Dr. Megan Smith and Dr. Gao Yujie take in the All the Stars We Cannot See project at UBCO’s Critical Future Studio/Lab.w
What: SCI_ART: Art, Science and Technology Symposium
Who: A symposium hosted at UBC Okanagan, featuring international artists and researchers exploring bio-art, AI and sustainable practices
When: Tuesday, October 7 and Wednesday, October 8, from 9 am to 8:30 pm
Where: UBCO’s Critical Future Studio/Lab, Innovation Annex 1, 3505 Spectrum Court, Kelowna
When art, science and technology come together, the doors to possibility open widely.
Next month, UBC Okanagan will host a two-day symposium where international artists will discuss the state of art, science and technology in today’s ever-changing world.
The event will explore how creativity and innovation can shape our understanding of the world, explains Dr. Suzie Currie, UBCO Vice-Principal and Associate Vice-President, Research and Innovation.
“We’re thrilled to welcome some of the world’s leading artists and scholars to SCI_ART,” says Dr. Currie. “Innovation happens when ideas are tested, challenged and reshaped. This symposium embodies innovation by challenging our perspectives on how science, technology and art come together to offer solutions to today’s global crises. Our faculty do this work every day through innovative research and creative activity that can change the world.”
The SCI_ART: Art, Science and Technology Symposium features panel discussions, artist talks, performances, screenings and exhibitions that explore cutting-edge technologies and new art forms inspired by scientific research.
The symposium is organized by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, SAW Gallery, the European Union Delegation to Canada and the embassies of Slovenia, the Netherlands, Poland and France as well as the Alliance Française.
The European Union has long championed collaboration across borders and disciplines, explains Geneviève Tuts, European Union Ambassador to Canada.
“It is part of our DNA, with 27-member states working together. This spirit also guides our international cooperation. SCI_ART shows how art, science and technology can come together to inspire new ideas, strengthen cultural ties and spark innovation to address global challenges,” says Tuts. “The European Union is proud to support the third edition of this symposium, and its first multi-city format, which highlights how Canadian and European creators can shape a more sustainable future together.”
Dr. Megan Smith, director of the Critical Future Studio/Lab at UBC Okanagan, and organizer of the symposium, says the event aims to address global issues like environmental degradation and social challenges.
Bringing SCI_ART to the Okanagan strengthens the region’s role as a hub for interdisciplinary research and creative experimentation, she says.
“With UBCO’s Critical Future Studio/Lab, we are building infrastructure that makes Kelowna a natural home for this kind of gathering,” she says. “SCI_ART brings together different approaches, connects local and international voices and invites communities to imagine new futures.”
The symposium builds connections between art and science, creating global partnerships that connect the Okanagan to creative communities around the world. SCI_ART, says Dr. Smith, inspires students, links researchers and artists, and strengthens Canada’s role in art-science collaborations.
Now in its third year, the event is growing into a multi-city festival. It starts in Montreal on October 2, then moves to Ottawa and arrives in the Okanagan on October 7.
The public is invited to take part in events that include discussions on bio-art, AI and climate activism, technology’s role in society, sustainable practices and artistic responses to the climate emergency.
On Tuesday evening, the Austrian Embassy in Ottawa, UBC and SCI_ART will present a screening of the Ars Electronica Animation Festival 2024, featuring the latest in in digital animation. This takes place in the UBCO theatre, ADM 026. To register, visit: events.ok.ubc.ca/event/2024-ars-electronica-animation-festival-screening.
The animation festival is one of several free SCI_ART events open to the public. For a list of participating artists, events, or to register, visit: sci-art.ca/kelowna.
