Science Communication & The Arts

Last week, I attended the opening reception of an exhibition hosted by SciComm@UCR, the science communication group at the University of California, Riverside. In this exhibition, the graduate students of SciComm@UCR blend scientific research with artistic expression.  

Visitors filled the gallery located in The Barn on campus. I saw guests thoroughly engaged in conversation with exhibiting artists. I learned a lot and had so much fun.

The fifteen artists participating in "Artistic Expression of Original Research" conduct research across the sciences. Through their projects, artists bring the following sciences to this year's exhibition:

• Plant Science

• Neuroscience

• Biomedical Science

• Electrical Engineering

• Social/Personality Psychology

• Mathematics

• Environmental Engineering

• Chemistry

• Science Communication (and Comics)

• Engineering

• Microbiology

• Animal husbandry in labs

Visitors will view artwork in the following media: macro photography, audio, acrylic paint, collage and mixed media, video, comics, sculpture, linocut prints, collage, and watercolor with mixed media.

This exhibition is not just a display of art and science but a highly interactive experience. Next month, there will be another opportunity to experience the exhibition. The SciComm@UCR gallery will be on view at Back to the Grind coffeehouse in downtown Riverside on Thursday, May 2, 2024, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Click on the button below for directions and a tour of the coffeehouse.

To learn more about SciComm@UCR and their podcast, listen to my conversation with Jessica Maccaro, Catherine Nguyen, and Joshua Reger here.