nov 2, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/volume-3-on-edinburgh-diamond-service/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>We Have Great Women in STEM Colouring Book Out Now!</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/we-have-great-women-in-stem-colouring-book-out-now/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/we-have-great-women-in-stem-colouring-book-out-now/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Oct 2023 10:49:39 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Digital Skills]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=2049</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span>It’s finally here! The third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” colouring book has been in the works all summer, and is finally ready to be shared! This edition has been a huge group effort, and took a lot of collaboration from the Edinburgh community. Over a series of three workshops, UoE students, professors, […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span><h2>It’s finally here!</h2>
<p>The third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” colouring book has been in the works all summer, and is finally ready to be shared!</p>
<p>This edition has been a huge group effort, and took a lot of collaboration from the Edinburgh community. Over a series of three workshops, UoE students, professors, and employees came together to learn about digital art and highlight our incredible women in stem by contributing illustrations to the colouring book.</p>
<p>There is so much talent here at Edinburgh and I am extremely grateful to all who took time out of their busy schedules to help me with this project.</p>
<p><strong>Huge thank you to our illustrators:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">August Enger</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Jackie Aim</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Jenna Owen</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Karen McPhail</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Kirsty Tragis</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Sharon Chen</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Claudia Earl</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Catherine Munn</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Dagmar Danielsen</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Ally Mckay</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Alysha Wilson</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Maarya Sharif</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Mayu Ishimoto</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Wenwen Wang</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Zequn Wang</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>And another huge thank you to all the contributors that made this project possible:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Cait MacPhee</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Estifa’a Zaid</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Frances Blow</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Hannah Shuttleworth</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Holly Bridge</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">JC Denis</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Jenny Gracie</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Lothian Health Services Archive</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Maria Fanourgiaki</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Marialuisa Aliotta</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Mylaine Holin</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Nisha Grewal</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Orianna Ball</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Rosa Santomartino</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Sally Shaw</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Sarah Ressel</div>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Where to get your copy</h2>
<p>There are a limited number of free copies of the book available at Argyle House, Residence Life Office and the Health and Wellbeing Centre at Bristo Square.</p>
<p>If your are University staff and would like a copy or a small box for your department, delivered via internal mail, please get in touch (whilst stocks last).</p>
<p>Please contact: <a href="mailto:interactive-content@ed.ac.uk">interactive-content@ed.ac.uk</a></p>
<h3>Online copies</h3>
<p>This publication is also available online at: <a href="https://edin.ac/colouring-book">https://edin.ac/colouring-book</a></p>
<h3>Flickr</h3>
<p>There are high-resolution (300 dpi) colouring book images available for you to download, reuse and share.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/interactive-content/albums/72177720311677507" data-uoe-button="info-sign" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/interactive-content/albums/72177720311677507">Colouring book Flickr album (volume three)</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Happy colouring!</p>
<p>-Ally</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-10-16" itemprop="dateModified">Oct 16, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/we-have-great-women-in-stem-colouring-book-out-now/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Ada Lovelace Day 2023 – Book Launch</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/ada-lovelace-day-2023-book-launch/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/ada-lovelace-day-2023-book-launch/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Stewart Cromar]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:45:29 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Ada Lovelace Day]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=2075</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span>At this year's Ada Lovelace Day Ally McKay will officially launch her brand-new Women in STEM colouring-in book.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span><p><strong>On Tuesday 10th October 2023, the University’s Information Services team are celebrating Ada Lovelace Day 2023 which is an <a href="https://findingada.com/">international celebration day</a> of the achieveme</strong><strong>nts of women in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science,_technology,_engineering,_and_mathematics">science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)</a>.</strong></p>
<p>They have an afternoon of <a href="https://thinking.is.ed.ac.uk/ada-lovelace-day/ada-lovelace-day-2023/">talks, activities and training</a> planned for Ada Lovelace Day. This will take place on the first floor of the Main Library (Central Area) from 11:00-17:00 in Room 1.07.</p>
<p>You can confirm your attendance via Event Booking now (open to all University students and staff):</p>
<p><a href="https://www.events.ed.ac.uk/index.cfm?event=showEventDetails&scheduleId=65360&start=&eventssearch=Ada%20Lovelace%20Day&eventStart=0">Book your place</a></p>
<p>P.S. Please do add yourself to the waiting list in case anyone cancels.</p>
<h2>Colouring book launch</h2>
<p>At this event Ally McKay, our very own colouring-in book creator and student intern, will officially launch her brand-new Women in STEM colouring-in book.</p>
<p>Don’t worry if you can’t attend the event, the openly licenced book will be available to <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/colouring-books/download-the-books">download</a> the same day. You will also be able to collect copies from multiple university locations (to-be-announced soon).</p>
<p>Shortly after the launch you will be also able to download high-resolution illustrations from our <a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAXbuc">Flickr account</a>.</p>
<h2>Copyright and licence</h2>
<div>
<p>Copyright © The University of Edinburgh 2023 CC BY</p>
</div>
<div>This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</a></div>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-10-04" itemprop="dateModified">Oct 4, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/ada-lovelace-day-2023-book-launch/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Behind the Scenes of “We Have Great Women in STEM”</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/behind-the-scenes-of-we-have-great-women-in-stem/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/behind-the-scenes-of-we-have-great-women-in-stem/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:03:24 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Digital Skills]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=2063</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 6</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span>By now, you’ve probably heard that the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” Colouring Book is out now, entitled “We Have Great Women in STEM.” This 10-week project was a labor of love, from researching UoE’s women in STEM, hosting art workshops, accepting submissions, to finally compiling the book. Face the Facts One […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 6</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><p>By now, you’ve probably heard that the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” Colouring Book is out now, entitled “We Have Great Women in STEM.” This 10-week project was a labor of love, from researching UoE’s women in STEM, hosting art workshops, accepting submissions, to finally compiling the book.</p>
<h2>Face the Facts</h2>
<p>One of the most challenging aspects of creating a colouring book like this was identifying who we wanted to include. Women in STEM tend to not be well recorded or represented in informational databases, and we did encounter some issues finding the women we wanted to illustrate. Luckily, the university’s website provided many great profiles, and we were able to take some great suggestions from colleagues. As I researched, I found more and more women I wanted to include– ending up with over 30 women (and one sheep) in our online database!</p>
<h2>Putting Faces to Names</h2>
<p>Because the project is so visual, it was imperative that I could hunt down open licensed images of these women so that participants could use the images without worrying about copyright. Luckily, some of the women were historical figures, and their images were so old that they entered the public domain.</p>
<div id="attachment_1763" style="width: 234px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1763" class="size-medium wp-image-1763" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-224x300.png" alt="Gertrude Hertz wears a lab coat and points to a scientific figure on a black board." width="224" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-224x300.png 224w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-763x1024.png 763w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-768x1030.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz.png 978w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 224px) 100vw, 224px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1763" class="wp-caption-text">Gertrude Herzfeld: One of the First Female Surgeons</p></div>
<p>For the more modern women, it was trickier as their images were not in the public domain yet. And on top of that, some of the women had no photos taken of them at all!</p>
<p>I spent around three weeks searching, emailing, and scouring for images of these women, and found some gems! Namely, Jessie MacGregor’s incredible portrait with her dog, and Vivien Kellem’s incredible midcentury black and white portraits.</p>
<div id="attachment_1761" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1761" class="size-medium wp-image-1761" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-300x210.jpg" alt="Jessie sits at her desk in graduation robes, writing in a book. A scruffy dog sits next to her." width="300" height="210" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-300x210.jpg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-768x538.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-1536x1075.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-2048x1434.jpg 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-1440x1008.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1761" class="wp-caption-text">Jessie MacLaren MacGregor: Fighting for Gender Equality at UoE</p></div>
<div id="attachment_1780" style="width: 251px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1780" class="size-medium wp-image-1780" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-241x300.jpg" alt="Vivien reclines on a leather sofa, wearing a fur coat and small hat. Her head is turned, facing left." width="241" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-241x300.jpg 241w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-824x1024.jpg 824w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-768x955.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-1236x1536.jpg 1236w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-1440x1790.jpg 1440w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems.jpg 1609w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 241px) 100vw, 241px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1780" class="wp-caption-text">Vivien Kellems: Engineering Entrepreneur & Women’s Rights Advocate</p></div>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-1779 aligncenter" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Vivien_Kellems-300x231.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="231" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Vivien_Kellems-300x231.jpeg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Vivien_Kellems.jpeg 512w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>I also had a lot of success reaching out to current women in STEM at the University and simply asking for their permission to be in the book, and for them to provide a photo that they held the rights to. Reaching out to University departments also proved quite successful as they usually had photos of notable alumni from previous publications.</p>
<p>Eventually, I was able to source enough photos to compile them into an online database, and publish them ready to be made into illustrations.</p>
<h2>Time to put in the Work(shops)</h2>
<p>To source illustrations, I hosted a series of three workshops during the month of July: a digital illustration workshop, traditional illustration workshop, and an online digital workshop. These were open to all members of the UoE community and held in a variety of locations to allow those in all working situations to join.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Workshop 1: Digital Illustration Workshop</strong></p>
<p>The first workshop was held in early July, and we had 8 lovely members of the UoE community come out to help us with the colouring book project. These were mostly ISG interns, who courageously tried their hand at using Sketchpad to create digital artwork- which was no easy feat!</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1951" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1952" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>I was so impressed by the group’s creativity and enthusiasm and we got some great submissions. It was also a great way to figure out how to best organise these workshops and effectively teach sketchpad.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Workshop 2: Traditional Illustration Workshop</strong></p>
<p>This workshop was hosted at ECA’s Evolution House– handy timing because the infamous Argyle House flood had just taken over the office. Jackie and I arrived armed with pencils, erasers and pens and welcomed 8 more enthusiastic individuals to the workshop. We had a mix of undergraduate students, masters students, professors and employees- and we all got together and bonded over cake, drawing, and women in STEM.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2058" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2057" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Workshop 3: Online Digital Illustration Workshop</strong></p>
<p>Another accidentally well-timed workshop– the last one we offered at the end of July was online. We had 5 participants come from across many of UoE’s departments, and since I had already been through the slides for the first workshop, this one ran super smoothly.</p>
<p>We got some great submissions here and had some really dedicated participants who worked on their illustrations after the workshop ended and came up with some incredible work.</p>
<h2>Compiling the Book</h2>
<p>Now that I had so many wonderful submissions from the workshops, I headed to trusty InDesign to start formatting the final book.</p>
<p>I first converted all the photographic submissions into vectors using Adobe Illustrator’s image trace function, or cleaned up any digital submissions that were already vectorised, but just had some missing pieces.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-2067 aligncenter" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="262" height="349" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-1440x1920.jpg 1440w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 262px) 100vw, 262px" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><strong>Before</strong><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-2066 aligncenter" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-212x300.png" alt="" width="267" height="378" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-212x300.png 212w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-724x1024.png 724w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-768x1086.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-1086x1536.png 1086w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-1448x2048.png 1448w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-1440x2036.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><strong>After</strong></p>
<p>I also took a look at the women that we hadn’t gotten any submissions for and made illustrations myself for them.</p>
<p>Following loosely the formatting from previous copies, I set up my file as an A5 booklet, and decided on the fonts “Factoria” and “Video” for body and headings, respectively. I wanted the type to be kind of quirky and create shapes that would be fun to colour in, which is why I went down the sci-fi route and sourced technologically inspired fonts.</p>
<p>From there, I just popped all the final images into their pages and decided which would sit best together on the page. Then, I had two main things to fill in– the cover and the index.</p>
<h2>You Can Judge this Book’s Cover!</h2>
<p>I had two initial concepts for the book cover– one featuring a magnifying glass, and one featuring a female scientist. In the end, my team and I decided that the microscope one was more eye-catching and drew the eye to the center of the page well. I had such a fun time making all the tiny little STEM icons, and took lots of inspiration from the Star Wars edition of “Little White Lies,” incorporating halftones as a way to add contrast without taking away any colouring-in functionality.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2069" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-232x300.jpg" alt="" width="232" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-232x300.jpg 232w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-791x1024.jpg 791w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-768x994.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-1187x1536.jpg 1187w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-1583x2048.jpg 1583w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-1440x1864.jpg 1440w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-scaled.jpg 1978w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2068" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-232x300.jpg" alt="" width="232" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-232x300.jpg 232w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-791x1024.jpg 791w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-768x994.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-1187x1536.jpg 1187w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-1583x2048.jpg 1583w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-1440x1864.jpg 1440w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-scaled.jpg 1978w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I made the cover in illustrator, and created the back and front on the same document so that the images would seamlessly flow into each other when the book was opened.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-2060 aligncenter" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-300x200.png" alt="" width="722" height="481" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-300x200.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-1024x683.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-768x512.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-2048x1365.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-1440x960.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 722px) 100vw, 722px" /></p>
<h2>The Index <strong>– Celebrating Achievements</strong></h2>
<p>My last hurdle on this project was creating the index. This would go at the back of the book and would store all the information about the illustration’s source images, illustrators, reference photo attribution, and a short piece of biographical info about each women. Due to the subject matter of the book, it was important to my team and I to not just show the likeness of these women in STEM, but celebrate their achievements. Adding this info in the index was a good way to do this without taking away from the illustrations.</p>
<h2><strong>And Voilà!</strong></h2>
<p>Just like that, 10 weeks flew by and the book was all finished! I printed a proof copy, made some adjustments, and awarded prizes to the winners of this year’s call for entries contest. These individuals expressed enthusiasm, were extremely committed to the project, and made some incredible work.</p>
<ul>
<li>August Enger: <em>Jessie MacLaren MacGregor</em></li>
<li>Dagmar Danielsen: <em>Xia Peisu</em></li>
<li>Catherine Munn: <em>Brenda Moon </em>& <em>Jane Hillston</em></li>
<li>Jenna Owen: <em>Chrystal Macmillan, Charlotte Auerbach, Agnes Yewande Savage, </em>&<em> Cristina Cruikshank Miller</em></li>
</ul>
<p>I wish I could give everyone prizes, and want to give a huge thank you to all who helped make this book possible!</p>
<h2>Now What?</h2>
<p>For me, it’s back to school for one more year finishing my illustration degree. For the book, it’s off to the print shop and then it will be distributed to members of the Edinburgh community.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who helped make this book possible. I hope you enjoy colouring in the book as much as I did making it.</p>
<p>Take care,</p>
<p>-Ally</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-10-04" itemprop="dateModified">Oct 4, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/behind-the-scenes-of-we-have-great-women-in-stem/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>A Visual Guide: Photos from UoE’s School of Chemistry & School of Biology</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/on-campus-stem-image-database/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/on-campus-stem-image-database/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jul 2023 13:37:16 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Digital Skills]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1975</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span> I am excited to share that progress on the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” colouring book series is steadily moving forward. As we continue to work on this project, we want to remind you that entries for the book are still open until the 30th of July! In response to valuable […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span><p> </p>
<p>I am excited to share that progress on the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” colouring book series is steadily moving forward. As we continue to work on this project, we want to remind you that entries for the book are still open until the 30th of July!</p>
<p>In response to valuable feedback from some individuals who expressed their preference for not drawing people, I have worked with individuals across the University to curate a gallery of images featuring the STEM facilities at the University of Edinburgh.</p>
<p>All of these images are released under an open license, allowing you to freely use them as references for your entries into the colouring book.</p>
<p>The entry submission period for the colouring book remains open until the 28th of July. We encourage you to carefully review our entry guidelines, which can be found <a href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/colouring-book-contest/">here.</a></p>
<p>We are immensely grateful for your interest and enthusiasm in this project, and we look forward to receiving your creative contributions. Together, let’s celebrate the wonders of science through the pages of the “We Have Great Stuff” colouring book!</p>
<p>Remember, the deadline for submissions is the 28th of July. We can’t wait to see your amazing artwork!</p>
<h2>Check out the photos here:</h2>
<p> </p>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9642/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9642-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9558/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9558-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9601/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9601-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9599/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9599-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9621/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9621-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9667/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9667-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9704/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9704-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9673/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9673-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9664/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9664-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9607/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9607-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9566/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9566-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9680/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9680-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9559/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9559-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9682/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9682-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_6419/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6419-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9677/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9677-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9683/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9683-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9567/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9567-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9623/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9623-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9624/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9624-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_6421/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6421-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9608/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9608-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9611/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9611-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9662/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9662-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9618/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9618-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9698/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9698-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9663/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9663-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9695/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9695-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9610/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9610-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9562/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9562-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9616/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9616-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9639/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9639-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9715/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9715-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9637/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9637-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9717/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9717-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_6394/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6394-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9693/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9693-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9638/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9638-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9619/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9619-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9641/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9641-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9627/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9627-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9588/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9588-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9635/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9635-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9709/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9709-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9560/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9560-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9648/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9648-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9700/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9700-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9586-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9681/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9681-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9678/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9678-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<p> </p>
