We all know fiscal times are tough these days, and this certainly includes scientific grants. At the University of Michigan, a project pulling artwork from scientists’ microscopes and scanners is helping to bridge the gap.
“Monet’s Garden” consists of mouse brain cells genetically modified to appear in different colors, known in science circles as a “brainbow.”
Proceeds from the artwork go toward travel funds for young scientists, allowing them to attend conferences and present their findings.
The project, called U-M Bioartography, is run by the university’s Center for Organogenesis and grew out of the medical school, though works do also come from other areas of the university.
“He Wears His Heart on His Sleeve” shows heart muscle cells — which came from stem cells that originated from skin cells.
Each year, a panel of artists and scientists selects new images for the collection. While prints and note cards were sold in July in Ann Arbor, MI, at the annual art fair, fear not: More than 200 images can also be purchased online year-round at Bioartography.com. (Source: UofMHealth.org)
