Science

7D Project and Reading 4: Science

For this project/reading you will work in groups of three to four. There is no separate science reading assignment, but in order to "solve" the project assignment everybody in the group has to read the readings.

The project should explore a specific scientific inquiry wich you are introduced to by attending a lecture in any science department at UCSB (see links below).

Your group will produce a project proposal not an actual project. The imagined project could be conceptual, digital, sculptural, performative, visual etc. Avoid illustrating the issues talked about in the lecture/magazine. The readings this period provides ways in which to think about how art can participate in and enrich scientific inquires.

The project proposal should include:

1. Description of the project, how it will look/function, what materials it is made out of, how it is constructed, how do the audience experience or interact with the project etc.

2. Description of the conceptual significance of the project. In the readings you find many different ways that art projects can contribute to a scientific inquiry. Describe how your project does it. Include at least one explicit reference (with quote's) to 3 of the following articles:

a, Jonah Lehrer "The Future of Science is Art?" (Seed, 2007)
b, Natalie Jeremijenko and Lawrence Krauss Interview (Seed, 2007)
c,Hans H Diebner "Performative Science" (excerpt from Performative Science and Beyond --Involving the Process in Research) (2006)
d, Sian Ede "Ambiguities and Singularities" (excerpt from Art & Science) (2006)
e, Stephen Wilson "Elaboration on the Approach of Art as Research" (excerpt from Information Arts) (2001)
f, Ron Platt "Lab Results" (2002)

(Use the other readings, which have a lot of examples of art projects, as a way to get ideas.)

3. Images such as charts, illustrations, sketches, and other materials such as sound files if relevant.

4. Links to external sites about the scientific inquiry you are dealing with.

The proposal (approx. 1000 words) with images and other media files, should be turned into a web page. Link to the page from all the group members' home pages.

Schedule:

Before first 'Science' section meeting (before Feb 28/March 1):
Together with 2-3 of your classmates (the groups should consist of 3-4 people), go to a lecture in any Science department at UCSB that seems interesting to you for any reason (see links below). It is very likely that the lectures are about topics that you don't know anything about. Don't let that discourage you. Just find some way to relate to the material presented in the lecture and let it inspire you. Don't get frustrated if you don't understand what is said. Just hang on to the bits that make you think about something interesting. Take notes, start thinking of a creative way of approaching whatever catches your interest. You might choose to look through the readings before you go to the science lecture so that you can more easily imagine how to approach the subject from an artistic point of view.

First week of the Science period (Feb. 28 to March 4):
Read the three+ readings your group choose to read. Discuss your idea within your group, divide up the work. Write description, make diagrams, sketches, models, whatever materials you need to accurately present the project idea.

Second week (March 7 to March 10):
First section:
Write description, make diagrams, sketches, models, whatever materials you need to accurately present the project idea. Scan/document materials and make a web site with the proposal.

Second section:
Present the project idea to your section, discussions.





UCSB Science Departments Events Websites (You might be able to find other ones):

Lifesciences: Biomolecular Science and Engineering Events Calendar (Click on "View all Calendars")
Lifesciences: Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology

Bren School of Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Earth Science
Geography

Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Physics
Physics
Astro Physics
Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics
Center for Nano Technology in Society
Center for Nano Technology in Society
Center for Nano Technology in Society
California Nano Systems Institute

Chemistry
Chemical Engineering
Materials

Computer Science
Math
Statistics and applied probability
Economics

Communication
Political Science
Psychology
Sage Center For The Study of The Mind

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