Art-Science collaborations in Water Research and beyond
Throughout the spring semester’s project week at the Aquatic Research Institute Eawag in Dübendorf, the Master students explored various water research methodologies, dived deep into the unique properties of water, and gained essential insights into the framework of water research.
The transdisciplinary exchange in the science institution was initiated through an extensive lecture in the autumn semester that introduced the students to the history and contemporary of art-science collaborations and the specific practice of the artists-in-labs program, that spans 20+ years’ experience. It provided ground for a discussion along situated examples in artistic research as well as a conceptual framework and its implications.
During the project week, the students engaged with both laboratory and field research methods, and used lab technologies to observe, document and experiment.
These hands-on experiences served the students as a foundation to develop their own research questions, and allowed sketching potential design ideas for future projects. As they progressed in the project week, they reflected on their findings, shifts in perception and used these to prototype ideas that addressed their research inquiry.
At the end of the project week, everybody presented their individual research questions, reflections on their processes and project ideas. The presentations were subject of vivid discussions with the students, a scientist from Eawag and an artist from the artists-in-labs program network, offering valuable feedback loops and insights into the students work at the intersection of art/design & scientific research.
Lecturers:
Irène Hediger
Flurin Fischer
from th Artists-in-labs program, Department of Cultural Analysis, Zurich University of the Arts.
