Illustrate the future
Like the fields of science and medicine themselves, scientific illustration is constantly evolving and evolving with the latest discoveries and technologies – and UGA’s programs keep pace.
Earlier this year, the Russell Special Collections Libraries hosted an invasive insect exhibit in Georgia, featuring 3D models of the species created by Pederson and science illustration students. They used ZBrush, a digital sculpting program, to form each model, turning a ball of virtual clay into a 3D figure. They then 3D-printed each on a large scale and used traditional art techniques to turn the giant plastic pieces into realistic insect models.
In medical illustration, the 3D modeling offered by ZBrush is quickly becoming a standard approach. Through the graduate certificate program, students like Christian and Pederson have gained valuable experience with this advanced technology. Among many 3D projects, Christian modeled the inside of a horse’s hoof and Pederson visualized the brain veins of a dog.
It’s through projects like these that graduate assistants hone their visual storytelling skills and take their already well-developed talents to the next level. Certificate graduates find success nationwide, putting their training to work for hospitals, universities, biotech companies, journals and more. For many of them, a BFA in Scientific Illustration from UGA was the first step in their educational journey, giving them the tools to stand out in their master’s programs and earn their way to Athens for the certificate.
With postgraduate and undergraduate programs in the field, UGA is at the forefront of innovation in scientific and medical illustration. His students learned to take both a scientific approach to art and an artistic approach to science, creating precise images and telling a compelling story. They then provide all kinds of people – from young children to highly specialized doctors and researchers – with an accessible window into scientific topics or processes.
Through their work, scientific and medical illustrators make science accessible to everyone.