When Art Meets Science: The Art & Science Project
Art and science may seem like two separate worlds, but at their intersection lies a powerful tool for understanding and communication. The Art & Science Project, now in its fourth edition, brings together the creative ingenuity of the Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD), the cutting-edge research of the Faculty of Science at the AV短视频, and the outreach expertise of TheScienceBreaker. Its goal? To make scientific research accessible, engaging, and visually captivating for audiences as diverse as policymakers, journalists, and the general public.
Created in 2019 under the leadership of Professor Jérôme Lacour, former Dean, and Jean-Pierre Greff, then Director of HEAD, this project, which initially began as an experiment, has evolved into a tradition with an annual event. Today, it generates a rich visual archive that documents and highlights the Faculty’s research while showcasing the creative talents of HEAD’s students.
The project’s mission is both simple and ambitious: to make scientific research accessible, engaging, and relevant to diverse audiences, including policymakers, journalists, and the general public. Through illustrations and comic strips, complex scientific concepts are transformed into narratives that spark curiosity and reflection. But the project’s impact doesn’t stop there—it also strengthens the Faculty’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and showcases the power of creativity in science communication.
A Collaborative Experiment in Art and Education
For HEAD students, the Art & Science Project offers a unique challenge: how to capture the essence of intricate scientific concepts and convey them visually in a single image? This process, guided by HEAD members Clément Paurd, head of the illustration program at HEAD, and Sammy Stein, independent illustrator and co-founder of Lagon Revue, begins with short lectures where researchers from the Faculty of Science share their work. These sessions immerse the students in disciplines as diverse as molecular biology, astrophysics, and climate science.
“Addressing such diverse scientific topics through drawing and storytelling is no easy task” says Clément Paurd, coordinator of the project at HEAD. “Our students focus on a striking aspect of the research - it is the perception of the subject that matters first and foremost. Then, we guide them in their visual and narrative explorations, keeping in mind that their images will serve as gateways to the articles that present the scientific research in greater detail”.
One particularly striking illustration from a past edition captured the concept of supramolecular polymers, an innovative alternative to traditional plastics. The illustration highlighted the way molecules of different shapes—discs, bowls, and saddles—affect the assembly and stability of these polymers. Drawing on by Professor Michael Rickhaus and his team, how saddle-shaped molecules, inspired by the geometry of stacked potato chips, can form well-defined polymer structures without relying on strong chemical “glue.”
The workshops challenge students to think beyond their usual creative boundaries, offering a rare opportunity to translate scientific concepts into compelling visuals. This experience equips them with practical tools for tackling collaborative, interdisciplinary projects—skills that are becoming indispensable in today’s professional landscape.
Making Science Accessible and Visible
For the Faculty of Science, the Art & Science Project represents a way to make its research resonate beyond the walls of academia. The collaboration centers on reimagining how scientific discoveries can be shared with a broader audience through the lens of visual storytelling.
The Faculty’s role involves more than simply sharing research findings. Researchers work closely with artists to rethink how complex concepts are conveyed to those without a scientific background. “It’s an opportunity for researchers to step out of their comfort zones” explains Massimo Caine, the Dean's Office communications manager. “The aim isn’t to oversimplify the science but to present it in a way that’s both accessible and engaging”.
These illustrations serve multiple purposes, each carefully tied to the original research. Every illustration is featured alongside a popularized summary on TheScienceBreaker, ensuring the visuals and language work together to make the science accessible to a broad audience. This collaboration helps journalists and policymakers connect with the research more intuitively while also reaching the general public.
The illustrations also find a place in press releases and on social media, where platforms like Instagram amplify their impact. Here, visuals drive engagement, introducing the Faculty’s research to audiences who might never have encountered it otherwise.
“TheScienceBreaker plays a crucial role in extending the project’s reach” explains Massimo Caine “For some students, this is their first experience of seeing their work published. It’s a significant milestone that not only highlights their creative efforts but also contributes to the broader dissemination of science”.
Looking Ahead
As the project continues, each edition builds on the last. What remains constant is the quiet but significant impact these collaborations have—on how we see science, on how we communicate, and on how we connect with those beyond our academic walls.
Projects like Art & Science remind us that communicating research is not just about dissemination - it’s about dialogue. Science needs interpreters, translators, and storytellers to reach beyond the journal articles and conferences where it often resides. And within the Faculty itself, the project is a subtle but important reminder of what can happen when we look at our work through someone else’s eyes - or in this case, through someone else’s art.
For now, the project continues, steadily producing work that makes the Faculty’s research visible in new ways. It’s not about fanfare but about opening doors - one image at a time.
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