An Interdisciplinary Collaboration Between Art & Science

The Department of Art & Design in the College of the Arts and the Department of Biology in the College of Science and Mathematics proudly present The Art of Neuroscience & the Brain, an interdisciplinary event that brings together faculty and students to explore the connections between artistic expression and neurological research. This collaboration is part of the university’s month-long series of events taking place from March 5–19, 2025.

Building upon past initiatives, this year’s event continues a groundbreaking collaboration between the Department of Art & Design and the Department of Biology. Inspired by the scientific research of Dr. Thomas Mueller, this partnership bridges the gap between neuroscience and the visual arts, offering a dynamic platform for creative inquiry.

Events

March 5-21 | Print Jam Exhibition

Finley Gallery
Opening Reception & Gallery Talk: Wednesday, March 5, 2:30 PM (Reception to follow)

The Print Jam Exhibition showcases printmaking works by students and faculty from Montclair State University and Kansas State University. As part of the Art & Science collaboration, this exhibition celebrates the intersection of traditional printmaking and contemporary interdisciplinary practices.

Print Jam Coordinators:
Professors Catherine Bebout, Sharon Lindenfeld, and Bridget McGuire

Participants Include:
Catherine Bebout (A&D Faculty Coordinator), Bridget McGuire (Adjunct Faculty), Sharon Lindenfeld (Adjunct Faculty), and Dr. Thomas Mueller (CSAM Faculty Coordinator). Students: Grace Whitaker, Wolfgang Smith, Crystal Aguero Chavarria, Alli Maher, Keith Melendez, Angelique Perez, Lindsey Scheier

This exhibition builds upon the Zebrafish and the Art of Fear: A Creative Inquiry into Memory and Emotion project, an interdisciplinary printmaking collaboration exploring how fear and anxiety are stored in the memories of zebrafish brains and their relation to the human brain. Students from Illustration, Visual Communication Design, Visual Arts, and Art Education worked alongside faculty to translate neuroscience concepts into visual form. The project, which was supported by a National Science Foundation grant and Montclair State University, resulted in over 100 prints, some of which were previously exhibited at the Mid-America Print Council Conference and the Kistler Museum of Art at Kansas State University in Fall 2024.

March 17 | Art Forum Speaker: Andrew Carnie

Calcia Hall, Room 135
Monday, March 17, 5:20–7:00 PM

Artist Andrew Carnie, Emeritus Fellow at Southampton University, London, UK, presents his work at the intersection of art and neuroscience. Carnie’s practice engages with scientific research to create dynamic installations that visualize brain function and neurological processes.

March 19 | Art & Science Symposium

CSAM Presentation Hall
Wednesday, March 19, 2:00–5:00 PM (Reception to follow)

Symposium Topic: On the Evolution of the Emotional and Cognitive Brain in Fish

Faculty Co-Collaborators:

Dr. Thomas Mueller, Symposium Moderator – Department of Biology

• Specialization: Neurobiology of Cognition and Emotion in Zebrafish, Evolutionary-Developmental Neurobiology (Evo-Devo-Neuro), Brain Imaging, Neuroanatomical Brain Atlases, and Neuropathology of Drug Addiction.

Professor Catherine Bebout, Co-Collaborator & Visual Artist – Department of Art & Design

Specialization: Printmaking & Animation, with a focus on interdisciplinary practice, including animation and 3D architectural projection.

Science Symposium Speakers:

Keynote Speaker: Joseph E. LeDoux

• Renowned neuroscientist specializing in survival circuits and their impact on emotions such as fear and anxiety. LeDoux is the Henry and Lucy Moses Professor of Science at New York University and Director of the Emotional Brain Institute.

Andrew Carnie, Artist & Emeritus Fellow, Southampton University

Dr. Marnie Halpern, Chair, Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College

• Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences and Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Dr. Koichi Kawakami, Professor, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan

Zebrafish Animation Project

Science Lobby, Reid Hall

A special Zebrafish Animation Projection will be on display in the Science Lobby of Reid Hall, offering a mesmerizing visual interpretation of Dr. Mueller’s research on zebrafish cognition and emotion. Created through interdisciplinary collaboration, this projection bridges scientific imaging techniques with artistic animation, bringing neuroscience to life through motion and color.

Through this ongoing Art & Science collaboration, students and faculty engage in a unique dialogue between scientific discovery and artistic expression. As Professor Cathy Bebout states:

“This project uses art and science as a teaching tool, fostering dialogue and learning between disciplines while demonstrating the arts’ power to drive engagement and social change.”

This initiative highlights the power of interdisciplinary exploration, sparking creativity, innovation, and a deeper understanding of both fields. Students not only expand their artistic skills but also gain valuable insights into neuroscience, paving the way for future collaborations at Montclair State University.