As an artist and educator, Angela is involved in the many ways art can enhance scientific discovery and outreach. Angela works with labs and research teams to help convey their findings in an art-based experience for the general public. This includes Angela’s development of arts programming kits for all ages, as well as large-scale public art pieces that aim to inspire and engage visitors to research spaces.
2024 Biology Leadership Community Conference
Angela was invited to the annual Biology Leadership community conference in Tucson, AZ where she led 80 biology professors from around the US through the process of learning about and creating cyanotypes and ways in which they might infuse more creativity in their college classrooms.
"At this year’s Biology Leadership Community (BLC), Angela Johnson organized an art collaborative workshop for the 80 college biology professors in attendance. The BLC is a national, three-day conference with a focus on the unique teaching and learning challenges of teaching introductory biology. Angela worked with me, in advance, to plan the workshop and find hooks to the rest of the conference’s programming and speakers. The art workshop was a huge hit! Angela explained the activity clearly, showed relevant examples, and gave the instructors practical advice on how best to set up something similar for themselves. All of the biologists participated with enthusiasm, making their individual cyanotypes and working collaboratively to try new approaches.. Angela's workshop received rave reviews in the conference evaluation and many people commented on how much they enjoyed working together to do something so different and so beautiful. I was so impressed with Angela’s communication skills, professionalism and dedication."
—Robin Heyden, conference organizer
Masson Lab: University of Wisconsin-Madison—Building the Roots of Basic Science Outreach Program 2024
With Patrick Masson and his lab team, Angela is developing outreach arts kits that teaches the lab’s findings on root development through an emphasis on observation and journal making. The programming and kits are tailored for different school age groups and will soon be available at libraries, museums and community centers.
Angela’s partnership with the Genetics Department will also include a forthcoming art piece for the genetics building, inspired by investigations of root growth.
Drawing Water: Trout Lake Limnology Station Art Mentor 2023
Angela spent the summer of 2023 traveling North to the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Trout Lake Limnology Station in Boulder Junction. Working with a team of professional researchers, undergrad researchers and artists, Angela experienced first-hand scientific studies of the Lake and participated in interdisciplinary explorations of the ecosystem. Angela and the other artists at the station responded to their experiences at the lake with a series of artworks. Below are two videos of some of Angela's work included in the exhibition. To learn more about Drawing Water, CLICK HERE.
Aquatica: forthcoming exhibition that will display these works statewide in 2024.
April 10–12, Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention in Steven Point
May 1–30, Boulder Junction Public Library
June 1–7, Association of Limnology and Oceanography in Madison
June 10–August 10, Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland
August 15–October 26, Art Start in Rhinelander
Forest Products Laboratory Playing with Paper: MRSEC University of Wisconsin Madison 2021
Paper is an amazing and varied material that we have experience with in our everyday lives. But have you ever really noticed how different types of paper behave? Different papers are made for different purposes. What they all have in common is that they contain cellulose fibers derived from wood or other plant material. How they are processed, and the other ingredients that they contain in addition to the fibers, gives different papers the materials properties that make them useful for different purposes. You will be exploring a range of materials properties like texture, tearing, fiber orientation, and spreading.
Angela helped develop and film an at home activity combining art and science for the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center inspired by the research done at the Forest Products Laboratory.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
SKOP Lab: University of Wisconsin-Madison—Genetic Reflections 2018
Angela worked with genetics professor Ahna Skop to create a public science art installation on permanent view outside the Genetics and Biotechnology Center auditorium. Angela designed the piece to highlight genetic research on campus through an interactive and educational experience. Funding and Supplies for the installation were provided by the National Science Foundation, the UW-Madison Biotechnology Center, and the Wisconsin Materials Research Science and Engineering Center.
Scale drawing of 40 foot installation
Research Experience for Teachers: MRSEC University of Wisconsin-Madison 2012
As an RET fellow, Angela worked with a team of educators and researchers to develop an activity for 4th-7th grade students to teach macro, micro and nanoscale ideas through a butterfly wing art project.
Interns for Public Science Education(IPSE): Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at University of Wisconsin and Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network — Madison 2006–2008
Working with the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Angela developed a Nanoparticle Stained Glass program for visitor engagement. Visitors learned about the nanotechnology of medieval stained glass and had the opportunity to participate in a collaborative stained glass window. Angela also developed a take-away card which visitors could assemble to contain a small piece of nanoparticle stained “glass”.
This project was developed at the MRSEC for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation.
Angela then worked with the Madison Senior Center in 2009 and had a Madison Arts Commission Grant to work with Seniors to create two large collaborative faux stained glass panels to commemorate their 25 years as a center. She also led workshops where participants made their own small take away faux stained glass pieces.
