Co-IMMUNicate

Creative collaborations to explore immunity, infection and STEM futures with Glasgow’s young scientists
Project Overview:

Co-IMMUNicate was a collaborative, multi-year public engagement project that brought together researchers, teachers, and primary school pupils to explore how our immune system protects us from respiratory viruses. Funded by a ScotPEN Wellcome Engagement Award, the project ran from 2020 to 2023 and used creative, curriculum-linked activities to connect real-world research with classroom learning.

Designed in collaboration with pupils, Co-IMMUNicate included workshops, school-wide installations, and the development of an interactive app to help younger children and their families understand how immune cells defend the body. Despite the disruption of COVID-19, the team maintained momentum, adapting delivery and deepening relationships with partner schools across Glasgow. The result: long-term impacts on pupil confidence, teacher capacity, and researcher development—with a strong legacy of resources and community engagement.

Team:

  • Dr Megan Gilmour & Dr Kerrie Hargrave

  • Supported by researchers from the Centre for Virus Research (CVR), teachers and pupils from partner schools, and collaborators at Glasgow School of Art

     

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Goals & Activities

  • Help pupils understand immunity, infection and how vaccines work

  • Support teachers with fun, accessible STEM content linked to the curriculum

  • Involve pupils in co-designing app features, classroom activities and science exhibits

  • Use storytelling, creativity and real-life research examples to spark enthusiasm

  • Build confidence and skills among researchers and interns in classroom delivery

  • Development of a respiratory virus–themed app with pupil-designed voices and artwork

  • Interactive “jigsaw” and “codebreaking” games aligned with immunology research

  • Pupil-led displays shared at Glasgow Science Festival and school events

  • Evaluation through teacher interviews, classroom observations and feedback tools like Mentimeter and “postcards to self”

Project Outputs

App & Activity Resources

  • An interactive, pupil-designed app exploring immune responses—supported by hands-on classroom activities and downloadable worksheets.
    📲 Explore Resources & App Info

Educator & Evaluation Insights

  • Teachers reported lasting confidence gains, rich classroom conversations, and a shift in pupils’ engagement with science. One teacher said: “They had never experienced anything like this before and realised how much fun it was.”

     

STEM Role Models & Career Awareness

  • While not always an explicit focus, pupils benefited from interacting with scientists and began to picture themselves in STEM roles. Teachers used this to spark discussion and challenge stereotypes around who “gets to do science.”

     

Downloads & Links
Project Website & Downloads