Celebrating 150 years of the genius of genetics
There will be bees. There will be peas. There will be a huge
projection-mapped video-installation on the very walls where Gregor
Johann Mendel conducted his research.
On July 20, 2015, we beam
Mendel: The Legacy from Brno to major scientific institutions across
five continents, and live on the web, in a global celebration of the vision of one man, a man
whose discoveries helped shape the world we live in today. Join us
for this state-of-the-art visual and orchestral spectacular celebrating
150 years since Gregor Johann Mendel first discovered the principles of
genetics. Coming live from the Augustinian Abbey in Brno, Czech
Republic, the actual place where the father of genetics both lived and
formulated his ideas. Featuring specially created animation by Emmy and
BAFTA winning Drew Berry, who also did the animation for Björk's Biophilia project and tour.
Special invited VIPs include the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, the President of the Royal Society, Sir Paul Nurse, the President Emeritus of the Genetics Society of America, Vicki Chandler, and many others.
But first, a little more about the project from animator Drew Berry!
Mendel Museum of
Masaryk University
is proud to present, on Monday 20th July, Mendel: The Legacy. A
video-mapping multimedia extravaganza projected on the building where
Mendel did his research, and simultaneously on scientific institutions
worldwide. The projection is prepared by the world's leading bio-medical
animator,
Drew Berry, and accompanied by a live full orchestral and choral score by composer Duncan Hendy.
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The music and imagery explore the world of genotypes, capturing the
motifs and metaphors of Mendel’s work and legacy. Using the original
words of his lecture as the libretto and the Roman Catholic idea of
modal music representing different expressions of thought, it
communicates not only who he was as a scientist, but as a man and a monk
as well. Moreover, what he achieved and the influence he has had, from
his time to the present day, on the world of genetics.
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My time will come!
When Gregor Johann Mendel first publicly presented his groundbreaking
and painstaking research in the field of plant breeding, it received a
lukewarm reception. Most of the audience failed to understand what he
was talking about. Today, geneticists, and indeed all biologists, regard
his conclusions as being significant. Mendel is now considered one of
the world's greatest scientists and his work is central to the modern
scientific world of genetics.
Mendel maintained right up to his
death that his findings were correct. Today, no one doubts that his
knowledge of the field of plant breeding, published 150 years ago, laid
the foundation of genetics and influenced scientific research in many
areas.
We believe that a century and half later, Mendel's achievements are indeed worth celebrating!
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