• Date and time: Wednesday 4 June 2025, 6.30pm to 8pm
  • Location: In-person only
    Room B/T/005, the John Currey Room, Biology Building, Campus West, University of York (Map)
  • Admission: Free admission, booking required

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Event details

To mark the launch of a new biodiversity-themed collaboration, The Hive Mind, an expert panel of artists and scientists will discuss how art and collaboration can provide new perspectives on biodiversity change.

Absorb the sights and sounds of sci-art pieces created by local artists and scientists, contribute your own thoughts about biodiversity and landscape change, and discover how at York, and elsewhere, interdisciplinary work that crosses the boundaries of science and the arts and humanities in higher education and research can stimulate reflection, strengthen understanding and promote positive change.

The talk and panel discussion will take place from 6.30pm to 8pm, after which time you will be able to browse some exhibits, chat to the collaborators, and sign up to be part of The Hive Mind.

This event is presented as part of ECOSCAPES, a series of interdisciplinary discussions bringing together a diversity of perspectives on changing biodiversity in the Anthropocene. 

Image credit: Pen Holland

About the speakers

Dr Helena Cox, artist and art curator: Helena is the inaugural art curator at the University of York, and holds a PhD from the History of Art department. Helena previously worked at various cultural institutions, such as the Czech National Museum and Beverley Art Gallery, before taking on her current role where she oversees over 900 artworks spread all over the campus. Helena's artistic work is mainly focused on abstract watercolours inspired by Japanese Zen aesthetics, ink painting and calligraphy. She previously exhibited her work in Prague, Tokyo, Manchester and Stockport, before taking a break from painting and focusing on curating and art historical research. Dive deeper into her watercolour world where music, nature and the patterns of everyday life take on vibrant shapes and colours at www.helenacox.com

Dr Richard A Carter, Senior Lecturer in Digital Culture: Richard is an artist and Senior Lecturer in Digital Culture in the School of Arts and Creative Technologies at the University of York. Richard's work explores the relationships between the digital and natural worlds, using art to tell different stories about what these are today, and what they might become in the future.

Dr Veronica Ongaro, biologist and artist: Veronica graduated as a biologist in Argentina. She moved to York to continue her studies in plant biology at the University of York. After obtaining her PhD she continued working at the University of York as a researcher and project manager, before moving into industry.  Concurrently with her job as a biologist Veronica does printmaking, stained glass and ceramics. Nature is the unlimited source of inspiration and the driving force of Veronica's work.

Suw Charman-Anderson, writer and advocate: Suw is the founder of Ada Lovelace Day, an international celebration of women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) which she began in 2009. She has also worked as a technology journalist, writing for The Guardian, CIO Magazine and Forbes among others. She is currently writing Fieldwork, an eco-sitcom podcast, in collaboration with ecologists at the Universities of York and Edinburgh. Exploring the science of rewilding, and how that can help us increase biodiversity and bioabundance, Fieldwork aims to engage a wide variety of people with the science that can help us tackle climate change and environmental degradation.

Paul Shields, photographer: Paul is the photographer for the University of York, a role that he has held for over 23 years. He photographs everything from architecture to archaeology artefacts. His photographs have appeared in many books, magazines and national newspapers.  He also has had several exhibitions of his work, most recently an exhibition of Brutalist and modernist architecture. Paul works with Helena, the University of York art curator and is involved in the photographing and the guardianship of the University art collection.

Partners

University of York Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Diversity

Venue details

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Hearing loop