We plan to create an innovative educational activity to promote our research on biological investigations in mental illness. Our idea is to publish a young adult colouring book that will introduce young people to the complex world of the human brain, how scientists perform neuroscience research and how the findings relate to understanding mental illness. Adult colouring books are enormously popular for creative recreational use and here we plan to tailor the book to 15 to 18 year old Irish secondary school students, in particular transition year students. The book will narrate illustrations across the spectrum of neurobiology research from the brain, how the brain is structured, how it is connected, down to the intricate details of its components and how researchers try to identify these minute components as biomarkers for mental illness. It will also bring the world of mental health research alive to young adults by explaining how researchers use information contained in the brain to answer complex questions about mental health, in particular how our research group investigate these biological biomarkers for the early diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Our aim is to create a beautiful book, of self-contained scientific integrity, that students will pick up, marvel at the intricacies of the brain, enjoy colouring in and open their minds to scientific research. Our book aims to encourage students to consider a career in science and promote the importance of scientific research in developing a world-class healthcare system.
