TY - ABST

T1 - Barcode UK-beyond the visible: a science-art collaboration

AU - Liggins, Andrea

AU - de Vere, Natasha

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - Background: Artists and scientists have been working, usually independently, on a range of environmental research; however, art–science collaborations, particularly in the design and inception of research projects, have been limited. Using as case studies two collaborative projects, this research explored the insights, findings, and added value of art and science collaborations. The art research in these projects investigated the aesthetic representation of plants and landscape and how this affected perceptions of DNA barcoding and of the perceived value of the plants themselves. Results: The collaboration increased awareness and understanding of the Barcode Wales and Barcode UK projects, in a very large sector of the arts and science communities, and the general public, through exhibitions and journal articles. The research into aesthetics and representation applied to the artwork (photography) confirmed that alternative modes of composition can affect the way landscape, plants, and the science are perceived. The work influenced the views of the scientist and artist, and a further collaboration is planned focusing upon an application of DNA metabarcoding pollen to investigate the floral preferences of the honey bee. Significance: The Welsh and Chinese governments supported a large-scale exhibition Barcode Wales—Beyond theVisible at Nanshan Botanic Garden, Chongqing, which received over a million visitors. Both the scientist and artist gave lectures and television presentations to wide audiences, which included specialist researchers. Exhibitions were also held in India, supported by the British Council, and in Wales at the National Botanic Garden of Wales and the Eisteddfod Science Pavilion. Following on from these projects, a network of artists, scientists, and stakeholders is currently under development to provide a hub that encourages collaboration on research into pollinators, which will include the pollen DNA metabarcoding honey bee project.

AB - Background: Artists and scientists have been working, usually independently, on a range of environmental research; however, art–science collaborations, particularly in the design and inception of research projects, have been limited. Using as case studies two collaborative projects, this research explored the insights, findings, and added value of art and science collaborations. The art research in these projects investigated the aesthetic representation of plants and landscape and how this affected perceptions of DNA barcoding and of the perceived value of the plants themselves. Results: The collaboration increased awareness and understanding of the Barcode Wales and Barcode UK projects, in a very large sector of the arts and science communities, and the general public, through exhibitions and journal articles. The research into aesthetics and representation applied to the artwork (photography) confirmed that alternative modes of composition can affect the way landscape, plants, and the science are perceived. The work influenced the views of the scientist and artist, and a further collaboration is planned focusing upon an application of DNA metabarcoding pollen to investigate the floral preferences of the honey bee. Significance: The Welsh and Chinese governments supported a large-scale exhibition Barcode Wales—Beyond theVisible at Nanshan Botanic Garden, Chongqing, which received over a million visitors. Both the scientist and artist gave lectures and television presentations to wide audiences, which included specialist researchers. Exhibitions were also held in India, supported by the British Council, and in Wales at the National Botanic Garden of Wales and the Eisteddfod Science Pavilion. Following on from these projects, a network of artists, scientists, and stakeholders is currently under development to provide a hub that encourages collaboration on research into pollinators, which will include the pollen DNA metabarcoding honey bee project.

U2 - 10.1139/gen-2015-0087

DO - 10.1139/gen-2015-0087

M3 - Conference abstract in journal

VL - 58

SP - 246

JO - Genome

JF - Genome

SN - 0831-2796

IS - 5

ER -