Art and Science Mingle in Baltimore

This was originally posted on the SciLogs Science Extracted blog on May 19th, 2016. 

When I took a poetry class as a science major in college, my professor advised me to use my science background as an asset, in the vein of Walt Whitman – doctor and poet– or Mary Borden – poet and nurse. But this was way beyond my scope and I haven’t been able to merge my scientific and artistic sides in any sort of conscious way.

Representation of Lapointe's microbiome in red and a bat's in yellow. Top: the separate microbiomes before the meal. Below: Lapointe's microbiome after his tasty meal. Image taken at Culture as Medium exhibit.

Which makes me appreciate those who do so much more. A few weeks ago I stopped by the Baltimore Underground Science Space to check out the exhibit Culture as Medium. Quick plug: the closing reception is tomorrow, May 20^th, from 7 – 9 pm.

Of the exhibits, I was particularly struck by the work of Francois-Joseph Lapointe, professor of biological sciences at the University of Montreal. He holds a PhD in biological sciences as well as in art studies and practice – and uses this unique background to combine performance art and science.
At the exhibit, there was a video of him in an African village which eats bats. He took a sample from the bat and swabbed his tongue before and after eating the bat and sequenced the microbiomes to show that what we eat becomes incorporated into who we are – or at least that’s how I interpreted it.


While he was in Baltimore he shook hands with people all over the city as part of his 1000 Handshakes project to show how microbiomes “mingle” when you meet people. Every 50 handshakes his lab-coated assistants swabbed his hands for later sequencing of the microbiome. As he shook people’s hands he chatted with them about what he was doing.

Apparently the locals at the Lexington Market were friendlier than the tourists in the Inner Harbor, which I appreciated since I used to live nearby the market.

Scientists often complain that the public doesn’t care about science. On the flip-side, the public has an idea of scientists cloistered within the ivory tower. And this is not far from the truth, since most research buildings have security or swipe badges to prevent theft of dangerous chemicals or bioagents, as well as scary-looking radioactive signs everywhere. Even an exhibit like at BUGSS requires the public to know the event is happening and then come inside – no small feat.

Performance art with a science element sprung upon unsuspecting citizens seems likea revolutionary way to bridge the divide between science and the public. And Lapointe uses it as a way to gather data on how our microbiome is influenced by our environment and those around us.

Is there a way to take even greater advantage of this “method” to gather samples, information, and spread science to the public? Only as long as there are enough people like Lapointe who break the stereotype of the shy and antisocial scientist.