<p>Huge thanks to these individuals for taking the time to give me tours and chat with me:</p>
<p><strong>Jenny Gracie:</strong> Widening Participation and Outreach Officer, School of Chemistry</p>
<p><strong>Sarah Ressel:</strong> Postdoctoral Research Associate, Institute of Infection and Immunology Research</p>
<p><strong>Frances Blow:</strong> Postdoctoral Research Associate, Institute of Infection and Immunology Research</p>
<p><strong>Maria Fanourgiaki:</strong> Science Communicator, School of Biological Sciences</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Happy drawing!</p>
<p>-Ally</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-07-17" itemprop="dateModified">Jul 17, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/on-campus-stem-image-database/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Celebrating Women in Physics at the University of Edinburgh</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/celebrating-women-in-physics-at-the-university-of-edinburgh/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/celebrating-women-in-physics-at-the-university-of-edinburgh/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jul 2023 13:12:26 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1967</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 5</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span> Today, I had the privilege of sitting down with ten exceptional women in the field of Physics at the University of Edinburgh. During our conversation, we discussed their experiences, research, and remarkable achievements. I want to extend a special thanks to Jean-Christophe Denis, who organised this meeting. A Chat With Professor MacPhee Firstly, I […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 5</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><p> </p>
<p>Today, I had the privilege of sitting down with ten exceptional women in the field of Physics at the University of Edinburgh. During our conversation, we discussed their experiences, research, and remarkable achievements. I want to extend a special thanks to Jean-Christophe Denis, who organised this meeting.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1971 aligncenter" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait.png" alt="" width="328" height="464" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait.png 2481w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-212x300.png 212w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-724x1024.png 724w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-768x1086.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-1086x1536.png 1086w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-1448x2048.png 1448w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-1440x2036.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 328px) 100vw, 328px" /></p>
<h2>A Chat With Professor MacPhee</h2>
<p>Firstly, I had the pleasure of speaking with Cait MacPhee, an accomplished professor in biological physics and experimental molecular biophysics. She is also the co-director of the National Biofilms Innovation Centre. MacPhee, who became the first female professor in the School of Physics at Edinburgh, shared her inspiring journey in STEM:</p>
<blockquote><p>“There is no standard journey. You’ll hear different stories from different people… I initially pursued biology but found it challenging. Eventually, I decided to switch to physics for my Ph.D. as it made more sense to me, and I enjoy working with numbers.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Having been at the University of Edinburgh for 18 years, MacPhee has witnessed significant changes within the department during her tenure.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Reflecting on the past, MacPhee discussed the absence of maternity policies when she worked at a previous institution and was pregnant with her first child. The department was uncertain about how to address this situation, leading to chaotic circumstances. However, as senior male staff members have began prioritising childcare responsibilities, policies and procedures have been put in place to support out-of-work responsibilities, including childcare. MacPhee acknowledged the progress made, recounting instances of being the only woman in the room or being overlooked by male peers, while emphasising the significant improvements that have taken place.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In our conversation, I asked MacPhee about the policies and infrastructure required to encourage women to enter and thrive in STEM fields. She emphasised that real change can be achieved by starting at the grassroots level:</p>
<blockquote><p>“When children are turned off from pursuing sciences, it often happens at an early age, even before they reach secondary school. Thus, a lot of work needs to be done in primary schools, which is a particular passion of mine.”</p></blockquote>
<p>MacPhee noted that girls often receive subconscious messaging in schools that leads to repetitive thought patterns discouraging them from pursuing STEM. With a majority of teachers in arts and humanities, young girls can naturally gravitate towards the arts without proper exposure to sciences in the curriculum. She believes that schools need to empower and train their staff to integrate STEM more closely and equally into their curriculum. This involves empowering teachers to deliver science programs themselves, addressing the lack of confidence often observed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Despite the challenges and obstacles encountered, MacPhee emphasised her deep love for her work:</p>
<blockquote><p>“I genuinely enjoy what I do. I’m amazed that they pay me to do this job. The element of discovery is exhilarating. When you know something that nobody else in the world knows and have figured it out, there’s nothing quite like that feeling.”</p></blockquote>
<p>One of MacPhee’s “lightbulb” moments came during her extensive studies of biofilms, which are slimy nests of organisms found in various environments. Studying their water-repellent mechanisms led her to make ground-breaking discoveries previously unknown in biology.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2>A Chat with students and professors in physics</h2>
<p>Our conversation expanded as nine other exceptional women in physics joined us. The array of talent, dedication, and passion they brought to the discussion was truly remarkable. It was an absolute delight to explore their research and experiences and brainstorm ideas on how to encourage women in STEM across the university.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1969" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-1440x960.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
<p>Here is an introduction to the remarkable women who participated in the interview (from left to right, top to bottom):</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Mylaine Holin:</strong> Ph.D. student studying extreme conditions</li>
<li><strong>Hannah Shuttleworth:</strong> Ph.D. student in physics researching condensed matter and complex systems</li>
<li><strong>Rosa Santomartino:</strong> Leverhulme Early Career Fellow researching astrobiology</li>
<li><strong>Marialuisa Aliotta:</strong> Professor of experimental nuclear astrophysics</li>
<li><strong>Sally Shaw:</strong> Lecturer in experimental particle physics</li>
<li><strong>Orianna Ball:</strong> Ph.D. student studying extreme conditions</li>
<li><strong>Estifa’a Zaid:</strong> Ph.D. student studying particle and nuclear physics</li>
<li><strong>Nisha Grewal:</strong> Ph.D. student in the School of Physics and Astronomy</li>
<li><strong>Holly Bridge:</strong> Ph.D. student studying soft matter physics</li>
</ul>
<h2>Why did you choose to pursue STEM?</h2>
<p>To gain insights into their motivations, I asked the group about their journeys into STEM. Marialuisa Aliotta shared that she initially aspired to be a ballerina but her brother’s scientific inclinations inspired her to pursue physics and become an academic. Rosa, driven by her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut, embarked on a postdoctoral research journey in astrobiology at the University of Edinburgh. Sally, fascinated by space from a young age, found her perfect blend of astrophysics and particle physics in studying dark matter. Holly’s passion for math led her to begin her Ph.D. in physics, focusing on modelling individual-based simulations for bacteria and wastewater treatment. Hannah conducts experimental high-pressure experiments, simulating conditions akin to the centre of the Earth using diamond-tipped tools. Mylaine’s fascination with the universe’s scale and gas giant planets propelled her to study physics. Orianna, inspired by enthusiastic teachers during her schooling and her sister, conducts research on extreme conditions using the diamond anvil technique. Nisha’s affinity for mathematics led her to pursue astrophysics as a Ph.D. student to deepen her understanding of the world. Estifa’a, driven by her early enjoyment of mathematics, conducts particle physics experiments.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When discussing role models, Rosa mentioned having an astronaut living in her building during her childhood, which left an indelible impression. Others agreed that looking up to researchers and teachers played a vital role in encouraging their pursuit of STEM.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2>Have you encountered any obstacles?</h2>
<p>Our conversation also touched upon the experiences and obstacles faced by these remarkable women in their respective fields. Marialuisa recalled joining the department in 2001 as the sole female staff member in her department at the time:</p>
<blockquote><p>“When I came to Edinburgh in 2001, I was the only female member of staff for the first six years. It felt somewhat lonely, and I struggled to engage with my all-male academic counterparts. However, conditions have significantly improved since then, although challenges still persist.”</p></blockquote>
<p>The group concurred that having mentors and role models is instrumental in achieving success as women in their fields. Nisha emphasized the importance of seeing women in positions of influence and demonstrating that it is possible. Supportive mentors played a vital role in Estifa’a’s journey, instilling confidence and fostering a belief in her capabilities.</p>
<p>The women highlighted community programs like Soapbox Science and the film “Picture A Scientist” as initiatives that encourage and showcase women in STEM fields.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2>What advice do you give to the next generation of women in STEM?</h2>
<p>When asked for advice for young women pursuing STEM, Sally advised ignoring anyone who suggests they are just filling a quota, emphasising that they deserve their place. Hannah stressed the importance of not comparing oneself to others, as she had initially viewed certain male counterparts as an elite group. Rosa emphasised that perfection should not be the end goal, encouraging young women to find supportive mentors and acknowledging that imperfection is acceptable.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The women also underscored the significance of forming friendships with fellow women in STEM. Holly noted the positive impact that conversations with peers experiencing similar situations can have, encouraging those who may be shy to push themselves and seek out these connections.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2>Progress and Persistence</h2>
<p>In conclusion, the experiences, insights, and achievements shared by these incredible women at the University of Edinburgh highlight the progress made and the evolving landscape for women in STEM.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-07-17" itemprop="dateModified">Jul 17, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/celebrating-women-in-physics-at-the-university-of-edinburgh/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Digital Art Workshop Reflections</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/digital-art-workshop-reflections/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/digital-art-workshop-reflections/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Jul 2023 12:22:42 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Digital Skills]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1947</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 3</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span> Welcome back to another update on the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” coloring book series. I’m excited to share the highlights of our recent workshop and give you a glimpse of the incredible artwork created by our participants. We kicked off our month of coloring book workshops with the first session […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 3</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><p> </p>
<p>Welcome back to another update on the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” coloring book series. I’m excited to share the highlights of our recent workshop and give you a glimpse of the incredible artwork created by our participants.</p>
<p>We kicked off our month of coloring book workshops with the first session focusing on creating digital illustrations using Sketchpad. It was a great success, with 10 individuals participating. I was impressed by the talent and dedication of our participants, especially considering that many of them were creating digital art for the first time.</p>
<p>The workshop began with a short demonstration, followed by an introduction to UoE’s women in STEM. Participants then dove into the world of Sketchpad, learning to master Bezier curves and anchor points. It was no easy feat, but I witnessed their progress firsthand as they gained confidence and created stunning digital illustrations.</p>
<p>While there were a few hiccups during the workshop, overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. The participants’ enthusiasm and the quality of their work were truly remarkable.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, I’m excited to announce that the next workshop will be held this Wednesday and will focus on traditional pen-and-ink illustration. Additionally, we have an online digital art workshop planned for next week. In the coming days, I’ll be touring various STEM facilities, capturing photos to showcase the remarkable staff and facilities we have at our university.</p>
<p>Huge thank you to everyone who came along to last week’s workshop, and if you missed it, check out our <a href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/events/">events page</a> to sign up for an upcoming workshop, and don’t forget to enter your submissions before the 28th!</p>
<p>I hope you’re enjoying the summer weather as much as I am. It’s a great time to explore your creativity and dive into the world of art. Stay tuned for more updates and inspiring artwork from our workshops.</p>
<p>Take care!<br />
-Ally</p>
<h2>Hard at work!</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1951" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317.png" alt="" width="616" height="462" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317.png 4032w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 616px) 100vw, 616px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1952" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318.png" alt="" width="617" height="463" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318.png 4032w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 617px) 100vw, 617px" /></p>
<h2>A sneak peak at some submissions:</h2>
<p>Sharon Chen’s incredible portrait of Noreen Murray, co-creator of the world’s first genetically modified vaccine.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Photo credits:</strong> Photograph of Kenneth and Noreen Murray, photographic print, provided by the Murray Archive, University of Edinburgh [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noreen_Murray#/media/File:Noreen_Murray_(cropped).jpg] CC by 3.0</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_1771" style="width: 367px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1771" class=" wp-image-1771" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Noreen_Murray_cropped.jpeg" alt="Noreen Murray wears a polka dot scarf, hat, and buttoned jacket while she looks ahead." width="357" height="562" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Noreen_Murray_cropped.jpeg 558w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Noreen_Murray_cropped-191x300.jpeg 191w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 357px) 100vw, 357px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1771" class="wp-caption-text">Noreen Murray: Co-Creator of the World’s First Genetically Modified Vaccine</p></div>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1955 alignleft" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/SharonChen.png" alt="" width="391" height="553" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/SharonChen.png 724w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/SharonChen-212x300.png 212w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 391px) 100vw, 391px" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Margarita Boyko’s beautiful portrait of Jennie Lee, member of parliment.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Photo credits:</strong> 1929, Jennie Lee, photographic print, provided by Illustrated London News Digital Archive via Wikimedia, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jennie_Lee.jpg#/media/File:Jennie_Lee.jpg] Public domain image</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_1786" style="width: 286px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1786" class=" wp-image-1786" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Jennie_Lee-1.jpeg" alt="Black and white yearbook photo of Jennie Lee" width="276" height="389" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Jennie_Lee-1.jpeg 515w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Jennie_Lee-1-213x300.jpeg 213w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 276px) 100vw, 276px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1786" class="wp-caption-text">Jennie Lee: Pioneering Member of Parliament</p></div>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1954" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Drawing_1_sketchpad.jpeg" alt="" width="280" height="396" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>And I’ve been working on creating colouring pages of the women who don’t have any open licenced images available, starting with Lillian Lindsay, the first female dentist in the UK.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1960" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally.png" alt="" width="382" height="540" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally.png 3308w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-212x300.png 212w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-724x1024.png 724w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-768x1086.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-1086x1536.png 1086w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-1448x2048.png 1448w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-1440x2036.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 382px) 100vw, 382px" /></p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-07-10" itemprop="dateModified">Jul 10, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/digital-art-workshop-reflections/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>“We Have Great Stuff” Colouring Book Contest (Call For Entries)</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/colouring-book-contest/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/colouring-book-contest/#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jun 2023 13:44:37 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1901</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 2</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span>Deadline: Friday, July 28th Contest Description This is your chance to be a part of the We Have Good Stuff Colouring Book series! We’re looking for illustrations inspired by the incredible women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) from the University of Edinburgh (UoE). Help us to highlight exceptional women and their extraordinary achievements […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 2</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><h1>Deadline: Friday, July 28th</h1>
<h2 style="text-align: start">Contest Description</h2>
<p style="text-align: start">This is your chance to be a part of the We Have Good Stuff Colouring Book series! We’re looking for illustrations inspired by the incredible women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) from the University of Edinburgh (UoE).</p>
<p style="text-align: start">Help us to highlight exceptional women and their extraordinary achievements by creating black and white line drawings inspired by the images published on our online database (longlist). Submit your entry for the chance to be a published illustrator and win prizes!</p>
<p style="text-align: start">Keep watching this blog for more information and examples. Here are some previous colouring book pages from the last two editions.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1907" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/51591208796_241bbfef12_c.jpg" alt="" width="236" height="335" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/51591208796_241bbfef12_c.jpg 563w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/51591208796_241bbfef12_c-211x300.jpg 211w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 236px) 100vw, 236px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1904" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248315_d03491be93_c.jpg" alt="" width="237" height="336" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248315_d03491be93_c.jpg 564w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248315_d03491be93_c-212x300.jpg 212w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 237px) 100vw, 237px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1905" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248715_7729430d4d_c.jpg" alt="" width="238" height="336" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248715_7729430d4d_c.jpg 566w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248715_7729430d4d_c-212x300.jpg 212w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px" /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: start">Closing Date</h3>
<p style="text-align: start">Remember, entries are due by the 28th of July!</p>
<p style="text-align: start">Don’t miss this great opportunity to contribute to the We Have Good Stuff Colouring Book series and celebrate women in STEM.</p>
<p style="text-align: start">All experiences and abilities are welcome!</p>
<p> </p>
<h2 style="text-align: start">Entry Guidelines</h2>
<ul>
<li>Entrants must utilize the images available on our blog and must not include any copyrighted imagery in their entries.</li>
<li>Submissions must be done in black and white and must be outline only (no shading). See examples here.</li>
<li>Submissions must be A4 (210mm x 297mm), 300dpi</li>
<li>Landscape or portrait will be accepted. · Submissions must be entered online to our submission portal by the 28th of July.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: start">We will attempt to share and publish as many valid entries as possible (i.e. physical book and online repositories), but the final decision will be made by the project team.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2 style="text-align: start">Pre-Requisites</h2>
<p>We’ll be providing workshops through the month of July, so feel free to come to those for demonstrations on how to create digital images and an overview of our selected image database. Please note however, that it is not required to attend these in order to enter.</p>
<p>You are welcome to use any method of illustrating you prefer, e.g. Adobe Illustrator or Procreate, but we will be hosting workshops on Sketchpad and traditional illustration.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2 style="text-align: start">2023 Workshops</h2>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: start">Wednesday, July 5th: Digital Art Making Workshop (In person, Argyle House, room E13)</li>
<li style="text-align: start">Wednesday, July 12th: Traditional Art Making Workshop (In person, Evolution House, room 4.10)</li>
<li style="text-align: start">Wednesday, July 19th: Online Art Making Workshop (Online)</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: start">Prizes</h3>
<p style="text-align: start">There are a host of prizes available to participants, including books, art materials, and exclusive merchandise.</p>
<p style="text-align: start">All entrants will have the opportunity to be featured in a published work.</p>
<p> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: start">Eligibility</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: start">All UoE staff</li>
<li style="text-align: start">All UoE students</li>
</ul>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-06-27" itemprop="dateModified">Jun 27, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/colouring-book-contest/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Women in STEM Image Database</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jun 2023 13:44:15 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1746</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span>Use this image bank to discover some of the University of Edinburgh’s wonderful women in science, technology, engineering, and maths! Click on each photo to find out more about each woman’s career and achievements. STEM Gallery Jun 27, 2023]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span><p>Use this image bank to discover some of the University of Edinburgh’s wonderful women in science, technology, engineering, and maths!</p>
<p>Click on each photo to find out more about each woman’s career and achievements.</p>
<h2>STEM Gallery</h2>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/agnessavage-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AgnesSavage-1-e1687266597726-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/annie_numbers-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Annie_Numbers-1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Annie Hutton Numbers wears a graduation robe and hat, standing in front of a wooden wall." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/miller-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/miller-1-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Christina Cruikshank Miller in her graduation robe" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/ella_ferrier_pringle_in_1909-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Ella_Ferrier_Pringle_in_1909-1-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Isabella Pringle rests her head on her hand. She is wearing graduation robes and her hair is braided." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/elsie_inglis/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglis-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Elsie Inglis looks at the viewer. She is wearing a buttoned jacket, tie, and hat with plaid ribbon." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/jennie_lee-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Jennie_Lee-1-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Black and white yearbook photo of Jennie Lee" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/gertrude-hertz/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Gertrude Hertz wears a lab coat and points to a scientific figure on a black board." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/honor-fell/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Honor Fell sits smiling at her microscope" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/matildajclerk/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/MatildaJClerk-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Matilda J Clerk in her graduation gown" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/macmillan_chrystal_1908-1914_22704149049/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Macmillan_Chrystal_1908-1914_22704149049-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Chrystal MacMillan looks into the camera wearing a victorian lace dress with a brooch" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/marionross/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/marionross-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Marion Ross sits in a chair" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/auerbach1/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/auerbach1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Charlotte Auerbach sits at her desk with a typewriter and cup of tea" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/1024px-bessie_watson_aged_9/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/1024px-Bessie_Watson_aged_9-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Young Bessie Watson stands wearing a kilt, playing the bagpipes, with a"Votes for Women" sash." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/marybruk/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/marybruk-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Mary Brück looks through a telescope" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/sophia_jex-blake_as_a_young_woman/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Sophia_Jex-Blake_as_a_young_woman-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Sophia Jex Blake as a young woman, writing at her desk" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/brenda_moon/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Brenda_Moon-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Brenda Moon stands with a cane in her garden, touching a rose, wearing a floral dress and smiling." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/profeleanorcampbellmugshot/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/ProfEleanorCampbellmugshot-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Eleanor Campbell smiles into the camera with a body of water and some grass behind her." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/photo-on-26-03-2020-at-13-20-5/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Photo-on-26-03-2020-at-13.20-5-e1687267542904-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Jane wears a red cardigan and glasses." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/devi/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Devi-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Devi stands with arms crossed in front of a purple "Edinburgh International Book Festival" background" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/tarasj/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/taraSJ-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Tara wears her lab coat and lanyard, smiling into camera" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/boden_9539/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Boden_9539-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Lisa Boden smiles into camera" /></a>
