Biology Through Art

Recent outreach events for kids and families -- stencil drawings, puzzles, Pokemon-Invertebrate matching, collectible card bingo. Biology through Art paired with ArtScience Collective at both events (www.artsciencecollective.org), who explored symmetry and butterflies.

At Children's Museum of Discovery in Escondido (visitcmod.org), and Palomar Elementary in Chula Vista.

Early spring project activities. 5th Annual Workshop for teachers at San Diego Mesa College, and co-sponsor of Art Pavilion at the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering at Petco Park.

Thanks to:
San Diego Mesa College -- https://www.sdmesa.edu/
San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering -- https://lovestemsd.org/

Great time at the Biology through Art student art exhibition on Dec 20 at the Mission Valley Library in San Diego. Students at National University and Northeastern Illinois University displayed paintings, drawings, and 3D print-outs of various invertebrates, bat species, and microscopic cellular structures.

Participating courses: Invertebrate Zoology (National University, Fall 2025, instructor Mike Maxwell), Cell Biology (National University, Fall 2025, instructor Veronica Ardi-Pastores), Local Fauna (Northeastern Illinois University, Fall 2025, instructor Beth Reinke).

Thanks to Bio Art members Sheena Rae Dowling (art instruction), Tony Washington (animations of invertebrates), and Jim Melli, Maria Rodriguez-Aguirre, Collete Tamayo (event support).

Had a blast at the annual STEM student research conference in San Diego hosted by the AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science). Biology through Art was invited to host interactive tables on all three days, with quick drawing lessons, creation of chimeric (hybrid) animals, tangram puzzles, collectible card bingo, and the ever-popular "Pokemon Challenge." Thanks to biology professors Mike Maxwell and Veronica Ardi-Pastores (National University), biologists Maria Rodriguez-Aguirre and Erica Merrell (NU alumni), and local artists Sheena Rae Dowling, Stacie Birky Greene, Jason Rogalski, and Tony Washington.

https://sstemrec.aaas.org/event/2025-s-stem-scholars-meeting/

Looking back on summer outreach events -- drawing workshops and the “Pokemon Challenge.” At National University’s Harmony Center, University of San Diego’s STEAM Youth and Community Conference, Southeast San Diego Science & Art Expo (Elementary Institute of Science).

https://usdsteamteam.wixsite.com/2025-conference

https://www.southeastsdsteamexpo.com/

Great time at our June student art show at the Bonita Museum! In addition to the vibrant artwork, we had a couple of firsts -- live snakes (San Diego Herpetological Society) and short animations of the students' imaginary species (Tony Washington Art).

Thanks to the students for their hard work, to Bio Art members for their collaborative cooperation, and to the visitors!

Participating schools and organizations:
National University
Emory University
University of North Florida
Patrick Henry High School
Tony Washington Art (tonywashingtonart.com)
San Diego Herpetological Society (sdherpsociety.org)

Fun day getting The Wishing Machine and garden into shape! In support of a community art project lead by Jason Rogalski. Soil is going in this week, with an opening ceremony planned for March 22.

Project site:
https://www.rogalskiart.com/butterfly-garden-labyrinth.html

Great turnout for the Art Pavilion at the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering! Interactive exhibits on neuroscience, robotics, puzzles and drawing, brains and dreaming, visual arts, San Diego fauna, human anatomy, costume design, and more.

Art Pavilion co-sponsored by Biology through Art, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, and National University.

Event website: https://www.lovestemsd.org/

Generation STEAM: https://www.biocom.org/generation-steam/

The return of the Art Pavilion to this year's San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering! Join us for interactive, creative fun. Art Pavilion co-sponsored by Biology through Art, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, and National University.

March 1 (Sat), 10 am - 5 pm, Petco Park.
Free admission.

Event website: https://www.lovestemsd.org/

Great student art exhibition this past Saturday (Dec 21) at the Bonita Museum! Great pieces from several universities, showing the broad range of subjects in biology within which to do art.

Thanks to the Bonita Museum, faculty and students at National University, and faculty and students at Patrick Henry High School for putting the event together.