Drew Berry: Animations of Unseeable Biology
We have no ways to directly observe molecules and what they do, Drew Berry wants to change that. His biomedical animations have been applauded globally and exhibited in prestigious venues, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the Pompidou Centre in Paris. Drew shows his scientifically accurate (and entertaining!) animations that help researchers see unseeable processes within our own cells.
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ABOUT Drew Berry
“Drew Berry is a biomedical animator whose scientifically accurate and aesthetically rich visualisations reveal the microscopic world inside our bodies to a wide range of audiences.
His animations have exhibited at venues such as the Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Royal Institute of Great Britain and the University of Geneva.
He works for The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) and is a key member of an international team that recently won an Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Science, Technology and Nature Programming for the episode, ‘The Human Race.’
Role at WEHI
His main role at WEHI is to help explain the discoveries of the Institute to the general public by creating the most vivid and accurate visualisations possible. The International DNA Project was a natural extension of this, as so much of WEHI’s research is DNA-based and the public has such a great fascination with DNA.
The DNA project was one of those golden opportunities where he had the great fortune and pleasure to work for the amazingly talented, experienced and motivated team at Windfall Films in London.
Building Accurate Visualisations
His approach is the opposite tack to simplifying the science. Drew says, “Rather than dumbing it down, I set out to show the audience exactly what the scientists are talking about. By building accurate visualisations founded on real scientific data, the animations come alive of their own accord, engage the audience, and go a long way towards explaining what the science is about.
The science is rich, detailed and fascinating, and if you can watch it in action you will intuitively get to know how it works.” This is perhaps also what enthralled Drew at the outset of his foray into 3D. In 2004, Drew’s animations were also honoured with a BAFTA Award and in 2010, he received a MacArthur Fellowship Genius Award.”
The VIDEO
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1. Website: Windfall Films
