The Art of Communicating Science
UM ecologist taps into artistic talent to inspire others
Look closely at Sara Adlerstein’s painting Cosmos, and the round organic shapes suggest the origins of life. Take a step back, and the shapes begin to resemble planets.

Adlerstein, a self-taught artist and aquatic ecologist at the University of Michigan (UM), likes to play with the idea of scale: “How do you know if you’re looking at something as small as a cell or as large as the universe?”

The painting was among the works that Adlerstein presented to UM students and colleagues in a presentation titled “From Cell to Self: A Scientist in the Arts.” A Sea Grant funded researcher, Adlerstein often draws upon her scientific background to illustrate complex concepts and inspire others in the process.

“Art can be a way to communicate,” says Adlerstein, a professor in the School of Natural Resources and Environment. “Art stimulates creativity and provides an opening to talk about environmental topics.” She also teaches a class called artEco in collaboration with the UM art school.

The creative process also aids her own scientific studies.
“There are so many relationships between art and science for me personally,” says Adlerstein. “In art you have no boundaries. When that translates into research, the creative process opens your mind to consider the possibilities.”