Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences

Biological art is a broad term that covers artistic engagement with the knowledge and tools of life sciences.  This is a growing field of research in which the manipulation of living systems is performed for the creation of artwork for cultural discussion.

UWA is recognised as the leader in this field. The University provides a space where biological art can be pursued within a scientific setting; through the establishment in the year 2000 of SymbioticA: the art and science collaborative research laboratory within the School of Anatomy and Human Biology.

Teaching in the core units of the course will draw on internationally recognised arts practitioners from the Tissue Culture and Art Project (Oron Catts and Ionat Zurr), scientists from within the School of Anatomy and Human Biology and guest lectures from international scholars and artists undertaking residencies at SymbioticA.  A diverse and wide spectrum of expertise in a number of faculties at UWA will be utilised, potentially including Life and Physical Sciences, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts.

Why study biological arts?

The Graduate Diploma of Science (Biological Art) and Master of Science (Biological Art) is intended for people who already hold a degree in Science, Humanities and the Visual Arts but who wish to undertake interdisciplinary studies to engage with the crossover of art and science.

The course is designed for art practitioners, scientists, and humanities scholars who wish to engage with creative bioresearch. The course will focus on recent advances in the Life Sciences, both in theory and practice. Emphasis is placed on developing critical thought, ethical and cultural issues and cross-disciplinary experimentation in art and science with an excess to scientific laboratories, techniques and expertise.

What does the course involve?

The course will consist of equal content/discourse/methodology from the arts and sciences. To ensure students are conversant (to some degree) in both art and science, Art and Humanities Graduates will undertake science units and science graduates will undertake arts units. Students will take both existing art and science units and core SymbioticA units ANHB8510 and ANHB8511 and a major project and dissertation. Students may be able to substitute a suggested elective unit with another unit, pending approval by the course co-ordinator.

The syllabus is flexible and may integrate research activities at UWA in areas particularly relevant to art and biotechnology research.

How will studying this course help my career prospects?

Completing further study will increase your knowledge in specific areas that interest you.  Further study should also enhance your chances of employment.  Career opportunities might include a future as an artist, science and art education communicator, curator, critic, academic, designer or PhD candidate.