Places and Space - Mapping Science

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

University Collections at McCalla Hosts the Opening Reception for the "Places & Spaces: Mapping Science" Exhibit

Bloomington, IN – University Collections at McCalla will celebrate the opening of its new exhibition, "Places & Spaces: Mapping Science," on Thursday, June 6th from 4:00-6:00 pm. The exhibition will feature maps that visualize scientific data in aesthetically creative ways. The goal of the exhibit is to introduce the public to mapping technologies and their practical applications. The event is free, but registration is encouraged.

The "Places & Spaces" exhibit inspires cross-disciplinary discussion on how to best track and communicate scholarly activity and scientific progress on a global scale. The exhibit is curated by the Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center at Indiana University, located at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering. Their mission is to advance datasets, tools, and services for the study of biomedical, social, and behavioral science; physics; and other networks.

Maps on display cover a range of topics including science fiction, physics, the federal budget, and more. One featured map, "History of Science Fiction" by Ward Shelley, outlines the evolution of science fiction through the intriguing form of a bug-eyed monster whose tentacles trace the roots of the genre to centuries-old fantastical stories and mythology, from the early influences of Dante and Ovid to Star Wars and 3rd Rock From the Sun. Another map, "Being a Map of Physics" by Bernard Porter, is a picturesque, nostalgic map that charts the history of physics from the 6th century B.C. to present day. "Death and Taxes 2009" by Jess Bachman, offers a striking visual representation of the programs and departments funded by the federal discretionary budget.

In addition to the maps, the exhibit will include a hands-on VR experience that uses data to visualize the rise of different kinds of social media. Titled "Lateral Thinking Gone VR: Enabling Geospatial and Topical Insights in Virtual Reality," the VR experience will allow users to learn about the Querdenken movement, a German group whose discourse and rebellion emerged in protest of the German government’s reaction to the COVID-19 crisis.

The mission of University Collections at McCalla is to provide accessible exhibition and educational experiences and create opportunities for students, faculty, and the community to engage with collections, IU-generated research, and creative projects in meaningful and innovative ways.