Thursday, September 22nd 2005

Drew Berry, biomedical animator for The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), is a key member of an international team that has won an Emmy Award.

Drew's unique animations for the multi-media project, DNA, have taken the team to the peak of worldwide television achievement in the category of Outstanding Science, Technology and Nature Programming for the episode, The Human Race.

The TV series, which ran overseas and on ABC TV earlier this year, integrated Drew's stunning animations of DNA with interviews given by eminent scientists, including eleven Nobel Prize winners.

Drew comments, “My main role at WEHI is to help explain the discoveries of the Institute to the general public by creating the most vivid and accurate visualizations possible. The international DNA project was a natural extension of this, because so much of WEHI's research is DNA-based and the public has such a great fascination with DNA.

“As far as the Emmy is concerned, I'm just overwhelmed by the fact that we can come out on top of the world when we are competing against gigantic animation studios in the United States and the rest of the world.”

Drew's biomedical animations have been applauded globally and exhibited in prestigious venues, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the Pompidou Centre in Paris. In 2004, Drew's animations were honoured by a BAFTA Award - often referred to as a “British Oscar.”

The DNA episode, The Human Race, was filmed by Windfall Films (UK). The DNA project was produced by the Red Green & Blue Company Ltd (UK) in association with the Dolan DNA Learning Center, Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory (USA). Interviews with the scientists were conducted by Windfall Films (UK). Main project funding was provided by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (USA). Additional funding was provided by the Alfred P Sloan Foundation (USA), Channel Four Television (UK) and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (USA).

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Brad Allan

WEHI Communications Manager
Phone: (03) 9345 2345
Mobile: 0403 036 116
Email: allan@wehi.edu.au