Visual insights into new university research underlines city’s strengths (From York Press)

Research images projected at University as part of York Grand Tour

8:27am Saturday 28th July 2012 in News

STUDENTS at the University of York got a visual insight into some of the groundbreaking research being done into AIDs and malaria thanks to the city’s Grand Tour, writes Tom Witherow.

Images from science and technology have been showcased on city centre buildings as part of the Grand Tour over the past month.

This week, some of the images were brought to life as part of a community fete held at the university’s new campus.

Images from the research into AIDs and malaria being carried out at the university were projected on to the walls of the Ron Cooke Hub, part of the new Heslington East campus, and shown to students.

The images, which have been on display in the city centre as part of the Grand Tour, show how plants have been bred and adapted to produce “arteminisin”, a drug which is proving central to fighting malaria.

Seeds have already been introduced to the market this year, with additional tests being carried out in China, the world’s leading producer of the drug.

Meanwhile, research into an HIV vaccine has reached phase one trials, which, if successful, will be tested in York throughout its trial phases.

A university spokesman said the images being displayed to the public will have its benefits.

He said: “It will give visitors a greater sense of York’s richness as a city, underscoring that it is not a historic relic preserved in aspic, but a city which is looking forward.”

Lee Clark, of the Museum Trust, a partner of the Grand Tour, said York’s summer events were bringing “lots of people to the city”, inevitably leading to economic benefits.

York Grand Tour will run until the end of August, with maps of the route available at yorkgrandtour.co.uk