Bringing Art, Music, Theater and Dance Students into Earth and Space
Science Research Labs: A New Art Prize Science and Engineering
Artists-in-Residence Program
Abstract
A new Arts/Lab Student Residence program was developed that brings
artists into a research lab. Science and Engineering undergraduate and
graduate students working in the lab describe their research and allow
the artists to shadow them to learn more about the work. The Arts/Lab
Student Residencies are designed to be unique and fun, while encouraging
interdisciplinary learning and creative production by exposing students
to life and work in an alternate discipline’s maker space - i.e. the
artist in the engineering lab, the engineer in the artist’s studio or
performance space. Each residency comes with a cash prize and the
expectation that a work of some kind will be produced as a response to
experience. The Moldwin Prize is designed for an undergraduate student
currently enrolled in the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, the
Taubman School of Architecture and Urban Planning or the School of
Music, Theatre and Dance who is interested in exchange and collaboration
with students engaged in research practice in an engineering lab. No
previous science or engineering experience is required, although
curiosity and a willingness to explore are essential! Students receiving
the residency spend 20 hours over 8 weeks (February-April) participating
with the undergraduate research team in the lab of Professor Mark
Moldwin, which is currently doing work in the areas of space weather
(how the Sun influences the space environment of Earth and society) and
magnetic sensor development. The resident student artist will gain a
greater understanding of research methodologies in the space and climate
fields, data visualization and communication techniques, and how the
collision of disciplinary knowledge in the arts, engineering and
sciences deepens the creative practice and production of each
discipline. The student is expected to produce a final work of some kind
within their discipline that reflects, builds on, explores, integrates
or traces their experience in the residency. This talk will describe the
program, the inaugural year’s outcomes, and plans to expand the program
to other research labs.