How to make a test-tube baby

A video about ‘How to make a test tube baby’ has won IVF twins Clara and Alice Wade, of St Mary’s School, Calne in Wiltshire, the Kroto Prize for Innovative Use of Technology in Science Learning, an international competition run by the University of Sheffield for young people aged 11-18.

The twins decided to produce the video on a topic familiar to them: IVF.

You can watch the twins’ video in the player opposite or on YouTube here:

In an interview with BBC Wiltshire, the twins explained why they chose IVF as their subject:

“We’re test-tube babies and that’s something that’s very close to our hearts, ever since our dad, on our tenth birthday, told us we were IVF twins.

How to make a test-tube baby“I think we didn’t really grasp the entirety of the situation, which is why we took this opportunity to explore how we came from being four cells big floating in a test-tube to how we are today. I think that was really rewarding for us.”

The twins’ video won the Kroto Prize for Innovative Use of Technology in Science Learning, an international competition run by the University of Sheffield.

Their video explains the IVF process as though it were a cooking recipe, complete with kitchen props and foodstuffs.

How to make a test-tube baby“We bought in papayas to resemble the female, and I think we wanted to make it tongue-in-cheek and humourous to really appeal to younger people, because I think science these days is so relevant to our generation, it’s so important.

“We were going for the balance between fun and scientific and hopefully we did that – and we had the best time making it.”

Dr Mike Macnamee, CEO of Bourn Hall Clinic, also talked on the programme about the history of IVF, success rates and NHS provision – as well as what he thought of the video:

“I think it’s absolutely brilliant. Factually it’s correct, and it’s put over in a way that is easily understandable. I’ll never look at a papaya in the same way again, but I think it was great!”

More information

To read more about the IVF process click here.

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