‘Science isn’t just about white lab coats; it’s about creativity and passion’

“Basically, having a man in white lab coat standing in front of room saying how cool science is, is kind of boring,” says Matthew Lee, one of the organisers of Creative Reactions Bristol, when asked about the project’s inspiration.

As a PhD student studying in the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at Bristol University, even he acknowledges how tedious scientific language can be:  “There are nicer and more engaging ways to get people excited about science, and one is art. People like looking at art and having an artist work with scientists brings out more accessible ways of understanding what their research is about and it can be communicated to people easier.”

Hepatic by Emily Krainc is based on research into tissue regeneration in the liver, conducted by University of Bristol pro-vice chancellor Professor John Iredal

From an early age, those interested in science and those with a passion for art are divided and encouraged down separate paths, but a new exhibition as part of Pint of Science Festival has brought these two groups together, and they have collaborated to create something that can be admired and learned from. The exhibition at Hamilton House, featuring the work of 40 artists, runs from May 11-22.

This is the second year that Creative Reactions comes to Bristol, and is set to be the largest version of the event in the UK this year. Over 35 artistic reactions to scientific research will be on display, created by artists who range from science illustrators to stained glass creators. Audiences we will see work on microbiome, gestational work and prenatal diseases, and will be able to appreciate the art even if the words mean nothing to the majority of us.

“The problem with science is that it does not really teach you to be a good communicator,” continues Matthew Lee. “This is a unique opportunity for scientists to talk to different people about their work in different ways.”

Artist will act as translators of language that only some are able to decipher. In this exhibition, scientists are being told what their research means to other people, and sometimes this has led to unpredictable results.

Sarah Davies’ stained glass portrait of researcher Nancy McBride

Nancy McBride researches adverse pregnancy outcomes, and is very determined to make it in a challenging area of science. She believes women’s reproductive health should be more visible. “Women’s reproductive health affects everybody but there’s so little research about why and how it happens,” she says. “Scientists will be stationed by their artwork so people can understand what’s going on so they can informed about their choices.”

When she showed stained-glass artist Sarah Davis her research, it was not the science that Sarah found the most interesting but Nancy herself. The stained glass window she created merges the researcher and her research by creating a portrait of the scientist made out of different pieces of her research.

Nancy hopes that the exhibition inspires people to get involved in either art or science: “Both areas are interchangeable. Art is actually quite methodical and science requires a lot of creative thought. There’s no reason for art and science not to go in hand in hand.”

Imogen Coulter’s interpretation of Kayleigh Easey’s research on alcohol’s effect on fetuses

The exhibition takes a broad look over research from all corners of science, from nanobots to mental health and depression. Kayleigh Easey, for example, is doing her PhD on how drinking mothers can cause psychiatric disorders on their fetuses, which Imogen Coulter illustrated through an affecting image of a fetus being engulfed by a black presence.

For Mathew Lee, this exhibition is a great chance to not only champion the world-class research coming out of the University of Bristol, but also to offer it to a new audience. “It’s a really unique way of talking to people about science and also having people see and be informed about the scientific research that is happening is Bristol.”

“We wanted to show that science isn’t just about white lab coats; it’s about creativity and passion. We can’t wait to open to the public and show them these unique pieces of art and hear about the amazing research that inspired them,” he adds.

Creative Reactions 2018 takes place from May 11-22 at Hamilton House, from 9am-8pm on weekdays and 9am-4pm at the weekends. For more information visit www.pintofscience.co.uk/creativereactions

Top image: illustrator Molley Scoble’s pop-up book based on research by Kaitlin Wade