Scientists are clever people so I guess we shouldn’t be surprised at all the different art forms they have mastered to do science communications. I have compiled some great examples below, but welcome others. Feel free to share some of your favourites in the comment section.
Using dance to explain science is not new; nevertheless, I was somewhat sceptical when I came across the “Dance of the stem cell fairies” back in 2014, but was much more receptive to the idea in 2016. Camila Londono also blogged about dance as a medium for science communications in a post she wrote in 2015, when she was a graduate student. She was very much in favour of dance as a form of science communications and felt it proved how intelligent, creative and persistent graduate students are – along with being good dancers. (No bias there whatsoever.)
We both featured the highly original and creative contest that is “Dance Your Ph.D,” created by John Bohannon in 2008. But all that seems like a lifetime ago and it’s time to introduce new readers to the wonders of doing science communications through dance.
“Dance Your Ph.D.” is still going strong after more than a decade. If you are unfamiliar with it, the name of the contest says it all. If you have a PhD or you are a PhD candidate, and you are in a science-related field (read the amusing FAQ here), you may submit a video that explains your PhD topic through dance. Also, you have to be in the video. And there is prize money involved. You can get all the details here.
This year’s winner, Povilas Šimonis, described the electric stimulation of yeast and made it compelling to watch, which is a key element of science communications. Naturally you need to be able to explain the subject at hand in a clear manner that a non-scientist can understand, but you also need to keep your audience engaged. As Povilas Šimonis explains in Science: “Usually when you’re looking at scientific presentations you stop listening within a minute if you’re not hooked,” he says. “Our idea was to make everything attractive, but for people who become interested in the science, they are able to dig deeper.”
Science communications through art is another popular medium and one that we have blogged about many times on Signals. Read Eleni Kanavas’ blog that explains what “sciart” is and why it’s effective and this blog about an art exhibit on Drs. Till and McCulloch.
Sciart also takes the form of the annual Cells I See contest – now in its 14th year! Scientists – although that’s not a contest requirement – submit beautiful cell images and the public gets to vote on which image they like the most. From now until September 6, 2022, anyone can vote for their favourite image.
Radha Chaddah is a Canadian visual artist, and cell and molecular biologist, who has been educating the public about the invisible world of cells through her art and light installations. Most recently, she has included dance to help communicate her message of our place in nature. During the pandemic she created a multimedia performance for Toronto’s Aga Khan Museum. The next and third installment of her beautiful and haunting work will be on display in December 2022.
In 2023, all four acts of her work, titled IAM, will be presented together as a 50-minute live outdoor performance by the Aga Khan Museum before it goes on a national tour. The following year, IAM will be presented in Brazil, Japan, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Britain. Watch IAM: Dance of the Molecules, the first installment in Radha Chaddah’s four-part series about COVID-19.
In addition to dance and art to communicate science, another medium is song. If you’ve ever heard of the clever couple that is AsapSCIENCE – and millions subscribe to their YouTube videos – I’m confident you are impressed with their ability to explain science in a comprehensible, catchy and memorable way. My favourite is their Taylor Swift parody to make the point that science is awesome. We both had a go at explaining the need to follow rules when you’re in a lab, but I’ll concede that they did it better. I’m also a big fan of educator Jonathan Garlick, aka “the stem cell rapper.”
If you like a good joke – and who doesn’t – there’s a stem cell biologist who uses humour to communicate science. After watching his stand-up routine, you can let me know whether he tickled your funny bone or left you wanting more. If you like Dave Christensen, you can also hear him making jokes and talking about his stem cell research on the Bright Club Southampton Podcast.
Believe it or not, I have more. Although I already wrote about dance as a way of communicating science, a flash mob gets its own category. I give you a stem cell flash mob and this local effort that was choreographed for the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine as part of a fundraising event in 2016. Maybe you’ll recognize some of the dancers.
Because I have to stop somewhere, I’m ending with #ScienceIsADrag. Although the 2022 event has already taken place, you can look forward to next year when drag performances and science presentations collide. Can I get an amen?
You have waited patiently to watch this year’s winner of “Dance Your Ph.D.” Wait no more. But don’t forget to share your favourite examples of creative science communications below!
Stacey Johnson
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