LAUSR

Creativity is an integral part of both science and art, and using it to combine these two seemingly different disciplines creates unique and effective ways to communicate scientific information. Beyond my classical academic career path studying mitosis and cytokinesis (Fededa et al., 2016; Mierzwa et al., 2017; Mierzwa and Gerlich, 2014) I explore artistic approaches with the aim of adding creativity to conventional forms of scientific exchange and communication. To visualise fundamental cellular processes and recent scientific findings I create hand-drawn illustrations that integrate both abstract imagery and real scientific data, such as microscopy images or protein structures. Each illustration requires breaking down the essence of complex scientific information and translating it into aesthetic visuals that highlight key aspects of biological concepts or molecular mechanisms. To visually convey abstract scientific themes in intuitive ways I use analogy and metaphor – like cells using scissors to separate during the final step of cell division, a compass to visualise mitotic spindle orientation, or incorporation of RNA into a protein structure by crocheting (see gallery below). The balance of classical scientific representations within a familiar context can be appreciated on multiple levels, with relevance both inside and outside the scientific community. This visualisation method provides a powerful tool to facilitate communication between scientists from diverse fields, complement traditional scientific figures, and share biological concepts with non-scientists in the forms of outreach and education. Below is a selection of my artwork created for journal covers, conferences and research groups. You can find a complete gallery at www.beatascienceart.com and follow my work on social media (@beatascienceart).