|
2022 SciArt LAB + STUDIO
That's a wrap!
|
|
|
Sci|Art Lab+Studio Summer Institute offers
a cutting-edge, 4-credit lab/studio course to High School students on methodologies for applying the scientific method and creative processes as complementary tools for art, design and innovation.
This summer we had two UCLA Sci Art two sessions -- on site and online! Students completed a 10 week undergraduate course in 10 days with spectacular results. Two professors, five instructors, three teaching assistants and 10 lecturers were on hand making it happen. This is STEAM reconfigured and in action: Science Technology Ecology Arts and Mindfulness!
|
|
|
SESSION A (IN PERSON) June 27, 2022 – July 8, 2022
|
|
|
|
On Day 1 we received introductions from one of the directors of the program Dr. Jim Gimzewski and learned more about the instructors [Ivana Dama - Lead Instructor, Emma Aakmakdjian, Ivy Lovett, Alvaro Azcarraga, Ariel Uzal] and TAs [Henrik Soederstroem, Jennifer Hotes, Maryam Razi]. The students also acquired a knowledge of how to make their own sketchbook/lab book taught by Ivy Lovett & Alvaro Azcarraga and then used their sketchbooks in the next days for the Eco-Sensing exercise led by Mick Lorusso and for the Visualizing Carbon lecture/workshop conducted by Victoria Vesna.
|
|
|
On Day 2 we focused our discussions on the fundamental properties of Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies led by two profound figures Dr. Adam Stieg and Dr. Vuk Uskokovic. Between the lectures, Dr. Victoria Vesna - the director of the program - gave us an astonishing talk on the topic 'Graphite and Graphene' and their implications to the present day and a workshop using only pencils and paper to further convey this topic.
|
|
|
CNSI Lab Tours
We got an exclusive, virtual tour of many of California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) labs to highlight the topics discussed above, including the Advanced Light Microscopy/Spectroscopy (ASML) lab and saw how super resolution optical microscopes like the stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscope operates with a demo examining a stained ascaris worm and the different dyes that differentiate and characterize the properties of a biological specimen. We also visited the Electron Imaging Center for NanoMachines (EICN) and got to see a Titan transmission electron microscope automatically imaging biological samples capable of achieving atomic resolution. Lastly, we visited the Nano & Pico Characterization (NPC) lab and got to see an atomic force microscope scanning a sample in real time and how mild vibrational noises can directly influence a sensitive measurement.
|
|
|
Day 3 started with an informative lecture led by Alvaro Azcarraga & Nidhi Vinod about leaf skeletons, cyanotype, herbarium, and scientific colonialism to warm the students up for an enjoyable workshop on cyanotype printing. The day followed by another mesmerizing lecture led by Mick Lurosso called Eco-sensing, with a focus on the microbiome phenomenon and during this session we learned about complex interactions in our bodies and how these invisible species might impact our behaviors and feelings. Another bright feature of the day was about meditating with Mick in the botanical garden.
|
|
|
On Day 4 we moved on to another adventurous pathway and learned more about the convergence of art and Technology. the day started out with a bold workshop led by Ariel Uzal: 'Listening to the Invisible' and followed by another workshop on art, creativity and technology conducted by Ivy Lovett: 'Sculpting with Digital Debris'. Ivy taught the students how to source 3D objects and how to implement these assembled sculptures in augmented reality. Learning the language of 'Remote Sensing' was another limitless shared topic on Day 4. Caltech alumni Shane Houchin elaborated on the subject.
|
|
|
Moving on to more wonders of integrated disciplines, Day 5 started out with a fundamental lecture by Dr. Jim Gimzewski: 'Music and Quantum Mechanics'. during this day, students got to learn theoretical as well as practical skills in making sounds and creating audio pieces. the opportunity of experimenting with audio technology happened through a thrilling workshop by Ivana Dama: 'Deep Listening' and 'Wave & Frequencies' by Henrik Soederstroem.
|
|
|
Emma Akmakdjian invited us all on a field trip on the Day 6 of the program.
discovering different types of algae, Malibu Lagoon State Beach generously offered all of us a plenty of algae types in different shapes as well as peaceful ocean breeze and a memorable sunny day. Students collected their seaweeds carefully and kept them in a box, so they would be able to use them in the next workshop with Emma.
|
|
|
We spent Day 7 learning about Astronomy and Astrophysics and visiting the magical planetarium located on the campus. Dr. Santiago Torres opened up a new window before our eyes and unveiled the starry night sky of LA free of light pollution. The day got more fascinating when the students met David Roy and built their own rockets! David Roy is a visual artist and educator based in LA. He gave us a talk about his art practices and taught the students how to make a water rocket! We spent the last hour of the workshop outside launching the rockets.
|
|
|
We started Day 8 off strong with working on final project proposals. students begin working and sharing ideas with their teams, instructors and workshop leaders. The brainstorming day followed by an informative lecture on biology research by Cesar Perez Ramirez. Later, we joined Emma Akmakdjian to complete the second part of the workshop and create the algae art pieces.
|
|
|
We spent Day 9 working on the final projects - instructors and TAs helped students to think out of the box and imagine the non-imaginary solutions in the process of working on their proposals. Jeremy Kamal joined as the last speaker to add a bit of his magic to the bowl! Harvard alumni Jeremy Kamal, gave a retrospective talk about his creative practices as a way of exploring relationships between blackness, culture, and ecology.
|
|
|
Spending two intensive weeks working, learning, discovering, and observing different aspects of art, science and technology, students presented their final projects in 12 groups on the last day of the program. each group focused on an issue and suggested solving the issue through the lenses of art, science and technology!
|
|
|
|
