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16 October 2019 @ 4:00 pm

Pixcells – when digital art meets science

How do scientists and educators innovate their research engagement approaches in an information saturated world? With the ever-expanding volume of data generated daily, scientists need to consider new ways to communicate their discoveries, while educators must create compelling and accurate content to ignite curiosity.

Neuroscience research informs us that using visual aids, such as illustrations and animations, are especially effective at capturing attention and conveying succinct messages. Yet it is here where we face a hurdle: most scientists and educators are not trained illustrators, animators or graphic designers nor have access to those that are.

Dr Nicki Cranna will talk about how SquareCell was formed to bridge this gap; a collective of scientifically trained artists that come together using Hollywood special effects tools and scientific data to create engaging, informative and scientifically accurate content.

This forum took place on 16 October. A recording of the livestream is available below.

A recording of the livestream of Nicki's talk

Nicki loves all things science and art, especially when the two are combined. She has a PhD in Molecular Biology from The University of Melbourne where she spent many hours looking down a microscope. Here, her appreciation for the beauty of the molecular world began.
Now, Nicki combines her technical knowledge with her creativity and communication skills.

She has developed public science art exhibitions; written for COSMOS magazine; worked for Science Gallery Melbourne; taught visual science communication at Deakin University, University of Melbourne and to various PhD student groups; has managed communications for Wave Consulting and the Melbourne Neuroscience Institute; is the art director of Lateral Magazine; and now develops education programs at Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and has co-founded SquareCell, a visual science communication collective.