Jennifer Willet will share insights on bioart and its role in connecting art and science at a Humanities Research Group talk on Nov. 27. (JUSTIN ELLIOTT/JEL Media)
By Victor Romao
Dr. Jennifer Willet, Canada Research Chair in Art, Science and Ecology and professor in the University of Windsor’s School of Creative Arts, will lead a public talk on Nov. 27 exploring the intersection of biotechnology and fine arts.
The event, hosted by the Humanities Research Group (HRG), aims to spark dialogue on how art and science interact to expand our understanding of life, ecosystems, and technology.
Willet’s presentation will feature works such as When Microbes Dream, a large-scale bioart installation that uses living bacterial cultures to challenge human-centred perspectives.
The piece “dwarfs the human viewer, giving visitors a glimpse into an imagined microbial perspective,” said Willet.
Her practice blends traditional art forms—including sculpture, photography, drawing, and performance—with applied biotechnologies like bioprinting, microbiology, algae farming, and microscopy.
“I want audiences to experience the wonder and complexity of life on scales that fall outside everyday human perception,” said Willet.
The event will also introduce ART+SCIENCE = WOW!, the next phase of Willet’s INCUBATOR Art Lab, a long-running initiative that merges artistic practice with scientific research and community engagement.
“We’re moving from producing individual artworks and local bioart workshops to a national and international broadcast model,” she explained.
Founded over 30 years ago, HRG fosters interdisciplinary dialogue among students, scholars, and members of the Windsor community.
The presentation reflects HRG’s ongoing commitment to exploring ideas that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries and connect academic research with the public.
The talk takes place Thursday, Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. in Room 113, Biology Building, at the University of Windsor.
More information is available at: https://www.uwindsor.ca/humanities-research-group.