Building bridges between Art and Science

Studying the sciences, I’ve often heard peers say, “I’m a scientist, I’m not really a creative type.” I’ve also heard this sentiment expressed in the reverse, as people claimed to be artistic, not scientific; creative, not critical; intuitive, not logical. 

More often than not, people classify themselves as either an artist or a scientist. This dichotomy is perpetuated in higher education, where science labs are located across campus from art studios, courses that span both disciplines are rare, and collaboration between faculties is limited.

As a student, I came by my love of the arts and sciences separately. Both disciplines excited me, both piqued my interest in exploration and learning, but I could not see how to connect the two. It was in science communication that I found a natural intersection between my interests, a point where I could use creativity and design to share science in a fun and understandable way. And it was in science communication that I learned we need to build bridges across the divide that exists between the disciplines of art and science. 

This is where the SciArt Exhibition comes in.

Innovation and exploration flourish when we look at ideas from a different point of view, and that is why the LU SciArt Exhibition challenges students, artists, and researchers alike to look at their work from a new perspective. Local students have used sculptures, paintings, or interpretive dance to enhance their understanding of their science curriculum. Researchers and faculty at Laurentian have reimagined their ideas in quilts, sketches, and a variety of artistic media. Community artists have used their chosen medium to visualize challenging scientific concepts in unique and beautiful ways.

For the past 5 years, the LU SciArt Exhibition has featured as a part of Laurentian University’s Research Week. This year, I have had the privilege of working with students, researchers, and community artists to bring the 6^thannual LU SciArt Exhibition to life.

I’ve spoken to artists about the challenges of bringing themes of science into their work, and the many opportunities it brings. I’ve seen the work of artists who use nature to inspire their pieces. I’ve listened to researchers explain how they turn their data into poetry, or quilts, or sculpture, to reshape their understanding and visualize their research.

I’ve sat down with high-school students who felt they didn’t have an artistic bone in their body, and together we’ve dreamed up sketches and sculptures that beautifully illustrate the threats we face from climate change. I’ve worked with a memorable group of Grade 4’s, who taught me a thing or two about coding as they brainstormed their project that intersects sculpture and robotics. 

Through all of this, I’ve learned that the divide between science and art is not so insurmountable as I once thought. When people are challenged to think about these disciplines together, rather than as two separate fields, they naturally begin to amalgamate and new ideas flourish. 

Maybe you’re like me, and you’ve struggled to find a connection between your twin passions for the arts and sciences. Maybe you’re a science enthusiast struggling to visualize your concept of interest, or you’re an artist looking for new themes to represent in your work. I challenge you to rethink the separation of art and science. Consider a new perspective, and explore new angles.

You may just create an innovative piece of SciArt.

- Kyelle Byne, SCOM 2019

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The SciArt Exhibition takes place on Wednesday, March 20^thas a part of Laurentian University’s Research Week 2019, before moving to Science North where it will be on display from March 25^thto April 5^th. There will be a special Gala evening to celebrate science, art, and SciArt poetry at Science North on April 2^ndat 7pm. The exhibition is free to attend, and all are welcome!

Poetic Science

All through my undergraduate degree there seemed to be a rivalry between arts and science students. Science, (from the point of view of science students) was concrete, logical and important for understanding the world around us. Arts, seemed sort of airy-fairy to us. Analyzing literature or studying music just didn't seem to match up to our science labs and assignments.

My arts student friends also seemed to distance themselves from science. They used to say they couldn't do (or did not want to do) science since they were terrible at math. I'm making generalizations here and there are plenty of students who excel in science and arts. However, I've seen lots of students who fall into the arts and science divide.

I suspect it because of how science and arts are taught in school. They are separate... which is unfortunate. It was not too long ago where naturalists brought artists with them to draw their specimens for them.Even in an age where everything is digitally recorded, first year students at my former university were still required to learn how to do biological drawings.

I see the divide as a real shame because people who are steeped in fine arts like music, poetry, dance, and visual arts are able to express themselves in different ways. Scientists are often stuck expressing themselves only in scientific papers. Research papers are important but they do not help much with the public engagement of science.

Expressing science through arts has the ability to reach a wide range of audiences, making it accessible and understandable. Mark Winston, a presenter at the Science and Technology Awareness Network Conference, is a  biologist and science communicator. His most recent project involves ecologists and dancers exploring behavioural ecology through the medium of dance. The Somatic Scientific shows are a partnership between Simon Fraser University and the Link Dance Foundation. Imagine dancers acting out symbiotic interactions in coral reefs. The shows have received a lot of great feedback from the public.

It is okay to be into arts and science and more parallels should be drawn in schools. We would all benefit from a better appreciation of both. In the age of social media, having and arts background would help greatly.

I'll leave you with one of my favorite poems. It is by Walter Garstang, a marine larval biologist who pioneered a lot of research in the field. A collection of his poems on larval evolution and biology was published posthumously. Take a look at the poem, he presents some pretty heavy science and biology but in an understandable and entertaining way.

From "Larval Forms, and Other Zoological Verses",
Walter Garstang, 1958

Oikopleura, Jelly-builder
 
Oikopleura, masquerading as larval Ascidian,
Spins a jelly-bubble-house about its meridian:
His tail, doubled under, creates a good draught,
that drives water forward and sucks it in aft.

A filter in front collects all the fine particles
Micro-flagellates and similar articles
Which pour in a stream through a jelly-built tunnel
Into its mouth and its mucillage funnel.

The funnel begins with his endostyle gland,
which flicks mucus up to his circular band:
the stream through his mouth trails it out into threads,
and the whole is rotated as fast as it spreads.

In effect this rotator's a neat centrifuge
that let's out the water and let's in the ooze:
The water is sucked outwards by paired water wheels,
the residue serves him with plentiful meals.

Now although Oikopleura sits by himself
In the midst of his house on a jelly-built shelf,
He's firmly attached in front by his snout,
and never lets go till his house wears out.

But his body behind is completely free
and bathed by the water that comes from the sea
Through two lattice windows let into the walls,
Which limit the size of incoming hauls.

Into this water-space the effluents flow
That start from the spiracles' outward throw:
And lest water-pressure the bubble should burst,
a tubular valve in front blows first.

What shall we say of this marvellous creature
Who breaks all the rules by his composite nature?
he puzzle increases the more it's observed
How far from the track of his fellows he's swerved.

When his jelly-house starts as a lump on his back,
His tail is the finger that stretches it slack:
He probes with its tip between body and test
And loosens the parts which too closely are pressed.
 

Then, after windows and and traps are all ready,
The tail pops inside, and with motions more steady,
sets the pump working, the water streams in,
The jelly house swells, and the fishings begin.

We believe we can satisfy any scrutator
That anatomy, house, and pharyngeal rotator
Are pure Doliolid in all their relations,
With highly original specialisations.

His tail is the problem and also the base,
For nothing will work if this you erase:
It seems that, from lack of metamorphosis,
He's larva and adult in half and half doses.