Combining Art & Science: How and Why

Video version: https://youtu.be/weaFSVsvyBY

Anna Motýľová talks with Dr Keira Tucker, manager of ASCUS Art & Science, the first open access lab space in Scotland. They host science workshops for the general public and art exhibitions inspired by science. You will learn about Keira's personal journey as an artist/scientist, as well as 3 weird and wonderful creative projects she has facilitated between artists and scientists from the University of Edinburgh.

By the end of this episode, you will have thought about things you never have before. What happens to cancerous organs once they leave the body? Should noise in scientific data always be discarded? When medical practicioners don't hear the voices of suffering patients, can an artistic approach help?

Interview recorded, edited and produced for BioPOD by Anna Motýľová.
Camera by Ainslie Rönsdorf.
Intro and outro recorded by Felix Selasi Dewornu.
Episode cover art by Amandine Hong-Minh.

Check out the featured artists:
ASCUS Art & Science [www.ascus.org.uk]
G-lands by Emily Fong [https://emilyfongstudio.squarespace.com/]
Fluorescent images & video of salivary glands by Dr Elaine Emmerson and Dr Sara Knox, Centre for Regenerative Medicine [https://regenerative-medicine.ed.ac.uk/research/elaine-emmerson]
Oculations by Victoria Evans [www.victoriaevans.space]
Blackford Eye video by Dr Richard Essery [https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/richard-essery/]
Hemispherical Mosquito by Dr Cecile Menard [https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/cecile-menard]

Chapters:
01:26 What is ASCUS Art & Science?
03:46 Keira's background
05:14 ASCUS as a lab space
06:39 Keira's artistic journey
08:55 Keira's work in ASCUS

09:56 Project 1: The Egyptian god in salivary glands
11:27 Why salivary glands?
14:22 Why bring artists into scientific teams?
18:24 The artwork: From drawings to cabbages
29:29 The workshops: Scientist-artist-sufferer discussion

33:46 Project 2: Noise in snow science
39:04 Scientific vs. artistic research
40:30 Changing mindsets

41:59 Project 3: Surface echoes
47:05 The eczema experience(s)
49:04 Communicating science through performance
53:07 Training GPs through art

54:15 Future projects
56:11 Final lessons

Chapters

• 1:26 What is ASCUS Art & Science?
• 3:46 Keira's background
• 5:14 ASCUS's lab space
• 6:39 Keira's artistic journey
• 8:55 Keira's work in ASCUS
• 9:56 Project 1: The Egyptian god in salivary glands
• 11:27 Why salivary glands?
• 14:22 Why bring artists into scientific teams?
• 18:24 The artwork: From drawings to caggabes
• 29:29 The workshops: Scientist-artist-sufferer discussion
• 33:46 Project 2: Noise in snow science
• 39:04 Scientific vs. artistic research
• 40:30 Changing mindsets
• 41:59 Project 3: Surface echoes
• 47:05 The eczema experience(s)
• 49:04 SciComm through performance
• 53:07 Art as GP training
• 54:15 Future projects