TRIP: Artist in Residence

Art as a Bridge: Translating and Disseminating Science for Society

The scientific community has made significant strides in research and innovation. However, a growing disconnect is evident between scientists and society, in particular communicating novel scientific findings effectively to a broader audience. To this point, a 2019 Pew Research Center survey found that while 89% of Americans view scientists as ‘intelligent’, only 54% believe they are ‘effective communicators’ ¹. By 2024, that confidence declined to 45% ². The lack of clear and accessible communication undermines public understanding, trust, and engagement with science. This puts at risk the public’s acceptance of scientific discoveries and prevents communities from accessing the benefits of advanced and emerging therapeutic modalities.

Addressing this challenge requires creative solutions that not only advances scientific discoveries but also strengthens scientist’ capacity for public engagement. Integrating disciplines like the visual and performing arts into scientific training combined with outreach initiatives can help bridge the divide. By creating a reciprocal process — where societal feedback is meaningfully integrated into the research pipeline through effective science communication — public perception of the scientific enterprise is elevated ³. At ITMAT, we established an Artist-in-Residency (AiR) and embedded artists into our Translational Research Immersion Program (TRIP) to develop a new skillset among undergraduate students, the next generation of the CTS workforce, to communicate science with accessible and culturally resonant narratives ⁴. This creates a mechanism for the public to share feedback in a participatory approach and thus have an impact on formulating research priorities. We propose that this scalable paradigm contributes meaningfully to rebuilding trust in science and reinforcing the social contract between biomedical research and the communities it serves.

1. Funk C, Hefferon M. Most Americans have positive image of research scientists, but fewer see them as good communicators. 2019.
2. Tyson A, Kennedy B. Public Trust in Scientists and Views on Their Role in Policymaking. 2024.
3. Hunter P. The communications gap between scientists and public: More scientists and their institutions feel a need to communicate the results and nature of research with the public. EMBO Rep. 2016;17:1513-1515. doi: 10.15252/embr.201643379
4. Skarke C, German J, Meagher EA. 156 Art as a Multiplier of Science Communication. J Clin Transl Sci. 2024;Apr 3;8(Suppl 1):47. doi: 10.1017/cts.2024.152. PMCID: PMC11026755.

About the Program

The overarching mission is to devise strategies to deploy art as a multiplier of science communication. ITMAT embeds the successful applicant for the Artist-in-Residency program into the Translational Research Immersion Program (TRIP), an existing pathway program, exposing undergraduate students at participating institutions to the Clinical Translational Sciences (CTS), beginning with a 10-week mentored summer research experience. The ten-week experience includes a didactic curriculum with research seminars, professional development workshops, student ‘present your work’ sessions, career panels, and social events. The artist is expected to attend the curricular components and apply additional instruments suitable for data collection, such as administering focus group discussions with TRIP students and shadowing their laboratory research environments with the permission of their PIs. The program components will enable the artist to witness the evolution of research projects by immersing themselves in the human experience unfolding among the TRIP cohort. Regular discussions with ITMAT leadership and administration during and beyond the 10 weeks will accompany the artist’s endeavors of data collection, analysis, and the translation into artwork. The Artist-in-Residence is expected to engage in community outreach initiatives and shape the future of ITMAT’s Artist-in-Residency program. This residency is particularly unique as it will provide the opportunity to build connections and create networks with a broad audience. You do not need to have a scientific background to be part of the ITMAT TRIP residency.

The Artist-in-Residency program timeline is described below.

• Summer 2025 (May 28-August 2): Attend & Participate in the 10-week TRIP (~13hrs/wk)
• Fall 2025: Production & Provision of Artwork
• Winter 2025-Spring 2025: Dissemination to the Stakeholders & Communities

A stipend of $8,000 will be provided, prorated according to specific milestones described above. In addition, ITMAT will cover up to $2,000 in art-related materials. Accommodations are not provided. It is expected the artist is in-person during Summer 2025, the following months residency participation can be from afar.

