The relationship between art and science is in a renaissance of activity. From collaborations to education there is a perceptual shift forming an adjunctive connection.
 
First Campus, Institute of Physics, QuarkNet Cymru and Cardiff Metropolitan University academics and professionals have to come together to form a Masterclass for the young people, aged 13–16, attending free Art&Design and Science&Engineering Saturday Clubs at Cardiff Metropolitan University. The Clubs, that run for a full academic year during term-time, are part of the National Saturday Club programme.

I was invited to present and facilitate a workshop regarding Cosmic Rays. Cosmic Rays come from outer space entering our atmosphere from all directions travelling almost at the speed of light. Upon entry, they collide with other particles and split into quantum particles showering down, on and through, us and everything. And this I was asked to assimilate into an artsci method exploring and recreating the Physics of the phenomena. 


I welcomed the exciting project and got on with the planning.

After some thought, meeting with Dr. Paul Roche, emails and research the idea came together - Wax Resist - My intention for the students was to have a sense of discovery, whereby the invisible wax is metaphorically the Cosmic Rays muons etc made invisible through layers of watercolour washes. That the process its self is like an experiment inspired by the detection methods and thus being more than an illustration of information. The sessions were over two weeks the first was the Physics presentation and workshop followed by a presentation I gave about my profession and a plan given for the week ahead. 
Images

Dr Peri Jones, from QurakNet Cymru giving a presentation on cosmic rays

The workshop commenced and I feel the students learned a great deal about some methods using watercolour and wax resist as I could see from their application and they showed understanding of the science through discussion and the layering effects they produced.

I was surprised by their focus and abilities, they all worked extremely hard, listened brilliantly and undertook the task diligently with imagination and inventiveness. I am very pleased by all their work. I feel that they must be learning a great deal from the Saturday Club and that it showed from their overall attitude and ability to carry out the tasks. Maybe surprised is not the right word, I would like to say that I was more impressed rather than surprised.
 
The project has further ingrained my interest in delivering more projects in this manner, to highlight that there is a strengthening bond between art and science through activities that merge the two fields. That in the future more people will be working together merging art and science. The sessions increased my awareness of this bridge between the two and the collaborative effort of everyone involved. It has been really fantastic to have been a part of the Saturday Club Masterclass. 

I have personally learned a lot more about 'Cosmic Rays' and that delivering the way I merge art and science to a group of 13–16 is very rewarding and wonderful to see their interpretations. It is great to experience working with a multidisciplinary team of people all working together for an admirable cause, to provide the younger generation with skills required for this complex and confusing world. 

The team is very inspiring and I personally feel that combining art and science fields, like I have done, will create an explosion of innovation and more inventors and creators who think outside of the box. I suspect it is what the future requires. I learned to work with this inspiring team people that we are heading the right direction with these Clubs.
 
For more information go to-

Cardiff Metropolitan University Art&Design Saturday Club

Cardiff Metropolitan University Science&Engineering Saturday Club

National Saturday Club

Masterclass page on the National Saturday Club website

Photographer: Polly Thomas / Saturday Club Trust 

My daughter received this letter now framed, just a week after I met Sir David Attenborough @UCL She wrote a letter to him which I passed on to him whilst he was on tour. We are so very much appreciative of this wonderful kind gesture from the truely delightful Sir David Attenborough what an honour! My daughter will carry his words of encouragement all her life whilst she endeavours to make better this world through environmentally friendly innovative product design.