University of Basel

Swiss Nanoscience Institute

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Science meets art - a creative workshop with the participation of the SNI at the Cartoon Museum Basel!

What an inspiring experience!

As part of the IBSA Foundation's Let's Science Initiative, the team from the Swiss Nanoscience Institute (SNI) had the opportunity to explore the fascinating connection between science and art at the Cartoonmuseum with pupils from the Dreirosen elementary school.

Art educator and illustrator Malin Widén began the workshop with a brief introduction to the artist Thomas Ott, whose unique mezzotint technique creates dark, wordless stories and whose work is currently on display at the Cartoonmuseum in Basel.

Dr. Kerstin Beyer-Hans from the Swiss Nanoscience Institute at the University of Basel then gave an exciting introduction to the world of nanoscience. Using two examples, she vividly illustrated how nanoscientific research also has to do with blood and the bloodstream. Firstly, she demonstrated a novel microfluidic system that can be used to detect antibodies against various viruses in blood samples. Secondly, she presented an innovative approach that may one day be used to grow heart tissue in the laboratory.

In between the theoretical examples, the students were able to try out various scratching techniques for themselves. On small metal plates, they applied a technique that is used in a similar form in nanotechnology and with which tiny channels can be etched into various materials. The students also created completely new structures and motifs based on a microscope image of heart muscle cells or red blood cells – thus merging art and science in a similar way to artist Thomas Ott's anatomical drawings.

“Together, we discovered parallels and differences between science and art and were inspired by both. Many thanks to everyone who took part and made this workshop so lively!” summarizes Kerstin Beyer-Hans. “Further workshops of this kind will follow in May and we are already looking forward to welcoming interested participants.”

For the first time, the Swiss Nanoscience Institute at the University of Basel took part in one of the workshops organized by the IBSA Foundation for Scientific Research in collaboration with the Cartoon Museum. The workshops are part of the “Let's Science!” project, with which the foundation aims to bring young people closer to the topics of science and health. As it is also important to the SNI to bring the fascination of science closer to a wide audience, we are delighted about this fruitful collaboration.

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