The INL Art of Science project seeks to engage scientists and the public through images of INL research areas. For millennia, science has been taught through a passive, I-talk-you-listen model. This mode of communication is outdated and proven to be ineffective. People want to be heard and engaged. In today’s world, activists are far more convincing than scientists with respect to several topics simply because they engage the public through various modes of communication and senses. Should parents vaccinate their kids? Well, 86% of scientists say yes while only 68% of the general public agree. A 2015 campaign by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation “The Art of Saving a Life” is using art and storytelling to break down barriers, create conversations, increase public awareness and ultimately promote vaccinations.
The INL Art of Science project has three goals:
- Directly engage scientists at INL, facilitating new ways of analyzing their work
- Engage other scientists at INL through art-science displays and events, making them more aware of INL research projects outside of their immediate group
- Engage the public through a new mode of communication to create conversations and drive public awareness of INL research
