From Research to Art
On most days, ISyE associate professor Valerie Thomas is working on the efficient use of materials and energy, sustainability, industrial ecology, technology assessment, international security, and science and technology policy.
But her research is now going from papers and publications to the visual arts. With artist, Susan Armington, Thomas’ research work will now be part a sustainability art project that will be presented at the Phipps Center for the Arts in Wisconsin in May 2010. Focusing on the efficient use of materials and energy, Armington is using the basis of Thomas’ research to create visuals that show the carbon footprint during the life cycle of a product.
Why Art?
According to Thomas, “When we write a National Science Foundation grant, NSF wants to know not only the intellectual merit, but also the broader impact of the research. Making the translation to something that consumers can understand is one of those broader impacts and the use of visual arts to do this is unique.”
Carbon Footprint
Using the example of sugar, Armington with Thomas’ assistance, can show not only the final product, but can trace sugar from the time planted until sold to the consumer. The art also shows how much water, petroleum, and other energy was used to get the item to the consumer, as well as the number of people who contributed to the manufacturing process. “By showing the carbon footprint,” said Armington, “we can visually educate the consumer on what it took to get there. Our hope is that then the consumer can make intelligent decisions on what to buy based on how they can help save the planet.”
>>Engineers are Creative Problem-Solvers.
