Sci_Art 2023 

SCI_ART (March 25-26, 2023) brought together artists, scientists and academics for a two-day program of panel discussions, artist talks, performances and book launches to present an array of diverse viewpoints and approaches to understanding artistic and scientific collaboration. The symposium also examined new art forms and technological advances that arise from bringing together scientific research and artistic practice. Many of the invited artists and thinkers in the symposium addressed some of the most challenging issues of our time, from environmental degradation to social challenges, opening up new ways of thinking and seeing the world around us.

Presented by SAW, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in partnership with Artengine, the Embassy of Denmark and the University of Ottawa. 

Supported by Društvo VTIS, RUK, IOTA Institute, PiNA, Incubator Art Lab, Kultur Einer Digitalstadt and Culture and Sustainability Lab.

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE : Myka Burke, Inès Mastellotto-Lesny, Simon Pribac + Jason St-Laurent
Aleksandra Bajde (Solvenia) is a composer-performer and cultural manager based in Vienna. Holds degrees in jazz singing, composition, and international relations. Founder of the Culture and Sustainability Lab. Her interdisciplinary work blends compos

Aleksandra Bajde (Solvenia) is a composer-performer and cultural manager based in Vienna. Holds degrees in jazz singing, composition, and international relations. Founder of the Culture and Sustainability Lab. Her interdisciplinary work blends composed and improvised music with performance, exploring audience participation as co-creation.

Albrecht Haag (Germany) is a photographer and cultural manager based in Darmstadt. Studied communication design at Hochschule Darmstadt. Co-founder and director of the Darmstädter Tage der Fotografie photography festival and co-initiator of the "Kult

Albrecht Haag (Germany) is a photographer and cultural manager based in Darmstadt. Studied communication design at Hochschule Darmstadt. Co-founder and director of the Darmstädter Tage der Fotografie photography festival and co-initiator of the "Kultur einer Digitalstadt" platform. Works at the Kunstforum of TU Darmstadt.

Borut Jerman (Solvenia) is the President of the Association for Culture and Education PiNA. Leads the HEKA Art & Science Laboratory and produces the new media art festival IZIS. His work centres on developing HEKA as a platform for dialogue between s

Borut Jerman (Solvenia) is the President of the Association for Culture and Education PiNA. Leads the HEKA Art & Science Laboratory and produces the new media art festival IZIS. His work centres on developing HEKA as a platform for dialogue between society and science through art, bringing empathy, curiosity, and compassion into scientific research methodologies.

Cheryl L'Hirondelle (Canada) Métis/Cree multidisciplinary artist, singer-songwriter, and 2021 Governor General's Award recipient. Her practice explores nêhiyawin (Cree worldview) through music, performance, video, and new media. Director of Miyoh Mus

Cheryl L'Hirondelle (Canada) Métis/Cree multidisciplinary artist, singer-songwriter, and 2021 Governor General's Award recipient. Her practice explores nêhiyawin (Cree worldview) through music, performance, video, and new media. Director of Miyoh Music Inc. Holds an MDes from OCAD University.

Chantal Rodier (Canada) is an artist-in-Residence and STEAM Project Coordinator at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa. Brings art and artistic practice into multidisciplinary STEM teams; co-chairs the SAW Gallery board of trustees. Memb

Chantal Rodier (Canada) is an artist-in-Residence and STEAM Project Coordinator at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa. Brings art and artistic practice into multidisciplinary STEM teams; co-chairs the SAW Gallery board of trustees. Member-researcher at CRAiEDL, examining the social impacts of AI and robotics through art.

Dr Jason Millar (Canada) is an Associate Professor, University of Ottawa; Canada Research Chair in the Ethical Engineering of Robotics and AI. Director of the Canadian Robotics and AI Ethical Design Lab (CRAiEDL). Has testified before the UN CCW and

Dr Jason Millar (Canada) is an Associate Professor, University of Ottawa; Canada Research Chair in the Ethical Engineering of Robotics and AI. Director of the Canadian Robotics and AI Ethical Design Lab (CRAiEDL). Has testified before the UN CCW and the Senate of Canada on the ethics of military robotics.

Dr Jennifer Willet (Canada) is a Canada Research Chair in Art, Science and Ecology, University of Windsor. Founded INCUBATOR Art Lab in 2009 — the first biological art lab in Canada. Royal Society of Canada College member. Her bioart practice uses li

Dr Jennifer Willet (Canada) is a Canada Research Chair in Art, Science and Ecology, University of Windsor. Founded INCUBATOR Art Lab in 2009 — the first biological art lab in Canada. Royal Society of Canada College member. Her bioart practice uses living media (cells, microbes, plants) to explore representation, the body, and interspecies ecology.

