By Libby Leyden, Post Banner Newspaper serving Scotts Valley and the San Lorenzo Valley,CA reports on UCSC Lecturer Leads Collaboration.

UCSC Lecturer Spearheads Physics/Art collaboration

Art and Science

Humanities, Arts, Crafts and Design Practices (HACD)

Stephanie Bailey, a Ben Lomond resident, nuclear physicist, and physics lecturer at UCSC,  teaches introductory physics for life science majors. As part of her classes, Bailey attempts to bring in humanities, arts, crafts and design practices (HACD). The aim is to incorporate other skills into the classroom to make a well-rounded student.

“It is important our students build bridges between disciplines in order to address real world problems in order to span disciplinary borders,’ Bailey said. “Incorporating HACD into our physics curriculum makes better scientists. Just as it leads to improved educational outcomes for undergraduates, HACD experiences have value for STEM researchers as well.”After introducing these practices into my classroom, I saw it did make for better learners. I thought it does not have to stop here, so I imagined it could help researchers as well.”

Twenty Pairs-UCSC Lecturer Leads Collaboration

As a result, Bailey got the idea to pair 20 physicists with local artists to create a piece or pieces of work. In addition the art would be shown in an art gallery in March.

“I worked to pair each physicist with an artist,” Bailey said. “I wanted each physicist to explain to their artist what work they were doing.  Most importantly, it was then  up to the pair to express the work visually.”

The Art Community Joins In

Through an open solicitation to the art community, Bailey said she was shocked at how many artists responded interested in the project. One of the artists was a Santa Cruz native, Tauna Coulson. Coulson and  first year UCSC graduate student Arturo Quezada worked ogether. Quezada worked previously  in the Velasco Lab.

One Pair

“We had this great conversation and then he took me to the lab where he is essentially studying a type of microscope,” Coulson said. She explained the two worked together to explore the artistic beauty of graphene. For instance, graphene was one of the materials Quezada is looking at using the microscope.

Engagement of People with Physics

The objective for the collaboration is to enable access and engage people with physics through art. Similarly, to think about the role physics plays in their lives and in the world at large. The final pieces of art will be displayed at the Blitzer Gallery in Santa Cruz. Bailey is hoping to organize an opening reception with panel discussions with the artist/physicist pairs.

Panel Discussions

“It will be a moderated panel where the artists and physicists can talk about the creative process in addition to what was learned working together,” Bailey said. Bailey said she is still looking for donations to organize and fund the exhibit. Those looking to help fund the project can visit: https://slbailey109.wixsite.com/fusion/donations

In addition to being one of the artists, Coulson is also the curator of the exhibit. According to Coulson,the pairs in addition to the artwork, will write up a short piece explaining the physicist work.

In Conclusion

“Physicists do not normally interact with artists. Those circles rarely cross paths,” Bailey said. “For me this has been a wonderful opportunity to meet other people while at the same time bringing me closer to a whole other community in Santa Cruz.”

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