About Us

Illumination Educational Software was founded in 2002 by Dr Tina Read and Bob Read. We aim to engage people in genetics through our online resource Gene Journey and our multimedia workshops.

We work closely with Prof Maj Hulten and Dr Kevin Moffat from Warwick University. The advice of Gavin Cuthbert and other staff at the Institute of Human Genetics, Newcastle has also been invaluable for the development of Gene Journey. The virtual cytogenetics lab is based on the actual Prenatal Cytogenetics laboratory at the Institute.

Tina has several years experience of running animation workshops with groups of adults with learning difficulties and more recently with school children.

Tina has a long-standing interest in Down Syndrome; she has worked as a tutor for the Workers' Educational Association (WEA) since 2003 with adults with learning difficulties. Several of her students at the Oakfield Day Service have Down Syndrome and some of those students feature in Gene Journey. She worked with animators Bob Read and Sam Hatton, musician Marcel Mussel, and her students to create a dance animation called Jungle Jive for a project called Arts DIY.

In recognition of this work, as well as her work in software development, Tina was highly commended in the learning category of Merseyside Woman of the Year 2007.

Tina has recently completed an animation with her students from the Oakfield Day Service working with Bob Read, Sam Hatton, James Munro and Marcel Musset. She has made a documentary about how the animation was made. The animation, From Oakfiends to Ironmen, depicts the adventures of Dr Who on a trip to Liverpool! In February 2009 the animation and documentary were shown on the BBC Big Screen in Liverpool.

In July 2009, the animation was premiered at the FACT cinema in Liverpool. Some of this work can be viewed at WEA Galleryonline.