LABLINES: Tufts Initiative Bridges Art and Science to Democratize STEM Research
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A new programme at Tufts University, LABLINES, aims to make scientific research more accessible and engaging through the power of art, receiving a grant from the Tufts MUSE funding program to launch this semester. The initiative seeks to break down barriers to entry for aspiring researchers and foster collaboration between STEM and arts students.
LABLINES stems from the shared experience of Isabella Arabia, a biology master’s student, and Khoa Tran, an assistant professor and researcher. Both utilize artistic mediums to communicate complex scientific concepts. Arabia,a graduate of tufts’ combined degree program in biopsychology and fine arts,focuses her art on raising awareness about science and animals,even centering her senior thesis on fostering empathy toward ants.
Tran, new to the biology faculty, also co-founded JKX Comics with fellow Tufts faculty jaye Gardiner and dr. Kelly Montgomery in 2015. According to JKX Comics, thier mission is to “increase scientific literacy, access, and exposure to a variety of STEM disciplines using comics as a vehicle.” This shared background sparked the idea for LABLINES,as Arabia explained,”Khoa already had this idea [that] he wanted to bring the comics here to Tufts and make it somthing that helps undergraduate researchers get visibility for their work.”
Increasing Visibility for Undergraduate Research
LABLINES was workshopped as a program designed to amplify the visibility of undergraduate STEM research. It will equip students with the skills to effectively communicate their findings and encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration between SMFA students and STEM researchers.The initiative plans to utilize diverse art forms,including murals and comics,to engage a wider audience.
Tran emphasized the enduring and approachable nature of comics, stating they can engage readers of all ages and make scientific research more accessible. A key principle of LABLINES is a hands-off approach to artistic creation. “We have two artists that have very diverse art styles, and then we want the scientists to really communicate what they’re passionate about and their story, [becuase] they know the story the best,” Tran said. The project also intends to install a mural on campus, complete with a QR code linking to research details, to increase awareness of undergraduate research opportunities.
Addressing Accessibility Challenges
Both Tran and Arabia observed that undergraduate students often face difficulties joining research labs due to a lack of clear information about the process. LABLINES aims to address this by “sharing the story of not just the research that’s being done, but the scientists behind it and how they got from point A to point B,” according to Arabia.
Beyond improving access for undergraduates, LABLINES seeks to broaden the reach of science to the wider community. Tran stated that a primary goal is the “dissemination of science and making sure [it] is accessible across a wide array of … demographics.” The initiative will also create a platform for dialogue between current and aspiring undergraduate researchers, recognizing that “a lot of undergrads don’t have a forum to talk to other undergrads,” as Tran noted.
Moreover, LABLINES will foster collaboration between students on the Boston and Medford campuses, bridging a gap that Arabia, having studied at both locations, identified as a notable barrier to interdisciplinary learning.
Pilot Program and Future expansion
Currently,a pilot program involving one undergraduate biology researcher and two SMFA artists is underway this semester. Arabia and Tran envision LABLINES as a long-term project,expanding to include more students and researchers in the future. While initially focused on biology, the team hopes to extend the initiative to other STEM disciplines. Tran believes exploring other sciences will be a valuable endeavor, noting that “the research background of a biology versus an engineering student is going to be vastly different, and he wants people “to understand the diversity of that experience.”
For now, LABLINES is dedicated to highlighting the experiences of undergraduate biology researchers and cultivating a more accessible research culture within the Tufts community.
