Scientific research, artfully shown
Several researchers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) are looking away from the skies to focus on a cultural force that usually doesn’t garner much attention from rocket scientists: art. The researchers are examining the art of their science — and the science of how people look at art — and how art can be best used to convey various types of data to the public. Through surveys and focus groups, those working on the Aesthetics & Astronomy project are studying the most effective use of captions, how images and the information they contain come across on the small screens of today’s ubiquitous handheld devices, and even the eye movements of viewers as they take in stellar images. The work is being conducted by a trio of CfA researchers, with the aid of a pair of art world experts. The CfA researchers include Kim Arcand, a visualization specialist who works for...