Dr Johanna Leissner (Belgium) is a trained chemist and material scientist; scientific representative for Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft at the EU in Brussels since 2005. Co-founder of the German Research Alliance for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. Cha

Dr Johanna Leissner (Belgium) is a trained chemist and material scientist; scientific representative for Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft at the EU in Brussels since 2005. Co-founder of the German Research Alliance for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. Chairs the EU expert group on climate change resilience for cultural heritage.

Dr Matija Strlič (Slovenia) is a Professor of Heritage Science at UCL and Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Ljubljana. Pioneer of "collections demography" and degradomics in heritage science. Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemis

Dr Matija Strlič (Slovenia) is a Professor of Heritage Science at UCL and Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Ljubljana. Pioneer of "collections demography" and degradomics in heritage science. Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry; over €50M in research funding secured for the heritage science field.

Kosisochukwu Nnebe (Nigeria/Canada) is a conceptual artist and writer working across installation, lens-based media, and sculpture. Practice explores Black visibility, embodiment, and colonial histories. Exhibited at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Kosisochukwu Nnebe (Nigeria/Canada) is a conceptual artist and writer working across installation, lens-based media, and sculpture. Practice explores Black visibility, embodiment, and colonial histories. Exhibited at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and Plug In ICA; recipient of the 2023 G.A.S. Fellowship (Lagos).

Lukas Einsele (Germany) is a photographer and visual artist based in Darmstadt, Berlin, and Mannheim. His work treats memory as an active process; book One Step Beyond won the German Photobook Prize and Karl Hofer Prize. Teaches Camera Arts at Hochsc

Lukas Einsele (Germany) is a photographer and visual artist based in Darmstadt, Berlin, and Mannheim. His work treats memory as an active process; book One Step Beyond won the German Photobook Prize and Karl Hofer Prize. Teaches Camera Arts at Hochschule Luzern.

Marie-Jeanne Musiol (Canada/Switzerland) is a Photographer exploring "energy botany" — luminous plant imprints recorded in electromagnetic fields. Founded the Daïmôn artistic centre in 1986. Works held in the collections of the National Gallery of Ca

Marie-Jeanne Musiol (Canada/Switzerland) is a Photographer exploring "energy botany" — luminous plant imprints recorded in electromagnetic fields. Founded the Daïmôn artistic centre in 1986. Works held in the collections of the National Gallery of Canada and the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

Dr Maša Jazbec (Solvenia) is an artist, academic researcher, curator and producer, working in various fields where science and art intersect. Her multifaceted work focuses on the impact of robotics and other modern technologies on the lives of humans

Dr Maša Jazbec (Solvenia) is an artist, academic researcher, curator and producer, working in various fields where science and art intersect. Her multifaceted work focuses on the impact of robotics and other modern technologies on the lives of humans and other living organisms.

Mireille Bourgeois (Canada) is White Acadian settler curator and writer based in Halifax. Founder of the IOTA Institute (2016), supporting artists working at the intersection of technology, science, and intervention. Curated the Bio Art Series (2019)

Mireille Bourgeois (Canada) is White Acadian settler curator and writer based in Halifax. Founder of the IOTA Institute (2016), supporting artists working at the intersection of technology, science, and intervention. Curated the Bio Art Series (2019) featuring Stelarc and Jennifer Willet.

Remco Volmer (Canada/The Netherlands) is a Curator and Co-Director of Artengine, Ottawa. Graduate of Utrecht University's Creative Media program. Previously worked at the Dutch Embassy in Canada. Runs the Ottawa Mini Maker Faire and curates exhibitio

Remco Volmer (Canada/The Netherlands) is a Curator and Co-Director of Artengine, Ottawa. Graduate of Utrecht University's Creative Media program. Previously worked at the Dutch Embassy in Canada. Runs the Ottawa Mini Maker Faire and curates exhibitions exploring art, technology, and ecology.

Tina Tarpgaard (Denmark) is a Choreographer; founded Recoil Performance Group in 2005. Her cross-aesthetic dance works integrate live performance with software-generated video art, treating the body and digital media as equal interactive partners.

Tina Tarpgaard (Denmark) is a Choreographer; founded Recoil Performance Group in 2005. Her cross-aesthetic dance works integrate live performance with software-generated video art, treating the body and digital media as equal interactive partners.

Dr Valerie Wolf Gang (Solvenia) is an intermedia artist, researcher, educator, and senior military specialist working at the intersection of contemporary art, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, defense systems, and digital culture.She is

Dr Valerie Wolf Gang (Solvenia) is an intermedia artist, researcher, educator, and senior military specialist working at the intersection of contemporary art, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, defense systems, and digital culture.She is a recipient of the Ivana Kobilca Award, the Vesna National Film Award and the Fulbright Award.