Art from the most recent Art and Science on a Postcard workshop was on display during the Festival of Creative Learning.

The exhibition ran from February 18th-22nd, with a launch party and discussion on February 18th (Monday) from 6.30pm. The exhibition was held at the Edinburgh University Library, George Square.

To celebrate the launch of the exhibition on Monday 18th February, we hosted a discussion between some of the artists and scientists who took part. Find out about their experience of working together, the challenges and the surprises of bringing the two disciplines together.

What is Art and Science on a Postcard?

This workshop is a collaborative & creative exchange of knowledge and ideas. Scientists and artists will exchange their research and creative practices which will be followed by a hands-on collaborative image making session inspired by the conversations, concepts and exchange of ideas. This workshop is not about making illustrative scientific imagery, it is about a two way exchange of knowledge and experience between scientists and artists.

This workshop will appeal to artists interested in exploring the challenge of image making in the response to current scientific research and scientists interested in embracing creative approaches to image making as a visual aid in explaining their research.

Artists will be encouraged to act as a creative mentor to the scientist they’re paired with, sharing their practice and experience and scientists will be encouraged to communicate their research in ways that are accessible and to think outside the box in terms of how their science could be represented.

Why join this workshop?

For artists this is an opportunity to: explore creatively concepts of current scientific research unearth and discuss some of the current complex questions of life being explored in science share your creative practice and approaches with scientists and other artists produce your own creative reactions to science through responsive image making (on a postcard) explore the challenge of image making in response to current scientific research be a creative mentor to your scientist pair

For scientists this is an opportunity to: think about the essence of your research creatively and in a metaphorical and narrative sense explore alternative ways to explain and share your research with non-scientists get excited about your research get non-science audiences excited and engaged with current scientific research explore the challenge of making images (on a postcard) that reflect and/or capture aspects of your research be challenged to explain your science in alternative and simplified ways

About Workshop Partners

ASCUS is a non-profit organisation committed to bridging the gap between the arts and sciences. ASCUS works with partners and practitioners to create innovative trans-disciplinary projects to engage new and wider audiences and facilitate innovative public engagement with both fields.