Personal curiosity inspired Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Dave Jennings, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, to create an interactive learning application that connects science and art.
Sparked by the beauty of The Gardens at SIUE back in 2016, Jennings was curious to learn more, and also discover other areas and landmarks around campus.
“What if wherever you were on campus, you could figure out what’s going on in the here and now?” he pondered. “What if we could learn about an area or object as we came upon it?”
Jennings acted swiftly and has since brought his idea to life, with a visually striking and abundant resource at SIUE—art.
He sought the expertise of Erin Vigneau-Dimick, executive curator of the University Museum. As the two discussed curating art into the then-newly built Science West building on campus, the idea for an application that would offer artistic background on specially selected science-related pieces, transpired. Together, they launched the Active Integrated Sustainable Learning Environments (AISLE) project, which has expanded to include art works in the now renovated Science East building.
“The art on campus program has been a part of the University Museum for about 40 years,” explained Vigneau-Dimick. “We’ve been interested in starting this type of collaborative curation for some time now. This project will really help students, and the campus community, see the value of art.”
“We want students to realize that they can be both a scientist and an artist,” added Jennings. “The two are not mutually exclusive. They are mutually beneficial.”
On the advice of a colleague, Jennings researched a technology suitable for furthering AISLE. It centers on the use of small Bluetooth devices, called beacons, that transmit location information. Beacons then connect to other Bluetooth devices and trigger a web-based application that displays information associated with an identified area or object.
A web-based application specific for SIUE is currently in development as part of a senior project being completed by students in the School of Engineering’s Department of Computer Science. The interactive application will trigger a notification as students walk past beacons and provide information about the location, artwork or area.
Although the project is initially focusing on pieces from the University Museum’s vast collection of SIUE art pieces and historical objects located in Science East and Science West, Jennings envisions expanding the AISLE project across campus.
“I think that every department on campus should have a beacon so that students and parents could walk in at any time and know what is offered there,” said Jennings.
Other future possibilities include the opportunity for students and visitors to give themselves their own campus tour using the app. Users would be able to utilize the application to learn more about the specific areas on campus that interest them.
“The possibilities are endless,” exclaimed Jennings. “It’s all curiosity driven.”
Jennings and Vigneau-Dimick hope to get more departments involved in creating content for the application, perhaps by way of senior projects or the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) program.
The AISLE project first launched in spring 2018, with the receipt of a Targeted Funding Initiative grant from the College of Arts and Sciences. The team anticipates the newly-developed application will be available for use in spring 2020.
To learn more about the AISLE project or to get involved, please contact Jennings at dajenni@siue.edu or 618-650-3614.
Photos: (L-R) University Museum Executive Curator Erin Vigneau-Dimick and Associate Professor Dave Jennings have launched the AISLE project which connects individuals to the scientific connection of selected artworks installed throughout SIUE’s Science West and Science East. Arboreal Anatomy by professor Brigham Dimick is featured in the background.
Viewing a jacquard weaving by Professor Laura Strand which reimages seafoam along the Florida coastline, University Museum Executive Curator Erin Vigneau-Dimick and Associate Professor Dave Jennings learn more about the piece’s scientific connection using the web-based application.