This podcast explores similarities and disparities in the meeting of arts and research. We invite guests who demonstrate connections between arts and academic interests; researchers who believe creativity is a tool to share their work, artists who collaborate with scientists, and those who engage with arts and ‘research with creativity’ as a spectator or participant.
“What I find really important is connecting a science topic to a human element, so that people can understand or engage with a work without necessarily knowing anything about the science subject itself.” -Emily Brown
Joined by dancer, choreographer, and Artistic Director of Forged Line Dance Company Emily Brown and psychology student and Arts Scholar at the University of Bath, Sofia Kotlarz, we discuss how dance and theatre can effectively encourage us to look at our impact on the environment.
“I think it’s really interesting to bring art and science together to open out a conversation around a material or methodology.” -Olivia Jones
We spoke to Olivia Jones, a visual artist based at Spike Island; Pollyanna Burnett-Harris, Arts Scholar and Biology student at the University of Bath; and Jeremy Boyle, also a Biology student at the University of Bath to unearth how ceramics can be used as a tool to communicate scientific research.
“It’s a three-way conversation. So that the researchers are saying what you want to know and the audience are asking what can you tell us, and we’re saying what ways can we find to tell that story?” -Oliver Langdon
We delve into the world of theatre online and offline with Annayah Prosser and Oliver Langdon. Annayah is currently doing a PhD Research Programme in Psychology and was an Arts Scholar at The Edge during 2018-2019. Olly is Artistic Director of Kilter Theatre Company, alongside Director Caroline Garland.
“I definitely think there’s a symbiotic relationship between the disciplines. Science can obviously give artists a subject and platform of expression. And in turn, I feel art revives the curiosity about the research from a kind of outsider’s perspective.” -Priya Odedra
We’re joined by artist and first-place winner of our Visions of Science Art Prize 2020, Priya Odedra and Visions of Science judge, illustrator, medical writer and University of Bath alumna of Developmental Biology, Nina Chhita to discuss the prize and the merging of arts and science.
“There’s this wonderful kind of in-between nature, which drawing can really help with – articulating things that you can’t put into words, it’s this extra feeling, a sensory feeling.” -Caragh Savage
On this episode, we explore the benefits of drawing from wellbeing to critical thinking with artist and Life Drawing tutor, Caragh Savage and Architecture student and former Arts Scholar, Pearson Brown.
“I think particularly in science, art is important because it improves our grasp of subjectivity and interpretation. It’s not necessarily the prominent feature of science. Particularly in Bath, a science institution, The Edge is important as an art and cultural body in alleviating not only academic pressures, but also provoking thought beyond our bubble. Art serves a great purpose of complementing our lives and reflecting experiences. I think it’s important for people to be exposed to that because it’s quite easy to become lost in your field and not think outside.” -Ben Selig
We’ll be delving into the world of sound to explore how it can help us better understand humans, nature and the world we live in. We’re joined by artist and University of Bath Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering student Ben Selig, and Senior Lecturer in the University’s Department of Physics, Philippe Blondel.