Hello everybody, I set up this page to communicate with you the relevant information of the exhibition that will have you all as protagonists and to collect all the information I need from you. I hope that this way with one central page with all the information, it is easier for all to find whatever they need (instead of searching in long and old emails).
Suggestion: Don’t be afraid of beeing crazy! Use this experience
to do something entirely different of what you usually do!
I would highly suggest not to go for a concept that is "visually
appealing" already. Be sincere! Go for what you as a scientist are
enthusiastic about.
Submission process: Most of the information you will submit will be provided through a Google Forms (that I have not prepared yet but that I will provide here soon). The files you will submit, like the artwork itself, you will send to Demian via email.
You will see, this page contains A LOT of information. Do not hesitate to ask whatever you need and want.
Finally, contact us if you need
guidance. We can brainstorm together. We are here to help and will happily provide whatever you need so we can make your participation possible! 🙂
Instructions
A. Create your artistic contribution
This consists of 2 elements:
1) An artwork: The artwork should represent your research (or a piece of mathematics you enjoy). It can be something specific to your own research or generic of your field. It can be a visual example you use, or the most relevant theorem, etc. You are free to choose what aspect you depict. The artwork should also depict in some way the concept of change - this year's exhibition theme. Finally, try to also include in some way an aspect of your own culture.
2) A plot: The plot should visualize the change that you are depicting in your artwork (See slide 14 in the kick-off workshop slides for some examples.). This plot will be presented in the exhibition together with your artwork (together with the inscription) and is part of the story you tell with your artwork. Be individual!! Use the examples of the slides to get an idea of what is expected, and then create your very own, personal plot.
B. Artistic approaches There are different ways to approach an artwork. In science, it is not unusual to take 'a beautiful plot' that you like and 'spice it up' - think fractals for instance. Here, we try to create artworks that resonate with people beyond science - even if they depict science. For this, we have 4 approaches that can help you with your artwork:
Emotional truth: Ask yourself what emotions do you associate with your research and how working in science makes you feel. It is far easier for people to connect with your artwork if you focus on emotions, as they can easily recall instances where they felt the same way. Social relevance: Ask yourself what relevance your research has to society. This can help observers understand 'why' you do this research and empathize with your own motivations. Cultural connections: Ask yourself to what extent your research is a mirror of your own culture. Is your research motivated by cultural circumstances? If you include such a component, the artwork will showcase personality and authenticity. Personal stories: Everybody likes a good story. Is one hidden behind your research? If so, telling that story can help getting people engaged with your artwork. It is deeply human and connects many of the other points as well.
C. The theme: change
Here you get input on the different ways you can integrate the theme change in your artwork. 1) there are different types of change that you can depict (See slide 14 in the kick-off workshop slides!), 2) there are different changes you experience that you can focus on, 3) There are different symbols you can include in your artwork to hint at changes, and finally 4) look at how your culture perceives change!:
1) Types of change:
Transitional change: Things are running a certain way, until an event changes the situation. After that tipping point, things quickly adapt and move on in the new setting. Gradual change: Step by step the status quo changes over time, not drastically but through small little changes, until we arrive at a final state. Drastic change: Things are happening, but suddenly a radical change throws everything overboard. New rules, new dynamics, new ways. Now, nothing runs the way it did before. Cyclic change: Here change is part of the system. Changes happen and after a time they happen again.
2) Experiences of change: Changes in your life: Are you moving? Is your familiy getting new members? Changes in your research field: Was there a new discovery that hugely impacted the field? Changes in your own role as a scientist: Did you start a new position as a PhD/advisor/etc? Did you change from academia to industry? Changes in the world: Are wars, pandemics or other crises impacting the world and science as a consequence of it? Changes in your own attitude towards science: Did you have new learnings? Are you wiser, more dissapointed, more enthusiastic? Changes in your knowledge: Did you have new insights in your research? Did you prove something new? Do you now have a deeper understanding?
