Reading between the lines: Translating light from science to art

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This project is a collaboration between a team of star and planet formation scientists based at the University of Dundee (UoD), the UK artist duo Semiconductor, and art curator and researcher Adam Lockhart, also based at the UoD (Duncan of Jordanstone College of Arts & Design; DJCAD). Our aim is to use art as a vehicle to communicate scientific processes behind the technique of time-resolved spectroscopy to a broad spectrum of public, encouraging them to think and wonder about the capabilities of mapping what is nearly invisible, and to raise awareness in science communities about what art-science collaborations can achieve. Our current research work as part of the STFC Consolidated Grant "The Planet-Disk Connection" is based on the emission line tomography technique, using time-resolved spectroscopy data of young stellar systems to extract velocity information that can be transformed into a spatial picture of the environments around young stars and forming planets. We want to put the focus on the scientific techniques, not just the outcome, to make the public participate in the challenges faced by astrophysicists and the role of time in mapping space. By using art we want to both make it easier to introduce the complex techniques behind the methodology used and raise awareness about the scientific procedure, techniques, and limitations behind the science. This will trigger philosophical discussion around the role of technology and humans as observers of processes that are nearly invisible.Semiconductor will create a wall-based electronic artwork that examines the techniques employed by the scientists. The artwork will be exhibited at several well-established events and venues including Mills Observatory (Dundee 2021-22), NEoN Digital Arts Festival (Autumn 2021), and Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA) Cormack Astronomy Meeting (Edinburgh, Autumn 2021). We will also be looking to exhibit at festivals such as Edinburgh and Cheltenham Science Festival (Spring 2022) and others. This variety of events and venues will allow the project to reach broader sectors of the public than what we have had with science-only activities, from young people, 16-19 and older attending NEoN, families with school-aged children at Mills, and the scientific community via SUPA/Cormack. Through this mixture of venues and audiences, the aim is also to reach some sectors of the public that may not be so interested in pure STEM-based public engagement and, in addition, professionals and students of science and art. More generally, art has been shown to be successful in attracting sectors of the public that may not attend usual science exhibits, such as young people (aged 16-19) and in particular girls. We also aim to promote future similar collaborations between art and science among professional researchers and artists, and university students of science and art.In conjunction with the artwork, we will present scientific materials through talks and leaflets, and will enhance our presence using the web and social media to help the public participate in the search and discovery behind the scientific results. The artists will also give presentations on their work as leading artists in their field with an extensive history of art-science collaborations. One edition of the artwork will be archived at the DJCAD. This will allow for the impact of the project to be long-lasting, enabling access by artists, scientists, and the general public, as well as inspiring future new artists, scientists, and collaborations between them.COVID-19 note: Public venues are currently closed, but the initial part of our project (developing and building the artworks based on the collaboration between artists and scientists via meetings and discussion - which can be online) can start in lockdown. Public exhibitions will start in mid-to-late 2021. Web presence, social media and newsletter communications will run from the start of the project.