TORONTO, May 1, 2018 /CNW/ – Experience breathtaking images that showcase scientific discoveries at the cellular level as Inner Spaces, part of the Contact Photography Festival, which opens May 1, 2018, at the Ontario Science Centre. The installation is free with general admission and will be on display until May 31, 2018. This scientific research photography display is a collaboration between the University of Toronto, Contact Photography Festival and the Ontario Science Centre. Inner Spaces features photographic magnifications of cells and tissues, showcasing research in progress through the eyes of scientists. What their microscopes reveal is transforming the human body into a frontier for discovery that rivals the cosmos. The installation showcases the creativity in science research and the inherent beauty in unexpected by-products.
“Art and Science intertwine in this beautiful installation that speaks to our artistic and rational sensibilities,” said Maurice Bitran, PhD, CEO and Chief Science Officer of the Ontario Science Centre. “Inner Spaces is both an aesthetic and an educational experience.”
“Scientific research taking place in labs across Canada produces not only vital answers to questions in regenerative medicine but also beautiful visual by-products,” said Molly Shoichet, Ontario’s first Chief Scientist, whose lab at the University of Toronto produced some of the Inner Spaces images, “Visitors will witness scientific research through a new, unexpected lens and begin to appreciate the creative endeavours of the researchers and their scientific work.”
Two of the images in Inner Spaces include Tobias Fuehrmann’s Crossing and Blair Gage’s Medusa.
- Tobias Fuehrmann, Crossing
The site of spinal cord injury can present the same vibrant elements of abstract art. The red filaments are nerve fibres (called axons) that connect the brain with the rest of our body via the spinal cord, allowing us to move our arms and legs. When the spinal cord is damaged, function is lost below the site of injury. To overcome this devastation, stem cells (shown in green) are transplanted, and axons (in red) are encouraged to re-grow, thereby restoring at least some of the lost nerve connections and some of the lost functions. (Cell nuclei are shown in blue.) - Blair Gage, Medusa
Does this image conjure up visions of a spider? Or of an extraterrestrial villain from a sci-fi film? This single human amniotic stem cell can grow into all different cell types — skin, cartilage, nerve, muscle, bone. With the goal of finding a cell that can produce insulin for the treatment of diabetes, these cells were designed to produce a red fluorescent protein to show the movement of insulin. The green colour in the background represents those cells that did not produce insulin. The juxtaposition of red and green reflects that moments of success often come after many failed attempts. (Cell nuclei are shown in blue.)
About Ontario Science Centre
Guided by our mission to inspire passion for the human adventure of discovery, the Ontario Science Centre strives to be a global leader in lifelong learning; a vital link in Ontario’s education and innovation ecosystems; and a convener of public dialogue about technology, science and society. The Centre has welcomed more than 52 million visitors since opening as a Centennial project in 1969, pioneering an interactive approach now adopted by science centres around the world. An agency of the Government of Ontario, the Centre relies on funding from the province, as well as donations from generous individuals, corporations and foundations who share the Centre’s vision to contribute to a more curious, creative and resilient world. Learn more at OntarioScienceCentre.ca.
Media who are interested in attending a special launch event for Inner Spaces at the Ontario Science Centre on Saturday, May 5, please email Jefferson.Darrell@osc.on.ca or call 416-696-3154.
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Timing: |
12:00 p.m. |
– Registration |
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12:45 p.m. |
– Opening Remarks: Dr. Eugenia Duodu in the Auditorium |
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– Keynote Presentation with Q&A: Dr. Molly Shoichet in the Auditorium |
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1:45 p.m. |
– Event Ends |
Social Media Links
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/OntarioScienceCentre
Instagram: @OntarioScienceCentre
Twitter: @OntScienceCtr
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/user/OntarioScienceCentre
SOURCE Ontario Science Centre
CONTACT: Media Contacts: Anna Relyea, Director, Strategic Communications, 416-696-3273, c: 416-668-1967, Anna.Relyea@osc.on.ca; Jefferson Darrell, Media Relations Officer, 416-696-3154, c: 647-464-9665, Jefferson.Darrell@osc.on.ca; Andrea Mus, Media Relations Officer, 416-696-3191, c: 416-895-5482, Andrea.Mus@osc.on.ca
RELATED LINKS
https://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca
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