(From left) McMaster students Shira Weiss, Jason Tran and Debbie Kao are the co-organizers of “Visualizing Science.”

From the mysteries of deep ocean ecosystems, to the evolution of brain injury research, to the origins of life on Earth, a new exhibit is exploring and communicating complex science in an unconventional way – through the power of art.

Visualizing Science– presented by the Faculty of Science and the Socrates Project, is a unique, student-led exhibition featuring artworks created by students and staff from across McMaster, all inspired by science.

“There are a lot of scientists out there who are also artists,” says Shira Weiss, a fifth year Life Sciences Co-op student who organized the exhibit with Jason Tran, a student in the Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization program, and Debbie Kao, a fourth-year health sciences student. “This exhibition is a way to provide a platform for students and others to express that side of themselves and bring art and science together.”

Visualizing Science features 20 artists from diverse disciplines including science, engineering, health sciences, commerce and humanities. Their art was created using a range of mediums – from ink and paint, to fibre art, digital art and even video.

The exhibition, now it its fourth year, was co-founded by Weiss and Susie Son, a Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences student who has since graduated, with support from Kim Dej, associate vice-provost (Faculty) and a faculty member in the School of Interdisciplinary Science.

“The idea was to support students who really enjoy thinking and talking about science, but who wanted to represent science in a different way,” says Dej “So many students love science and they can see a career goal in mind, but they are also talented artists and they want to pull together those two interests – this is a great opportunity to encourage that kind of passion.”

Visualizing Science will be on display until March 29 in the Waller Family Lobby in L.R. Wilson Hall.