Robert Whittle is a geneticist (now retired) with continuing research interest in developmental biology. He has been funded as a scientist partner in several art-science collaborations (Wellcome Trust, Arts Council England, Arts and Humanities Research Council UK). Current interests and activities include poetry writing, creativity workshops at the University of Sussex, studying metaphors as one of the outcomes of cross-disciplinary work, the perception of science by artists and vice versa. Occasional adult-education teaching on the topics science and art, and genetics and society.