<hr />
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-06-27" itemprop="dateModified">Jun 27, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Pixels & Pitfalls: Exploring AI’s Image Generation Struggles</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/pixels-pitfalls-exploring-ais-image-generation-struggles/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/pixels-pitfalls-exploring-ais-image-generation-struggles/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 22 Jun 2023 14:25:58 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1846</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 5</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span> As we prepare to bring you the third edition of the We Have Great Stuff colouring book series, we are considering new ways to update the format and reflect changing technology. This year’s theme, STEM, naturally lends itself to the incorporation of the buzz word of the year– Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is now […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 5</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><p> </p>
<p>As we prepare to bring you the third edition of the We Have Great Stuff colouring book series, we are considering new ways to update the format and reflect changing technology. This year’s theme, STEM, naturally lends itself to the incorporation of the buzz word of the year– Artificial Intelligence (AI).</p>
<p>AI is now touted as the miraculous tool that can enhance productivity, manage schedules, book flights, and even assist in meal planning. However, along with its popularity, AI has sparked significant controversy surrounding its ethical implications. Artists and creatives have expressed valid and pressing concerns about this highly innovative software.</p>
<h2><strong>What’s the Problem with AI? </strong></h2>
<p>One of the early achievements of AI was its ability to create “generative” images, combining various works to create entirely new visuals. While this may seem like a fascinating feat, it becomes problematic when we realize that this process often uses images posted online without consideration for copyright, proper attribution, or ethical compensation to the original artists.</p>
<h2><strong>An Expert Opinion</strong></h2>
<p>As an artist myself, this is a valid concern. Will there be any job opportunities for graduates like me with a design degree, or will they all be taken over by AI bots?</p>
<p>To see if I could incorporate AI into the colouring book, I decided to meet with two AI interns from ISG, Wietske Holwerda and Bartlomeij Pohorecki. Their unanimous response to my query was, “probably not.”</p>
<p>The AI team explained that the current state of AI is not advanced enough to be effectively employed in real projects like our colouring book. The images generated by popular AI tools like Deep AI and Dall-E may lack real-world accuracy, a critical aspect for a project like the colouring book which is centred around real individuals and technologies. Additionally, the sourcing of these AI-generated images raises concerns of copyright infringement, which could have serious consequences for a published open-source work.</p>
<p>However, they encouraged me to experiment and see what I could create.</p>
<h2><strong>Let’s Give it a Try</strong></h2>
<p>First, I tried <a href="https://openai.com/dall-e-2">Dall-E</a>, OpenAI’s image generation tool, which was among the first available online. Dall-E utilizes natural language descriptions to generate images based on requests and has been widely used for image creation.</p>
<p>I requested Dall-E to create colouring book pages featuring UoE’s very own Crystal Macmillan. The results were not terrible but fell short of expectations. The software lacked the ability to capture a reference or produce a likeness of a notable individual, making it challenging to use in a book filled with prominent personalities.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1875" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp.png" alt="" width="2887" height="2119" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp.png 2887w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-300x220.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-1024x752.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-768x564.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-1536x1127.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-2048x1503.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-1440x1057.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2887px) 100vw, 2887px" /></p>
<p>Another feature of Dall-E is the ability to edit existing images. I uploaded an image of Chrystal Macmillan to Dall-E, resulting in an army of look-alikes but nothing too helpful for the project.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1849" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09.png" alt="" width="2469" height="543" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09.png 2469w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-300x66.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-1024x225.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-768x169.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-1536x338.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-2048x450.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-1440x317.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2469px) 100vw, 2469px" /></p>
<p>Thinking that modifying an existing image might be the best approach for this project, I turned to <a href="https://www.adobe.com/sensei/generative-ai/firefly.html">Adobe Firefly</a>, an AI tool currently in beta testing by Adobe, that has been integrated into the latest version of Photoshop. This tool has significantly democratized AI accessibility for designers and creatives who already utilize adobe products every day.</p>
<p>I asked Adobe Firefly to extend a few of my images, and the results were amazing!</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1763" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz.png" alt="Gertrude Hertz wears a lab coat and points to a scientific figure on a black board." width="207" height="278" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz.png 978w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-224x300.png 224w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-763x1024.png 763w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-768x1030.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 207px) 100vw, 207px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1860" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit.png" alt="" width="427" height="278" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit.png 2016w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit-300x195.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit-1024x666.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit-768x500.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit-1536x1000.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit-1440x937.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 427px) 100vw, 427px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1764" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell.jpeg" alt="Honor Fell sits smiling at her microscope" width="205" height="286" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell.jpeg 512w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-215x300.jpeg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 205px) 100vw, 205px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1862" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-expanded.png" alt="" width="443" height="286" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-expanded.png 1110w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-expanded-300x194.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-expanded-1024x661.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-expanded-768x495.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 443px) 100vw, 443px" /></p>
<p>However, there were some issues when it came to specific details. AI lacks an understanding of space and depth, which led to some peculiar additions to Honor’s lab. Additionally, the tool tended to add creepy humanoid figures, as evidenced by those added to Gertrude and Elsie’s image.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1861" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1.png" alt="" width="298" height="194" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1.png 2016w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1-300x195.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1-1024x666.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1-768x500.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1-1536x1000.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1-1440x937.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 298px) 100vw, 298px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1863" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-felledit2.png" alt="" width="300" height="193" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-felledit2.png 1110w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-felledit2-300x194.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-felledit2-1024x661.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-felledit2-768x495.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1872" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218.jpg" alt="" width="297" height="199" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218.jpg 2560w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-300x201.jpg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-768x515.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-1536x1029.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-2048x1372.jpg 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-1440x965.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 297px) 100vw, 297px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1869" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2.png" alt="" width="304" height="198" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2.png 2016w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2-300x195.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2-1024x666.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2-768x500.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2-1536x1000.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2-1440x937.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 304px) 100vw, 304px" /></p>
<p>Next, I explored “<a href="https://www.fotor.com/">Fotor</a>,” a free and accessible online platform for AI image generation and manipulation. Fotor offered a remarkable black and white colorization tool, using AI logic to colorize lack and white photos. This worked well on the picture of Charlotte Auerbach but fell short when applied to Jessie MacGregor or Noreen Murray..</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1879" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2.png" alt="" width="3129" height="1150" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2.png 3129w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-300x110.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-1024x376.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-768x282.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-1536x565.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-2048x753.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-1440x529.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3129px) 100vw, 3129px" /></p>
<p>In summary, I find myself breathing a sigh of relief. Creatives, your jobs are safe, at least for now. AI is undoubtedly proving to be a powerful tool, but it is not without its complications.</p>
<p>However, there is a world of fun to be had when it comes to creating unusual AI altered images.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1884 alignnone" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1.png" alt="" width="333" height="227" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1-300x204.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1-1024x697.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1-768x523.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1-1440x981.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1883 alignnone" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1.png" alt="" width="333" height="227" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1-300x204.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1-1024x697.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1-768x523.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1-1440x981.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><em>Dolly and friends travel the world</em></p>
<h2><strong>So, what does this mean for the book?</strong></h2>
<p>When it comes to image generation, it may not be in the project’s best interest to rely too heavily on AI. Not only will it complicate our ability to licence the book’s images, it will produce images that simply aren’t as good as what any of you could come up with.</p>
<p>And when it comes to including AI in University work, the best practice is to of course use the helpful <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/bayes/ai-guidance-for-staff-and-students">AI guidance</a> published onto the University website, which covers use cases, citations, and best practices.</p>
<p>This is why we need participants like you more than ever to help us amplify the stories of UoE’s fantastic women in STEM and create hand-made, ethically sourced illustrations. Stay tuned for information on upcoming events and how to get involved in this project.</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-06-22" itemprop="dateModified">Jun 22, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/pixels-pitfalls-exploring-ais-image-generation-struggles/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
"
["raw"]=>
string(120804) "HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Type: application/rss+xml; charset=UTF-8
Transfer-Encoding: chunked
Connection: close
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:22:30 GMT
Server: Apache
X-Powered-By: PHP/8.3.31
Expires: Thu, 19 Nov 1981 08:52:00 GMT
Cache-Control: no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate
Pragma: no-cache
Link: <https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-json/>; rel="https://api.w.org/", <https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-json/wp/v2/tags/4>; rel="alternate"; title="JSON"; type="application/json"
Set-Cookie: PHPSESSID=bn3lekpn7701fef9ro5a96rshh; path=/; secure; HttpOnly
Set-Cookie: spo_1225_fa=e9a2fc2dadd47324977d1854fc4d5fc4; expires=Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:52:30 GMT; Max-Age=1800; path=/colouring-books/; Secure; HttpOnly
Last-Modified: Thu, 02 Nov 2023 12:18:03 GMT
ETag: "221cda3f7e784c10bc5b919084bbdff3"
Vary: Accept-Encoding
Set-Cookie: RCKBMHKB=027ff8be59-56fd-48B2MMx4bJWl9ToGuI3BVROEh_zXfEvqQyMQEdS4SL6Wfya3f5YxPigOOnpnDPGMmoTN0; path=/; SameSite=None; Secure
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" >
<channel>
<title>DLAM Feed – Colouring books blog</title>
<atom:link href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/feed/?tag=dlam-feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books</link>
<description>The 'we have great stuff' colouring books are openly licensed resources created by University of Edinburgh students and staff for everyone to enjoy.</description>
<lastBuildDate>Thu, 02 Nov 2023 12:18:03 +0000</lastBuildDate>
<language>en-GB</language>
<sy:updatePeriod>
hourly </sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>
1 </sy:updateFrequency>
<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5</generator>
<image>
<url>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2020/02/cropped-avatar-roundel-bright-pink-72dpi-32x32.png</url>
<title>DLAM Feed – Colouring books blog</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books</link>
<width>32</width>
<height>32</height>
</image>
<cc:license >Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0</cc:license><dc:rights >Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0</dc:rights> <item>
<title>Colouring Book Volume 3 available on Edinburgh Diamond Service</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/volume-3-on-edinburgh-diamond-service/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/volume-3-on-edinburgh-diamond-service/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jackie Aim]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Nov 2023 12:18:03 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Edinburgh Diamond]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ISBN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[ISSN]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[publishing]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=2088</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 2</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span>‘We Have Great Women in STEM’ colouring book Our volume three colouring book ‘We Have Great Women in STEM’ is now available on Edinburgh Diamond, the University of Edinburgh’s digital service for hosting Diamond Open Access books and journals. Hosting our books on Edinburgh Diamond Although we have our books available on the Colouring Books website having them […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 2</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">‘We Have Great Women in STEM’ colouring book</span></h2>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">Our volume three colouring book <a href="https://books.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-diamond/catalog/book/ED-9781912669622"><span class="s2">‘We Have Great Women in STEM’</span></a> is now available on <a href="https://books.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-diamond/index"><span class="s2">Edinburgh Diamond</span></a>, the University of Edinburgh’s digital service for hosting <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_open_access"><span class="s2">Diamond Open Access</span></a> books and journals.</span></p>
<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">Hosting our books on Edinburgh Diamond</span></h2>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">Although we have our books available on the <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/colouring-books/download-the-books"><span class="s2">Colouring Books</span></a> website having them on Edinburgh Diamond is a more sustainable and long term way of preserving them. Check out our Edinburgh Diamond Catalogue series: <a href="https://books.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-diamond/catalog/series/we-have-great-stuff"><span class="s2">‘We have Great Stuff’</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">To find out more about the Edinburgh Diamond Service visit their <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/research-support/edinburgh-diamond"><span class="s2">University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Diamond website</span></a>.</span></p>
<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">Volume 3 colouring book reference</span></h2>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3"><span class="s3"><a href="https://books.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-diamond/catalog/book/ED-9781912669622"><span class="s4">Edinburgh Diamond: We have Great Women in STEM, Volume 3</span></a></span></li>
<li class="li4"><span class="s1">ISBN: 978-1-912669-62-2</span></li>
<li class="li3"><span class="s6">DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.2218/ED.9781912669622"><span class="s4">https://doi.org/10.2218/ED.9781912669622</span></a></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">For the references and more information on volumes one and two please read our <a href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/edinburgh-diamond/">previous blogpost on Edinburgh Diamond</a>.</span></p>
<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">About the</span><span class="s1"> </span><span class="s1">book</span></h2>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">This third volume was created by our Interactive Content summer intern Ally McKay, she is studying illustration at Edinburgh College of Art. The images for the book were collated from in person and online workshops Ally held during the summer, and also includes some of her own illustrations. She also met with inspiring women in STEM who work and study in the University.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">Ally says about her internship:</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<blockquote>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">Creating the book was such a fun and useful experience for me. As an illustration student, it’s usually me creating the pictures but getting to run workshops and collect submissions from the university of Edinburgh community reminded me how much talent we have in our organization. I loved the opportunity to dig into the history of some of UoE’s women in STEM of the past, and also meet with women doing amazing work in STEM today. The project couldn’t have been possible without support and guidance from Stewart Cromar and Jackie Aim, as well as all the amazing volunteers that submitted work!</span></p>
</blockquote>
<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">Book distribution</span></h2>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">The volume three physical books were printed to coordinate with our Ada Lovelace Day celebration on Tuesday 10th October 2023. They were distributed to various locations including Argyle House, Residence Life Office and the Health and Wellbeing Centre at Bristo Square. They are also available to <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/colouring-books/download-the-books"><span class="s2">download</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">We have paper copies of volume three at Argyle House that are freely available to UoE staff and students, please <a href="mailto:interactive-content@ed.ac.uk"><span class="s2">email us</span></a> if you would like a copy. We can send them out via internal mail only.</span></p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-11-02" itemprop="dateModified">Nov 2, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/volume-3-on-edinburgh-diamond-service/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>We Have Great Women in STEM Colouring Book Out Now!</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/we-have-great-women-in-stem-colouring-book-out-now/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/we-have-great-women-in-stem-colouring-book-out-now/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Oct 2023 10:49:39 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Digital Skills]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=2049</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span>It’s finally here! The third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” colouring book has been in the works all summer, and is finally ready to be shared! This edition has been a huge group effort, and took a lot of collaboration from the Edinburgh community. Over a series of three workshops, UoE students, professors, […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span><h2>It’s finally here!</h2>
<p>The third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” colouring book has been in the works all summer, and is finally ready to be shared!</p>
<p>This edition has been a huge group effort, and took a lot of collaboration from the Edinburgh community. Over a series of three workshops, UoE students, professors, and employees came together to learn about digital art and highlight our incredible women in stem by contributing illustrations to the colouring book.</p>
<p>There is so much talent here at Edinburgh and I am extremely grateful to all who took time out of their busy schedules to help me with this project.</p>
<p><strong>Huge thank you to our illustrators:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">August Enger</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Jackie Aim</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Jenna Owen</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Karen McPhail</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Kirsty Tragis</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Sharon Chen</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Claudia Earl</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Catherine Munn</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Dagmar Danielsen</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Ally Mckay</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Alysha Wilson</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Maarya Sharif</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Mayu Ishimoto</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Wenwen Wang</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Zequn Wang</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>And another huge thank you to all the contributors that made this project possible:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Cait MacPhee</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Estifa’a Zaid</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Frances Blow</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Hannah Shuttleworth</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Holly Bridge</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">JC Denis</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Jenny Gracie</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Lothian Health Services Archive</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Maria Fanourgiaki</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Marialuisa Aliotta</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Mylaine Holin</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Nisha Grewal</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Orianna Ball</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Rosa Santomartino</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Sally Shaw</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Sarah Ressel</div>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Where to get your copy</h2>
<p>There are a limited number of free copies of the book available at Argyle House, Residence Life Office and the Health and Wellbeing Centre at Bristo Square.</p>
<p>If your are University staff and would like a copy or a small box for your department, delivered via internal mail, please get in touch (whilst stocks last).</p>
<p>Please contact: <a href="mailto:interactive-content@ed.ac.uk">interactive-content@ed.ac.uk</a></p>
<h3>Online copies</h3>
<p>This publication is also available online at: <a href="https://edin.ac/colouring-book">https://edin.ac/colouring-book</a></p>
<h3>Flickr</h3>
<p>There are high-resolution (300 dpi) colouring book images available for you to download, reuse and share.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/interactive-content/albums/72177720311677507" data-uoe-button="info-sign" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/interactive-content/albums/72177720311677507">Colouring book Flickr album (volume three)</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Happy colouring!</p>
<p>-Ally</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-10-16" itemprop="dateModified">Oct 16, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/we-have-great-women-in-stem-colouring-book-out-now/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Ada Lovelace Day 2023 – Book Launch</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/ada-lovelace-day-2023-book-launch/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/ada-lovelace-day-2023-book-launch/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Stewart Cromar]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:45:29 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Ada Lovelace Day]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=2075</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span>At this year's Ada Lovelace Day Ally McKay will officially launch her brand-new Women in STEM colouring-in book.]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span><p><strong>On Tuesday 10th October 2023, the University’s Information Services team are celebrating Ada Lovelace Day 2023 which is an <a href="https://findingada.com/">international celebration day</a> of the achieveme</strong><strong>nts of women in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science,_technology,_engineering,_and_mathematics">science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)</a>.</strong></p>
<p>They have an afternoon of <a href="https://thinking.is.ed.ac.uk/ada-lovelace-day/ada-lovelace-day-2023/">talks, activities and training</a> planned for Ada Lovelace Day. This will take place on the first floor of the Main Library (Central Area) from 11:00-17:00 in Room 1.07.</p>
<p>You can confirm your attendance via Event Booking now (open to all University students and staff):</p>
<p><a href="https://www.events.ed.ac.uk/index.cfm?event=showEventDetails&scheduleId=65360&start=&eventssearch=Ada%20Lovelace%20Day&eventStart=0">Book your place</a></p>
<p>P.S. Please do add yourself to the waiting list in case anyone cancels.</p>
<h2>Colouring book launch</h2>
<p>At this event Ally McKay, our very own colouring-in book creator and student intern, will officially launch her brand-new Women in STEM colouring-in book.</p>
<p>Don’t worry if you can’t attend the event, the openly licenced book will be available to <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/colouring-books/download-the-books">download</a> the same day. You will also be able to collect copies from multiple university locations (to-be-announced soon).</p>
<p>Shortly after the launch you will be also able to download high-resolution illustrations from our <a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAXbuc">Flickr account</a>.</p>
<h2>Copyright and licence</h2>
<div>
<p>Copyright © The University of Edinburgh 2023 CC BY</p>
</div>
