鈥楤lind ways of seeing鈥�, embodied knowledge and the return of the polymath: Summer Solstice with Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and Jodrell Bank
On Friday 19 June, Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and Jodrell Bank celebrated the summer solstice with an evening discussing approaches to navigating the space between art, philosophy and quantum physics.
and were delighted to host as part of Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料's Solstice and Equinox series.
The panel event brought together leading physicists and artists underneath the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to explore the interactions between art and science, the positive friction and overlaps between their practice and the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration.
The Solstice and Equinox Series brings innovative creative artists to 黑料网吃瓜爆料's four cultural institutions. Each of our unique cultural institutions 鈥� the Whitworth, the John Rylands Research Institute and Library, 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Museum and Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement 鈥� focus on building civic, national and international partnerships to advance the social, environmental and individual wellbeing of our communities.
The evening began with an opportunity for guests to view the , on display at Jodrell Bank until 7th September 2026 as part of their 鈥楥urious Universe鈥� series. Cosmic Titans was co-developed by artists and physicists at The University of Nottingham鈥檚 , a dedicated space to encourage and study interactions between artists and physicists. Co-founded by and , physicists at The University of Nottingham, the space highlights the potential of creativity in accelerating innovation and the widening of scientific participation in the arts.
Following the exhibition viewing, attendees were invited to the Space Dome for the keynote panel discussion, 鈥業nterdisciplinary approaches to Quantum鈥�. After an introduction by , Director of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement, the audience welcomed Prof David Olusoga OBE, Prof Weinfurtner, Dr Kuchner and renowned artist, to the stage.
Prof David Olusoga began discussions by mapping the division between the arts and science replicated in our culture and education system, which ignores the potential overlaps they share. Drawing on the historical figure of the polymath, Prof Olusoga established the historical and social significance of collaboration between the often-divided fields.
The panel discussion was centred around the shared collaborative experience between Prof Weinfurtner, Dr Kuchner and Conrad Shawcross. As co-founders of ArtLab at the University of Nottingham, Prof Weinfurtner and Dr Kuchner had invited Shawcross to become one of the first resident artists of their space.
The panellists discussed the cost of the division between science and art that is hard-wired into our culture and thought. The panel talked of the 鈥榗atastrophic鈥� impact of STEM on the arts, and the narrowing specialisation of scientific careers with seniority. By bringing creative practice and art into science, the panel highlighted the two-way benefits of collaboration, not only in mediating abstract concepts to wider audiences but the benefit of artistic representation of scientists themselves.
The panellists then concluded with reflections of their experience collaborating, before opening the discussion up for questions from the audience.
Following the panel discussion, attendees were invited to enjoy a DJ set and multimedia performance by , another ArtLab resident artist and contributor to Cosmic Titans. Audiences were given a demonstration of the technology and science behind the piece, which used an interferometer, a device used to measure the interaction of light waves, to produce music and visual displays.
鈥楥osmic Titans 鈥� in-conversation with David Olusoga鈥� was hosted in partnership with Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement as a part of Creative 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 Solstice and Equinox series. To find out more about future events in this series and many more, .