Nordic Life Science 1
NORDIC LIFE SCIENCE EDITOR IN CHIEF: MALIN OTMANI
LAYOUT: LISA LIDGREN, MALIN OTMANI ENGLISH PROOFREADING: LISA COCKETTE COVER PHOTO: STEFAN ZIMMERMAN PRINTED BY: ÅTTA.45 2024 SCIENCE JOURNALISTS IN THIS ISSUE: WORDS FROM THE EDI TOR MALIN OTMANI Science Art ELLEN R. DELISIO AT FIRST GLANCE, science and art seem worlds apart. The quality of a scientific study is determined by evidence, facts, reproducibility, and accuracy, while the quality of a piece of art is determined by its viewer, notwithstanding its originality and the artist’s talent to paint or sculpt. Art is subjective and is often based on emotions and opinions. However, being both a science geek and an art lover, nothing gives me more pleasure PAULA PÉREZ GONZÁLEZANGUIANO ALEXANDRA HOEGBERG than reading about how these two fields are intertwined, how they can influence and benefit each other and also, how art may improve our physical and mental health. In the book “Your Brain on Art” by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross the authors explore the latter. They write about neuroaesthetics, i.e. how our brains respond to aesthetic and artistic experiences, and for example how art can reduce our levels of cortisol, lower pain, enhance cognitive abilities, and reduce anxiety. Besides the health benefits of art, it can also be of benefit to science. Art can proPUBLISHING DIRECTOR: MATTIAS OLME MARKETING & SALES: MATTIAS OLME EMAIL: MATTIAS@NLSNEWS.COM PHONE: +46 8 588 941 51 COPYRIGHT 2024 BY NLS MEDIA GROUP ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WHITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. A MAGAZINE FROM NLS MEDIA GROUP NLS MEDIA GROUP AB, ST PAULSGATAN 13 118 46 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN PHONE: +46 8 588 941 51 vide a better understanding of complex mechanisms in our bodies, create more impactful scientific messages, and enable scientists to reach out further to the public with their work. My first experience of this kind of impact was Santiago Ramón y Cajal’s famous drawings. The Spanish neuroscientist, pathologist, and histologist (1852-1934) was able to drastically increase the understanding of the brain and also capture the beauty of it with his detailed drawings of the nervous system. His paintings are a great example of how science could be, and still is, made more interesting and approachable to the public. There are also many examples of how science can influence and enrich art. Back in the days, Leonardo da Vinci used linear perspective to give the impression that Mona Lisa sits in front of a vast landscape, and the famous Dutch golden-age artists used different optical devices. Modern pop-artist David Hockney has been inspired by both the Dutch masters and the French mathematician and physicist Jules Antoine Lissajous, who studied harmonic motion. A modern Nordic example is Olafur Eliasson, known for his large-scale installations that blur the boundaries between art, science, and nature. So, if you are a life scientist aiming to reach out to the public or to investors with your product or your findings, why not try to explore how you can highlight it by using metaphors, fascinating examples or beautiful and eye-catching images (while of course remaining factual and accurate). Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of art is that it can take your breath away. Just as great science can do. NLS MALIN OTMANI EDITOR IN CHIEF FOR DAILY LIFE SCIENCE UPDATES: NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG DO YOU HAVE NEWS TO SHARE? MALIN@NLSNEWS.COM PARTNERS: SUBSCRIPTION DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION: 13 EUR/MONTH, INCLUDES: 01. THE DIGITAL ISSUES OF THE MAGAZINE 02. ACCESS TO ARCHIVE, FULLY SEARCHABLE, INCLUDING ALL PREVIOUS DIGITAL ISSUES 03. THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER NLS NEWS AND THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER NLS CAREERS 04. ACCESS TO ALL DIGITAL CONTENT ON NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG, UNLIMITED READING CALL: +46 8 588 941 51 OR SIGN UP AT: NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG/SUBSCRIBE