<div>This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</a></div>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-10-04" itemprop="dateModified">Oct 4, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/ada-lovelace-day-2023-book-launch/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Behind the Scenes of “We Have Great Women in STEM”</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/behind-the-scenes-of-we-have-great-women-in-stem/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/behind-the-scenes-of-we-have-great-women-in-stem/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:03:24 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Digital Skills]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorised]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=2063</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 6</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span>By now, you’ve probably heard that the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” Colouring Book is out now, entitled “We Have Great Women in STEM.” This 10-week project was a labor of love, from researching UoE’s women in STEM, hosting art workshops, accepting submissions, to finally compiling the book. Face the Facts One […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 6</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><p>By now, you’ve probably heard that the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” Colouring Book is out now, entitled “We Have Great Women in STEM.” This 10-week project was a labor of love, from researching UoE’s women in STEM, hosting art workshops, accepting submissions, to finally compiling the book.</p>
<h2>Face the Facts</h2>
<p>One of the most challenging aspects of creating a colouring book like this was identifying who we wanted to include. Women in STEM tend to not be well recorded or represented in informational databases, and we did encounter some issues finding the women we wanted to illustrate. Luckily, the university’s website provided many great profiles, and we were able to take some great suggestions from colleagues. As I researched, I found more and more women I wanted to include– ending up with over 30 women (and one sheep) in our online database!</p>
<h2>Putting Faces to Names</h2>
<p>Because the project is so visual, it was imperative that I could hunt down open licensed images of these women so that participants could use the images without worrying about copyright. Luckily, some of the women were historical figures, and their images were so old that they entered the public domain.</p>
<div id="attachment_1763" style="width: 234px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1763" class="size-medium wp-image-1763" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-224x300.png" alt="Gertrude Hertz wears a lab coat and points to a scientific figure on a black board." width="224" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-224x300.png 224w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-763x1024.png 763w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-768x1030.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz.png 978w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 224px) 100vw, 224px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1763" class="wp-caption-text">Gertrude Herzfeld: One of the First Female Surgeons</p></div>
<p>For the more modern women, it was trickier as their images were not in the public domain yet. And on top of that, some of the women had no photos taken of them at all!</p>
<p>I spent around three weeks searching, emailing, and scouring for images of these women, and found some gems! Namely, Jessie MacGregor’s incredible portrait with her dog, and Vivien Kellem’s incredible midcentury black and white portraits.</p>
<div id="attachment_1761" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1761" class="size-medium wp-image-1761" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-300x210.jpg" alt="Jessie sits at her desk in graduation robes, writing in a book. A scruffy dog sits next to her." width="300" height="210" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-300x210.jpg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-768x538.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-1536x1075.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-2048x1434.jpg 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/GD1_53_2_2-Jessie-Macgregor-1440x1008.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1761" class="wp-caption-text">Jessie MacLaren MacGregor: Fighting for Gender Equality at UoE</p></div>
<div id="attachment_1780" style="width: 251px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1780" class="size-medium wp-image-1780" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-241x300.jpg" alt="Vivien reclines on a leather sofa, wearing a fur coat and small hat. Her head is turned, facing left." width="241" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-241x300.jpg 241w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-824x1024.jpg 824w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-768x955.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-1236x1536.jpg 1236w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems-1440x1790.jpg 1440w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/VivienKellems.jpg 1609w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 241px) 100vw, 241px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1780" class="wp-caption-text">Vivien Kellems: Engineering Entrepreneur & Women’s Rights Advocate</p></div>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-1779 aligncenter" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Vivien_Kellems-300x231.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="231" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Vivien_Kellems-300x231.jpeg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Vivien_Kellems.jpeg 512w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>I also had a lot of success reaching out to current women in STEM at the University and simply asking for their permission to be in the book, and for them to provide a photo that they held the rights to. Reaching out to University departments also proved quite successful as they usually had photos of notable alumni from previous publications.</p>
<p>Eventually, I was able to source enough photos to compile them into an online database, and publish them ready to be made into illustrations.</p>
<h2>Time to put in the Work(shops)</h2>
<p>To source illustrations, I hosted a series of three workshops during the month of July: a digital illustration workshop, traditional illustration workshop, and an online digital workshop. These were open to all members of the UoE community and held in a variety of locations to allow those in all working situations to join.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Workshop 1: Digital Illustration Workshop</strong></p>
<p>The first workshop was held in early July, and we had 8 lovely members of the UoE community come out to help us with the colouring book project. These were mostly ISG interns, who courageously tried their hand at using Sketchpad to create digital artwork- which was no easy feat!</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1951" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1952" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>I was so impressed by the group’s creativity and enthusiasm and we got some great submissions. It was also a great way to figure out how to best organise these workshops and effectively teach sketchpad.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Workshop 2: Traditional Illustration Workshop</strong></p>
<p>This workshop was hosted at ECA’s Evolution House– handy timing because the infamous Argyle House flood had just taken over the office. Jackie and I arrived armed with pencils, erasers and pens and welcomed 8 more enthusiastic individuals to the workshop. We had a mix of undergraduate students, masters students, professors and employees- and we all got together and bonded over cake, drawing, and women in STEM.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2058" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6405-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2057" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_6401-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Workshop 3: Online Digital Illustration Workshop</strong></p>
<p>Another accidentally well-timed workshop– the last one we offered at the end of July was online. We had 5 participants come from across many of UoE’s departments, and since I had already been through the slides for the first workshop, this one ran super smoothly.</p>
<p>We got some great submissions here and had some really dedicated participants who worked on their illustrations after the workshop ended and came up with some incredible work.</p>
<h2>Compiling the Book</h2>
<p>Now that I had so many wonderful submissions from the workshops, I headed to trusty InDesign to start formatting the final book.</p>
<p>I first converted all the photographic submissions into vectors using Adobe Illustrator’s image trace function, or cleaned up any digital submissions that were already vectorised, but just had some missing pieces.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-2067 aligncenter" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="262" height="349" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-1440x1920.jpg 1440w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/IMG_20230731_122147-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 262px) 100vw, 262px" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><strong>Before</strong><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-2066 aligncenter" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-212x300.png" alt="" width="267" height="378" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-212x300.png 212w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-724x1024.png 724w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-768x1086.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-1086x1536.png 1086w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-1448x2048.png 1448w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/JennaOwen-CharlotteAuerbach-1440x2036.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><strong>After</strong></p>
<p>I also took a look at the women that we hadn’t gotten any submissions for and made illustrations myself for them.</p>
<p>Following loosely the formatting from previous copies, I set up my file as an A5 booklet, and decided on the fonts “Factoria” and “Video” for body and headings, respectively. I wanted the type to be kind of quirky and create shapes that would be fun to colour in, which is why I went down the sci-fi route and sourced technologically inspired fonts.</p>
<p>From there, I just popped all the final images into their pages and decided which would sit best together on the page. Then, I had two main things to fill in– the cover and the index.</p>
<h2>You Can Judge this Book’s Cover!</h2>
<p>I had two initial concepts for the book cover– one featuring a magnifying glass, and one featuring a female scientist. In the end, my team and I decided that the microscope one was more eye-catching and drew the eye to the center of the page well. I had such a fun time making all the tiny little STEM icons, and took lots of inspiration from the Star Wars edition of “Little White Lies,” incorporating halftones as a way to add contrast without taking away any colouring-in functionality.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2069" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-232x300.jpg" alt="" width="232" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-232x300.jpg 232w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-791x1024.jpg 791w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-768x994.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-1187x1536.jpg 1187w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-1583x2048.jpg 1583w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-1440x1864.jpg 1440w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-scaled.jpg 1978w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2068" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-232x300.jpg" alt="" width="232" height="300" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-232x300.jpg 232w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-791x1024.jpg 791w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-768x994.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-1187x1536.jpg 1187w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-1583x2048.jpg 1583w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-1440x1864.jpg 1440w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-copy-scaled.jpg 1978w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I made the cover in illustrator, and created the back and front on the same document so that the images would seamlessly flow into each other when the book was opened.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-2060 aligncenter" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-300x200.png" alt="" width="722" height="481" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-300x200.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-1024x683.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-768x512.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-2048x1365.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/08/mockup1-1440x960.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 722px) 100vw, 722px" /></p>
<h2>The Index <strong>– Celebrating Achievements</strong></h2>
<p>My last hurdle on this project was creating the index. This would go at the back of the book and would store all the information about the illustration’s source images, illustrators, reference photo attribution, and a short piece of biographical info about each women. Due to the subject matter of the book, it was important to my team and I to not just show the likeness of these women in STEM, but celebrate their achievements. Adding this info in the index was a good way to do this without taking away from the illustrations.</p>
<h2><strong>And Voilà!</strong></h2>
<p>Just like that, 10 weeks flew by and the book was all finished! I printed a proof copy, made some adjustments, and awarded prizes to the winners of this year’s call for entries contest. These individuals expressed enthusiasm, were extremely committed to the project, and made some incredible work.</p>
<ul>
<li>August Enger: <em>Jessie MacLaren MacGregor</em></li>
<li>Dagmar Danielsen: <em>Xia Peisu</em></li>
<li>Catherine Munn: <em>Brenda Moon </em>& <em>Jane Hillston</em></li>
<li>Jenna Owen: <em>Chrystal Macmillan, Charlotte Auerbach, Agnes Yewande Savage, </em>&<em> Cristina Cruikshank Miller</em></li>
</ul>
<p>I wish I could give everyone prizes, and want to give a huge thank you to all who helped make this book possible!</p>
<h2>Now What?</h2>
<p>For me, it’s back to school for one more year finishing my illustration degree. For the book, it’s off to the print shop and then it will be distributed to members of the Edinburgh community.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who helped make this book possible. I hope you enjoy colouring in the book as much as I did making it.</p>
<p>Take care,</p>
<p>-Ally</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-10-04" itemprop="dateModified">Oct 4, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/behind-the-scenes-of-we-have-great-women-in-stem/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>A Visual Guide: Photos from UoE’s School of Chemistry & School of Biology</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/on-campus-stem-image-database/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/on-campus-stem-image-database/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jul 2023 13:37:16 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Digital Skills]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1975</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span> I am excited to share that progress on the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” colouring book series is steadily moving forward. As we continue to work on this project, we want to remind you that entries for the book are still open until the 30th of July! In response to valuable […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span><p> </p>
<p>I am excited to share that progress on the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” colouring book series is steadily moving forward. As we continue to work on this project, we want to remind you that entries for the book are still open until the 30th of July!</p>
<p>In response to valuable feedback from some individuals who expressed their preference for not drawing people, I have worked with individuals across the University to curate a gallery of images featuring the STEM facilities at the University of Edinburgh.</p>
<p>All of these images are released under an open license, allowing you to freely use them as references for your entries into the colouring book.</p>
<p>The entry submission period for the colouring book remains open until the 28th of July. We encourage you to carefully review our entry guidelines, which can be found <a href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/colouring-book-contest/">here.</a></p>
<p>We are immensely grateful for your interest and enthusiasm in this project, and we look forward to receiving your creative contributions. Together, let’s celebrate the wonders of science through the pages of the “We Have Great Stuff” colouring book!</p>
<p>Remember, the deadline for submissions is the 28th of July. We can’t wait to see your amazing artwork!</p>
<h2>Check out the photos here:</h2>
<p> </p>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9642/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9642-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9558/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9558-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9601/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9601-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9599/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9599-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9621/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9621-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9667/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9667-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9704/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9704-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9673/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9673-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9664/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9664-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9607/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9607-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9566/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9566-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9680/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9680-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9559/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9559-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9682/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9682-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_6419/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6419-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9677/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9677-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9683/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9683-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9567/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9567-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9623/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9623-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9624/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9624-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_6421/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6421-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9608/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9608-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9611/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9611-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9662/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9662-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9618/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9618-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9698/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9698-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9663/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9663-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9695/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9695-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9610/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9610-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9562/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9562-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9616/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9616-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9639/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9639-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9715/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9715-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9637/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9637-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9717/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9717-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_6394/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6394-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9693/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9693-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9638/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9638-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9619/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9619-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9641/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9641-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9627/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9627-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9588/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9588-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9635/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9635-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9709/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9709-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9560/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9560-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9648/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9648-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9700/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9700-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9586-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9681/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9681-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/img_9678/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9678-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<p> </p>
<p>Huge thanks to these individuals for taking the time to give me tours and chat with me:</p>
<p><strong>Jenny Gracie:</strong> Widening Participation and Outreach Officer, School of Chemistry</p>
<p><strong>Sarah Ressel:</strong> Postdoctoral Research Associate, Institute of Infection and Immunology Research</p>
<p><strong>Frances Blow:</strong> Postdoctoral Research Associate, Institute of Infection and Immunology Research</p>
<p><strong>Maria Fanourgiaki:</strong> Science Communicator, School of Biological Sciences</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Happy drawing!</p>
<p>-Ally</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-07-17" itemprop="dateModified">Jul 17, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/on-campus-stem-image-database/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Celebrating Women in Physics at the University of Edinburgh</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/celebrating-women-in-physics-at-the-university-of-edinburgh/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/celebrating-women-in-physics-at-the-university-of-edinburgh/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jul 2023 13:12:26 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1967</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 5</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span> Today, I had the privilege of sitting down with ten exceptional women in the field of Physics at the University of Edinburgh. During our conversation, we discussed their experiences, research, and remarkable achievements. I want to extend a special thanks to Jean-Christophe Denis, who organised this meeting. A Chat With Professor MacPhee Firstly, I […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 5</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><p> </p>
<p>Today, I had the privilege of sitting down with ten exceptional women in the field of Physics at the University of Edinburgh. During our conversation, we discussed their experiences, research, and remarkable achievements. I want to extend a special thanks to Jean-Christophe Denis, who organised this meeting.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1971 aligncenter" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait.png" alt="" width="328" height="464" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait.png 2481w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-212x300.png 212w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-724x1024.png 724w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-768x1086.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-1086x1536.png 1086w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-1448x2048.png 1448w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Kait-1440x2036.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 328px) 100vw, 328px" /></p>
<h2>A Chat With Professor MacPhee</h2>
<p>Firstly, I had the pleasure of speaking with Cait MacPhee, an accomplished professor in biological physics and experimental molecular biophysics. She is also the co-director of the National Biofilms Innovation Centre. MacPhee, who became the first female professor in the School of Physics at Edinburgh, shared her inspiring journey in STEM:</p>
<blockquote><p>“There is no standard journey. You’ll hear different stories from different people… I initially pursued biology but found it challenging. Eventually, I decided to switch to physics for my Ph.D. as it made more sense to me, and I enjoy working with numbers.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Having been at the University of Edinburgh for 18 years, MacPhee has witnessed significant changes within the department during her tenure.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Reflecting on the past, MacPhee discussed the absence of maternity policies when she worked at a previous institution and was pregnant with her first child. The department was uncertain about how to address this situation, leading to chaotic circumstances. However, as senior male staff members have began prioritising childcare responsibilities, policies and procedures have been put in place to support out-of-work responsibilities, including childcare. MacPhee acknowledged the progress made, recounting instances of being the only woman in the room or being overlooked by male peers, while emphasising the significant improvements that have taken place.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In our conversation, I asked MacPhee about the policies and infrastructure required to encourage women to enter and thrive in STEM fields. She emphasised that real change can be achieved by starting at the grassroots level:</p>
<blockquote><p>“When children are turned off from pursuing sciences, it often happens at an early age, even before they reach secondary school. Thus, a lot of work needs to be done in primary schools, which is a particular passion of mine.”</p></blockquote>
<p>MacPhee noted that girls often receive subconscious messaging in schools that leads to repetitive thought patterns discouraging them from pursuing STEM. With a majority of teachers in arts and humanities, young girls can naturally gravitate towards the arts without proper exposure to sciences in the curriculum. She believes that schools need to empower and train their staff to integrate STEM more closely and equally into their curriculum. This involves empowering teachers to deliver science programs themselves, addressing the lack of confidence often observed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Despite the challenges and obstacles encountered, MacPhee emphasised her deep love for her work:</p>
<blockquote><p>“I genuinely enjoy what I do. I’m amazed that they pay me to do this job. The element of discovery is exhilarating. When you know something that nobody else in the world knows and have figured it out, there’s nothing quite like that feeling.”</p></blockquote>
<p>One of MacPhee’s “lightbulb” moments came during her extensive studies of biofilms, which are slimy nests of organisms found in various environments. Studying their water-repellent mechanisms led her to make ground-breaking discoveries previously unknown in biology.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2>A Chat with students and professors in physics</h2>
<p>Our conversation expanded as nine other exceptional women in physics joined us. The array of talent, dedication, and passion they brought to the discussion was truly remarkable. It was an absolute delight to explore their research and experiences and brainstorm ideas on how to encourage women in STEM across the university.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1969" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_9586-1440x960.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
<p>Here is an introduction to the remarkable women who participated in the interview (from left to right, top to bottom):</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Mylaine Holin:</strong> Ph.D. student studying extreme conditions</li>
<li><strong>Hannah Shuttleworth:</strong> Ph.D. student in physics researching condensed matter and complex systems</li>
<li><strong>Rosa Santomartino:</strong> Leverhulme Early Career Fellow researching astrobiology</li>
<li><strong>Marialuisa Aliotta:</strong> Professor of experimental nuclear astrophysics</li>
<li><strong>Sally Shaw:</strong> Lecturer in experimental particle physics</li>
<li><strong>Orianna Ball:</strong> Ph.D. student studying extreme conditions</li>
<li><strong>Estifa’a Zaid:</strong> Ph.D. student studying particle and nuclear physics</li>
<li><strong>Nisha Grewal:</strong> Ph.D. student in the School of Physics and Astronomy</li>
<li><strong>Holly Bridge:</strong> Ph.D. student studying soft matter physics</li>
