Art & Biology
with special focus on microscopy
Stephen Wilson, Art Dept, SFSU
Scientific Culture
(historical & contemporary)
Art & Biology
Protozoa Games
Intel QX3 Microscope
Scientific Culture
- Science shape contemporary culture (from gadgets to basic
philosophical notions)
- Critical to have wide public participation
(governmental funding & policy support
- Encourage young people to follow careers
- Wide public discourse
- Enrich research
Scientific Literacy
- Public understanding of terms, issues, values, future
scenarios. Interest in research outcomes
- More profound - involvement of non-scientists in Science
- My special interest is the contribution of non - professionals to
science
- Setting rsearch agendas, conducting research, interpretation,
visualization, refining instrumentation
Historical Precdents for wide participation
- Originally science was part of all learning - natural philosophy
- Amateurs had important role - amateur comes from latin "to love"
- people who did it not because it was their job
- 17th & 18th century science was part of an educated
gentleman's interest, parlor entertainment, public presentations,
marketplace for instruments
- Especially microscopy
- Link - summary
of historical amateur science culture
Analogy to Digital Culture
- Possibility of resurgence of science interest in contemporary
society
- started out as esoteric scientific devices
- Early belief that only advanced Phd mathematicians could
understand them
- 1980- development of microcomputer result in wide interest
- Artists got involved as early developers
- Now 13 year olds major contributors to open source development
- Diffusion into popular culture/ prosumer devices
- Link - historical/current
Future Diffusion of Biology Research Culture - Art/Biology
- Some believe the same must happen with Biology
- Rapid diffusion of basic concepts such as genome, genetic
engineering, etc
- Rapid increase of accessability of equipment - eg coolscope
- Increasing involvement of artists in biology - art
exhibits, books
- Link - books/shows
- Variety of artistic work - Link - art
& biology web site
Wilson Involvement with Emerging Technologies