Published February 23, 2023
Want to go?
WHAT: Drawn to Biology Reception
WHEN: Thursday, March 2 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Sterlington Memorial Library, 305 Keystone Rd., Sterlington
MONROE, LA – The University of Louisiana Monroe invites the public to a reception celebrating
the Drawn to Biology exhibit on Thursday, March 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Sterlington Memorial
Branch of the Ouachita Parish Public Library, 305 Keystone Rd. in Sterlington.
Drawn to Biology is a collection of artworks created by ULM Biology students under the guidance of
ULM Art students. Attendees of the reception can meet some of the student artists
and hear from the professors behind the collaboration. Drawn to Biology is on loan from the ULM Museum of Natural History and is on display at the Sterlington
Memorial Branch of the library through April 28, where it may be viewed during regular
library hours.
According to Dr. Allison Wiedemeier, Associate Professor of Biology at ULM, the collaboration
between the ULM Biology and Art departments began in 2017 and has continued every
other year since. “Biology 4022 – Histology requires a large amount of sketching for
learning purposes, and I noticed that some Biology students were hesitant or fearful
to draw,” said Wiedemeier. Histology is the study of the microscopic structure of
tissues. She asked ULM Associate Professor of Art Cliff Tresner for his thoughts on
how to help reduce that stress for students. After a few conversations, the collaboration
was born.
After receiving some grant funding, the project developed beyond sketching and soon
biology students were producing large scale paintings with Art instructors and students
as mentors. Dr. Kim Tolson, Professor of Biology and Director of the ULM Museum of
Natural History, took notice and the pieces began to be displayed in the museum.
Wiedemeier says the collaboration has been important in a number of ways. “First and
foremost, it has allowed two populations of students to interact and learn about each
other,” she said. “They have been able to better appreciate the value of different
viewpoints and different ways of looking at the same objects. The Histology students
have learned to pick out spatial patterns in the tissues with the help of the Art
students, which can help them learn the material,” said Wiedemeier. “I believe appreciation
for what others do and how they achieve success can be helpful in the future as students
begin to interact beyond the walls of the classroom,” she added.
For more information about the ULM Museum of Natural History, visit www.ulm.edu/caes/museum