</ul>
<h2>Why did you choose to pursue STEM?</h2>
<p>To gain insights into their motivations, I asked the group about their journeys into STEM. Marialuisa Aliotta shared that she initially aspired to be a ballerina but her brother’s scientific inclinations inspired her to pursue physics and become an academic. Rosa, driven by her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut, embarked on a postdoctoral research journey in astrobiology at the University of Edinburgh. Sally, fascinated by space from a young age, found her perfect blend of astrophysics and particle physics in studying dark matter. Holly’s passion for math led her to begin her Ph.D. in physics, focusing on modelling individual-based simulations for bacteria and wastewater treatment. Hannah conducts experimental high-pressure experiments, simulating conditions akin to the centre of the Earth using diamond-tipped tools. Mylaine’s fascination with the universe’s scale and gas giant planets propelled her to study physics. Orianna, inspired by enthusiastic teachers during her schooling and her sister, conducts research on extreme conditions using the diamond anvil technique. Nisha’s affinity for mathematics led her to pursue astrophysics as a Ph.D. student to deepen her understanding of the world. Estifa’a, driven by her early enjoyment of mathematics, conducts particle physics experiments.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When discussing role models, Rosa mentioned having an astronaut living in her building during her childhood, which left an indelible impression. Others agreed that looking up to researchers and teachers played a vital role in encouraging their pursuit of STEM.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2>Have you encountered any obstacles?</h2>
<p>Our conversation also touched upon the experiences and obstacles faced by these remarkable women in their respective fields. Marialuisa recalled joining the department in 2001 as the sole female staff member in her department at the time:</p>
<blockquote><p>“When I came to Edinburgh in 2001, I was the only female member of staff for the first six years. It felt somewhat lonely, and I struggled to engage with my all-male academic counterparts. However, conditions have significantly improved since then, although challenges still persist.”</p></blockquote>
<p>The group concurred that having mentors and role models is instrumental in achieving success as women in their fields. Nisha emphasized the importance of seeing women in positions of influence and demonstrating that it is possible. Supportive mentors played a vital role in Estifa’a’s journey, instilling confidence and fostering a belief in her capabilities.</p>
<p>The women highlighted community programs like Soapbox Science and the film “Picture A Scientist” as initiatives that encourage and showcase women in STEM fields.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2>What advice do you give to the next generation of women in STEM?</h2>
<p>When asked for advice for young women pursuing STEM, Sally advised ignoring anyone who suggests they are just filling a quota, emphasising that they deserve their place. Hannah stressed the importance of not comparing oneself to others, as she had initially viewed certain male counterparts as an elite group. Rosa emphasised that perfection should not be the end goal, encouraging young women to find supportive mentors and acknowledging that imperfection is acceptable.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The women also underscored the significance of forming friendships with fellow women in STEM. Holly noted the positive impact that conversations with peers experiencing similar situations can have, encouraging those who may be shy to push themselves and seek out these connections.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2>Progress and Persistence</h2>
<p>In conclusion, the experiences, insights, and achievements shared by these incredible women at the University of Edinburgh highlight the progress made and the evolving landscape for women in STEM.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-07-17" itemprop="dateModified">Jul 17, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/celebrating-women-in-physics-at-the-university-of-edinburgh/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Digital Art Workshop Reflections</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/digital-art-workshop-reflections/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/digital-art-workshop-reflections/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Jul 2023 12:22:42 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Digital Skills]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1947</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 3</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span> Welcome back to another update on the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” coloring book series. I’m excited to share the highlights of our recent workshop and give you a glimpse of the incredible artwork created by our participants. We kicked off our month of coloring book workshops with the first session […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 3</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><p> </p>
<p>Welcome back to another update on the third edition of the “We Have Great Stuff” coloring book series. I’m excited to share the highlights of our recent workshop and give you a glimpse of the incredible artwork created by our participants.</p>
<p>We kicked off our month of coloring book workshops with the first session focusing on creating digital illustrations using Sketchpad. It was a great success, with 10 individuals participating. I was impressed by the talent and dedication of our participants, especially considering that many of them were creating digital art for the first time.</p>
<p>The workshop began with a short demonstration, followed by an introduction to UoE’s women in STEM. Participants then dove into the world of Sketchpad, learning to master Bezier curves and anchor points. It was no easy feat, but I witnessed their progress firsthand as they gained confidence and created stunning digital illustrations.</p>
<p>While there were a few hiccups during the workshop, overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. The participants’ enthusiasm and the quality of their work were truly remarkable.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, I’m excited to announce that the next workshop will be held this Wednesday and will focus on traditional pen-and-ink illustration. Additionally, we have an online digital art workshop planned for next week. In the coming days, I’ll be touring various STEM facilities, capturing photos to showcase the remarkable staff and facilities we have at our university.</p>
<p>Huge thank you to everyone who came along to last week’s workshop, and if you missed it, check out our <a href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/events/">events page</a> to sign up for an upcoming workshop, and don’t forget to enter your submissions before the 28th!</p>
<p>I hope you’re enjoying the summer weather as much as I am. It’s a great time to explore your creativity and dive into the world of art. Stay tuned for more updates and inspiring artwork from our workshops.</p>
<p>Take care!<br />
-Ally</p>
<h2>Hard at work!</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1951" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317.png" alt="" width="616" height="462" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317.png 4032w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6317-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 616px) 100vw, 616px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1952" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318.png" alt="" width="617" height="463" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318.png 4032w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-300x225.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1024x768.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-768x576.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-2048x1536.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/IMG_6318-1440x1080.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 617px) 100vw, 617px" /></p>
<h2>A sneak peak at some submissions:</h2>
<p>Sharon Chen’s incredible portrait of Noreen Murray, co-creator of the world’s first genetically modified vaccine.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Photo credits:</strong> Photograph of Kenneth and Noreen Murray, photographic print, provided by the Murray Archive, University of Edinburgh [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noreen_Murray#/media/File:Noreen_Murray_(cropped).jpg] CC by 3.0</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_1771" style="width: 367px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1771" class=" wp-image-1771" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Noreen_Murray_cropped.jpeg" alt="Noreen Murray wears a polka dot scarf, hat, and buttoned jacket while she looks ahead." width="357" height="562" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Noreen_Murray_cropped.jpeg 558w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Noreen_Murray_cropped-191x300.jpeg 191w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 357px) 100vw, 357px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1771" class="wp-caption-text">Noreen Murray: Co-Creator of the World’s First Genetically Modified Vaccine</p></div>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1955 alignleft" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/SharonChen.png" alt="" width="391" height="553" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/SharonChen.png 724w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/SharonChen-212x300.png 212w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 391px) 100vw, 391px" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Margarita Boyko’s beautiful portrait of Jennie Lee, member of parliment.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Photo credits:</strong> 1929, Jennie Lee, photographic print, provided by Illustrated London News Digital Archive via Wikimedia, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jennie_Lee.jpg#/media/File:Jennie_Lee.jpg] Public domain image</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_1786" style="width: 286px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1786" class=" wp-image-1786" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Jennie_Lee-1.jpeg" alt="Black and white yearbook photo of Jennie Lee" width="276" height="389" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Jennie_Lee-1.jpeg 515w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Jennie_Lee-1-213x300.jpeg 213w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 276px) 100vw, 276px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1786" class="wp-caption-text">Jennie Lee: Pioneering Member of Parliament</p></div>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1954" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Drawing_1_sketchpad.jpeg" alt="" width="280" height="396" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>And I’ve been working on creating colouring pages of the women who don’t have any open licenced images available, starting with Lillian Lindsay, the first female dentist in the UK.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1960" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally.png" alt="" width="382" height="540" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally.png 3308w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-212x300.png 212w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-724x1024.png 724w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-768x1086.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-1086x1536.png 1086w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-1448x2048.png 1448w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/lillianlindsay-byally-1440x2036.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 382px) 100vw, 382px" /></p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-07-10" itemprop="dateModified">Jul 10, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/digital-art-workshop-reflections/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>“We Have Great Stuff” Colouring Book Contest (Call For Entries)</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/colouring-book-contest/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/colouring-book-contest/#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jun 2023 13:44:37 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1901</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 2</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span>Deadline: Friday, July 28th Contest Description This is your chance to be a part of the We Have Good Stuff Colouring Book series! We’re looking for illustrations inspired by the incredible women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) from the University of Edinburgh (UoE). Help us to highlight exceptional women and their extraordinary achievements […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 2</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><h1>Deadline: Friday, July 28th</h1>
<h2 style="text-align: start">Contest Description</h2>
<p style="text-align: start">This is your chance to be a part of the We Have Good Stuff Colouring Book series! We’re looking for illustrations inspired by the incredible women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) from the University of Edinburgh (UoE).</p>
<p style="text-align: start">Help us to highlight exceptional women and their extraordinary achievements by creating black and white line drawings inspired by the images published on our online database (longlist). Submit your entry for the chance to be a published illustrator and win prizes!</p>
<p style="text-align: start">Keep watching this blog for more information and examples. Here are some previous colouring book pages from the last two editions.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1907" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/51591208796_241bbfef12_c.jpg" alt="" width="236" height="335" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/51591208796_241bbfef12_c.jpg 563w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/51591208796_241bbfef12_c-211x300.jpg 211w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 236px) 100vw, 236px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1904" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248315_d03491be93_c.jpg" alt="" width="237" height="336" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248315_d03491be93_c.jpg 564w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248315_d03491be93_c-212x300.jpg 212w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 237px) 100vw, 237px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1905" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248715_7729430d4d_c.jpg" alt="" width="238" height="336" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248715_7729430d4d_c.jpg 566w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/46763248715_7729430d4d_c-212x300.jpg 212w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px" /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: start">Closing Date</h3>
<p style="text-align: start">Remember, entries are due by the 28th of July!</p>
<p style="text-align: start">Don’t miss this great opportunity to contribute to the We Have Good Stuff Colouring Book series and celebrate women in STEM.</p>
<p style="text-align: start">All experiences and abilities are welcome!</p>
<p> </p>
<h2 style="text-align: start">Entry Guidelines</h2>
<ul>
<li>Entrants must utilize the images available on our blog and must not include any copyrighted imagery in their entries.</li>
<li>Submissions must be done in black and white and must be outline only (no shading). See examples here.</li>
<li>Submissions must be A4 (210mm x 297mm), 300dpi</li>
<li>Landscape or portrait will be accepted. · Submissions must be entered online to our submission portal by the 28th of July.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: start">We will attempt to share and publish as many valid entries as possible (i.e. physical book and online repositories), but the final decision will be made by the project team.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2 style="text-align: start">Pre-Requisites</h2>
<p>We’ll be providing workshops through the month of July, so feel free to come to those for demonstrations on how to create digital images and an overview of our selected image database. Please note however, that it is not required to attend these in order to enter.</p>
<p>You are welcome to use any method of illustrating you prefer, e.g. Adobe Illustrator or Procreate, but we will be hosting workshops on Sketchpad and traditional illustration.</p>
<p> </p>
<h2 style="text-align: start">2023 Workshops</h2>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: start">Wednesday, July 5th: Digital Art Making Workshop (In person, Argyle House, room E13)</li>
<li style="text-align: start">Wednesday, July 12th: Traditional Art Making Workshop (In person, Evolution House, room 4.10)</li>
<li style="text-align: start">Wednesday, July 19th: Online Art Making Workshop (Online)</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: start">Prizes</h3>
<p style="text-align: start">There are a host of prizes available to participants, including books, art materials, and exclusive merchandise.</p>
<p style="text-align: start">All entrants will have the opportunity to be featured in a published work.</p>
<p> </p>
<h3 style="text-align: start">Eligibility</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: start">All UoE staff</li>
<li style="text-align: start">All UoE students</li>
</ul>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-06-27" itemprop="dateModified">Jun 27, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/colouring-book-contest/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Women in STEM Image Database</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jun 2023 13:44:15 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1746</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span>Use this image bank to discover some of the University of Edinburgh’s wonderful women in science, technology, engineering, and maths! Click on each photo to find out more about each woman’s career and achievements. STEM Gallery Jun 27, 2023]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> < 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span><p>Use this image bank to discover some of the University of Edinburgh’s wonderful women in science, technology, engineering, and maths!</p>
<p>Click on each photo to find out more about each woman’s career and achievements.</p>
<h2>STEM Gallery</h2>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/agnessavage-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AgnesSavage-1-e1687266597726-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/annie_numbers-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Annie_Numbers-1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Annie Hutton Numbers wears a graduation robe and hat, standing in front of a wooden wall." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/miller-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/miller-1-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Christina Cruikshank Miller in her graduation robe" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/ella_ferrier_pringle_in_1909-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Ella_Ferrier_Pringle_in_1909-1-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Isabella Pringle rests her head on her hand. She is wearing graduation robes and her hair is braided." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/elsie_inglis/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglis-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Elsie Inglis looks at the viewer. She is wearing a buttoned jacket, tie, and hat with plaid ribbon." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/jennie_lee-2/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Jennie_Lee-1-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Black and white yearbook photo of Jennie Lee" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/gertrude-hertz/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Gertrude Hertz wears a lab coat and points to a scientific figure on a black board." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/honor-fell/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Honor Fell sits smiling at her microscope" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/matildajclerk/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/MatildaJClerk-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Matilda J Clerk in her graduation gown" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/macmillan_chrystal_1908-1914_22704149049/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Macmillan_Chrystal_1908-1914_22704149049-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Chrystal MacMillan looks into the camera wearing a victorian lace dress with a brooch" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/marionross/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/marionross-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Marion Ross sits in a chair" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/auerbach1/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/auerbach1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Charlotte Auerbach sits at her desk with a typewriter and cup of tea" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/1024px-bessie_watson_aged_9/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/1024px-Bessie_Watson_aged_9-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Young Bessie Watson stands wearing a kilt, playing the bagpipes, with a"Votes for Women" sash." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/marybruk/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/marybruk-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Mary Brück looks through a telescope" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/sophia_jex-blake_as_a_young_woman/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Sophia_Jex-Blake_as_a_young_woman-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Sophia Jex Blake as a young woman, writing at her desk" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/brenda_moon/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Brenda_Moon-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Brenda Moon stands with a cane in her garden, touching a rose, wearing a floral dress and smiling." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/profeleanorcampbellmugshot/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/ProfEleanorCampbellmugshot-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Eleanor Campbell smiles into the camera with a body of water and some grass behind her." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/photo-on-26-03-2020-at-13-20-5/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Photo-on-26-03-2020-at-13.20-5-e1687267542904-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Jane wears a red cardigan and glasses." /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/devi/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Devi-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Devi stands with arms crossed in front of a purple "Edinburgh International Book Festival" background" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/tarasj/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/taraSJ-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Tara wears her lab coat and lanyard, smiling into camera" /></a>
<a href='https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/boden_9539/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/07/Boden_9539-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="Lisa Boden smiles into camera" /></a>
<hr />
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-06-27" itemprop="dateModified">Jun 27, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/women-in-stem-image-database/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Pixels & Pitfalls: Exploring AI’s Image Generation Struggles</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/pixels-pitfalls-exploring-ais-image-generation-struggles/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/pixels-pitfalls-exploring-ais-image-generation-struggles/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[amckay10]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 22 Jun 2023 14:25:58 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Colouring books]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[DLAM Feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Interactive Content feed]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[internship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[STEM]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Women In STEM]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/?p=1846</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 5</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span> As we prepare to bring you the third edition of the We Have Great Stuff colouring book series, we are considering new ways to update the format and reflect changing technology. This year’s theme, STEM, naturally lends itself to the incorporation of the buzz word of the year– Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is now […]]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 5</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span><p> </p>
<p>As we prepare to bring you the third edition of the We Have Great Stuff colouring book series, we are considering new ways to update the format and reflect changing technology. This year’s theme, STEM, naturally lends itself to the incorporation of the buzz word of the year– Artificial Intelligence (AI).</p>
<p>AI is now touted as the miraculous tool that can enhance productivity, manage schedules, book flights, and even assist in meal planning. However, along with its popularity, AI has sparked significant controversy surrounding its ethical implications. Artists and creatives have expressed valid and pressing concerns about this highly innovative software.</p>
<h2><strong>What’s the Problem with AI? </strong></h2>
<p>One of the early achievements of AI was its ability to create “generative” images, combining various works to create entirely new visuals. While this may seem like a fascinating feat, it becomes problematic when we realize that this process often uses images posted online without consideration for copyright, proper attribution, or ethical compensation to the original artists.</p>
<h2><strong>An Expert Opinion</strong></h2>
<p>As an artist myself, this is a valid concern. Will there be any job opportunities for graduates like me with a design degree, or will they all be taken over by AI bots?</p>
<p>To see if I could incorporate AI into the colouring book, I decided to meet with two AI interns from ISG, Wietske Holwerda and Bartlomeij Pohorecki. Their unanimous response to my query was, “probably not.”</p>
<p>The AI team explained that the current state of AI is not advanced enough to be effectively employed in real projects like our colouring book. The images generated by popular AI tools like Deep AI and Dall-E may lack real-world accuracy, a critical aspect for a project like the colouring book which is centred around real individuals and technologies. Additionally, the sourcing of these AI-generated images raises concerns of copyright infringement, which could have serious consequences for a published open-source work.</p>
<p>However, they encouraged me to experiment and see what I could create.</p>
<h2><strong>Let’s Give it a Try</strong></h2>
<p>First, I tried <a href="https://openai.com/dall-e-2">Dall-E</a>, OpenAI’s image generation tool, which was among the first available online. Dall-E utilizes natural language descriptions to generate images based on requests and has been widely used for image creation.</p>
<p>I requested Dall-E to create colouring book pages featuring UoE’s very own Crystal Macmillan. The results were not terrible but fell short of expectations. The software lacked the ability to capture a reference or produce a likeness of a notable individual, making it challenging to use in a book filled with prominent personalities.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1875" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp.png" alt="" width="2887" height="2119" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp.png 2887w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-300x220.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-1024x752.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-768x564.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-1536x1127.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-2048x1503.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/AI-images-comp-1440x1057.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2887px) 100vw, 2887px" /></p>
<p>Another feature of Dall-E is the ability to edit existing images. I uploaded an image of Chrystal Macmillan to Dall-E, resulting in an army of look-alikes but nothing too helpful for the project.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1849" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09.png" alt="" width="2469" height="543" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09.png 2469w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-300x66.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-1024x225.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-768x169.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-1536x338.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-2048x450.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-21-at-11.47.09-1440x317.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2469px) 100vw, 2469px" /></p>
<p>Thinking that modifying an existing image might be the best approach for this project, I turned to <a href="https://www.adobe.com/sensei/generative-ai/firefly.html">Adobe Firefly</a>, an AI tool currently in beta testing by Adobe, that has been integrated into the latest version of Photoshop. This tool has significantly democratized AI accessibility for designers and creatives who already utilize adobe products every day.</p>
