Our Kid

Nowgen worked with Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and other partners to create an exhibition highlighting biomedical research in Manchester.

The centre piece of the exhibition is a distinctive and impressive 7 ft high multimedia sculpture. The figure is embedded with digital screens, which play over 30 short films. These films are packed with information, interviews with experts, original Public Service broadcasts and forward-looking films made by local young people. Together they tell the stories behind the changing face of healthcare, the vital contribution made by research and the breakthroughs that came out of Manchester.

It has been seen by thousand of people, as it has toured to a number of high-profile venues, including: Central Manchester Library and The Museum of Science and Industry.

The Our Kid sculpture

Over the last 60 years there has been an explosion of knowledge, technological developments and treatments in healthcare, as well as major social changes in the UK. Great achievements have been pioneered by scientific and clinical researchers in Manchester, and the impact of their work has been felt by patients in the region. This exhibition reflects many of the compelling stories from our region.

Film-making with local teenagers

Nowgen has worked with Cornerhouse and WFA Media and Cultural Centre to create several films for the Our Kid project. Over 20 local teenagers heard from local experts about biomedical research now, and in the future.

Newsnight 2098 celebrates Mohammad Khan’s 150th birthday. Born in 1948 he attributes his good health to: “eating five fruit and veg a day and the magnificent NHS.” Two journalists from the future travel back through 150 years investigating Manchester’s key research achievements.

WFA films

‘Future News Today’ looks forward to 2048 and the potential uses of skin regeneration. Find out what might happen in 2048 after a serious bus accident and get some future gossip about Michael Jackson’s appearance.

‘Health Report Special: Medical Profiling’ looks at the benefits of preventative medicine with snapshots of doctor and patient through the decades. The teenagers made some very imaginative future advertisements. Will we ever have regenerative toothpastes or brain games to fight addiction? Watch the films to find out more.

Our thanks go to:

Dr Bill Newman, Dr Carsten Timmerman, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, Professor Bill Deakin, Professor Dian Donnai, Professor Phil Baker, Dr Daniel Brison, Graham Galloway Professor John Pickstone and Professor Mark Ferguson and many others who helped with the project.