| College of Sciences Newsletter | Edition 3 | April 1, 2001 |
| College of Sciences Newsletter | Edition 3 | April 1, 2001 |
Art in Science Martina Doblin, Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (OEAS) Self-Supporting Research Assistant Professor, and Lisa Drake, OEAS Research Scientist, are marine scientists who share a love of art. Inspired by Lisa’s vibrant images of marine plankton taken with a digital camera attached to a microscope, Martina initiated a project to increase awareness of the “Art in Science”. They met with two professors in the Old Dominion University Art Department, Chair Robert Wojtowicz and Assistant Professor Stephen Carpenter, who suggested they first promote art in science on campus. To that end, eight images of marine organisms, each enlarged to 5” x 7”, were matted and framed by Old Dominion University Gallery Director Katherine Huntoon. They are now featured in the University Provost's reception area, which houses a revolving art exhibit. Each image is accompanied by descriptions of the organism and technical details of the image. Following the exhibition in the Provost's reception area, the display will be moved to the Oceanography and Physics building.
The boundary between art and science holds much creative promise. One can envision future projects such as incorporating marine images into Art Department curricula to increase the flow of ideas between art and science or producing a desk calendar to broadcast this concept to a wider audience or other exciting collaborations between the Art and OEAS Departments…stay tuned!
As a complement to the exhibition, two postcards were also produced, each with an image of plankton on the front and the OEAS logo and description of the organism on the back. The postcards promote the OEAS Department as well as the awareness of art inherent in science. They are available in the OEAS and the Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography administrative offices, and the Old Dominion University Art Department for those people interested in using them.
Crown of stars in blue This image is an example of a class of marine microalgae (plants) called diatoms that have “glass” cell walls; this one has formed a chain of many single cells. Its scientific name is Asterionella sp., an appropriate description meaning “small, graceful star.” The blue background was chosen because it nicely contrasted the green areas (chloroplasts) inside the cells, and it is a color combination that evokes images of water.
The colored background is possible using a set of “filters” arranged to achieve differential interference contrast (DIC), an optical phenomenon that employs light, rather than biological stain, to distinguish different components of specimens. Images can thus be seen in striking color—an “optical staining”—and in exaggerated 3-dimensional appearance.
Image taken with an Olympus DP-10 digital camera attached to an Olympus BX50 compound microscope. DIC microscopy; original magnification 1000x; each cell is approximately 0.06 mm (60 µm) long. Sample collected with a plankton net from the Lafayette River in February 2000.
Lisa A. Drake, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Old Dominion University
Department of Ocean, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
4600 Elkhorn Avenue
Norfolk, VA 23529
USA
TEL: 757-683-5060 FAX: 757-683-5303 EMAIL: ldrake@odu.eduhttp://web.odu.edu/webroot/orgs/sci/colsciences.nsf/pages/ocen-lisa
