Beyond the Classroom:
Communicating Science
Marcia J. Rudy
April 29, 2009
Communicating Science
Through Art
Scientists/artists/mathematicians have been
inspired by science:
patterns, symmetries, fractals, the chaotic wildness
of nature, the universe, living things and science
phenomena
DaVinci’s drawings, Bohr’s atom, Galileo’s phases
of the moon, Newton’s rainbow, Darwin’s plants &
animals, Audubon’s birds, Bentley’s snow crystals
Science and Art Today
Illustrations, paintings, drawings,
sculpture and photographs of
objects from the natural and built
world, multi-media, science/art craft
projects
Museum Experiences
Exhibits
Passive viewing of exhibits
Interacting with exhibits
Programs, Classes
Science/Art Exhibits at
Museums
Exhibits combine conceptual,
visual and tactile experiences
Gerald Marks,
Artist-in-Residence,
Exploratorium – Professor Pulfrich’s Universe
Ned Kahn,
artist who replicates the forms
and forces of nature
–
Temple of the Whirlwind
Ned Kahn, artist; Braided Stream,
Connections exhibit New York Hall of Science
Ross Lewis, artist
Rotosphere, New York Hall of Science
Kyle Dries, artist
Ropes and Pulleys, network of energy
exchange, Connections exhibition, NYHoS
Science Visualizations
New tools of technology:
microscopes, telescopes, cameras,
electronic digital techniques
Viewing the micro and macro –
molecular and nanotechnology world
Artists and Scientists
Collaborations Enhance
Science Communication
Visual Imagery helps to teach
science, ask questions, communicate
what’s going on in the image –
experience science process
Felice Frankel,
Envisioning Science
chemist, photographer,
Ferrofluid
Felice Frankel, chemist/ photographer
Nanotubes (No Small Matter-nanoscience)
David Goodsell
Ecoli
molecular biologist/artist
Dee Breger
photomicrographer
Antarctic radiolarian
Dee Breger director microscopy
fiberglass 200x
Dee Breger
photomicrographer
Velcro (based on thistle burrs) hook&loop
Dee Breger, director microscopy
Hudson River, diatom 2
Eric Heller,
Exponential
physicist, chemist, artist
Eric Heller,
physicist, chemist
Barbershop – sound of quartet
Eric Heller, physicist, chemist
Pyramid – perfect crystal 3D
Science Imaging:
Competitions of Scientific
Achievements
Corporations and Organizations Nikon, Olympus, NSF/Science
Universities - Princeton University,
University of Colorado, Rochester
Institute of Technology
Michael Stringer, marine diatoms
Nikon Small World 2008
Paul Marshall carbon nanotubes
Nikon Small World 2008
Charles Kazilek,
Japanese paper fibers
Nikon Small World 2008
David Walker, compact disc case
Nikon Small World 2008
Nikon Small World 2008
Albert Tousson,
lily of the valley, 1300x
Nikon Small World 2008
Klaus Bolte, micro leaf beetle, 40x
Nikon Small World 2008
Thomas Shearer, petrified wood
Olympus Bioscapes
Spike Walker, fairy fly wasp
Olympus Bioscapes
Donald Anthony, citric acid,
Images from Science 2008 – RIT
2004
Ted Kinsman, x-ray of two lizards
Images from Science, RIT 2008
Libbrecht, snow crystal Images
Prof. SK Hart,
Materials Research Soc.
Silicon oxide nanowires
Digital art exhibits and
projects
Art & Science
Collaborations, Inc.
(ASCI)
Collaborations
Scientists/Artists
Scientist Artists
Scientists/Artists/Technologists
Mark Fischer, artist, acoustician
aguasonic, mandala from birds
Brad Smith,
artist, director biomedical
visualization; Antecedent, a bio totem from human
embryo MRI data
Katherine Kollins,
neuroscientist, artist,
photographer; Biomimicry, Digital’08 ASCI
Anna Hill,
artist, Space Synapse systems, an
interactive sculpture for an orbiting spacecraft sensors used in space suits with real time images
Agnes Denes,
ecological/environmental
artist; Tree Mountain – A Living Time Capsule
1992-96, double helix, 11,000 trees, Finland
Jonathan Feldschuh, physicist,
Large Hadron Collider #6, 2008 – painting
Ted Siler, artist/author/educator
fractal reactor: Geometry for Plasma
Fusion
Nobel laureate
Rod MacKinnon
commissioned
artwork to
explain how a
class of
proteins helps
to generate
nerve impulses
Julian Voss-Andreae, sculptor, 12 KcsA,
potassium channel ion sculpture
Eva Lee, artist
Discrete Terrain: Windows on Five Emotions –
view inner world of 5 emotions (EEG of 12 people)
Sam Bowser,
polar biologist and
Claire Beynon, artist; foraminifera
Science and Art intersect
and communicate science
process and inquiry
Museums – natural history, science/technology, art
and children’s museums (Chemistry and Physics of
Light and Color, Conservation)
Science and the Arts – series for the public (CUNY)
Science and Art Symposia – New York Academy of
Sciences, Art & Science Collaborations, Inc.,
National Academy of Sciences