Art inside the library

The tomato quilt piece explores concepts of linearity, repetition, and productivity in science (inspired by the pomodoro technique). The petri-dish piece explores aspects of experimentation, optimisation and beauty (with “results” displayed more solidly and aesthetically, framed in plastic). What makes results “beautiful”? And can process be beautiful, too? This piece explores how coincidence and connection can cause a more creative, mycelial communication between disciplines if we dare to peer across the borders of our own “material”. Can we “culture” a creative connection with our science and colleagues by expanding our horizons and thinking metaphorically? 

Here I focus on the omnipresent sense of time constraints, and the requirement to codify my use of time into tables and charts, which can be difficult to reconcile with any research activity. The textile I produced is arranged like a grid, which is disrupted by the incorporation of found materials and irregular shapes, turning time planning and constraints into creative and unexpected outcomes. Weaving was the first mechanisable, hence programmable craft, providing inspiration for the first ideas about machines whose operations can be automated through an algorithm. Their symbolism extends to my research on computational and machine learning methods, embodied into a stereotypically feminine activity. The medium of textiles was hence a way to narrate myself as a woman computational scientist. 

Time is one of the currencies of research, and learning how to manage is one of the first challenges of completing a PhD. With limited time in a week, which tasks should I prioritise? Am I doing too much, or too little? To keep myself accountable and help me examine and reflect on my work habits, I started tracking my time. This piece shows real data for how I’ve spent my time in the first 9 months of my PhD: from learning the ropes, busy weeks in the lab, or report deadlines, to conferences, travelling to meet collaborators, and much- needed breaks. 

When the three core themes of this project were established, I was immediately drawn to 'Time', because of its crucial role in liquid chromatography, a fundamental technique to my work as an analytical chemist. Another theme that resonated with me was ‘Emotion,’ and how it affects every aspect of our lives, in and out of the lab. In my contribution, I wanted to convey how multiple emotions come together to form our identities as scientists and humans, imagining how these emotions can be identified from the mixture.  

A common experience of those working in research, particularly those in support service roles, is working across multiple projects and teams. In this piece, I wanted to highlight how we present ourselves depending on who and what we are working with – the different masks we wear. Five of these masks represent a research project I have worked on, all different yet connected by the final mask – my team. Blank on the outside and painted on the inside, this mask highlights that roles like ours can be overlooked, but here we get to see the colour and light we bring to research. 

The piece is about increasing awareness of sustainability and is built using materials used daily in laboratories. People are becoming more aware of how much plastic pollution scientific research produces. This pollution stems from the pursuit of increased productivity, as plastic makes experiments easier and faster by eliminating the need to wash anything. However, this convenience of saving time comes at the cost of significant plastic waste, where the sustainable balance is overturned. 

The piece features a sea theme with a net and fish to represent pollution in the sea, including heavy plastic pollution and microplastics. The piece aims to give plastic waste new life, both literally and metaphorically. 

The inspiration for this piece – Imperial’s new logo “I” printed on a blue office-style carpet – came from a discussion we had during one of our sessions. We spoke about how increasingly academic institutions are run like companies. Imperial’s new brand strategy launch solidifies this message and hence the piece serves as a visual reflection of this. Office-style carpet acts as metaphor for the corporate office aesthetic. What does research culture in such an environment look like? 

Each fabric represents a different person involved in a research project. Initially separated, they come together, interact, and collaborate to interpret the background of data – represented by a white graph with triangles. The x-axis represents time while the y-axis is not defined. The connection is dynamic; occasionally one person makes a larger contribution, some leave and new people join the project. The fabrics are not plain to represent the singularity of each person. Scientists are normal people with different motivations and circumstances, and we see diverse aspects of them throughout the project as the pattern changes. 

Tatreez is a traditional Palestinian embroidery whose patterns and colours tell stories and express identities. These fragments are the result of Imperial students learning Tatreez at the Palestine solidarity encampment. During the encampment, students aimed to highlight that science is not easily separated from its political context. Science asks us to abandon subjectivity and personhood to enter the realm of objective fact; yet emotions necessarily force us into an observatory state, bringing us deeper in touch with ourselves and the world around us. Science aims to be apolitical, but the flow of resources, research partnerships and stakeholder interests are inherently political in the face of global conflict.  

There are no universities left in Gaza. The students of imperial join hands with displaced students across the world. 

I offer a series of illustrations that depict the path from childhood curiosity to professional researcher. Younger illustrations represent a child's excitement for discovery; the pieces that follow show the reality of the demanding academic journey. Later illustrations capture the professional's life, showing the balance between academic and personal identities. The emotional tone shifts from warmth and excitement to a colder, more pragmatic approach as science becomes a career. This series portrays how scientists reconcile their personal and professional worlds, offering a depiction of their journey and highlighting both challenges and triumphs.