At the 2018 GNSI Annual Conference, the long-time member, former President, and current Education Director and Archivist Scott Rawlins delivered an engaging and touching presentation about GNSI's first 50 years. View or review the video at the YouTube channel to remember the history of the association and the many talented members that have shaped it over the years.
On September 18th GNSI members and a Smithsonian botanist participated in a panel discussion on the critical role of art used in the pursuit of science. The participants were (GNSI members) Sally Bensusen, Alice Tangerini, Britt Griswold, Diana Marques, along with (botanist) Kenneth Wurdack.
In conjunction with the GNSI 50th anniversary exhibit “Visualize: Art Revealing Science” that was on display at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) gallery, it was a well-attended event that gave all the panelists an opportunity to talk about their careers and about visual science communication at large. It was streamed on Facebook live and the video can be accessed here.
In conjunction with the GNSI's 50th Anniversary, three videos of interest for the science illustration community have been added to our YouTube Channel.
Fossils, Lost Worlds, and the Hero's Journey - with Dr. Kirk Johnson (1:05:20 min.)
Scientific storytelling is presently undergoing a golden age as we realize how important narrative, imagery, objects, humor, and surprise are to the absorption of meaning. Fossils are exquisite objects but they are also fragments of very ancient stories, and paleontologists are time travelers on planet earth. Dr. Johnson became a paleontologist to explore these lost worlds. But “fossil” can also be a derogatory term and he found that many people were bored by rocks. He began to watch people to see how they responded to scientific information. Using their cues, he learned he could make fossils funny or describe geology in terms of food without losing the thread of insight. He began to write like he spoke. He realized you need to look at your audience, respect them, and look for what makes them smile. In 1998, he began to travel with artist Ray Troll in search of fossils, rock shops and museums, and to meet the people who found fossils and worked at those rock shops and museums. They spent ten years traveling together searching for the remains of the prehistoric Pacific. Dr. Johnson will share the story of their quest and the book which came out of it. Includes art by Ray Troll.
GNSI invites you to join us live on Facebook for a Conference Plenary session. Be a part of the GNSI Conference!
10:30 am July 17, 2018
A video recording of Jeff Day's lecture for the GNSI-DC Chapter is now available on GNSI's YouTube Channel and below.
From Comics to Medical Art
A video recording of Fernando Baptista's lecture for the GNSI-DC Chapter is now available on GNSI's YouTube Channel and below.
Fernando Baptista: National Geographic Artist
GNSI member Vicky Earle has produced an animated video to explain why illustrations are important in learning. The video and artwork were created by Vicky, using Adobe Illustrator and VideoScribe.
Vicky says: "This video was done to highlight the longstanding value and importance of using illustrations for teaching and learning, as well as to bring attention to the role of science illustrators. Research has shown when facts are combined with interesting images, people are much more likely to understand, remember and share the material with others. A good visual will motivate learners and improve comprehension."
A video recording of Sandra Schachat's lecture for the GNSI-DC Chapter is now available on the GNSI's YouTube Channel and below.
Sandra R. Schachat's work combines insect evolution and visual evidence in various ways: she has studied the evolution of moth and butterfly wing patterns, has examined fossil leaves for evidence of insect feeding, and has explored how the history of art can be used to understand evolving societal attitudes toward insects.