3) Symbols of change: butterflies, phoenix, seasons,
lotus flower
4) Change in your culture: Check out if you find a connection between your culture and change! This might not be easy, but I highly encourag you to try it out. Here an example of mine: I am Argentine and Argentine culture deeply nostalgic. The beautiful architecture in Argentina is from the 20', 30' adn 40'. Tango is all about 'the good old days when everything was better', and even football fans will tell you how amazing their teams were in the 50'. So here we have an example of how change is seen as something bad, everything was 'good' and now after the changes everything is bad. So if I were to include my countries perception of change, I would include hints of the past and depict them in a positive, idealized fashion.
Requirements
Technical requirements for the artwork:
- Submit a digital file (.png or .jpg) of your artwork and your plot.
- If your artwork is not digital, scan your artwork with a professional scanner (don't take a pic).
- IMPORTANT: The resolution should be in the ideal case: 3969 px X 5613 px; the
resolution 2381 px X 3368 px would be an absolute minimum. - Materials: You are free to use whatever materials you like to create your
artwork: digital, cutting paperboard, watercolours, pen, collage etc. Low-effort AI-generated artworks are not allowed. AI is allowed whenever it is reasonable (like a researcher working on AI). We strongly encourage you to go for a 2D artwork. For non-digital artworks, I recommend the sizes A3 or A4, because those are easy to scan.
What you will submit together with your artwork (this information will also be available with more details in the Google Forms where you will submit all this - this here serves as a guide so you already know what we need):
Personal information
- your full name
- affiliation
- country of origin
- research statement (150-250 characters)
Information about the artwork
- Title of the artwork (in your mother tounge)
- Title of artwor (in English)
- Your mother tongue
- Materials and dimentions (if given)
- Your thoughts on your artworks, a text where you can share insights on how and why you created your artwork the way you did (400-600 characters)
- the change your are depicting in your artwork
Connection between your culture and mathematics/computer science
- Write down one particular, concrete connection between your country (400-600 characters)
- A picture about this connection (the picture has to be one from https://commons.wikimedia.org/)
Submitted files
- The artwork
- The plot of the change in your artwork
- The audio commentary: A 2-3 min audio file that serves as a commentary on your artwork - part of an audio guide through the exhibition).
By submitting your artwork, you consent to participate of the 2026 edition of the Intercultural Science-Art Project during the 13th Heidelberg Laureate Forum. This implies that the information provided together with your artwork will be used for the exhibition, for the exhibition calaogue, for the exhibition web page, for the promotion of the exhibition and for possible media coverage of the exhibition.
Important dates
Deadline to Sign up: Thursday, June 11, 2029, by 11:59 p.m. CEST (UTC+2/German Time)
Virtual Kick-Off Workshop: Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. CEST (UTC+2/German Time) - During this meeting we provide an introduction to scientific art, to the project and the task you have to complete to participate, and also the theme of this year's exhibition.
Virtual Check-In Meeting: Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. CEST (UTC+2/German Time)
- During this meeting we brainstorm together, we learn how others are approaching the task and we exchange ideas.
Virtual Final Meeting: Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. CEST (UTC+2/German Time) - During this meeting we provide organisatory information about the exhibition, the guided tours, etc. We also share the poster of the exhibition, discuss the webpage and the catalogue.
In-Person HLF Workshop: Sunday, September 13, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. CEST (UTC+2/German Time)
- This workshop is called 'Creativity and Innovation in Science Communication' and here we provide tools that you can use when communicating science beyond this project. We also exchange experiences during the creative process that lead to the exhibition.
Deadline to Submit the Artwork: Wednesday, August 6, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. CEST (UTC+2/German Time).
Materials
Here you can find useful materials that you can use during your creative process.
Video 1
This video shows how you can approach the task of creating an artwork. I share how I would do this, going step by step in my thought process, at the end of which is a very explicit concept for an artwork.
Video 2
This video is a presentation of how an exhibition works. Here you get a
bit of insight into the whole process and what your role is here. The important
part here is that you can see how all components of the project follow one main
goal.