<p>I asked Adobe Firefly to extend a few of my images, and the results were amazing!</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1763" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz.png" alt="Gertrude Hertz wears a lab coat and points to a scientific figure on a black board." width="207" height="278" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz.png 978w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-224x300.png 224w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-763x1024.png 763w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-768x1030.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 207px) 100vw, 207px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1860" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit.png" alt="" width="427" height="278" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit.png 2016w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit-300x195.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit-1024x666.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit-768x500.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit-1536x1000.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertz-edit-1440x937.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 427px) 100vw, 427px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1764" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell.jpeg" alt="Honor Fell sits smiling at her microscope" width="205" height="286" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell.jpeg 512w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-215x300.jpeg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 205px) 100vw, 205px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1862" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-expanded.png" alt="" width="443" height="286" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-expanded.png 1110w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-expanded-300x194.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-expanded-1024x661.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-fell-expanded-768x495.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 443px) 100vw, 443px" /></p>
<p>However, there were some issues when it came to specific details. AI lacks an understanding of space and depth, which led to some peculiar additions to Honor’s lab. Additionally, the tool tended to add creepy humanoid figures, as evidenced by those added to Gertrude and Elsie’s image.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1861" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1.png" alt="" width="298" height="194" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1.png 2016w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1-300x195.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1-1024x666.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1-768x500.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1-1536x1000.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit1-1440x937.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 298px) 100vw, 298px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1863" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-felledit2.png" alt="" width="300" height="193" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-felledit2.png 1110w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-felledit2-300x194.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-felledit2-1024x661.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/honor-felledit2-768x495.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1872" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218.jpg" alt="" width="297" height="199" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218.jpg 2560w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-300x201.jpg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-768x515.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-1536x1029.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-2048x1372.jpg 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/Elsie_Inglisedit3-scaled-e1687440057218-1440x965.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 297px) 100vw, 297px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1869" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2.png" alt="" width="304" height="198" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2.png 2016w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2-300x195.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2-1024x666.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2-768x500.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2-1536x1000.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/gertrude-hertzedit2-1440x937.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 304px) 100vw, 304px" /></p>
<p>Next, I explored “<a href="https://www.fotor.com/">Fotor</a>,” a free and accessible online platform for AI image generation and manipulation. Fotor offered a remarkable black and white colorization tool, using AI logic to colorize lack and white photos. This worked well on the picture of Charlotte Auerbach but fell short when applied to Jessie MacGregor or Noreen Murray..</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1879" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2.png" alt="" width="3129" height="1150" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2.png 3129w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-300x110.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-1024x376.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-768x282.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-1536x565.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-2048x753.png 2048w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/comp2-1440x529.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3129px) 100vw, 3129px" /></p>
<p>In summary, I find myself breathing a sigh of relief. Creatives, your jobs are safe, at least for now. AI is undoubtedly proving to be a powerful tool, but it is not without its complications.</p>
<p>However, there is a world of fun to be had when it comes to creating unusual AI altered images.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1884 alignnone" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1.png" alt="" width="333" height="227" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1-300x204.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1-1024x697.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1-768x523.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets4-1-1440x981.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1883 alignnone" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1.png" alt="" width="333" height="227" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1.png 1536w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1-300x204.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1-1024x697.png 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1-768x523.png 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-content/uploads/sites/1225/2023/06/DollyTriplets3-1-1440x981.png 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><em>Dolly and friends travel the world</em></p>
<h2><strong>So, what does this mean for the book?</strong></h2>
<p>When it comes to image generation, it may not be in the project’s best interest to rely too heavily on AI. Not only will it complicate our ability to licence the book’s images, it will produce images that simply aren’t as good as what any of you could come up with.</p>
<p>And when it comes to including AI in University work, the best practice is to of course use the helpful <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/bayes/ai-guidance-for-staff-and-students">AI guidance</a> published onto the University website, which covers use cases, citations, and best practices.</p>
<p>This is why we need participants like you more than ever to help us amplify the stories of UoE’s fantastic women in STEM and create hand-made, ethically sourced illustrations. Stay tuned for information on upcoming events and how to get involved in this project.</p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-06-22" itemprop="dateModified">Jun 22, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/pixels-pitfalls-exploring-ais-image-generation-struggles/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
"
["headers"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Response\Headers)#2503 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(12) {
["content-type"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(34) "application/rss+xml; charset=UTF-8"
}
["date"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(29) "Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:22:30 GMT"
}
["server"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(6) "Apache"
}
["x-powered-by"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(10) "PHP/8.3.31"
}
["expires"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(29) "Thu, 19 Nov 1981 08:52:00 GMT"
}
["cache-control"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(35) "no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate"
}
["pragma"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(8) "no-cache"
}
["link"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(194) "<https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-json/>; rel="https://api.w.org/", <https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/wp-json/wp/v2/tags/4>; rel="alternate"; title="JSON"; type="application/json""
}
["set-cookie"]=>
array(3) {
[0]=>
string(62) "PHPSESSID=bn3lekpn7701fef9ro5a96rshh; path=/; secure; HttpOnly"
[1]=>
string(139) "spo_1225_fa=e9a2fc2dadd47324977d1854fc4d5fc4; expires=Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:52:30 GMT; Max-Age=1800; path=/colouring-books/; Secure; HttpOnly"
[2]=>
string(125) "RCKBMHKB=027ff8be59-56fd-48B2MMx4bJWl9ToGuI3BVROEh_zXfEvqQyMQEdS4SL6Wfya3f5YxPigOOnpnDPGMmoTN0; path=/; SameSite=None; Secure"
}
["last-modified"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(29) "Thu, 02 Nov 2023 12:18:03 GMT"
}
["etag"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(34) ""221cda3f7e784c10bc5b919084bbdff3""
}
["vary"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(15) "Accept-Encoding"
}
}
}
["status_code"]=>
int(200)
["protocol_version"]=>
float(1.1)
["success"]=>
bool(true)
["redirects"]=>
int(0)
["url"]=>
string(58) "https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/colouring-books/feed/?tag=dlam-feed"
["history"]=>
array(0) {
}
["cookies"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie\Jar)#2499 (1) {
["cookies":protected]=>
array(3) {
["PHPSESSID"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie)#2507 (5) {
["name"]=>
string(9) "PHPSESSID"
["value"]=>
string(26) "bn3lekpn7701fef9ro5a96rshh"
["attributes"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2506 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(4) {
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["secure"]=>
bool(true)
["httponly"]=>
bool(true)
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
}
}
["flags"]=>
array(4) {
["creation"]=>
int(1781580150)
["last-access"]=>
int(1781580150)
["persistent"]=>
bool(false)
["host-only"]=>
bool(true)
}
["reference_time"]=>
int(1781580150)
}
["spo_1225_fa"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie)#2508 (5) {
["name"]=>
string(11) "spo_1225_fa"
["value"]=>
string(32) "e9a2fc2dadd47324977d1854fc4d5fc4"
["attributes"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2509 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(6) {
["expires"]=>
int(1781581950)
["max-age"]=>
int(1781581950)
["path"]=>
string(17) "/colouring-books/"
["secure"]=>
bool(true)
["httponly"]=>
bool(true)
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
}
}
["flags"]=>
array(4) {
["creation"]=>
int(1781580150)
["last-access"]=>
int(1781580150)
["persistent"]=>
bool(false)
["host-only"]=>
bool(true)
}
["reference_time"]=>
int(1781580150)
}
["RCKBMHKB"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie)#2510 (5) {
["name"]=>
string(8) "RCKBMHKB"
["value"]=>
string(85) "027ff8be59-56fd-48B2MMx4bJWl9ToGuI3BVROEh_zXfEvqQyMQEdS4SL6Wfya3f5YxPigOOnpnDPGMmoTN0"
["attributes"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2511 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(4) {
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["samesite"]=>
string(4) "None"
["secure"]=>
bool(true)
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
}
}
["flags"]=>
array(4) {
["creation"]=>
int(1781580150)
["last-access"]=>
int(1781580150)
["persistent"]=>
bool(false)
["host-only"]=>
bool(true)
}
["reference_time"]=>
int(1781580150)
}
}
}
}
["filename":protected]=>
NULL
}
}
Diag====| HTTP [https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/feed/] ⌉ array(6) {
["headers"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2538 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(12) {
["content-type"]=>
string(34) "application/rss+xml; charset=UTF-8"
["date"]=>
string(29) "Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:22:30 GMT"
["server"]=>
string(6) "Apache"
["x-powered-by"]=>
string(10) "PHP/8.3.31"
["expires"]=>
string(29) "Thu, 19 Nov 1981 08:52:00 GMT"
["cache-control"]=>
string(35) "no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate"
["pragma"]=>
string(8) "no-cache"
["link"]=>
string(71) "<https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-json/>; rel="https://api.w.org/""
["set-cookie"]=>
array(3) {
[0]=>
string(62) "PHPSESSID=o57dnit1971q7clp9db7q82gul; path=/; secure; HttpOnly"
[1]=>
string(134) "spo_201_fa=971e57e158fd4a5340f44852bfb286f0; expires=Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:52:30 GMT; Max-Age=1800; path=/mediahopper/; Secure; HttpOnly"
[2]=>
string(125) "RCKBMHKB=027ff8be59-56fd-482iPYLe_jygUWcaBNmae0xR5EY1Pn3p6fKJlYOm5rz7dz-cJgZu9uetzOBw5CsJncvdc; path=/; SameSite=None; Secure"
}
["last-modified"]=>
string(29) "Thu, 14 Dec 2023 17:57:08 GMT"
["etag"]=>
string(34) ""45cf9c638f115d3823aeba3d2008b07b""
["vary"]=>
string(15) "Accept-Encoding"
}
}
["body"]=>
string(26397) "<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" >
<channel>
<title>Media Hopper</title>
<atom:link href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper</link>
<description>Articles and ramblings on Media Hopper Create & Media Hopper Replay, as well as DIY Film School and Apple Podcasts</description>
<lastBuildDate>Thu, 14 Dec 2023 17:57:08 +0000</lastBuildDate>
<language>en-GB</language>
<sy:updatePeriod>
hourly </sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>
1 </sy:updateFrequency>
<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5</generator>
<cc:license >Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0</cc:license><dc:rights >Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0</dc:rights> <item>
<title>Using Chat GPT to refine narratives</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2023/12/13/using-chat-gpt-to-refine-narratives/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2023/12/13/using-chat-gpt-to-refine-narratives/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Liam Duffy]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Dec 2023 12:11:21 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/?p=120</guid>
<description><![CDATA[2023 has been the year of chatting with robots. Not in a fun-and-hijinks ‘Short Circuit’ way, but in a less...]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>2023 has been the year of chatting with robots. Not in a fun-and-hijinks ‘Short Circuit’ way, but in a less hilarity-inducing ‘lets spend 20 minutes phrasing this perfectly so I actually get something useful’ way. A lot of companies have been working on growing ‘large language models’ for use in AI for a while, but the one that really captured people’s attention in 2023 has been OpenAI’s ChatGPT.</p>
<p>There are many other flavours of AI chatty-Cathy’s out there with colourful names such as Bard, Claude, Grok, LLaMA, Bothan, and Ernie Bot (one of those I made up*), but ChatGPT has become the go-to chatbot for a lot of people, with over 100 million users registered on the service. In the past 12 months, the top 2 fastest-rising search terms on Google from the UK are ‘ChatGPT’ and ‘Chat GPT’.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-121" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-13-at-09.38.55-300x253.png" alt="" width="300" height="253" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-13-at-09.38.55-300x253.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-13-at-09.38.55.png 585w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>While there are a lot of uses for ChatGPT and similar AI services, one that has some people worried about its potential impact is its use for creative purposes. The use of AI-generated images and music has raised questions about whether human artists will get shut out of the process if it’s quicker and cheaper to ask a bot to create art, and the recent SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes that took Hollywood to a grinding halt earlier this year was at least in part because of the actors and writer’s unions wanting to ensure there were protections in updated contracts to limit AI’s impact on filmmaking.</p>
<p>While we’re likely at least a few years away from the best original screenplay Academy Award going to ChatBot_182.432.1REV3, ChatGPT can be used as a tool in a lot of ways for narrative storytelling. It certainly can write a full story for you, but it can go off in pretty wild places with some… <em>interesting </em>narrative choices.</p>
<p>With the simple prompt ‘Hey ChatGPT, write me a story’, I got a 450 word tale of a character named Luna who lived in a ‘Blade Runner’-esque neon city worked as a librarian by day, and by night used her supernatural powers to turn the books on her shelves in to magical realms. She proceeds to find a kingdom in peril, talk to a wise old owl and a mischievous sprite, solve puzzles, go through enchanted forests, and save the day using the power of imagination. That’s a lot to cram in to 450 words. <em>You can read the full story here with the password LunasMidnightOdyssey – <a href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/lunas-midnight-odyssey/">full story</a></em></p>
<p>This is one of the problems with just giving ChatGPT free reign to do what it ‘wants’ when being creative, it doesn’t really understand scale or that just throwing every plot point it can generate in to a list doesn’t really make a story.</p>
<figure id="attachment_130" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-130" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter center"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-130" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c-1024x684.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="468" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c-768x513.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c-1140x761.jpg 1140w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-130" class="wp-caption-text">Old College by Playfair, William, University of Edinburgh is available under a CC BY 3.0 Unported licence. https://images.is.ed.ac.uk/luna/servlet/s/m671gu</figcaption></figure>
<p>ChatGPT’s really power for creating narrative, at least in its current state, is in using it to refine a story, or to help work through ideas. Let’s say I’m trying create a new video for Media Hopper Create about the history of Old College, and want to write a voice over. Here’s a quick draft:</p>
<blockquote><p>Old College its part of The University of Edinburgh and was mostly built from the late 18th to early 19th century. Originally named ‘New College’, it is a Category A listed building located on South Bridge. The original design was by Robert Adam, with the modern design being completed by William Henry Playfair. The dome was added to the building in 1887, with a gilded statue of Youth by John Hutchinson.</p>
<ul>
<li>Original version</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>I wrote this in about 5 minutes with information culled from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_College,_University_of_Edinburgh">Wikipedia</a>, and while perfectly serviceable, it’s possibly a little perfunctory. I asked ChatGPT what it thought of my script, and it decided (unprompted) to re-write it for me to make it more ‘engaging’:</p>
<blockquote><p>Welcome to Old College, a majestic structure nestled within the heart of The University of Edinburgh. Originally named ‘New College,’ this architectural gem traces its roots back to the late 18th century. Designed by the renowned Robert Adam, its timeless elegance was later completed by William Henry Playfair in the 19th century.</p>
<p>Situated on South Bridge, Old College stands as a Category A listed building, a testament to its historical and architectural significance. In 1887, a crowning touch was added to the structure in the form of a magnificent dome. Adorning the pinnacle is a gilded statue of Youth, a creation by the skilled hands of John Hutchinson.</p>
<p>As you stand in awe of Old College, it’s not just a building; it’s a living testament to the evolution of academia and architecture. The melding of the past and present, with each stone whispering stories of the scholars who once walked its halls. Today, Old College continues to be a symbol of academic excellence and a revered landmark in the vibrant tapestry of The University of Edinburgh.</p>
<ul>
<li>Revision from ChatGPT</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>This new version does feel more like a narrative than just a list of facts, and the language use is definitely more descriptive, it goes a bit overboard with the use of evocative metaphors. To try and rein it in a bit, I added this prompt: “That’s a little bit over the top with descriptive language, can you scale it back a little?”. This is the new version:</p>
<blockquote><p>Old College, part of The University of Edinburgh, has a rich history dating back to the late 18th century. Originally called ‘New College,’ its design, led by Robert Adam and later completed by William Henry Playfair, stands as a testament to architectural craftsmanship.</p>
<p>Situated on South Bridge, this Category A listed building gained its distinctive dome in 1887, crowned with a gilded statue of Youth by John Hutchinson. Today, Old College preserves the charm of its past, serving as a key landmark in the University’s legacy.</p>
<p>Explore the echoes of academia within Old College’s walls, where each brick tells a story of the scholars who once roamed its corridors. This historic structure, with its timeless design, remains an enduring symbol of The University of Edinburgh’s journey through time.</p>
<ul>
<li>Revision 2 by ChatGPT</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>This time it removed some of the descriptive language of the building itself, but it replaced a metaphor of it being ‘a revered landmark in the vibrant tapestry’ of the university with one about ‘each brick telling a story’. Let’s try refining it one more time – here’s the latest version with my prompt “How about you remove some of the metaphors, but give more descriptive language?”:</p>
<blockquote><p>Old College, integral to The University of Edinburgh, has a fascinating history rooted in the late 18th century. Originally christened ‘New College,’ it boasts an architectural legacy shaped by Robert Adam and later refined by William Henry Playfair.</p>
<p>Nestled on South Bridge, this distinguished Category A listed building acquired its iconic dome in 1887, adorned with a gilded statue of Youth crafted by John Hutchinson. Old College serves as both witness and custodian to the University’s journey through time.</p>
<p>Step into its storied corridors and be transported to an era when scholars traversed its halls. Each brick and beam narrates tales of academic pursuits and intellectual growth. Old College stands today, not just as a historic landmark, but as a living tribute to The University of Edinburgh’s enduring academic tradition.</p></blockquote>
<p>At this point it feels like ChatGPT is stuck just reiterating on a specific style of writing. This is one of the issues I hit when looking to use a chatbot for anything creative – the model it’s using to generate text has a specific style and there isn’t an easy way to break out of that. While ChatGPT is great for helping point you in the right direction, most of the time things will still need to be edited and refined manually to fit the exact purpose you need it for.</p>
<p>How about we experiment with this further, and see how well it handles a change in tone. I added the a new prompt to change the genre, but not the content: “What if this was the Voice Over for a horror film?”</p>
<blockquote><p>“Deep within the shadows of The University of Edinburgh lies Old College, a structure steeped in a history that echoes with whispers of the supernatural. Once named ‘New College,’ its unsettling evolution began in the late 18th century under the design of Robert Adam, later twisted by the hands of William Henry Playfair.</p>
<p>Perched ominously on South Bridge, this foreboding Category A listed building acquired an eerie dome in 1887, crowned by a gilded statue of Youth, a macabre creation by the twisted artist John Hutchinson. Old College, now a haunting relic, conceals not only the secrets of academia but a darker, malevolent force.</p>
<p>As you traverse its desolate corridors, the air thickens with the chilling tales of scholars who met untimely fates within its haunted walls. Every brick, every step resonates with an otherworldly presence. Old College stands not as a symbol of knowledge, but as a portal to the supernatural, where the past lingers, and the spirits of the damned find no rest.”</p>
<ul>
<li>ChatGPT’s voice over for a horror film</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>Ok, a lot to unpack… not only is this now borderline defamatory calling famed sculptor John Hutchinson a ‘twisted artist’ who created ‘macabre creations’, claims that Old College is where ‘the spirits of the damned find no rest’ and is literally a ‘portal to the supernatural’, but it is <em>still</em> using that metaphor of ‘every brick tells a story’.</p>
<p>While overly flowery language can be a bit of a handful to prune back, this last revision shows where the creative ‘choices’ ChatGPT uses can start to turn truth in to pure fabrication. The original core of the facts from my initial script are still there (the dates, the people involved, the legacy), it uses those to create completely a fictitious narrative.</p>
<p>The creative uses for ChatGPT are vast, but as an AI it has no concept of how it <strong>should</strong> use the information in your prompts, only what it <strong>can</strong> do. Chat bots can be a useful tool, but just remember to keep it on a short leash.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>*’Bothan’ is actually a lesser-known species from Star Wars: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Star_Wars_species_(A–E)#Bothan">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Star_Wars_species_(A–E)#Bothan</a></p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-12-13" itemprop="dateModified">Dec 13, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2023/12/13/using-chat-gpt-to-refine-narratives/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>What is 360º Video? – The Early Days…</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2019/02/18/what-is-360o-video-the-early-days/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2019/02/18/what-is-360o-video-the-early-days/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Liam Duffy]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Feb 2019 16:24:53 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[DIY Film School]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[360º]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/?p=56</guid>
<description><![CDATA[This is part of a series of posts exploring 360º videos, going from its roots in expositions and theme parks,...]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><i>This is part of a series of posts exploring 360º videos, going from its roots in expositions and theme parks, to how it can be recorded using your mobile phone and used in education.</i></p>
<h2>Cinéorama</h2>
<p>The Exposition Universelle, or better known as the 1900 Paris Exposition in English, was part of France’s drive to enter the 20th century with a reignited sense of cultural and national pride after devastation of the Great War. For nearly a decade before the exhibition grounds were due to open, countries around the world were invited to bring their greatest achievements and display their cultures on an international stage, part of the event’s bigger themes of unifying people.</p>
<p><figure style="width: 4195px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/La_porte_monumentale%2C_Exposition_Universelle_1900.jpg" alt="" width="4195" height="2678" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Brown University Library [Public domain]</figcaption></figure>Some of the highlights of the Exposition included a giant refracting telescope (60 meters long with a diameter of 1.5 meters), a display of photographs showing African American’s contributions to American society organised by sociologists and activists Booker Washington and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W.E.B._Du_Bois">W.E.B. Du Bois</a> , and in a fit of what I can only imagine was either reckless abandonment or an over-eagerness to please the visiting crowds, a Russian sparkling wine won the “Grand Prix de Champagne” beating several French vintners. The first Olympic Games outside of Greece took place during the Exposition, with the winners receiving 100 francs, a tie pin, and a commemorative pencil.</p>
<p>One of the biggest draws of the Exposition was the introduction of two of the great innovations in the world of cinema: the first wide-scale demonstration of recorded sound synced with moving image, and 360º panoramic projections. Obviously the latter of the two had the greater impact in the history of entertainment. I mean, come on, how many people actually watch films with audio?</p>
<p>Oh, what’s that? Most people do? Pretty much every piece of commercial film created in the last 80 years has had synchronised sound? Nobody uses 360º panoramic video projections beyond some very limited applications? Hmm.</p>
<p>The French Cinéorama was designed and constructed specifically for the Exposition by <a href="Raoul Grimoin-Sanson">Raoul Grimoin-Sanson</a>, with the intention being to replicate a ride on a hot air balloon over Paris using ten synchronised projectors housed under the ‘basket’ of the stationary balloon model.</p>
<p><figure style="width: 1199px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Cineorama.jpg" alt="" width="1199" height="850" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Louis Poyet [Public domain]</figcaption></figure>Built on the technology that English inventor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Paul">Robert Paul</a> had been working on in the late 1890’s to project moving image on a screen (which was in turn based on designs stolen from Thomas Edison’s single-viewer Kinetoscope machine), the Cinéorama would project moving images onto 10 screens, each 9×9 meters, arranged in a circle around the viewer. The film was shot using 10 cameras pointing outwards from a central point which housed the cranking mechanism that wound all of the cameras at the same time – early cinema cameras were usually hand-cranked, so this made sure that the image was captured at the same speed on each camera. This rig was then attached to a real hot air balloon as it flew 400 meters about the Tuileries Gardens, filming the ascent.</p>
