SURGE Art/Sci partnerships announced 

Over the next few months, these three researchers will be contributing to artworks by Janet Choi, Priya Odedra and Sophie Huckfield.

Last year WEISS and University of the Arts London (UAL) started SURGE, an interdisciplinary partnership to explore the surgical technology and techniques of the future and ask what they might mean for patients and society. WEISS researchers and UAL postgraduate artists applied to take part in an online matchmaking workshop where they would meet in the hope of finding a kindred spirit to work with. 

11 scientists, clinicians and engineers attended, along with 22 artists. Each person introduced themselves and their work before having a minute to share an image and detailing how and why it inspired them. This was followed by group discussions in break out rooms before all parties, anonymously, a la speed dating, sent a short list of who they would prefer to work with to the Public Engagement Department. 

Matches were made, and from these partnerships 16 applications were put forward. A steering committee made up of WEISS staff, UAL staff, NHS staff and representatives from some of the patient interest groups that WEISS works with, reviewed these applications resulting in three projects being commissioned.

Given the current pandemic, the place where the finished artworks will be shared is still to be worked out, but until then, we know they will have some form of online existence. Watch this space.