ASU’s ‘Science Exposed’ merges art and science to increase awareness

By Jean Clare Sarmiento

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For the second year, scientists from ASU’s Biodesign Institute and artists from the Herberger Institute partnered for one-night-only performances of “Science Exposed: Bringing Science to Life through the Arts” that combined creativity, sound, dance and scientific curiosity.

“We’re so happy to partner with Biodesign for a second year as we move forward in exploring the relationship between pedagogy, research and the interdisciplinary practices of art and science,” said Liz Lerman, Herberger Institute Professor and MacArthur “Genius” Fellow.

Nine scientists and 18 of Lerman’s students created artistic experiences illustrating research and scientific work, including looking at the effects of Lyme disease, exploring how germs can exploit the human body, and discussions of sex and human behavior, among others.

ASU School of Life Sciences Director Bert Jacobs, dance student Tiffany Velazquez and interdisciplinary digital media theatre student Muneera Batool collaborated on “AIDS: Life-Altering, Not Life-Limiting.” As an HIV educator, Jacobs said it’s important to change people’s behaviors to reduce the risk of getting HIV.

“Using the arts in a visceral way to tell this message and working with artists to convey this information is important,” Jacobs said.

“Exploring the unknown is the tie that binds science and the arts. Connecting intellect to emotion, sound, movement and sight can spur innovation and creative thinking.”

Dianne Price, ASU’s Biodesign Institute

Another collaboration, “Sal’s Genetic Tweekery,” featured dancers Elle Spinelli and Quinn Mihalovic working with Cheryl Nickerson, an ASU School of Life Sciences professor with the Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy. The piece looked at how salmonella reacts to, changes and survives in different environments within and without the human body.

“We unravel how we have interpreted the information about salmonella from Cheryl, while utilizing gestures, text and other elements to give our best explication of the amazing and innovative work the Nickerson lab is doing,” Mihalovic said.

“Exploring the unknown is the tie that binds science and the arts,” said Dianne Price, Biodesign Institute director of communications, who along with Lerman launched this novel program last year. “Connecting intellect to emotion, sound, movement and sight can spur innovation and creative thinking.”

Dancer Tiffany Velazquez walks through possible movements of her dance
Researcher Christine Lewis in a lab