Cognitive Conversations #2 Under the Microscope: Art & Science as Intervention
How you can be part of SWN #11 Synergy // 2025 Science Journalist-in-Residence opportunity! // Open-source BioArt // Plus, catch up on the latest SWN podcast ep!
SWN Podcast: Cognitive Conversations #2
Check out the next instalment in our Cognitive Conversations series: #2 ‘Under the Microscope: Art and Science as Intervention’, featuring writers Ashley Kalagian Blunt and Katerina Bryant, and visual artist Chelsea Hopkins-Allan
This conversation delves into the creative process, visual art and storytelling, the science of colour, environmental science, and so much more. In this episode, we explore the stories of three creative practitioners living with neurological and chronic health conditions, and how they’ve come to their creative practice through this lived experience, or vice versa; how illness has shaped and redefined their creative process.
“I remember the first time I saw a butterfly’s wing scales… the butterfly wing is covered in tiny, microscopic scales, and it looks like this incredible abstract textile artwork in its own right. And so I just created that… not trying to make art [but] just trying to hold onto that feeling of awe and wonder…” – Chelsea Hopkins-Allan
We unpack the creative mindset and “day in the life of…” two writers and an artist, discussing everything from memoir to crime thrillers; biography and nonfiction; to artistic practices inspired by the microscopic details in nature. We talk about the (dis)connections perceived in art and science, and how the act of creating – whether writing or painting – has the capacity to re-frame the narrative and transform us.
Cognitive Conversations is a new series on the SWN Podcast where we tackle the big questions in creativity and neuroscience. Each episode you’ll hear from a range of experts across the arts and sciences. This series is hosted and produced by Bianca Millroy, an emerging science writer, editor, and PhD student based in Meanjin (Brisbane). Missed the last one? Listen to Cognitive Conversations #1 Synergies.
Make Synergy Happen - Australian Cultural Fund
Help us fund the 11th edition of Science Write Now (Dec 2024), which is focused on creative explorations of the science of Synergy — interactions, collaborations, and things that together become more than the sum of their parts.
Over the past four years, Science Write Now has published ten digital editions of creative writing inspired by science, and every edition is free to access. Why?
Because…
we believe in quality, creative science communication.
creative expression contextualises scientific ideas into everyday lives, building spaces for empathy and change.
we stand by paying our authors and artists for their work.
too much science is paywalled.
How you can make Synergy happen: check out our Australian Cultural Fund campaign, where you can choose to personalise your contribution and directly fund the talented artists and writers who will feature in our forthcoming edition. Fund a poem for $70 (new) or $20 (reprint); a story or essay for $390 (new) or $40 (reprint); $100 to support a podcast episode; or help us license a cover artwork. Donations of $2 or more are fully tax deductible, so donate what you can!
We’re already planning new online and print editions for 2025, expanding our podcast series, and growing our engagement with scientific, literary and educational institutions. But we can’t do it without you!
Let’s work together to keep Science Write Now free to access, because quality science writing, right now, is more important than ever.
Announcing the inaugural SJAA ‘Science Journalist in Residence’ program - now open!
The Science Journalists Association of Australia (SJAA) is proud to announce a first-of-its-kind science journalism residency program for Australian science journalists at The University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience.
This residency is for a practising journalist with at least 3 years' experience who focuses on science, health, technology, and environment reporting. The ‘Science Journalist-in-Residence’ (SJiR) will stay for 3 months (up to 4 months total) in 2025 to engage with IMB scientists and gain insight into their research. During their time at IMB, it’s hoped the SJiR will develop bold new projects, find new or untold stories, deepen their knowledge of current research, and contribute to science journalism.
Moreover, this exciting new program is designed to encourage greater dialogue between journalists, scientists and researchers, sparking innovative ways to engage researchers and the public, and open up new pathways for collaboration. The SJiR will receive funding of up to $9300 per month (for 3 months) with additional funding available for domestic travel expenses and short-term accommodation costs. You do not need to be a current member to apply (but SJAA would love it if you were!).
Applications close 5pm AEDT Sunday, 24 November 2024 (but don’t wait til then…)
Questions? Email contact@SJAA.org.au
Destiny vs. Disease
What role do genetics play in the way we experience disease?
As our understanding of the genome grows, are better prevention, treatment and health care personalisation just around the corner?
Don’t miss a renowned interdisciplinary panel of experts as they discuss everything from susceptibility and severity to vaccine efficacy and the treatment of life-threatening illness – all in the context of your genetic make-up.
Nature vs nurture. Who wins in the battle against pandemics, chronic disease and ‘lingering’ disorders like immune deficiency and Long COVID?
Destiny vs. Disease is a free event hosted by UQ that will take place on Wednesday 13 November, 6pm-8:30pm at Customs House, 399 Queen Street Brisbane City.
Brilliant Poetry 2024 shortlist showcases ‘scientific wonder in verse’
Brilliant Poetry champions the power of poetry to make the complex and often abstract world of scientific inquiry accessible and captivating to all. The competition seeks to reinforce the value of artistic expression in expanding our perception of what it means to know and to discover. Each year, Brilliant Poetry invites everyday people from around the world to express scientific wonder and discovery through verse.
Brilliant poets are invited to harness the beauty of language to convey the marvels of science — from mysteries of the natural world to groundbreaking advancements in technology, to the elegance of mathematics.
By melding science and art, Brilliant Poetry seeks to ignite a worldwide appreciation for the boundless creativity that underpins scientific exploration and innovation. Check out the 2024 Brilliant Poetry shortlist for a sure-fire dose of inspiration!
Brilliant Poetry is an initiative of Dr Sam Illingworth, Associate Professor at Edinburgh Napier University and Kylie Ahern, publisher of science communication publication, The Brilliant, and CEO of strategy consultancy, STEM Matters.
New BioArt Library - open-source, scientifically accurate icons for everyone!
The National Institute of Health (NIH) Visual and Medical Arts Unit in collaboration with NIAID Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch have developed a library of biomedical and scientific icons available for use in figures, presentations, websites, and print materials. The icons have been created by medical illustrators and biomedical visualization specialists to be accurate, in order to address the abundance of inaccurate medical and scientific graphics available online. Check them out now!
By curating this library of over 2000 illustrations, icons, vectors and brushes by professional medical illustrators in collaboration with subject matter experts, NIH BIOART Source ensures the highest standards of accuracy and quality for health and medical professionals, scientists, and science communicators more broadly.
We’re counting down the days until #11 Synergy is launched into the world...
Thanks for being here; for supporting science and art in all its myriad forms. SWN is dedicated to accessibility, connectivity, and collaboration across disciplines. If you love what we do, forward this to a friend, or post it on your socials & share it far and wide.
In the meantime, you can find us Underground!
—SWN team
