Collision: Art Meets Science, the IICD Art & Science Competition

Earlier in the fall, IICD invited all members to submit art inspired by their research for the first IICD Art and Science Competition. The goal was to showcase the creative side of our researchers and allow them to share creative expressions at the intersection of art and science. 

The contest was inspired by the success of the Visualizing Science Symposium: The Impact of Art on Scientific Discovery (November 2024). Co-hosted by IICD and Columbia Creative, the symposium brought together scientists, artists, and enthusiasts for a full day of conversations on how creativity shapes scientific discovery.

Two prizes were awarded, one selected by a panel of judges and another chosen by IICD members in an online vote. Both were blind votes, with contestant names concealed.

Judges’ Winner: Abdullah Naqvi (SRP’24, McFaline-Figueroa/Azizi Groups) - A Fighting Chance

This piece represents the trust that tumor patients have in the researchers who fight for them every day. It depicts a woman with a mass of invading cancerous cells (purple) encroaching upon her healthy brain tissue. Despite this, she radiates serenity through her expression. This is because she has unwavering faith in the researchers, who she knows are tirelessly working to give her a fighting chance. Behind her is a gray cancer cell. This cell is filled with symbols of scientific research: DNA strands, flasks, microscopes, equations, and medication. This represents the novel mathematical, computational, and biological approach that the IICD utilizes to combat all types of cancers. The depiction of brain cancer here specifically is in order to showcase the work of researchers in the McFaline-Figueroa/Azizi labs, where we have a primary focus on brain tumors, in order to give patients just like her a better fighting chance.

People’s Choice Award Winner: Jennifer Jones and Ben Wesley (Gaublomme Group) - Windows Fluorescence

Composed of primary color blocks and suffused with sunlight, “Window Fluorescence” refracts biological research through the prism of collaborative art. Inspired by the abstract work of Piet Mondrian, this piece compresses and expands what it means to do science and art in an era of the hyper-digital.

The competition shows how closely creativity and scientific discovery are linked. Both winning artworks are now on display in the lobby of the IICD Suite (Schermerhorn Hall 601). We invite you to stop by and take a look.