In the News: Dr. Carsten Skarke, Director of the Artist in Residence Program, presented a poster on behalf of the program, at the 2024 Fall CTSA Meeting in Bethesda, MD, winning a poster award for "Best in Show". The poster can be viewed here.

Eligibility Criteria

• Completion of a previous residency program
• Commitment to attend and participate in all virtual and in-person programming for the TRIP for summer 2024

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Application and Instructions

Materials required for a complete application include:

• Online application form which includes
  • CV or Resume
  • Personal Statement (see details below)
  • 3-5 Samples of Work (see details below)
  • Optional Link to Portfolio

Personal Statement

We’d like to know more about you and why you’re applying to this program. Please answer the following questions in your personal statement. The personal statement should not exceed 2 pages.

1. Briefly describe your previous experience in an Artist-in-Residency program including the scope, your achievements, and what you proposed to execute as a final deliverable (if applicable). 
2. Provide an explanation of your passion for science and education in an interdisciplinary environment.
3. Share your interests in participating in the program, including how you intend to embrace your artistic ideas, approaches, and methods into this experience, your typical practice (e.g. oil paint, digital), what drives you as an artist, and how your interests in the program fit into your long-term goals

Samples of Work

Upload a combined document with 3-5 samples of artwork, which may include images, scripts, work plans or story boards as PDFs, audio files, and/or short-videos, with corresponding information.

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Application and Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated by the ITMAT Education Selection Committee. Applicants will be notified by mid-April regarding the selection committee’s decision. Historically, 1 artist is selected to participate.

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Artist-in-Residence: Spotlights

  Marguerita Hagan – Artist in Residence 2024-2025

For more information about Marguerita, visit her website.

 

Angela McQuillan – Artist in Residence 2023

Why did you decide to apply to the program: I was interested in applying to the ITMAT TRIP residency because I am excited about the potential of translational medicine to improve the quality of healthcare through creating stronger networks and communication between doctors, scientists, and the community. I believe that every person should have access to cutting-edge medical treatments and have the knowledge to make important informed decisions about their own health.  During the ITMAT TRIP residency I learned a lot about how medical care is changing and evolving to embrace this mission, and I think art can help to emphasize a human-centered approach to medical care. For more information about Angela, visit her website.

Please describe your experience in this role and your next steps: This residency allowed me to get an inside look at some very exciting technologies that researchers are developing that will make big impacts to the treatment of diseases that affect a lot of people.  I also got to meet an amazing group of students who are working to become the doctors and scientists of tomorrow. I am currently working on a body of work based on this residency to exhibit at The Arts League in University City in March 2024, and thinking about new ways to highlight the connections between art and science at my new project Chimaera Gallery.

 

Julie Rainbow, MSS, Inaugural Artist in Residence, 2022

Why did you decide to apply to this program: Ever since I was a girl, growing up in North Carolina, I’ve been fascinated by stories.  Over the years, this fascination grew into a passion for storytelling.  Specifically, I’ve built my career as an artist on telling the stories of those whose voices are not typically heard, but whose messages call out to be told.  These have included the love stories of African American elders whose relationships have stood the test of time, the stories of grit and resilience of African Americans from the South who came to Philadelphia as part of the Second Great Migration, among others. In May 2022, I was selected to serve as the inaugural Artist in Residence in the Translational Research Immersion Program at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.  The focus of the program is to raise students’ awareness of the need to communicate their scientific work in ways that engage the larger community.  Since this is fundamentally a matter of storytelling, as the first Artist in Residence, I am inspired to capture the essence of this process. For more information about Julie, visit her website.

Describe your experience in the program: Over several weeks, I heard from scientists and students about their visions, ambitions, passions, fears and hopes.  Each one’s story represented a unique thread. In the coming months, my work as the artist in residence is to weave those stories into a tapestry that celebrates the spirit of mutual support and collaboration at Penn and the greater community.

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Past Art-Science Events

Visit the Past Art-Science Events page to explore the archives of the events you may have missed and our cadre of artists.

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