Students from UF, other universities, to celebrate creativity in the arts and sciences

January 19, 2010

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Learn about the latest in both science and the arts at the Celebration of Undergraduate Creativity in the Arts and Sciences Event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 24. The event will take place at the University of Florida Cultural Plaza.

Undergraduate students from Emory University, Furman University, Louisiana State University, Morehouse College and the University of Florida will participate. The Florida Museum of Natural History and the Harn Museum of Art will feature scientific research posters from disciplines such as chemistry, biology and physics as well as two-dimensional and three-dimensional art. In addition to displaying science posters and art, the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts will host students presenting dance, theatrical and musical performances. Students will be available to discuss their work and answer questions during the event.

Don Edler, a UF senior majoring in sculpture, submitted his work for the event. His oil painting, “Energy” depicts CERN’s particle accelerator. (CERN is the European Organization for Nuclear Research.)

“It seemed like a really good opportunity that meshed well with my work,” Edler said.

This is the first year the Phillips Center is joining the Florida Museum and Harn Museum of Art as a venue for the event. Last year’s showcase featured more than 150 art and science undergraduate projects with nearly 1,200 guests.

More than 125 science entries and 50 art entries have been accepted for this year’s event.

In addition to presenting their work to the UF and Gainesville communities, participants will compete for several Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science for Life Undergraduate Creativity Awards. Prizes will be awarded to the most innovative presentations in the arts and the sciences and will fund the travel and attendance of each winner to his or her choice of a meeting, workshop or exhibition anywhere in the world. First-place winners in the science and art categories will receive $1,000. Two second-place winners in each category will receive $500. Four third-place recipients in each category will be awarded $200.
Paul Fonseca, a UF senior majoring in biotechnology, will present a space biology project focusing on plant genetics. He said that he would attend an out-of-state research conference if he received any awards.

“That would definitely help me to grow as a researcher, and further my work quite a bit,” Fonseca said.

The program is a joint effort of the UF Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science for Life Program, UF-NSF Chemistry Research Experience for Undergraduates, UF College of Fine Arts, Morehouse College, Harn Museum of Art, Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and Florida Museum of Natural History. Sponsors for the event include the National Science Foundation, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation.

Admission is free and open to the public.