One of our postgraduate Occupational Therapy students recently took part in an interactive family science day at the Liverpool World Museum.
The event, called Meet the Scientists, is an annual series of activities organized by the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences in partnership with the World Museum on 23rd November.
This year, Ayra Yoosufani (from our pre-registration Occupational Therapy MSc programme) collaborated with Heather Bullen, one of our Occupational Therapy lecturers, on an innovative zine-making project designed to engage and inspire young minds.
Since 2015, the event has proven popular with children and families, featuring interactive learning where research scientists offer hands-on activities for little scientists and their families.
Ayra, who is passionate about zines, said: “They offer a powerful medium for self-expression and allow individuals of all abilities to share stories, ideas, and art in a unique, accessible format.
"Crafted with a 'do-it-yourself' ethos that combines images, words, and various creative techniques, zines are an engaging tool for therapeutic practice and personal expression.”
Ayra has previously worked with female asylum seekers, facilitating zine-making sessions as a means of creative expression and storytelling, allowing women to speak about sensitive subjects in a thoughtful manner.
She added: “In the past, we led zine-making sessions that fostered a safe space for self-expression and storytelling, allowing women to voice experiences that might otherwise go unheard.
“Most recently, I had the opportunity to bring this experience to children at the Meet the Scientists event hosted at the Liverpool Museum. Having previously facilitated zine-making with asylum seekers, I found that working with children added a new layer of richness to the activity.
“There’s clinical evidence supporting the therapeutic value of zine-making with young people, and seeing the impact first-hand was a privilege. Some children arrived visibly anxious, accompanied by parents, but within minutes, their creativity flourished.
"It was heart-warming to see their different zines with each of them reflecting a unique and personal expression of their specific interests or passions. This medium serves as an effective alternative to talking therapies, with the individuality of each creation reinforcing the beauty of the activity—no two zines are ever the same.”
The zine-making stand was extremely busy throughout the event, with plenty of children and families engaging with the project.
Ayra added: “I’m thrilled to have shared this passion with so many visitors. As a final-year MSc Occupational Therapy student with a background in linguistics, I continue to find great opportunities for well-being through zines. I have different zines for different moods, and I’ve come to see this medium as an invaluable tool in my practice.”