This presentation will explore the role and work of student artists and the art institution in addressing pressing ecological concerns through multidisciplinary discourse and collaboration with governmental and non-governmental entities including the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

The Pacific Northwest College of Art’s Art + Science Initiative will be used as a case study to examine the work of student artists in engaging in scientific discourse to respond to the mission and concerns of various scientific agencies through an interdisciplinary multimedia practice including performative, illustration, print and social engaged art; all forms of making that engage audience in novel ways to highlight social and ecological concerns and inspire change.

This presentation will include a discussion of various modes of collaboration between scientists and students artists. These collaborations include (1) the Art + Science Residency where MFA students are actively embedded into NOAA Fisheries research stations for a six week period; (2) the Science in Studio Award, where students are selected to participate in creatively addressing themes identified by NOAA Fisheries including water toxicity, native salmon culture in Californian, and our (problematic) interaction with marine mammals on the west coast; (3) projects in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Agriculture that focus on highlighting concerns around invasive Japanese beetle and the role of pollinators in Oregon’s diverse agriculture landscape; (4); Student created and taught art-science integrated curriculum for summer school nature programming at Oregon Museum of Science and Industry; and (5) lectures and workshops that bring scientists, artists and community members to support a critical cultural dialogue at the site of art & design schools around social and ecological themes, bridging vocabularies and methodologies to promote collaborative and creative response to pressing environmental and sustainability issues. 

http://www.pnca.edu/programs/special/c/art-science-initiative/