<p><figure style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Cineorama_camera.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="1019" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Louis Poyet [Public domain]</figcaption></figure>People would board a giant hot air balloon model in the middle of the screens, the basket of which was big enough to hold 200 people, complete with rigging and the bottom half of a balloon suspended from the ceiling. Once ‘boarded’ the spectators would look out at the screens as the projectors showed the balloon take off. Once the experience had finished, they used some cinema magic to show the balloon landing again (they played the film backwards).</p>
<p>The Cinéorama lasted a glorious whole 3 days before the police shut it down due to safety concerns – one of the workmen had fainted from the immense heat of the arc lamps used in the projectors, and as these were housed directly beneath the viewing platform, it was considered an extreme fire hazard to the spectators. After the show was shut down in the middle of day 4, it has never been shown again.</p>
<p>Things didn’t faire much better for the Exposition Universelle – due the unexpectedly high running costs of the Exposition as a whole, it ended costing the organisers about 600 francs (around £2,000 in 2018) <i>more</i> per person than the cost of admission. This was the end of this streak of Parisian international fairs.</p>
<h2>Circle-Vision 360º</h2>
<p>The rebirth of commercial 360º panoramic films came with the opening of 1955’s ‘CIRCARAMA’ cinema in Disneyland, California, showing the short film A Tour of the West, soon followed by America The Beautiful.</p>
<iframe loading="lazy" src="about:blank" data-bs-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rmv_P_wcZG4?start=801" width="660" height="544" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>The system used in Disneyland, named ‘Circle-Vision 360°’, improved on Grimoin-Sanson’s Cinéorama system in a number of ways, with the biggest difference being that instead of having the film projectors mounted under the audience’s feet (and causing a lot of fire-risks at the same time) an odd number of screens and projectors are used – this means that each projector is placed between the screens on the opposite wall of the purpose-built circular auditorium:</p>
<figure style="width: 2320px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/3e/df/f2/ef5b770a26468d/US2942516-drawings-page-2.png" alt="" width="2320" height="3408" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Walter E Disney, Iwerks Ub (1956). US Patent No. US2942516A. Retrieved from https://patents.google.com/patent/US2942516</figcaption></figure>
<p>This clever bit of mathematics allows the bulky projector systems to be hidden behind the ring of screens, providing more a more immersive experience to the audience.</p>
<p>The camera system used to record the footage, however, is remarkably similar Cinéorama’s – nine cameras are arranged around a central point facing outwards, with an internal mechanism keeping the cameras in sync.</p>
<p><figure style="width: 2364px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Circle-Vision_360_camera_%2829638534777%29_%28cropped%29.jpg" alt="" width="2364" height="1965" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">elisfkc from Orlando, FL, United States [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons</figcaption></figure>The camera rig can be attached to the roof of a car or the underside of a helicopter. Given there was an intentional gap between each screen for the projectors to fit, later films used these to split-up the action between sections of the room. For example, they could show a full 360º film to start with, then fade the screens on one half of the room to show standard film footage on each screen, while maintaining the panorama on the other. This allowed for greater creative freedom, and removed the reliance of using the expensive Circle-Vision 360º cameras to capture all the footage.</p>
<p>Over the years, 5 different Disney theme parks have used Circle-Vision 360º for their attractions, and while the original has now closed at Disneyland in California, and it’s international variants at Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris closing in the early 21st century, there are 2 theatres still operating at Epcot – ‘Reflections of China’ and ‘Oh Canada!’ At each of their respective country’s pavilions in the World Showcase.</p>
<iframe loading="lazy" src="about:blank" data-bs-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SdUKRTeyKfU" width="660" height="544" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <em>Interestingly, you can actually watch this version in 360º using Google Cardboard or by clicking and dragging your mouse around the frame</em></pre>
<p> </p>
<p>Both of these act as quasi-tourism videos showing off the landscapes and cultural landmarks of each country …and the Canadian one also serves as a showcase for Martin Short’s comedic talents, so there’s that.</p>
<p>This idea of pure spectacle makes sense as a use for this pretty unique form of film-making, but it does highlight two of the biggest drawbacks of 360º cinema in an auditorium setting:</p>
<p>The first being the cost involved would make it prohibitive to film more than a few minutes worth of footage, both in terms of capturing using 9 high-quality cameras and running the multiple necessary projectors all day.</p>
<p>The second, and possibly most difficult to overcome: trying to craft a story where the viewer needs to constantly be turning their heads. Both of the 360º cinema formats mentioned here rely on the viewer being free to stand and turn all the way around to find and follow points of interest. Indicating where a person should be looking at all times is tricky when it might be behind them. Constantly having your characters announce themselves and give time for people to move around and look in their direction could kill the tension in your drama.</p>
<p><em>Thank you for coming along on our first journey in to 360º video. In our next article we’ll be diving in to the world of modern film and content creation for 360º and VR, and how this can be used in education.</em></p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2019-02-18" itemprop="dateModified">Feb 18, 2019</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2019/02/18/what-is-360o-video-the-early-days/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
"
["response"]=>
array(2) {
["code"]=>
int(200)
["message"]=>
string(2) "OK"
}
["cookies"]=>
array(3) {
[0]=>
object(WP_Http_Cookie)#2550 (7) {
["name"]=>
string(9) "PHPSESSID"
["value"]=>
string(26) "o57dnit1971q7clp9db7q82gul"
["expires"]=>
NULL
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
["port"]=>
NULL
["host_only"]=>
bool(true)
}
[1]=>
object(WP_Http_Cookie)#2549 (7) {
["name"]=>
string(10) "spo_201_fa"
["value"]=>
string(32) "971e57e158fd4a5340f44852bfb286f0"
["expires"]=>
int(1781581950)
["path"]=>
string(13) "/mediahopper/"
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
["port"]=>
NULL
["host_only"]=>
bool(true)
}
[2]=>
object(WP_Http_Cookie)#2551 (7) {
["name"]=>
string(8) "RCKBMHKB"
["value"]=>
string(85) "027ff8be59-56fd-482iPYLe_jygUWcaBNmae0xR5EY1Pn3p6fKJlYOm5rz7dz-cJgZu9uetzOBw5CsJncvdc"
["expires"]=>
NULL
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
["port"]=>
NULL
["host_only"]=>
bool(true)
}
}
["filename"]=>
NULL
["http_response"]=>
object(WP_HTTP_Requests_Response)#2537 (5) {
["data"]=>
NULL
["headers"]=>
NULL
["status"]=>
NULL
["response":protected]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Response)#2539 (10) {
["body"]=>
string(26397) "<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" >
<channel>
<title>Media Hopper</title>
<atom:link href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper</link>
<description>Articles and ramblings on Media Hopper Create & Media Hopper Replay, as well as DIY Film School and Apple Podcasts</description>
<lastBuildDate>Thu, 14 Dec 2023 17:57:08 +0000</lastBuildDate>
<language>en-GB</language>
<sy:updatePeriod>
hourly </sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>
1 </sy:updateFrequency>
<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5</generator>
<cc:license >Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0</cc:license><dc:rights >Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0</dc:rights> <item>
<title>Using Chat GPT to refine narratives</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2023/12/13/using-chat-gpt-to-refine-narratives/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2023/12/13/using-chat-gpt-to-refine-narratives/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Liam Duffy]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Dec 2023 12:11:21 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/?p=120</guid>
<description><![CDATA[2023 has been the year of chatting with robots. Not in a fun-and-hijinks ‘Short Circuit’ way, but in a less...]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>2023 has been the year of chatting with robots. Not in a fun-and-hijinks ‘Short Circuit’ way, but in a less hilarity-inducing ‘lets spend 20 minutes phrasing this perfectly so I actually get something useful’ way. A lot of companies have been working on growing ‘large language models’ for use in AI for a while, but the one that really captured people’s attention in 2023 has been OpenAI’s ChatGPT.</p>
<p>There are many other flavours of AI chatty-Cathy’s out there with colourful names such as Bard, Claude, Grok, LLaMA, Bothan, and Ernie Bot (one of those I made up*), but ChatGPT has become the go-to chatbot for a lot of people, with over 100 million users registered on the service. In the past 12 months, the top 2 fastest-rising search terms on Google from the UK are ‘ChatGPT’ and ‘Chat GPT’.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-121" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-13-at-09.38.55-300x253.png" alt="" width="300" height="253" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-13-at-09.38.55-300x253.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-13-at-09.38.55.png 585w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>While there are a lot of uses for ChatGPT and similar AI services, one that has some people worried about its potential impact is its use for creative purposes. The use of AI-generated images and music has raised questions about whether human artists will get shut out of the process if it’s quicker and cheaper to ask a bot to create art, and the recent SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes that took Hollywood to a grinding halt earlier this year was at least in part because of the actors and writer’s unions wanting to ensure there were protections in updated contracts to limit AI’s impact on filmmaking.</p>
<p>While we’re likely at least a few years away from the best original screenplay Academy Award going to ChatBot_182.432.1REV3, ChatGPT can be used as a tool in a lot of ways for narrative storytelling. It certainly can write a full story for you, but it can go off in pretty wild places with some… <em>interesting </em>narrative choices.</p>
<p>With the simple prompt ‘Hey ChatGPT, write me a story’, I got a 450 word tale of a character named Luna who lived in a ‘Blade Runner’-esque neon city worked as a librarian by day, and by night used her supernatural powers to turn the books on her shelves in to magical realms. She proceeds to find a kingdom in peril, talk to a wise old owl and a mischievous sprite, solve puzzles, go through enchanted forests, and save the day using the power of imagination. That’s a lot to cram in to 450 words. <em>You can read the full story here with the password LunasMidnightOdyssey – <a href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/lunas-midnight-odyssey/">full story</a></em></p>
<p>This is one of the problems with just giving ChatGPT free reign to do what it ‘wants’ when being creative, it doesn’t really understand scale or that just throwing every plot point it can generate in to a list doesn’t really make a story.</p>
<figure id="attachment_130" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-130" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter center"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-130" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c-1024x684.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="468" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c-768x513.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c-1140x761.jpg 1140w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-130" class="wp-caption-text">Old College by Playfair, William, University of Edinburgh is available under a CC BY 3.0 Unported licence. https://images.is.ed.ac.uk/luna/servlet/s/m671gu</figcaption></figure>
<p>ChatGPT’s really power for creating narrative, at least in its current state, is in using it to refine a story, or to help work through ideas. Let’s say I’m trying create a new video for Media Hopper Create about the history of Old College, and want to write a voice over. Here’s a quick draft:</p>
<blockquote><p>Old College its part of The University of Edinburgh and was mostly built from the late 18th to early 19th century. Originally named ‘New College’, it is a Category A listed building located on South Bridge. The original design was by Robert Adam, with the modern design being completed by William Henry Playfair. The dome was added to the building in 1887, with a gilded statue of Youth by John Hutchinson.</p>
<ul>
<li>Original version</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>I wrote this in about 5 minutes with information culled from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_College,_University_of_Edinburgh">Wikipedia</a>, and while perfectly serviceable, it’s possibly a little perfunctory. I asked ChatGPT what it thought of my script, and it decided (unprompted) to re-write it for me to make it more ‘engaging’:</p>
<blockquote><p>Welcome to Old College, a majestic structure nestled within the heart of The University of Edinburgh. Originally named ‘New College,’ this architectural gem traces its roots back to the late 18th century. Designed by the renowned Robert Adam, its timeless elegance was later completed by William Henry Playfair in the 19th century.</p>
<p>Situated on South Bridge, Old College stands as a Category A listed building, a testament to its historical and architectural significance. In 1887, a crowning touch was added to the structure in the form of a magnificent dome. Adorning the pinnacle is a gilded statue of Youth, a creation by the skilled hands of John Hutchinson.</p>
<p>As you stand in awe of Old College, it’s not just a building; it’s a living testament to the evolution of academia and architecture. The melding of the past and present, with each stone whispering stories of the scholars who once walked its halls. Today, Old College continues to be a symbol of academic excellence and a revered landmark in the vibrant tapestry of The University of Edinburgh.</p>
<ul>
<li>Revision from ChatGPT</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>This new version does feel more like a narrative than just a list of facts, and the language use is definitely more descriptive, it goes a bit overboard with the use of evocative metaphors. To try and rein it in a bit, I added this prompt: “That’s a little bit over the top with descriptive language, can you scale it back a little?”. This is the new version:</p>
<blockquote><p>Old College, part of The University of Edinburgh, has a rich history dating back to the late 18th century. Originally called ‘New College,’ its design, led by Robert Adam and later completed by William Henry Playfair, stands as a testament to architectural craftsmanship.</p>
<p>Situated on South Bridge, this Category A listed building gained its distinctive dome in 1887, crowned with a gilded statue of Youth by John Hutchinson. Today, Old College preserves the charm of its past, serving as a key landmark in the University’s legacy.</p>
<p>Explore the echoes of academia within Old College’s walls, where each brick tells a story of the scholars who once roamed its corridors. This historic structure, with its timeless design, remains an enduring symbol of The University of Edinburgh’s journey through time.</p>
<ul>
<li>Revision 2 by ChatGPT</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>This time it removed some of the descriptive language of the building itself, but it replaced a metaphor of it being ‘a revered landmark in the vibrant tapestry’ of the university with one about ‘each brick telling a story’. Let’s try refining it one more time – here’s the latest version with my prompt “How about you remove some of the metaphors, but give more descriptive language?”:</p>
<blockquote><p>Old College, integral to The University of Edinburgh, has a fascinating history rooted in the late 18th century. Originally christened ‘New College,’ it boasts an architectural legacy shaped by Robert Adam and later refined by William Henry Playfair.</p>
<p>Nestled on South Bridge, this distinguished Category A listed building acquired its iconic dome in 1887, adorned with a gilded statue of Youth crafted by John Hutchinson. Old College serves as both witness and custodian to the University’s journey through time.</p>
<p>Step into its storied corridors and be transported to an era when scholars traversed its halls. Each brick and beam narrates tales of academic pursuits and intellectual growth. Old College stands today, not just as a historic landmark, but as a living tribute to The University of Edinburgh’s enduring academic tradition.</p></blockquote>
<p>At this point it feels like ChatGPT is stuck just reiterating on a specific style of writing. This is one of the issues I hit when looking to use a chatbot for anything creative – the model it’s using to generate text has a specific style and there isn’t an easy way to break out of that. While ChatGPT is great for helping point you in the right direction, most of the time things will still need to be edited and refined manually to fit the exact purpose you need it for.</p>
<p>How about we experiment with this further, and see how well it handles a change in tone. I added the a new prompt to change the genre, but not the content: “What if this was the Voice Over for a horror film?”</p>
<blockquote><p>“Deep within the shadows of The University of Edinburgh lies Old College, a structure steeped in a history that echoes with whispers of the supernatural. Once named ‘New College,’ its unsettling evolution began in the late 18th century under the design of Robert Adam, later twisted by the hands of William Henry Playfair.</p>
<p>Perched ominously on South Bridge, this foreboding Category A listed building acquired an eerie dome in 1887, crowned by a gilded statue of Youth, a macabre creation by the twisted artist John Hutchinson. Old College, now a haunting relic, conceals not only the secrets of academia but a darker, malevolent force.</p>
<p>As you traverse its desolate corridors, the air thickens with the chilling tales of scholars who met untimely fates within its haunted walls. Every brick, every step resonates with an otherworldly presence. Old College stands not as a symbol of knowledge, but as a portal to the supernatural, where the past lingers, and the spirits of the damned find no rest.”</p>
<ul>
<li>ChatGPT’s voice over for a horror film</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>Ok, a lot to unpack… not only is this now borderline defamatory calling famed sculptor John Hutchinson a ‘twisted artist’ who created ‘macabre creations’, claims that Old College is where ‘the spirits of the damned find no rest’ and is literally a ‘portal to the supernatural’, but it is <em>still</em> using that metaphor of ‘every brick tells a story’.</p>
<p>While overly flowery language can be a bit of a handful to prune back, this last revision shows where the creative ‘choices’ ChatGPT uses can start to turn truth in to pure fabrication. The original core of the facts from my initial script are still there (the dates, the people involved, the legacy), it uses those to create completely a fictitious narrative.</p>
<p>The creative uses for ChatGPT are vast, but as an AI it has no concept of how it <strong>should</strong> use the information in your prompts, only what it <strong>can</strong> do. Chat bots can be a useful tool, but just remember to keep it on a short leash.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>*’Bothan’ is actually a lesser-known species from Star Wars: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Star_Wars_species_(A–E)#Bothan">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Star_Wars_species_(A–E)#Bothan</a></p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-12-13" itemprop="dateModified">Dec 13, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2023/12/13/using-chat-gpt-to-refine-narratives/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>What is 360º Video? – The Early Days…</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2019/02/18/what-is-360o-video-the-early-days/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2019/02/18/what-is-360o-video-the-early-days/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Liam Duffy]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Feb 2019 16:24:53 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[DIY Film School]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[360º]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/?p=56</guid>
<description><![CDATA[This is part of a series of posts exploring 360º videos, going from its roots in expositions and theme parks,...]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><i>This is part of a series of posts exploring 360º videos, going from its roots in expositions and theme parks, to how it can be recorded using your mobile phone and used in education.</i></p>
<h2>Cinéorama</h2>
<p>The Exposition Universelle, or better known as the 1900 Paris Exposition in English, was part of France’s drive to enter the 20th century with a reignited sense of cultural and national pride after devastation of the Great War. For nearly a decade before the exhibition grounds were due to open, countries around the world were invited to bring their greatest achievements and display their cultures on an international stage, part of the event’s bigger themes of unifying people.</p>
<p><figure style="width: 4195px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/La_porte_monumentale%2C_Exposition_Universelle_1900.jpg" alt="" width="4195" height="2678" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Brown University Library [Public domain]</figcaption></figure>Some of the highlights of the Exposition included a giant refracting telescope (60 meters long with a diameter of 1.5 meters), a display of photographs showing African American’s contributions to American society organised by sociologists and activists Booker Washington and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W.E.B._Du_Bois">W.E.B. Du Bois</a> , and in a fit of what I can only imagine was either reckless abandonment or an over-eagerness to please the visiting crowds, a Russian sparkling wine won the “Grand Prix de Champagne” beating several French vintners. The first Olympic Games outside of Greece took place during the Exposition, with the winners receiving 100 francs, a tie pin, and a commemorative pencil.</p>
<p>One of the biggest draws of the Exposition was the introduction of two of the great innovations in the world of cinema: the first wide-scale demonstration of recorded sound synced with moving image, and 360º panoramic projections. Obviously the latter of the two had the greater impact in the history of entertainment. I mean, come on, how many people actually watch films with audio?</p>
<p>Oh, what’s that? Most people do? Pretty much every piece of commercial film created in the last 80 years has had synchronised sound? Nobody uses 360º panoramic video projections beyond some very limited applications? Hmm.</p>
<p>The French Cinéorama was designed and constructed specifically for the Exposition by <a href="Raoul Grimoin-Sanson">Raoul Grimoin-Sanson</a>, with the intention being to replicate a ride on a hot air balloon over Paris using ten synchronised projectors housed under the ‘basket’ of the stationary balloon model.</p>
<p><figure style="width: 1199px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Cineorama.jpg" alt="" width="1199" height="850" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Louis Poyet [Public domain]</figcaption></figure>Built on the technology that English inventor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Paul">Robert Paul</a> had been working on in the late 1890’s to project moving image on a screen (which was in turn based on designs stolen from Thomas Edison’s single-viewer Kinetoscope machine), the Cinéorama would project moving images onto 10 screens, each 9×9 meters, arranged in a circle around the viewer. The film was shot using 10 cameras pointing outwards from a central point which housed the cranking mechanism that wound all of the cameras at the same time – early cinema cameras were usually hand-cranked, so this made sure that the image was captured at the same speed on each camera. This rig was then attached to a real hot air balloon as it flew 400 meters about the Tuileries Gardens, filming the ascent.</p>
<p><figure style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Cineorama_camera.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="1019" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Louis Poyet [Public domain]</figcaption></figure>People would board a giant hot air balloon model in the middle of the screens, the basket of which was big enough to hold 200 people, complete with rigging and the bottom half of a balloon suspended from the ceiling. Once ‘boarded’ the spectators would look out at the screens as the projectors showed the balloon take off. Once the experience had finished, they used some cinema magic to show the balloon landing again (they played the film backwards).</p>
<p>The Cinéorama lasted a glorious whole 3 days before the police shut it down due to safety concerns – one of the workmen had fainted from the immense heat of the arc lamps used in the projectors, and as these were housed directly beneath the viewing platform, it was considered an extreme fire hazard to the spectators. After the show was shut down in the middle of day 4, it has never been shown again.</p>
<p>Things didn’t faire much better for the Exposition Universelle – due the unexpectedly high running costs of the Exposition as a whole, it ended costing the organisers about 600 francs (around £2,000 in 2018) <i>more</i> per person than the cost of admission. This was the end of this streak of Parisian international fairs.</p>
<h2>Circle-Vision 360º</h2>
<p>The rebirth of commercial 360º panoramic films came with the opening of 1955’s ‘CIRCARAMA’ cinema in Disneyland, California, showing the short film A Tour of the West, soon followed by America The Beautiful.</p>
<iframe loading="lazy" src="about:blank" data-bs-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rmv_P_wcZG4?start=801" width="660" height="544" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>The system used in Disneyland, named ‘Circle-Vision 360°’, improved on Grimoin-Sanson’s Cinéorama system in a number of ways, with the biggest difference being that instead of having the film projectors mounted under the audience’s feet (and causing a lot of fire-risks at the same time) an odd number of screens and projectors are used – this means that each projector is placed between the screens on the opposite wall of the purpose-built circular auditorium:</p>
<figure style="width: 2320px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/3e/df/f2/ef5b770a26468d/US2942516-drawings-page-2.png" alt="" width="2320" height="3408" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Walter E Disney, Iwerks Ub (1956). US Patent No. US2942516A. Retrieved from https://patents.google.com/patent/US2942516</figcaption></figure>
<p>This clever bit of mathematics allows the bulky projector systems to be hidden behind the ring of screens, providing more a more immersive experience to the audience.</p>
<p>The camera system used to record the footage, however, is remarkably similar Cinéorama’s – nine cameras are arranged around a central point facing outwards, with an internal mechanism keeping the cameras in sync.</p>
<p><figure style="width: 2364px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Circle-Vision_360_camera_%2829638534777%29_%28cropped%29.jpg" alt="" width="2364" height="1965" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">elisfkc from Orlando, FL, United States [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons</figcaption></figure>The camera rig can be attached to the roof of a car or the underside of a helicopter. Given there was an intentional gap between each screen for the projectors to fit, later films used these to split-up the action between sections of the room. For example, they could show a full 360º film to start with, then fade the screens on one half of the room to show standard film footage on each screen, while maintaining the panorama on the other. This allowed for greater creative freedom, and removed the reliance of using the expensive Circle-Vision 360º cameras to capture all the footage.</p>
<p>Over the years, 5 different Disney theme parks have used Circle-Vision 360º for their attractions, and while the original has now closed at Disneyland in California, and it’s international variants at Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris closing in the early 21st century, there are 2 theatres still operating at Epcot – ‘Reflections of China’ and ‘Oh Canada!’ At each of their respective country’s pavilions in the World Showcase.</p>
<iframe loading="lazy" src="about:blank" data-bs-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SdUKRTeyKfU" width="660" height="544" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <em>Interestingly, you can actually watch this version in 360º using Google Cardboard or by clicking and dragging your mouse around the frame</em></pre>
<p> </p>
<p>Both of these act as quasi-tourism videos showing off the landscapes and cultural landmarks of each country …and the Canadian one also serves as a showcase for Martin Short’s comedic talents, so there’s that.</p>
<p>This idea of pure spectacle makes sense as a use for this pretty unique form of film-making, but it does highlight two of the biggest drawbacks of 360º cinema in an auditorium setting:</p>
<p>The first being the cost involved would make it prohibitive to film more than a few minutes worth of footage, both in terms of capturing using 9 high-quality cameras and running the multiple necessary projectors all day.</p>
