One of my favorite posts to add to Science Forward eportfolio sites is the “link round-up” post that aggregates links to science news and other related content from around the web into a single post. As an ITF, my job isn’t really to “create content” though I do think it’s important that we engage with the same issues alongside the students so that they know their ITFs are paying attention to the course and not just some “tech person.” This type of post is fun to create and easily tailored to the themes or issues discussed in a specific class. Here are some of the posts that I’ve created for Science Forward sites:
A post with links categorized around the headings “Art and Science,” “Science & other industries and disciplines,” and “Critical Thinking, Intelligence, and the Nature of Knowledge.” Originally published 9/26/16.
Most importantly, this type of post aligns with Science Forward’s emphasis on scientific literacy, including the ability to evaluate and understand scientific information even when the information is presented by the news:
[aesop_video align=”center” src=”youtube” id=”9Ol1c7FSl-Q” caption=”‘Science Senses’ from the Science Forward video series” disable_for_mobile=”on” loop=”on” autoplay=”off” controls=”on” viewstart=”on” viewend=”on”]
As the video demonstrates, “science” might be a catch-all word for the processes of collecting data, testing data to the point that it can be considered knowledge, and then critically evaluate that information. Moreover, the link round-up post, by presenting them with a few mainstream science news articles, lets students test their science senses and begin to understand how and where distance is created between scientists and the general public, or between science and science journalism.
Below are some excerpts from the descriptions of the original pictures that, depending on the eportfolio theme, show up as the site header and logo. I picked these images for their relatively simple compositions that wouldn’t compete with any text. For example, each work has a repeating single geometric shape (square, circle) and limited color palette, which creates the appearance of negative space when text is placed on it and therefore won’t be too busy for most screens.
When looking for pictures to use, I checked two places, Bing Homepage Gallery and NASA. Every day, each site showcases a high-res photograph of nature, science and tech, or architecture, and often makes the work available for download. I also like the descriptions used for the images – each site or space is very specific location, graphic, or with the case of NASA, taken with unusual equipment – meaning that most of the photos require some kind of explanation.
While these might simply be understood as a caption or description of what the pictures depict, it might be useful to think about these descriptions as an example of science journalism. What kind of scientific literacy is required for someone to understand these descriptions? Are these good examples of writing for a general audience? What could be improved? Read on to see the full-sized images and their descriptions!
Mary Miss’s South Cove (1984-87), Battery Park City, NY. Photo source: “Mary Miss’s South Cove” at scupturenature.com.
The Brooklyn Rail’s November 2015 issue is dedicated to the intersections between art and ecology! Guest editor Greg Lindquist poses some of the same questions discussed in Science Forward though specifically focuses on the question of whether or not art can play any role in communicating the impact of environmental damage to the general public:
“What function, then, should art serve in the context of the current environment and social concerns, and to what degree of efficacy? Should it solely problematize, polemicize or theorize? Or can art provide an aesthetic, emotional, and beautiful experience while empowering direct environmental action and policy change? Can beauty infiltrate and influence public opinion?”
Click here for the rest of his Editor’s Message column titled “Social Ecologies.”
The environmental issues facing us as a result of climate change are daunting. Scientists are doing important research to address the complex topics such as water supply, food access, air quality, and temperature rise that accompany global warming. Artists are in a unique position to reflect on these topics and engage people with issues that are hard to imagine because they are happening someplace else or in the future. How can these disciplines begin working together to get the interest and attention of a broad public audience? … As we have entered the 21st century, it has become clear that we need to redefine how we live our lives, use our resources, communicate, educate, work, and collaborate. It is a time when the imagination and the ability to envision alternatives are our greatest resources. In recent years a number of questions have arisen for many artists: how is it possible to have a more central role in shaping or bringing attention to the important issues of our times? How can the imagination, the prime territory of artists, be used to engage the broader public? How can artists participate in communicating the importance of global ecological awareness? The task is to create new bonds and reconfigure the old ones—between the built environment and the natural world, between various communities, and between our history and current needs. However, change cannot happen without the support, understanding, and participation of the individual citizens that make up our communities. Individuals are key to creating a new paradigm for a sustainable future.
Originally trained as a sculptor, Miss has been creating works using the land and surrounding environment for several decades – definitely take the time to view her works at marymiss.com. Because she creates public works of art, she has a unique perspective and tremendous amounts of experience in conveying complex issues both aesthetic and environmental to a general audience – definitely something we’ve discussed all semester. She recently proposed a collaborative district for artists, scientists, and urbanists called “City as Living Laboratory” in Long Island City. Miss lives in New York.
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