How would you describe this creative project and how did you come up with the idea?
When thinking about my creative project, I wanted to create a piece of media that utilized an interdisciplinary approach between digital art and molecular biology. More specifically, I’ve always been interested in the role art plays as a communicator for the sciences: illustrations and animations, for instance, are just a few of the many visual aids used to conceptualize imperceptible processes. Because traditional poster presentations are oftentimes limited in their communicative efficacy, I wanted to reimagine this format in a digital manner with a higher emphasis on appealing to general audiences. Thus, I constructed a partially animated and navigable poster that defined common laboratory procedures under an overarching project known as the Purple Protein Project. The ability for users to become active participants via self-navigated exploration was an appealing concept that eventually solidified itself as my Connecting Experience.
What was the most rewarding aspect of your Connecting Experience?
The most rewarding aspect of my creative project was finishing the semester with a concrete representation of what I’d achieved as an undergraduate. I gained a sense of fulfillment in being able to convey scientific concepts to my friends, parents, and grandparents in a way that was both educational and fun. Furthermore, it reaffirmed my skills as both an artist and researcher, providing me with a unique perspective I can carry over to future projects.
In what ways has this Connecting Experience shaped your plans for the future?
This Connecting Experience has lent me a unique insight into the realm of scientific communication: the pre-existing problems, and now, the creative capacity to find solutions. By exploring the relationship between these disciplines in depth, I’ve learned that my future endeavors do not have to be limited to one or the other. I feel confident that regardless of where my path takes me, I can apply myself in an analytically creative way.
Discuss the relationship that you had with your faculty mentor, and how they helped you during this Connecting Experience.
My faculty mentor, Dr. Soo-Hyun Yang, was a great inspiration and help for my project. Dr. Yang has always prioritized making research both fun and accessible, and it is thanks to her guidance that I’ve been able to come this far. I don’t believe this project would’ve been possible without her, and I am extremely thankful for her encouragement.