Synthetic Aesthetics, exploring the territory between art, design and synthetic biology

Regine Debatty [we make money not art] interviews Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, developer, artist and researcher.

Questions answered (selected):

• Synthetic biology is a bit of a daunting area of research. It seems to be highly technical and almost too abstract. How much background in Synthetic Biology would the designers and artists who apply for the residency need?
• I’m very interested in the Synthetic Biology protocol you designed for SymbioticA. Can you tell us something about the outcome of your residency there?
• Apart from helping scientists communicate their work, what can design and art do for synthetic biology?”

Read the complete interview [more]
CFP – Synthetic Aesthetics – Deadline 03/31/2010 [more]
Follow on twitter: http://twitter.com/wmmna
Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg [website]

CFP – Artist Scientists – Science Fair NYC

Call for Proposals: You are invited to apply with your best Hypotheses, Inventions, and Experiments.

” Science Fair will be a collaborative effort that examines science based projects and concepts through the lens of art. Artists will be encouraged to create their own Science Fair “booths” and experiments to be on display at the Fair. It is our hope to discover the potential for science as a breeding ground for art: a way to inform and inspire art as a springboard for creative thought.”

How to apply [read more]

About Flux Factory [more]

Science/NSF Announce Visualization Winners!

“Science and NSF organized this worldwide competition to reward scientists for thinking outside the box and using visualization techniques to reveal the beauty and wonder of science,” said Monica M. Bradford, executive editor of the journal Science. “The contest winners communicate difficult scientific research in a way that the general public can understand. We appreciate their work.”

Currently in its seventh year, the international competition honors artists who use visual media to promote our understanding of scientific research. The criteria for judging the entries included visual impact, effective communication, freshness and originality.

The 2009 contest drew 130 entries from 14 countries, 23 U.S. states, and the District of Columbia.

View Images: http://www.sciencemag.org/special/vis2009/show/

Scientific Computing article regarding the competition [here]

IN Cell Image Competition 2010

“Cast a vote for art in science!”

GE Healthcare’s annual cell image competition is now open at, http://www.gelifesciences.com/incellcompetition .

Over 70 images were submitted by researchers worldwide. Votes accepted through January 6, 2010.

Press release:  http://bit.ly/58MCw6

ASCI’s 11th Annual Competition Winners – Mysteries in Science

Now on display at the New York Hall of Science, ASCI’s International Digital Print Exhibition (Oct. 03 – Jan. 31, 2010)

Artists were asked to submit  ”…visual work about mysteries or intrigues in science, 2-d thought-experiments, or perhaps, fantasies about scientific theories in physics like quantum mechanics and string theory.”

View winning images and artist statements online at, http://www.asci.org/index2.php?artikel=1052

Competition background information:  http://www.asci.org/index2.php?artikel=1049

 

 

Science From Art – Novel Research, Collaborations @ the Museum

The C&EN “Science From Art” article speaks to current trends and opportunities for scientists researching collections at museums.

“ For some chemists, the next research project may be a collaboration with scientists at the local art museum. Increasingly, staff scientists at museums across the U.S. have been reaching out to colleagues in academe to pursue novel research questions about the art and cultural heritage objects housed and cared for at their institutions. “

C&EN Article:  http://bit.ly/4safe8

Wellcome Image Awards Reveal the Stories Behind Science

“‘The exhibition brings science to people and it shows them how beautiful objects actually are,” says Sir Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome Trust.

‘For the scientist, it tells of the importance of looking at small things. If you can see the structure, that tells you something about how it works.’”

Wellcome Image Awards 2009 were just announced. See the winning scientific and medical images, and find out more about the techniques, concepts  and people behind them…

Competition press release [ more ]

Website:  http://www.wellcomeimageawards.org/

Video:  http://www.wellcomeimageawards.org/gallery.asp

From Ties to Shots – Davidson’s Photomicrography Sold as Art

“Michael W. Davidson, an award-winning research associate at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and one of the world’s foremost experts in the field of optical microscopy, has joined with Florida State in signing a non-exclusive license agreement that will allow a Tallahassee-based business to market Davidson’s colorful, laboratory-produced artworks as home or office décor.

The new business, BevShots MicroArt LLC , has just begun selling high-quality prints of images that Davidson created by photographing crystallized samples of various types of beers, wines and cocktails under a microscope. The resulting molecular images, all quite distinct from one another, typically feature vivid mixes of colors and patterns that wouldn’t look out of place in an abstract art gallery.”

The BevShots website, http://www.bevshots.com/popular.html

Complete press release of above quoted text,  http://bit.ly/iCGhR

Nikon Announces Winners – 2009 Small World Competition

“For 30 years plus, Nikon has rewarded the world’s best photomicrographers who make critically important scientific contributions to life sciences, bio-research and materials science.”

The 35th Annual Small World competition winners were just announced, and are on display along at, http://www.nikonsmallworld.com/gallery/year/2009/1

The Exhibit’s tour schedule,  http://www.nikonsmallworld.com/tour

Nikon Wants Your Vote – 2009 Small World Image Competition

Nikon will announce the 2009 Small World Photomicrography competition winners officially on October 8. But now through October 2, a “Popular Vote” is underway. You may view and vote on this year’s top entries at this url:

http://www.nikonsmallworld.com/vote-launch.php

Information about the competition is available here.

DEADLINE for 2010 competition:  4/30/2010