Exhibition Schedule

Lufrano Intercultural Gallery

Symbionts: Science & Illustrations

This Exhibition will run through January 16 – February 19th.

The field of scientific illustration has a long history. Early explorers seeking to record their findings in new lands employed individuals to join them on their journeys and create a visual record of their recent discoveries. After the advent of photography, some might assume that the art of scientific illustration is an unnecessary tradition. While photography and digital techniques are important tools for artists and scientists alike, no camera can capture the details of an organism as well as a human observer.

Modern science still relies on hand-drawn illustrations for research publications. Museums use illustrations to teach and explain concepts to the public. Publishers for scientific textbooks need informed illustrators to depict complex pathways and microscopic structures for teaching purposes. Pharmaceutical companies must explain how drugs will affect the body. Each year we continue to discover new flora and fauna, and the threat of extinction propels us to record their existence before they are gone. In a digital age where people are more likely to take a photo without a second glance, the field of scientific illustration demands careful and exact observations. For three summers, the Biology Department has offered a course entitled Scientific Illustration. Fifty-six students have completed the course. This show represents some of the outstanding efforts by undergraduate Biology majors.