Science communication through immersive media arts: an innovative framework for arts-based science communication

Science communication (SC) is more important than ever. The recent COVID-19 pandemic demanded public accountability, clear discussion, and the ability to disagree in public.

SC may be essentially defined as the social appropriation of science and technology, enhanced by the integration of science with other beliefs. Therefore, if science can inspire art, can art inspire interest and learning about science?

In its turn, how can we make use of artistic expression driven by emerging technology such as 360-degree video, virtual reality, augmented reality or mixed reality as to create innovative and effective arts-based science narratives?

In spite of the growing proliferation of collaborative artistic exhibitions, performances, and installations that aim to “activate” science (Schwartz, 2014), it is still unclear whether arts-based science communication (ABSC) is distinctively effective in raising awareness or shaping public policy.

Most ABSC projects fail to articulate information about project goals and few projects disseminate performance assessments (Lesen et al., 2016).

Thus, this research project is focused on obtaining a systematic understanding of the main objectives, challenges and outcomes surrounding ABSC and whether, and in what ways, these projects set and meet goals, as well as what steps can be taken to foster best practices.

By developing, conducting, and critically reflecting upon a series of immersive media ABSC experiments involving scientists, immersive media artists, and the general public, the ultimate goal is to obtain an innovative framework with guidelines and best practices for future immersive media and other arts-science collaborative projects, while further conceptualizing the field of arts-science collaborations, and generating substantial impact on society.