Poetry Trail: A Science Art Collision
Poetry Trail: A Science Art Collision
Be intrigued, curious and inspired by these scientific insights and their poetic responses
Experience Science and Poetry in Nature
As part of The University of Warwick’s 60th anniversary celebrations, a unique new experience is launching on campus –Poetry Trail: A Science Art Collision.
This outdoor installation showcases poems fromMicroscopia, a new collection by award-winning poet Sujatha Menon, created during her transformative residency with Warwick’s School of Life Sciences – the department’s first-ever poet-in-residence project.
The collection features 65 thoughtful poems, many inspired by Warwick scientists – predominantly female researchers – with several poems longlisted, shortlisted, and awarded in national and international competitions.
Each poem is paired with a short prologue, revealing the science behind the verse and making complex ideas beautifully accessible. One standout piece,20 Ways to Skin a Spell, has already won a prize at the Gloucestershire Poetry Festival and been nominated for the prestigious Forward Prizes – alongside the collection itself.
Fourteen of these works are being permanently installed along a trail through the woods and paths near the School of Life Sciences, etched onto glass and embedded in solid wood sleepers. The trail invites visitors to explore Warwick’s scientific research through the lens of poetry, reflecting the voices, stories, and discoveries of female academics, technicians, post-docs, and graduates.
From ancient bluebell woods to the edges of cutting-edge science, each piece is accompanied by a short prologue explaining the research behind the verse – making complex ideas beautifully accessible and turning a walk through nature into a celebration of literature, biology, and wellbeing.
The trail invites visitors to explore Warwick’s research through the lens of poetry.
Launch date TBC!
About the Poet
Sujatha Menon – a trained complementary medicine practitioner and yoga teacher – has long bridged the worlds of science and art. As Warwick’s Poet in Residence since 2022, she has worked closely with scientists to uncover the emotion, curiosity and creativity at the heart of their work.
Poet in Residence Sujatha Menon, said:
“I’ve always been fascinated by science – it’s in my blood. I come from a family of doctors, I’m trained in complementary medicine, and my work as a yoga teacher has deepened my interest in holistic science. Collaborating with Warwick has been a wonderful way to explore how science and poetry can speak to each other.“As Poet in Residence since 2022, I’ve been passionate about finding new ways to engage people with research – to look at it differently, through metaphor, emotion, and story. It feels especially meaningful to launch Microscopia during Warwick’s 60th anniversary year – a moment to celebrate the University’s visionary work and invite people in. Warwick is more than an institution – it’s a place to learn from, explore, and be part of.”
Professor Kevin Moffat, former Director of Outreach at Warwick’s School of Life Sciences, added:
“Science and art are both about curiosity, creativity and seeing the world in new ways – which is why this collaboration has felt so natural. Sujatha brought such energy, empathy, and imagination into our labs and conversations, helping to capture not just what our researchers do, but how they think and feel about their work."
Poetry Trail Map:
*The map gives a feel for the trail and we'll share more information as the project develops, subject to changes.
