Answering the Big Questions with Science, Simplified
How a graduate student’s scientific illustrations have gone viral, leading to an award-winning video series.
January 20, 2021
LA JOLLA, CA—A picture is worth a thousand words. When those words are dense scientific terms for the nature of viruses, that picture is invaluable. This is the thought process behind Science, Simplified, an animated video series focused on COVID-19 from Scripps Research that aims to take complex topics and break them down into short, easily digestible bites.
Hailee Perrett, graduate student in the Ward Lab
As part of the institute’s commitment to science education and communication, a Scripps Research team embarked on a video project that could provide engaging, trustworthy information during the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic.
The videos, vetted by some of the world’s leading immunology researchers, explain some of the biggest questions surrounding the novel coronavirus. This has included how the coronavirus infects our cells, the inner workings of antibodies and mRNA vaccines, as well as what the new viral mutations mean for the pandemic.
Central to this project is Hailee Perrett, a graduate student from the lab of Andrew Ward, PhD, in the Department of Integrative and Structural Biology. In addition to her cutting-edge virology research, Perrett is a talented artist, expressing her creativity in the form of biological illustrations. It was Perrett’s graphical representation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus particle that spurred the idea for a complete visual narrative.
Perrett’s original illustration of SARS-CoV-2, which inspired the Science, Simplified series
“During the early days of quarantine, I knew the institute was interested in developing new ways to disseminate technical information to the public,” says Perrett. “With my love for art, I recognized it as a great opportunity to adopt a new style and create a simpler, more accessible depiction of the virus.”
Since its inception, the Science, Simplified series has rapidly become the institute’s most viewed online video content. It has also gained wider recognition, winning a first place award for video at the San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards. It then went on to receive an honorable mention for a video series at the 2020 Folio Awards for editorial and design excellence.
The videos are also being used as a tool to educate school-age children with a growing curiosity in STEM fields. Such is the case for the Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences, where members of the outreach team intend to repurpose the series as an aid in their local community initiatives.
While currently focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, future installments of Science, Simplified will focus on demystifying other troubling diseases, as well as possible medicines and technologies with the power to shape them.
“I hope the videos contribute to a greater sense of confidence in the incredible work being done by researchers and physicians across the globe,” says Perrett. “Beyond this, I hope these visuals help others appreciate the innate beauty and wonder of the world as revealed by science.”
The Science, Simplified series is available here, or can be viewed on Scripps Research’s YouTube channel.
Science, Simplified creators:
Hailee Perrett: illustration
Matt O'Connor: animation, editing
Faith Hark: graphics, web design
Drew Duglan, PhD: screenplay, narration
Hailee Perrett is a recipient of the David C. Fairchild Endowed Fellowship in the Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences.
For more information, contact press@scripps.edu