Community Engagement in Science Through Art - Glukupikron

Project Added: November 18, 2021
Project Point of Contact: [email protected]
A blue and red sculpture featuring two hexagons connected together and three long red poles connected to the red hexagon.

A photo of the Glukupikron sculpture at its unveiling.

CESTA Program

Arts-and Intersections:

Science, Technology

Collaborators:

Location:

Morgantown, West Virginia

Region:

Genre/Discipline:

Community arts, Visual art

Population Density:

Urban

Large Intended Impact Area:

Locality/Town/City

OVERVIEW

Students in the 2016 iteration of the Community Engagement in Science Through Art program created a steel sculpture titled 'Glukupikron' meaning "sweet-bitter". The structure is an abstraction of an imaginary molecule that combines glucose (sugar) and phenylthiocarbamide (a bitter tasting molecule). Through this piece, the students were playing with the idea that chemistry is life and life is bittersweet. The piece also featured an interactive augmented reality component in which visitors could direct a smart device (smart phone, ipad, etc) at the hole in the structure to receive chemistry fact, poetry, and prose that relates to the concept of bittersweet chemistry.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Community Engagement in Science Through Art program brings students from all disciplines together to educate and engage the community to discuss the beauty of science through art and understanding. The goal is to bring science to the community in a format that is fun, interesting, educational and beautiful.

PROJECT EVALUATION

Currently not available.