During his tenure as Chair of Arts, Design & Science, Rob Kesseler has supported and helped to develop a series of initiatives and affiliations to extend the reach across and beyond the University.
The Royal Microscopical Society
Over the past decade Rob Kesseler has built up an important relationship with the RMS through articles he has published in it’s journal, InFocus and through contributing to exhibitions of images of microscience. In 2014 in recognition of his winning entry to the International Scientific Imaging Competition for Life Sciences he was made a Fellow of the Society. Building on this relationship the RMS has supported his work as Chair by contributing equipment to the MiPattern event and through involving UAL students in some of their educational events. Extending this relationship further he has been appointed to the RMS Education and Outreach Committee where he is working to encourage better communication between the arts & sciences in schools.
LENS
LENS seeks to provide a focus within the University of the Arts London for the emerging multidisciplinary relationships between art, design, technology and science. This initiative recognises that a growing number of researchers and practitioners within UAL have established creative connections with fields of science, reflecting wider cultural trends currently building momentum.
LENS was initiated in Autumn 2013 by a core group of UAL academics:
Sal Anderson, Reader in Interdisciplinary Science-Art Film (LCC)
Heather Barnett, Lecturer MA Art and Science (CSM)
Nathan Cohen, Course Director MA Art and Science (CSM)
Professor Rob Kesseler, Chair of Art, Design and Science (CSM)
Dr Carolyn Mair, Reader in Psychology (LCF)
Marina Wallace (Artakt).
http://lens-ual.net/about/
London Laser
LASER is a series of evening gatherings that bring artists and scientists together for informal presentations and conversation with an audience. Running successfully in the US for several years, London LASER was the first of the series to take place in Europe, starting in February 2014.
Each evening event presents guest speakers from a range of disciplines (artists, scientists, philosophers, historians, inventors, etc), plus a platform for announcements from audience members and an opportunity for discussion and socialising.
LASER is a project of Leonardo® /ISAST (the International Society for Art, Science and Technology). London LASER is organised by Heather Barnett and co-chaired with John R A Smith, with assistance from students on the MA Art & Science at Central Saint Martins.
The British Science Association // Science and the Arts
At a presentation at a London Laser meeting in 2015, Christina Fuentes-Tibbitt, Engagement Manager at the British Science Association (BSA) explained the role of the Scientific Sections at the Association in developing and expanding audiences in their respective fields. Until recently the Sections spanned a range of science related areas, but aware of increasing interest in the relationship between art and science they were keen to develop a new section to reflect this. Subsequently Rob Kesseler and Heather Barnett met with the BSA who have agreed to the creation of a new section for Sciences and the Arts. In September the Section will be launched at the British Science Festival in Swansea with a Presidential address by Rob Kesseler and another event lead by a lecturer and student from MA Art & Science at CSM.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcviY5XVafI&feature=youtu.be
http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/science-and-the-arts-section
Wellcome Image Awards 2016
Member of Judging panel
The Wellcome Image Awards are the Wellcome Trust’s most eye-catching celebration of science, medicine and life. The Awards recognise the creators of the most informative, striking and technically excellent images that communicate significant aspects of biomedical science. The winners are selected from all new images acquired by Wellcome Images during the preceding year. Judged by a panel that includes experts in science communication, medicine and biomedical science, the Awards showcase the best in science image making.
http://www.wellcomeimageawards.org/about/about-the-awards/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaGqgszywaA
COCULTURES 