30 September 2004
Inspiration and Discovery in Dundee
Photo opportunity: 12.15pm, Friday 1 October, Sensation Science Centre, Greenmarket, Dundee
An open symposium with leading contemporary artist and sculptor David Mach and the University of
Dundee's first visiting professor of Inspiration and Discovery is taking place tomorrow at the Sensation
Science Centre.
With internationally renowned expertise in life sciences and medicine, a top ranking art school, and
strong links with DCA through the Visual Research Centre, the University has a reputation for excellence
in both science and art. Now relationships between these two areas are to be enhanced by an exciting new
project involving artists and scientists from across the University.
The 'science meets art' symposium ‘Inspiration and Discovery: Engaging with Life Sciences through Life
Arts' is designed to enable artists and scientists to familiarise themselves with each other's work and
to stimulate interest, thought, debate and discussion leading to the creation of new works of art related
to aspects of science.
Dundee alumnus David Mach, whose collages are featured in the new Playfair Project in Edinburgh and whose
latest exhibition of collages opens in London on 11 October, will address the symposium's morning session.
A number of DJCAD artists and life scientists will also present their work in a series of short showcase
sessions.
The project has a longer-term element too, through the new role David Mach is playing at the University.
David will make a number of visits over the coming year to engage with the work of life scientists and
artists with a view to developing ideas for a public work of art based on the life sciences.
Professor Pete Downes, Dean of the School of Life Sciences, commented, "You may think that arts and
science occupy opposite ends of the educational spectrum, but bioscientists in Dundee have long recognised
the artistic potential of organisms, cells and the molecules of life.
The appointment of David Mach brings together one of the UK's leading and most innovative artists with
Dundee's world leading biologists. The outcome can't be predicted but the process with be both exciting
and fun."
Dean of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design Professor Georgina Follett welcomed the
appointment, "David is an artist who challenges our visual perceptions through making the ordinary
extraordinary. The opportunity to collaborate across the disciplines of science and art will open up a
new visual vocabulary which I am sure will reveal the extraordinary, and bring this visual force into our
everyday perceptions."
David Mach said, "This is going to be an incredible source of inspiration and discovery for me. The Life
Sciences at Dundee University are so exciting I am sure I will be exposed to an unimaginable range of
visuals and ideas. What luck to be involved in such a project."
Places are free but limited. To book your place at the Inspiration and Discovery Symposium on 1 October
email b.m.smeaton@dundee.ac.uk
The programme:
11.15 Coffee
11.30 Welcome and introduction: Professor Geoff Ward, Deputy Principal
11.35 David Mach, Visiting Professor of Inspiration and Discovery
12.15 Questions and discussion
12.30 Lunch and networking
13.30 Chris Rowland and John McGhee Visualising the Invisible
13.45 Dr Graeme Houston In medicine, when art meets science can it benefit the patient?
14.00 Dr Tim Frank, Group leader surgical technology Surgical Technology and Imaging
14.15 Elaine Shemilt - artist Intervention and the artist
14.30 Professor Geoff Gadd - Microbiologist Patterns and Pictures of Microbial Form and Function
14.45 Questions and discussion
15.00 Tea/Coffee
15.15 Gair Dunlop, artist Art & the Archive
15.30 Dr Keith Skene, plant biologist From Doughnuts to Destiny: pattern and constraint in form and function
15.45 Paul Harrison - artist Designs for Life
16.00 Dr Alan Prescott - Science
16.15 Tracy MacKenna and Edwin Janssen A perfect image of ourselves.
By Angela Durcan, Press Officer 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, a.durcan@dundee.ac.uk | 
