15 November 2017 Art in Science!

Art and science? What and how do they go together? Art in science is a necessity. I said it and you can choose to agree or disagree, but how else can we possibly have all those drawings and illustrations in our text books? Photographs can be wonderful, but sometimes an illustration goes far beyond a photograph. Art in science is not just for textbooks either, it is dynamic way to represent what others may never get to see, whether here in Antarctica or other places around the world, or sometimes even in the detail of a drop of pond water. Art makes you feel, whereas so often in science we are asked to be objective and to eliminate emotion and feeling from our work. Art is full of emotion and when paired with science, may be one of the best ways to communicate to the world at large. Many art-inclined students have gone thru my classroom doors and I admire that they view the world a little differently. They bring a perspective into the classroom that others may not be aware of. Further, the lovely art that often adorns their papers and the manner in which they are able to draw what they are seeing and perceiving in class makes me smile. Art is lovely and when used to bring science to the world, all the better!

These past few weeks I was able to befriend two very special women. Kirsten Carlson and Michelle Schwengel-Regala. Michelle is originally from Wisconsin and Kirsten from Missouri. However, both now reside in Hawaii. Both women are married and Michelle and her husband have a son. They each have their own passion but also share a passion for communicating science through art and in my mind are visionaries of science communication. The two have a partnership, Hook and Fathom, based in Hawaii and are here in Antarctica as part of the artists and writers grant program. They are strong, independent women with truly remarkable talents.

The first Sunday I was here, there was an interesting science talk on seals. I took notes in outline form, typical notes I might have taken in a collegiate classroom years ago. I didn’t think much of it at the time until my notes were requested by someone who didn’t have paper that evening. Kirsten's notes were also requested and both of ours were copied, distributed and exchanged. Upon receiving Kirsten’s notes, I was simultaneously impressed with the artistry of her notes and embarrassed by the form of my own. Kirsten’s illustrations were aesthetically so much more pleasing to look at and served the same function as mine, but with so much more pizazz. They captivated you. I wish I had her talent. I see this changing the way I teach both in giving notes, and in having students take notes. It is so powerful to see the pictures that coincide with the notes and to be honest, those pictures, I remember several weeks after first seeing them; the images are still easily accessible in my mind unlike those words on my own pages. Kirsten shared with me a stat that 90% of the information our brain absorbs is visual. Our brain takes in images and processes them quicker than words, in fact, visuals are processed by the brain 60,000x faster than text. Why would I not use this in my classroom? Silly question, I will. Art is wonderful. I look around the halls and the dining room on station and there is art everywhere, from paintings to graphic art, to textiles, and sculptures and even photographs all depicting some aspect of Antarctica. There is science here no doubt, more than one could comprehend, but there is also beauty. Art can capture the essence of both.

Interestingly enough, both of these women, while artists, did not start out as such. They both have undergrad degrees in science. Kirsten, a trained biologist, was actually in the last aspects of her masters program in benthics and decided to alter her work for science communication through art. Her knowledge of science is immense and a driving force behind her work. Her and Michelle are also divers and want to capture life under the ice. Many divers have attempted to do so, but as far as I am aware, none have managed to do so in Antarctica by drawing under the water. Imagine diving into frigid water, a mind numbing -1.7˚F water temp for 45 minutes and add to that fingers that are freezing cold and inside of 3 layers of gloves. Then, attempt to draw on waterproof tablets under the water without losing your drawing utensil. They do take photographs under the water, but are trying to capture things as they see them on spot rather than from photographs hours after the dive. They are dedicated to their work and it shows. Kirsten has illustrated a book entitled, “Sea Secrets”. I can’t wait to get my hands on this when I get home. Michelle has knitted a QR code of their joint collaboration work as shown in the pic below. If you have a reader on your phone, give it a go. It really does work!

I am fortunate to be able to call these women friends and hope to someday visit them in Hawaii. Flat Lorax may have to take another trip! Tonight's image is for Dawn, a fellow APES teacher and good friend at Homestead High School in WI so she too may share the fun with her students!