Climbing Mountains with Words: Using Poetry to Communicate Science

Led by Associate Professor Sam Illingworth, an award-winning science communicator, author, and poet, the course explored how poetry can engage diverse audiences with the wonders of science. This creative approach — covering topics such as the study of different poetry forms and their suitability for communicating science — encouraged the PPI team in their efforts to translate complex research concepts into accessible, emotive, and engaging narratives, connecting with diverse audiences on a deeper level. 

Anna Grosse, Patient and Public Involvement Lay Lead, enjoyed the course immensely. “Before this opportunity,” she said, “I found poetry to be quite daunting but I was intrigued to learn how it could be connected to scientific dissemination. I think that scientific poetry is highly effective in representing the author’s voice, whether they are a researcher, participant, or member of the public.” 

As part of the coursework, Anna was tasked with writing a poem related to a topic of scientific interest or a recent publication. Anna’s poem is about her experience with asthma:

12,500 ft.

Grasping the thin air,

Climbing cold mountains, breathless;

Inhaler... relief.

Explaining the symbolism of her poem, Anna noted “12,500 feet is the altitude where oxygen levels become very low, making it difficult to breathe. As an asthmatic, sometimes an everyday task like climbing the stairs can feel as if you're climbing a mountain.” 

This poem follows the technique of a traditional Haiku, which includes a ‘Kigo’ (seasonal reference) and a ‘Kireji’ (cutting word).

“Cold”, Anna added, “refers to the season of Winter, which is often tied to feelings of hardship and struggle in poetry, but it can also be taken literally as high altitudes result in low temperatures.”

“'Mountains' hopefully conveys a sense of reoccurrence, highlighting that asthmatics are regularly faced with challenging experiences. ‘Relief’ is the cutting word, providing a sense of closure.”

This course is open to anyone passionate about sharing science in a creative and impactful way. For scientists, it offers an opportunity to move beyond the confines of technical jargon and explore new ways of expressing their research. For poets, it provides a chance to flavour their craft with the wonder of scientific discovery, using metaphor, rhythm, and vivid imagery to explain and celebrate complex ideas.

Describing her experience on the course, Anna said: “Scientific communication comes in many forms but prior to this course, I would never have imagined poetry to be one of them. This course has shown me that poetry is an emotive and powerful dissemination technique, and it’s definitely something that I hope to make more use of in the future!” 

“I believe it’s a compelling approach that allows the reader to connect with the piece, given that art is open to interpretation - everyone can find something to relate to.”

By learning how to craft compelling poems, the Inflammation and Immunity PPI team is now able to amplify their role in bridging the gap between researchers and the public, fostering meaningful conversations, and inspiring broader understanding of how this vital area of research impacts lives.

We will be publishing more poems from other PPI team members; stay tuned.

Learn more about the Science Communication through Poetry course at Edinburgh Napier University. 

Learn more about Patient and Public Involvement in the Inflammation and Immunity Driver Programme.