Communicating scientific results beyond academia is essential for integrating Science and scientists into society. Many of my colleagues excel at explaining our research findings and the intricate processes behind them to a non-scientific audience.
While I have also given traditional outreach talks and enjoyed sharing my research with a broader audience, my focus has been on engaging with a specific group: plastic artists. This unique approach bridges the gap between scientific and artistic communities, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas and perspectives that enriches both fields.
In 2011, I collaborated with colleagues at the OKC and a group of sculptors, painters, and photographers from the Edsvik Gallery near Stockholm. Our aim was to explore the creative synergy between our fields by explaining our Cosmology and Astrophysics research to artists whose methods differed vastly from ours. The interaction between these seemingly distant worlds produced fascinating artworks and insights, highlighting the potential for cross-disciplinary collaboration. This enriching experience resulted in a gallery exhibition and a series of outreach seminars at the same venue. You can view the exhibition and the video material we prepared during the intense program of preparatory seminars and exchanges with the artists.
You can catch a glimpse of how I embarrass myself by sculpting stuff or drawing a galaxy, at minute 4:44 and minute 12:09 respectively.
Among my outreach projects, one other that is particularly close to my heart is the collaboration with the “Ephemeral Tomorrow” collective. Our (ephemeral) installation, “Limited Sky,” was showcased in an open-air location in Berlin, in 2021. This project explored the pressing issue of satellite crowding and night sky pollution, creating a powerful visual commentary on the impact of human activity on our celestial view.