The aim of the Artistic Research Translation in the Sciences (ARTS) Society is to provide UCalgary students with the space and opportunity to explore their creative talents and be able to apply said skills to their research. We use novel educational initiatives to demonstrate the beauty and value of integrating art and science. ARTS strives to create an inclusive environment in which students no longer dichotomize themselves as logical or artsy. ARTS encourages a wholistic view of art and science for UCalgary members by promoting innovation, empathy, connection, and creativity. We aim to give members a new way of observing their research, communicating their findings, and understanding the work of others. ARTS is an ongoing initiative that is run by and for students.
Members
Valerie Cates
Founding Member
Valerie is a visual artist and PhD student in the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health. Her research centers on using visual art and design in patient decision aids to improve patient-clinician communication approaches in adult spinal deformity surgery. Valerie’s artwork can be seen in several publications and on her personal website.
Julianna Svishchuk
Founding Member
Julianna is an MD/PhD student at the Parkins Lab in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases. Her research focuses on the effects of cytomegalovirus infection in cystic fibrosis airways. Julianna is passionate about the arts, and advocates for the integration of art and science in all facets of education.
Julie Groizeleau
Event Coordinator
Julie is Research Associate in the Arrieta Lab at UCalgary. Sparking from clinical discovery, she aims to develop a clinical point-of-care to monitor microbiome maturation in premature infants to improve the health outcomes of this fragile population. In her spare time, she enjoys staying active outdoor, exploring nature and taking pictures until she has no more phone storage. Julie is thrilled to encourages the wholistic view of art and science as she believes that: At the quintessence of science lies experience. Art, in all its forms create experiences, thus Science is Art & Art is Science.
Mona Parizadeh
Communication Coordinator
Mona is a multidisciplinary scientist and a postdoctoral fellow (Ph.D., PDF) in the Arrieta Lab at UCalgary. She is interested in environmental effects on microbiomes, host-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions, and drivers of microbial community assembly in different environments, including humans, plants and soil. Beyond research, Mona co-presides over the International Community of Iranian Academics (ICOIA) and is an advocate for civil rights and scholars at risk. She believes that the intersection of science and art can provide powerful insights into scientific challenges and help communicate scientific concepts to the public.
Georgia Black
Finance Coordinator
Georgia is a MSc student in the Community Health Sciences program where she is currently researching wellness discourses in medical education. Georgia is excited about expanding the use of creative and art-based methods in both research and education. Specifically, she is interested in building a supportive and inclusive community that is committed to leveraging both artistic and scientific knowledge in order to more fully understand and challenge health and social inequity.
Camelia Ursu
Media Coordinator
Camelia is an MD student at the U of C, where she is also an environmental toxicology researcher and a member of the Animal Kinship Project. She is passionate about interdisciplinary work and believes that uplifting the arts and humanities within scientific and medical realms is at the heart of working towards the betterment of these spaces and the communities they serve.
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