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Arianna Villaflor

BioArtography: Understanding Biology Through Photography

Updated: Jul 19, 2023

Introduction

For decades, photography has been used to capture memories and moments, and since its creation in the early 1800s, the accessibility and quality of photography has improved massively.


The chance you’ve taken a photo before is more than likely, whether that be on your phone camera, film camera, digital camera, etc. And as the years go on, scientists have started using photography in the field of science to share scientific findings through visual means. This is known as bioArtography.


How BioArtography is and was made

BioArtography was founded fairly recently in 2005 by two professors in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan (UMich), Deborah Gumucio, Ph.D., and Sue O’Shea, Ph.D.


The creation of BioArtography may sound simple, but the process is quite meticulous, as you have to work under a microscope to be able to see the bacteria being studied.


Moreover, scientists use specific stains to give life and color to tissues that would otherwise have no color at all, which would make it impossible to create bioartography, but most importantly, it would infringe on the ability to detect bacterias.


Why BioArtography is Important

BioArtography is important for a wide variety of reasons, like spreading scientific knowledge and findings to the wider public, hopefully making scientific discoveries more accessible, and proving that science isn't just data on data on data.


Further, it gives scientists the chance to spread information that helps us better understand our own bodies and how bacteria inside us work.


Lastly, past bioartography sales curated enough money to be able to send a handful of graduate students and fellows to scientific conferences and kickstart their careers in the world of research.


Conclusion

In conclusion, this may or may not have been the first time you’ve heard of bioartography, but nevertheless, you could support scientists who create bioartography by sharing their artworks and findings with people you know.


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