<p>The second, and possibly most difficult to overcome: trying to craft a story where the viewer needs to constantly be turning their heads. Both of the 360º cinema formats mentioned here rely on the viewer being free to stand and turn all the way around to find and follow points of interest. Indicating where a person should be looking at all times is tricky when it might be behind them. Constantly having your characters announce themselves and give time for people to move around and look in their direction could kill the tension in your drama.</p>
<p><em>Thank you for coming along on our first journey in to 360º video. In our next article we’ll be diving in to the world of modern film and content creation for 360º and VR, and how this can be used in education.</em></p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2019-02-18" itemprop="dateModified">Feb 18, 2019</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2019/02/18/what-is-360o-video-the-early-days/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
"
["raw"]=>
string(27255) "HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Type: application/rss+xml; charset=UTF-8
Transfer-Encoding: chunked
Connection: close
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:22:30 GMT
Server: Apache
X-Powered-By: PHP/8.3.31
Expires: Thu, 19 Nov 1981 08:52:00 GMT
Cache-Control: no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate
Pragma: no-cache
Link: <https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-json/>; rel="https://api.w.org/"
Set-Cookie: PHPSESSID=o57dnit1971q7clp9db7q82gul; path=/; secure; HttpOnly
Set-Cookie: spo_201_fa=971e57e158fd4a5340f44852bfb286f0; expires=Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:52:30 GMT; Max-Age=1800; path=/mediahopper/; Secure; HttpOnly
Last-Modified: Thu, 14 Dec 2023 17:57:08 GMT
ETag: "45cf9c638f115d3823aeba3d2008b07b"
Vary: Accept-Encoding
Set-Cookie: RCKBMHKB=027ff8be59-56fd-482iPYLe_jygUWcaBNmae0xR5EY1Pn3p6fKJlYOm5rz7dz-cJgZu9uetzOBw5CsJncvdc; path=/; SameSite=None; Secure
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" >
<channel>
<title>Media Hopper</title>
<atom:link href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper</link>
<description>Articles and ramblings on Media Hopper Create & Media Hopper Replay, as well as DIY Film School and Apple Podcasts</description>
<lastBuildDate>Thu, 14 Dec 2023 17:57:08 +0000</lastBuildDate>
<language>en-GB</language>
<sy:updatePeriod>
hourly </sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>
1 </sy:updateFrequency>
<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5</generator>
<cc:license >Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0</cc:license><dc:rights >Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0</dc:rights> <item>
<title>Using Chat GPT to refine narratives</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2023/12/13/using-chat-gpt-to-refine-narratives/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2023/12/13/using-chat-gpt-to-refine-narratives/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Liam Duffy]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Dec 2023 12:11:21 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/?p=120</guid>
<description><![CDATA[2023 has been the year of chatting with robots. Not in a fun-and-hijinks ‘Short Circuit’ way, but in a less...]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>2023 has been the year of chatting with robots. Not in a fun-and-hijinks ‘Short Circuit’ way, but in a less hilarity-inducing ‘lets spend 20 minutes phrasing this perfectly so I actually get something useful’ way. A lot of companies have been working on growing ‘large language models’ for use in AI for a while, but the one that really captured people’s attention in 2023 has been OpenAI’s ChatGPT.</p>
<p>There are many other flavours of AI chatty-Cathy’s out there with colourful names such as Bard, Claude, Grok, LLaMA, Bothan, and Ernie Bot (one of those I made up*), but ChatGPT has become the go-to chatbot for a lot of people, with over 100 million users registered on the service. In the past 12 months, the top 2 fastest-rising search terms on Google from the UK are ‘ChatGPT’ and ‘Chat GPT’.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-121" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-13-at-09.38.55-300x253.png" alt="" width="300" height="253" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-13-at-09.38.55-300x253.png 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-13-at-09.38.55.png 585w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>While there are a lot of uses for ChatGPT and similar AI services, one that has some people worried about its potential impact is its use for creative purposes. The use of AI-generated images and music has raised questions about whether human artists will get shut out of the process if it’s quicker and cheaper to ask a bot to create art, and the recent SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes that took Hollywood to a grinding halt earlier this year was at least in part because of the actors and writer’s unions wanting to ensure there were protections in updated contracts to limit AI’s impact on filmmaking.</p>
<p>While we’re likely at least a few years away from the best original screenplay Academy Award going to ChatBot_182.432.1REV3, ChatGPT can be used as a tool in a lot of ways for narrative storytelling. It certainly can write a full story for you, but it can go off in pretty wild places with some… <em>interesting </em>narrative choices.</p>
<p>With the simple prompt ‘Hey ChatGPT, write me a story’, I got a 450 word tale of a character named Luna who lived in a ‘Blade Runner’-esque neon city worked as a librarian by day, and by night used her supernatural powers to turn the books on her shelves in to magical realms. She proceeds to find a kingdom in peril, talk to a wise old owl and a mischievous sprite, solve puzzles, go through enchanted forests, and save the day using the power of imagination. That’s a lot to cram in to 450 words. <em>You can read the full story here with the password LunasMidnightOdyssey – <a href="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/lunas-midnight-odyssey/">full story</a></em></p>
<p>This is one of the problems with just giving ChatGPT free reign to do what it ‘wants’ when being creative, it doesn’t really understand scale or that just throwing every plot point it can generate in to a list doesn’t really make a story.</p>
<figure id="attachment_130" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-130" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter center"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-130" src="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c-1024x684.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="468" srcset="https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c-768x513.jpg 768w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c-1140x761.jpg 1140w, https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-content/uploads/sites/201/2023/12/0078862c.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-130" class="wp-caption-text">Old College by Playfair, William, University of Edinburgh is available under a CC BY 3.0 Unported licence. https://images.is.ed.ac.uk/luna/servlet/s/m671gu</figcaption></figure>
<p>ChatGPT’s really power for creating narrative, at least in its current state, is in using it to refine a story, or to help work through ideas. Let’s say I’m trying create a new video for Media Hopper Create about the history of Old College, and want to write a voice over. Here’s a quick draft:</p>
<blockquote><p>Old College its part of The University of Edinburgh and was mostly built from the late 18th to early 19th century. Originally named ‘New College’, it is a Category A listed building located on South Bridge. The original design was by Robert Adam, with the modern design being completed by William Henry Playfair. The dome was added to the building in 1887, with a gilded statue of Youth by John Hutchinson.</p>
<ul>
<li>Original version</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>I wrote this in about 5 minutes with information culled from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_College,_University_of_Edinburgh">Wikipedia</a>, and while perfectly serviceable, it’s possibly a little perfunctory. I asked ChatGPT what it thought of my script, and it decided (unprompted) to re-write it for me to make it more ‘engaging’:</p>
<blockquote><p>Welcome to Old College, a majestic structure nestled within the heart of The University of Edinburgh. Originally named ‘New College,’ this architectural gem traces its roots back to the late 18th century. Designed by the renowned Robert Adam, its timeless elegance was later completed by William Henry Playfair in the 19th century.</p>
<p>Situated on South Bridge, Old College stands as a Category A listed building, a testament to its historical and architectural significance. In 1887, a crowning touch was added to the structure in the form of a magnificent dome. Adorning the pinnacle is a gilded statue of Youth, a creation by the skilled hands of John Hutchinson.</p>
<p>As you stand in awe of Old College, it’s not just a building; it’s a living testament to the evolution of academia and architecture. The melding of the past and present, with each stone whispering stories of the scholars who once walked its halls. Today, Old College continues to be a symbol of academic excellence and a revered landmark in the vibrant tapestry of The University of Edinburgh.</p>
<ul>
<li>Revision from ChatGPT</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>This new version does feel more like a narrative than just a list of facts, and the language use is definitely more descriptive, it goes a bit overboard with the use of evocative metaphors. To try and rein it in a bit, I added this prompt: “That’s a little bit over the top with descriptive language, can you scale it back a little?”. This is the new version:</p>
<blockquote><p>Old College, part of The University of Edinburgh, has a rich history dating back to the late 18th century. Originally called ‘New College,’ its design, led by Robert Adam and later completed by William Henry Playfair, stands as a testament to architectural craftsmanship.</p>
<p>Situated on South Bridge, this Category A listed building gained its distinctive dome in 1887, crowned with a gilded statue of Youth by John Hutchinson. Today, Old College preserves the charm of its past, serving as a key landmark in the University’s legacy.</p>
<p>Explore the echoes of academia within Old College’s walls, where each brick tells a story of the scholars who once roamed its corridors. This historic structure, with its timeless design, remains an enduring symbol of The University of Edinburgh’s journey through time.</p>
<ul>
<li>Revision 2 by ChatGPT</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>This time it removed some of the descriptive language of the building itself, but it replaced a metaphor of it being ‘a revered landmark in the vibrant tapestry’ of the university with one about ‘each brick telling a story’. Let’s try refining it one more time – here’s the latest version with my prompt “How about you remove some of the metaphors, but give more descriptive language?”:</p>
<blockquote><p>Old College, integral to The University of Edinburgh, has a fascinating history rooted in the late 18th century. Originally christened ‘New College,’ it boasts an architectural legacy shaped by Robert Adam and later refined by William Henry Playfair.</p>
<p>Nestled on South Bridge, this distinguished Category A listed building acquired its iconic dome in 1887, adorned with a gilded statue of Youth crafted by John Hutchinson. Old College serves as both witness and custodian to the University’s journey through time.</p>
<p>Step into its storied corridors and be transported to an era when scholars traversed its halls. Each brick and beam narrates tales of academic pursuits and intellectual growth. Old College stands today, not just as a historic landmark, but as a living tribute to The University of Edinburgh’s enduring academic tradition.</p></blockquote>
<p>At this point it feels like ChatGPT is stuck just reiterating on a specific style of writing. This is one of the issues I hit when looking to use a chatbot for anything creative – the model it’s using to generate text has a specific style and there isn’t an easy way to break out of that. While ChatGPT is great for helping point you in the right direction, most of the time things will still need to be edited and refined manually to fit the exact purpose you need it for.</p>
<p>How about we experiment with this further, and see how well it handles a change in tone. I added the a new prompt to change the genre, but not the content: “What if this was the Voice Over for a horror film?”</p>
<blockquote><p>“Deep within the shadows of The University of Edinburgh lies Old College, a structure steeped in a history that echoes with whispers of the supernatural. Once named ‘New College,’ its unsettling evolution began in the late 18th century under the design of Robert Adam, later twisted by the hands of William Henry Playfair.</p>
<p>Perched ominously on South Bridge, this foreboding Category A listed building acquired an eerie dome in 1887, crowned by a gilded statue of Youth, a macabre creation by the twisted artist John Hutchinson. Old College, now a haunting relic, conceals not only the secrets of academia but a darker, malevolent force.</p>
<p>As you traverse its desolate corridors, the air thickens with the chilling tales of scholars who met untimely fates within its haunted walls. Every brick, every step resonates with an otherworldly presence. Old College stands not as a symbol of knowledge, but as a portal to the supernatural, where the past lingers, and the spirits of the damned find no rest.”</p>
<ul>
<li>ChatGPT’s voice over for a horror film</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>Ok, a lot to unpack… not only is this now borderline defamatory calling famed sculptor John Hutchinson a ‘twisted artist’ who created ‘macabre creations’, claims that Old College is where ‘the spirits of the damned find no rest’ and is literally a ‘portal to the supernatural’, but it is <em>still</em> using that metaphor of ‘every brick tells a story’.</p>
<p>While overly flowery language can be a bit of a handful to prune back, this last revision shows where the creative ‘choices’ ChatGPT uses can start to turn truth in to pure fabrication. The original core of the facts from my initial script are still there (the dates, the people involved, the legacy), it uses those to create completely a fictitious narrative.</p>
<p>The creative uses for ChatGPT are vast, but as an AI it has no concept of how it <strong>should</strong> use the information in your prompts, only what it <strong>can</strong> do. Chat bots can be a useful tool, but just remember to keep it on a short leash.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>*’Bothan’ is actually a lesser-known species from Star Wars: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Star_Wars_species_(A–E)#Bothan">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Star_Wars_species_(A–E)#Bothan</a></p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2023-12-13" itemprop="dateModified">Dec 13, 2023</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2023/12/13/using-chat-gpt-to-refine-narratives/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>What is 360º Video? – The Early Days…</title>
<link>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2019/02/18/what-is-360o-video-the-early-days/</link>
<comments>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2019/02/18/what-is-360o-video-the-early-days/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Liam Duffy]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Feb 2019 16:24:53 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[DIY Film School]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[360º]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/?p=56</guid>
<description><![CDATA[This is part of a series of posts exploring 360º videos, going from its roots in expositions and theme parks,...]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><i>This is part of a series of posts exploring 360º videos, going from its roots in expositions and theme parks, to how it can be recorded using your mobile phone and used in education.</i></p>
<h2>Cinéorama</h2>
<p>The Exposition Universelle, or better known as the 1900 Paris Exposition in English, was part of France’s drive to enter the 20th century with a reignited sense of cultural and national pride after devastation of the Great War. For nearly a decade before the exhibition grounds were due to open, countries around the world were invited to bring their greatest achievements and display their cultures on an international stage, part of the event’s bigger themes of unifying people.</p>
<p><figure style="width: 4195px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/La_porte_monumentale%2C_Exposition_Universelle_1900.jpg" alt="" width="4195" height="2678" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Brown University Library [Public domain]</figcaption></figure>Some of the highlights of the Exposition included a giant refracting telescope (60 meters long with a diameter of 1.5 meters), a display of photographs showing African American’s contributions to American society organised by sociologists and activists Booker Washington and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W.E.B._Du_Bois">W.E.B. Du Bois</a> , and in a fit of what I can only imagine was either reckless abandonment or an over-eagerness to please the visiting crowds, a Russian sparkling wine won the “Grand Prix de Champagne” beating several French vintners. The first Olympic Games outside of Greece took place during the Exposition, with the winners receiving 100 francs, a tie pin, and a commemorative pencil.</p>
<p>One of the biggest draws of the Exposition was the introduction of two of the great innovations in the world of cinema: the first wide-scale demonstration of recorded sound synced with moving image, and 360º panoramic projections. Obviously the latter of the two had the greater impact in the history of entertainment. I mean, come on, how many people actually watch films with audio?</p>
<p>Oh, what’s that? Most people do? Pretty much every piece of commercial film created in the last 80 years has had synchronised sound? Nobody uses 360º panoramic video projections beyond some very limited applications? Hmm.</p>
<p>The French Cinéorama was designed and constructed specifically for the Exposition by <a href="Raoul Grimoin-Sanson">Raoul Grimoin-Sanson</a>, with the intention being to replicate a ride on a hot air balloon over Paris using ten synchronised projectors housed under the ‘basket’ of the stationary balloon model.</p>
<p><figure style="width: 1199px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Cineorama.jpg" alt="" width="1199" height="850" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Louis Poyet [Public domain]</figcaption></figure>Built on the technology that English inventor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Paul">Robert Paul</a> had been working on in the late 1890’s to project moving image on a screen (which was in turn based on designs stolen from Thomas Edison’s single-viewer Kinetoscope machine), the Cinéorama would project moving images onto 10 screens, each 9×9 meters, arranged in a circle around the viewer. The film was shot using 10 cameras pointing outwards from a central point which housed the cranking mechanism that wound all of the cameras at the same time – early cinema cameras were usually hand-cranked, so this made sure that the image was captured at the same speed on each camera. This rig was then attached to a real hot air balloon as it flew 400 meters about the Tuileries Gardens, filming the ascent.</p>
<p><figure style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Cineorama_camera.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="1019" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Louis Poyet [Public domain]</figcaption></figure>People would board a giant hot air balloon model in the middle of the screens, the basket of which was big enough to hold 200 people, complete with rigging and the bottom half of a balloon suspended from the ceiling. Once ‘boarded’ the spectators would look out at the screens as the projectors showed the balloon take off. Once the experience had finished, they used some cinema magic to show the balloon landing again (they played the film backwards).</p>
<p>The Cinéorama lasted a glorious whole 3 days before the police shut it down due to safety concerns – one of the workmen had fainted from the immense heat of the arc lamps used in the projectors, and as these were housed directly beneath the viewing platform, it was considered an extreme fire hazard to the spectators. After the show was shut down in the middle of day 4, it has never been shown again.</p>
<p>Things didn’t faire much better for the Exposition Universelle – due the unexpectedly high running costs of the Exposition as a whole, it ended costing the organisers about 600 francs (around £2,000 in 2018) <i>more</i> per person than the cost of admission. This was the end of this streak of Parisian international fairs.</p>
<h2>Circle-Vision 360º</h2>
<p>The rebirth of commercial 360º panoramic films came with the opening of 1955’s ‘CIRCARAMA’ cinema in Disneyland, California, showing the short film A Tour of the West, soon followed by America The Beautiful.</p>
<iframe loading="lazy" src="about:blank" data-bs-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rmv_P_wcZG4?start=801" width="660" height="544" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>The system used in Disneyland, named ‘Circle-Vision 360°’, improved on Grimoin-Sanson’s Cinéorama system in a number of ways, with the biggest difference being that instead of having the film projectors mounted under the audience’s feet (and causing a lot of fire-risks at the same time) an odd number of screens and projectors are used – this means that each projector is placed between the screens on the opposite wall of the purpose-built circular auditorium:</p>
<figure style="width: 2320px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/3e/df/f2/ef5b770a26468d/US2942516-drawings-page-2.png" alt="" width="2320" height="3408" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Walter E Disney, Iwerks Ub (1956). US Patent No. US2942516A. Retrieved from https://patents.google.com/patent/US2942516</figcaption></figure>
<p>This clever bit of mathematics allows the bulky projector systems to be hidden behind the ring of screens, providing more a more immersive experience to the audience.</p>
<p>The camera system used to record the footage, however, is remarkably similar Cinéorama’s – nine cameras are arranged around a central point facing outwards, with an internal mechanism keeping the cameras in sync.</p>
<p><figure style="width: 2364px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Circle-Vision_360_camera_%2829638534777%29_%28cropped%29.jpg" alt="" width="2364" height="1965" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">elisfkc from Orlando, FL, United States [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons</figcaption></figure>The camera rig can be attached to the roof of a car or the underside of a helicopter. Given there was an intentional gap between each screen for the projectors to fit, later films used these to split-up the action between sections of the room. For example, they could show a full 360º film to start with, then fade the screens on one half of the room to show standard film footage on each screen, while maintaining the panorama on the other. This allowed for greater creative freedom, and removed the reliance of using the expensive Circle-Vision 360º cameras to capture all the footage.</p>
<p>Over the years, 5 different Disney theme parks have used Circle-Vision 360º for their attractions, and while the original has now closed at Disneyland in California, and it’s international variants at Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris closing in the early 21st century, there are 2 theatres still operating at Epcot – ‘Reflections of China’ and ‘Oh Canada!’ At each of their respective country’s pavilions in the World Showcase.</p>
<iframe loading="lazy" src="about:blank" data-bs-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SdUKRTeyKfU" width="660" height="544" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <em>Interestingly, you can actually watch this version in 360º using Google Cardboard or by clicking and dragging your mouse around the frame</em></pre>
<p> </p>
<p>Both of these act as quasi-tourism videos showing off the landscapes and cultural landmarks of each country …and the Canadian one also serves as a showcase for Martin Short’s comedic talents, so there’s that.</p>
<p>This idea of pure spectacle makes sense as a use for this pretty unique form of film-making, but it does highlight two of the biggest drawbacks of 360º cinema in an auditorium setting:</p>
<p>The first being the cost involved would make it prohibitive to film more than a few minutes worth of footage, both in terms of capturing using 9 high-quality cameras and running the multiple necessary projectors all day.</p>
<p>The second, and possibly most difficult to overcome: trying to craft a story where the viewer needs to constantly be turning their heads. Both of the 360º cinema formats mentioned here rely on the viewer being free to stand and turn all the way around to find and follow points of interest. Indicating where a person should be looking at all times is tricky when it might be behind them. Constantly having your characters announce themselves and give time for people to move around and look in their direction could kill the tension in your drama.</p>
<p><em>Thank you for coming along on our first journey in to 360º video. In our next article we’ll be diving in to the world of modern film and content creation for 360º and VR, and how this can be used in education.</em></p>
<span class="uoe-published-time uoe-seo-hidden-area">
<time datetime="2019-02-18" itemprop="dateModified">Feb 18, 2019</time>
</span>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/2019/02/18/what-is-360o-video-the-early-days/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
"
["headers"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Response\Headers)#2540 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(12) {
["content-type"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(34) "application/rss+xml; charset=UTF-8"
}
["date"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(29) "Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:22:30 GMT"
}
["server"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(6) "Apache"
}
["x-powered-by"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(10) "PHP/8.3.31"
}
["expires"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(29) "Thu, 19 Nov 1981 08:52:00 GMT"
}
["cache-control"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(35) "no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate"
}
["pragma"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(8) "no-cache"
}
["link"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(71) "<https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/wp-json/>; rel="https://api.w.org/""
}
["set-cookie"]=>
array(3) {
[0]=>
string(62) "PHPSESSID=o57dnit1971q7clp9db7q82gul; path=/; secure; HttpOnly"
[1]=>
string(134) "spo_201_fa=971e57e158fd4a5340f44852bfb286f0; expires=Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:52:30 GMT; Max-Age=1800; path=/mediahopper/; Secure; HttpOnly"
[2]=>
string(125) "RCKBMHKB=027ff8be59-56fd-482iPYLe_jygUWcaBNmae0xR5EY1Pn3p6fKJlYOm5rz7dz-cJgZu9uetzOBw5CsJncvdc; path=/; SameSite=None; Secure"
}
["last-modified"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(29) "Thu, 14 Dec 2023 17:57:08 GMT"
}
["etag"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(34) ""45cf9c638f115d3823aeba3d2008b07b""
}
["vary"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
string(15) "Accept-Encoding"
}
}
}
["status_code"]=>
int(200)
["protocol_version"]=>
float(1.1)
["success"]=>
bool(true)
["redirects"]=>
int(0)
["url"]=>
string(40) "https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/mediahopper/feed/"
["history"]=>
array(0) {
}
["cookies"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie\Jar)#2536 (1) {
["cookies":protected]=>
array(3) {
["PHPSESSID"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie)#2544 (5) {
["name"]=>
string(9) "PHPSESSID"
["value"]=>
string(26) "o57dnit1971q7clp9db7q82gul"
["attributes"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2543 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(4) {
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["secure"]=>
bool(true)
["httponly"]=>
bool(true)
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
}
}
["flags"]=>
array(4) {
["creation"]=>
int(1781580150)
["last-access"]=>
int(1781580150)
["persistent"]=>
bool(false)
["host-only"]=>
bool(true)
}
["reference_time"]=>
int(1781580150)
}
["spo_201_fa"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie)#2545 (5) {
["name"]=>
string(10) "spo_201_fa"
["value"]=>
string(32) "971e57e158fd4a5340f44852bfb286f0"
["attributes"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2546 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(6) {
["expires"]=>
int(1781581950)
["max-age"]=>
int(1781581950)
["path"]=>
string(13) "/mediahopper/"
["secure"]=>
bool(true)
["httponly"]=>
bool(true)
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
}
}
["flags"]=>
array(4) {
["creation"]=>
int(1781580150)
["last-access"]=>
int(1781580150)
["persistent"]=>
bool(false)
["host-only"]=>
bool(true)
}
["reference_time"]=>
int(1781580150)
}
["RCKBMHKB"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Cookie)#2547 (5) {
["name"]=>
string(8) "RCKBMHKB"
["value"]=>
string(85) "027ff8be59-56fd-482iPYLe_jygUWcaBNmae0xR5EY1Pn3p6fKJlYOm5rz7dz-cJgZu9uetzOBw5CsJncvdc"
["attributes"]=>
object(WpOrg\Requests\Utility\CaseInsensitiveDictionary)#2548 (1) {
["data":protected]=>
array(4) {
["path"]=>
string(1) "/"
["samesite"]=>
string(4) "None"
["secure"]=>
bool(true)
["domain"]=>
string(14) "blogs.ed.ac.uk"
}
}
["flags"]=>
array(4) {
["creation"]=>
int(1781580150)
["last-access"]=>
int(1781580150)
["persistent"]=>
bool(false)
["host-only"]=>
bool(true)
}
["reference_time"]=>
int(1781580150)
}
}
}
}
["filename":protected]=>
NULL
}
}
Any views expressed within media held on this service are those of the contributors, should not be taken as approved or endorsed by the University, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University in respect of any particular issue.
I learned more from this one article than from hours of browsing elsewhere—thank you for creating content that actually respects the reader’s time and attention. Greeting : PJJ Informatika
What an insightful blog post, I’ve learnt a lot
Hi Otis