Illustraciencia, an ecosystem for scientific illustration
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Scientific illustration is a discipline at the service of scientific communication that is based on the graphic representation of concepts specific to the various areas of science. The synthesized, objective and accurate visual information provided by scientific illustration, however, contains aspects inherent to the languages of the visual arts such as composition, technique or aesthetics. This article reviews the professional situation in the field of scientific illustration, to subsequently delve into the Illustraciencia project, from the Catalan Association of Scientific Communication (ACCC) and the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC). Born as a scientific illustration competition, this project has become a benchmark of this discipline internationally through the promotion and dissemination of works through digital platforms and has evolved over the years to offer educational activities, conduct roadshows and congresses, and even publish books in both digital and printed media, with scientific illustration always as the protagonist. The analysis of the illustrations selected as finalists in the nine competitions developed between 2009 and 2022, leads to a series of conclusions on the international evolution of scientific illustration in recent years and the topics addressed, which show the heterogeneity of this discipline and the constant evolution of its professionals to adapt to the needs of science and knowledge transfer.
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(c) Diego Ortega Alonso, 2023
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Diego Ortega Alonso, University of Jaén
Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Granada. Master of Research and Aesthetic Education and International Doctor of Heritage from the University of Jaén, with the CUM LAUDE rating. His lines of work have a markedly interdisciplinary character, addressing areas ranging from artistic activity or research in heritage and arts, the implementation of social innovation projects, the communication of science through the arts, artistic education, scientific illustration or the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and other collectives at risk of social exclusion. His resume includes more than forty articles and publications in which he has participated as an author or contributor with his illustrations and paintings, as well as several national and international awards of an artistic nature or relating to the communication of science through art and social innovation. His works have been published in scientific journals, doctoral thesis, textbooks, teaching materials and other publications. Among his recognitions, we can find the Prisma Casa de las Ciencias a la Divulgación 2020 Award, the SOMOS DIGITAL 2019 Award for Digital Inclusion, or the Internet 2018 Award for Best Social Innovation Research and Entrepreneurship Project in Spanish that is awarded by the Asociación de Usuarios de Internet (Association of Internet Users).
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