The Art of Science at UC San Diego Library
Contest and exhibition showcase the artistry of scientific exploration and highlight the library's role in scientific research processes.
Please introduce yourself to our readers! Who are you, what’s your role at UC San Diego, and anything else you’d like to share or add.
Abigail Pennington, metadata specialist librarian at UC San Diego Library, supporting the publication of campus research data. My primary role is to consult with researchers on how to best organize and describe their datasets for deposit into the Library’s Research Data Repository. A key goal is to ensure that data are both discoverable and reusable, enabling other researchers to incorporate it into their work and, ideally, further advance their field and scientific understanding.
As a member of the Library’s Research Data Curation and Metadata Services teams, I also contribute to the design, implementation, and testing of new tools to meet researchers' changing needs.
Inspiration for this contest was sparked by the launch of the Library-developed Starlight application in 2019, which allows curators to create digital exhibits. I have the privilege of working with researchers from various scientific domains as we prepare resources for deposit into the Library’s Research Data Repository. Some research outputs are stunning in and of themselves, and quite often, the images that researchers create to accompany and communicate their research in the repository are visually striking.
It occurred to me that a Starlight exhibit showcasing such images might provide an opportunity to celebrate the beauty that can emerge during scientific exploration and increase campus awareness of the Library’s Research Data Repository and research-related services. When we found UC Santa Barbara’s Art of Science Contest, everything came together. UC Santa Barbara's contest inspired me to create something similar for our campus: a contest allowing our campus and the San Diego community to vote on images created by campus researchers.
Can you briefly describe the Art of Science contest and exhibition for us?
The Art of Science contest celebrates the aesthetic side of scientific research at UC San Diego. Open to students, postdocs, faculty, and project scientists, the contest invites original submissions that highlight scientific inquiry from a range of disciplines, including chemistry and biochemistry, oceanography, climate science, neurobiology, synthetic biology, medical, pharmacology, cognitive science, materials science, engineering (mechanical and aerospace, bioengineering, nanoengineering, electrical and computer, and mechanical and aerospace), urban studies and planning, and geophysics and planetary physics. The contest emphasizes inclusivity by showcasing the work of faculty, project scientists, graduate students, and undergraduate students, aligning with UC San Diego's commitment to cultivating research skills early in students' careers.
Participants can submit photographs, microscope images, illustrations, visual depictions of complex datasets, the result of modeling and simulation, combined images, or creative representations of their work. Images may be modified to enhance their aesthetic, such as combining multiple images into one artistic work.
Judges evaluate the images based on aesthetic excellence (captivating, stunning, and/or otherwise visually interesting) and scientific or technical interest. An open voting period allows the wider campus and San Diego community to vote for their favorite image, resulting in the Open Voting Winner.
What are some examples of pieces that visitors or viewers will encounter in the exhibition this year? Do you have a piece that really captures your imagination and curiosity that you can tell us about?
This year’s award-winning images were submitted by researchers from oceanography, marine biology, climate science, neuroscience, and mechanical and aerospace engineering. Notably, five of the seven winning images were created by researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) at UC San Diego, highlighting the beauty and diversity of marine species, with one image offering a glimpse inside an ice cave beneath the Hansbreen Glacier. In addition to the SIO submissions, this year’s winners feature a watercolor depiction of brain cells and neural scaffolding and an example of cutting-edge campus research into 3D-printed, touch-responsive living materials—technology with the potential to transform robotics and healthcare.
During the open voting period, it was a tough decision, but I ultimately cast my vote for “The By-the-Wind Sailor, Velella” by Gregory Rouse. This species, native to the San Diego coast, is depicted in stunning detail, showcasing its vibrant colors and intricate features beautifully.
Can you talk a little bit about the Library’s Research Data Curation Services, and how that service is woven into the Art of Science exhibition?
The Research Data Curation Program (RDCP) at the UC San Diego Library provides a broad range of services to support research data throughout its life cycle, including consultations on data management plans, training on data management best practices, assignment of persistent identifiers to ensure the long-term discoverability and personalized support for publishing and preserving data in the Library's repository for UC San Diego research data.
The Art of Science contest supports the RDCP goal of creating more robust interactions with campus constituents to promote the Library’s value. This includes raising awareness of the Library’s research data curation services so that researchers—either currently or upon completing their projects—know where to publish their data to meet funder or journal guidelines for data availability.
For other university and research libraries that are interested in hosting a similar contest and/or exhibition, what are 2-3 lessons learned or takeaways from the experience of planning Art of Science that you can share?
It's difficult to engage undergraduate students. To increase their participation, we made a key change after the first year. We revised the submission guidelines for undergraduates to allow their submissions to be based on research conducted in a variety of settings. This change enabled undergraduates to submit research conducted during coursework, in a laboratory, or as part of a formal research project. Previously, submissions were required to be based on research outputs stemming from work conducted at or in affiliation with UC San Diego, as is the case for other participant categories. Despite our efforts, undergraduate participation in the contest has been limited. In fact, we received only a handful of submissions from undergraduates in previous years, and unfortunately, none this year. We had hoped that targeted outreach through undergraduate-focused communication channels would help increase their involvement, but this was not the case. I plan to continue exploring new strategies to better engage and encourage undergraduate participation in the contest.
Allow plenty of time for submissions. This year, the submission window was around 60 days. In the future, I plan to double that time, understanding that while people get excited about the contest, it’s difficult to carve out time for yet another activity.
Effective promotion is critical to the contest's success. This involves making the contest visible to campus affiliates, engaging the community in voting, and publicizing key dates. A communications team, like our Communications & Engagement team, is instrumental in achieving this goal.
Is there anything else you’d like to add or expand on?
Another one of my standout favorites this year is “More Than Just Coral Glow” by Or Ben-Zvi. This image not only showcases the breathtaking beauty of coral but also highlights the critical issue of climate change and its far-reaching impacts. By including a caption that breaks down the science behind the image, the artist has perfectly exemplified the contest's goal of making complex research accessible to a broader audience. In doing so, the image underscores the critical importance of scientific communities engaging with society on pressing issues and inspiring us to learn more about their vital work.
Explore the Art of Science exhibition online. If you’re in the San Diego area, check out the exhibit in person. It will be on view at the Ida & Cecil Green Faculty Club at UC San Diego beginning Friday, October 18.
Thanks to Abigail Pennington and April Green for their work on this feature.