I am excited to be presenting my practice at the National Astronomy Meeting 2025 at Durham University this Friday.
My session:
Crossing Boundaries: The benefits of ArtScience for contemporary astronomy research
With thanks to the organisers:
Ulrike Kuchner, Soheb Mandhai; co organisers: Jenni French, John Paice, Jake Noel-Storr, Houda Haidar.
Art and science both expand human knowledge by blending imaginative thinking with analytical decision-making to create original ideas. Despite their historical synergy, fully harnessing their potential in today’s astronomy research is challenging. Ever-growing data, large-scale collaborations, and the rise of artificial intelligence often limit opportunities for creative engagement with complex ideas and data. Artistic methods like virtual reality, music, digital and performance art, offer inclusive ways for exploration, understanding and communication.
While art is widely used for information visualization in outreach and science communication, this session focuses on three less-explored aspects of ArtScience:
o Creativity: ArtScience to contribute to knowledge creation will provide an overview of research and practice into ArtScience for interdisciplinary goals (eg. Kuchner+2023; Birsel+2023).
o Inclusivity: ArtScience to improve research culture and accessibility will highlight artistic methods and tools promoting equality, inclusivity, and diversity (eg. Sensory science clubs for neurodiverse audiences).
o STEAM: ArtScience to support teaching and learning will share STEAM (STEM+Art) practice for education (eg. Aguilera+2024).
We will address key challenges, such as navigating differing disciplinary practices, finding funding, and contextualizing collaborative outcomes. Practical advice will include available UK funding schemes, joining communities, setting shared goals, and evaluating results.
The Royal Astronomical Society is proud to present the next National Astronomy Meeting, NAM2025, at Durham University from Monday 7th July to Friday 11th July, 2025. It is organised in conjunction with Durham University's Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy, the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation, the Institute for Computational Cosmology, the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology, and the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
NAM2025 covers the full range of astronomy research in the UK, including the instrumentation and astro-particle communities, as well as other key issues relevant to the UK astronomy community.