Connecting Art and Science

As scientists, we are incredibly enthusiastic about what we do, but it's often hard to translate it into understandable information for people outside of our little scientific bubble. And this is exactly, where good graphics and illustrations can help us the most! In my talk I’ll show you how I have used visuals to communicate some of our research with friends, family, the public, and high-school students.

Communicating science visually is often a delicate balance between presenting all the subtleties and context of a topic and creating something that is understandable, even aesthetically pleasing, to the audience. Where is the line between elegant simplicity and oversimplification? How far can one take artistic interpretation without distorting the concept? What ethical considerations come into play?
As a filmmaker working with fields ranging from AI to psychiatric neuroscience and geology, I face these questions on a regular basis. And, while my talk might not have all the answers, I hope it will lay the groundwork for you to create beautiful and informative visuals of your own

My focus is unambiguous: sustainability in today's world. I aim to establish an aesthetic sensitivity that bridges boundaries and allows glimpses into the future while incorporating cutting-edge scientific research. I am currently working with a material scientist on a project. We are researching bacterial decomposition of a PET sculpture. The bacteria culture in question is called Ideonella sakaiensis and its ability to degrade plastic waste is very promising. This work shows the vital importance of an essentially invisible microbe to human existence and questions the widely hold assumption that complex life emerged from simple organisms. The other way around is more likely. Life sprang into existence from an unfathomable degree of complexity.