Symbiosis Skill-Share Project

The Symbiosis Project officially began in February 2025 to foster collaboration between artists and scientists at the intersections of their research questions across mediums and disciplines. After our first meeting, it became clear that many of us were there to better understand the various ways we each view the world and the tools we use to explore the questions we ask about it.

Symbiosis has since evolved into a skill-share group. We host mini-workshops that facilitate research connections through hands-on demonstrations (a must for us tactile learners). Hosts teach participants how to use their familiar instruments —from microscopes to insect pinning, clay, and zines. These skill-shares offer opportunities to explore new ways of approaching observation for participants and new perspectives on familiar tools for the skill-sharer. 

Want to stay in the loop about events? 

Follow us on Instagram here

Interested in hosting a skill-share? 

Contact Aya at ayamcgee@iu.edu

Upcoming Events:

MARCH 2026

For our March skillshare, Aya McGee (multidisciplinary artist pursuing a Fine Arts degree in Ceramics) will lead a cyanotype workshop! Cyanotype has a rich naturalist/art hybrid history and is a fairly accessible photography method that you could likely pursue again at home fairly easily! INFO/RSVP BELOW!

FEBRUARY 2026

For our January skillshare (that actually happened Feb 1 due to snow), Carrie Ganote (PhD candidate in Bioinformatics) led a workshop in chainmail! Check out cool pics below of artists, scientists, and enthusiasts coming together for our first skillshare of 2026 :*)

Past Events:

SEPTEMBER 2025

For September, Erica Nadolski (graduate student in the Genetics, Cell, and Developmental Biology PhD program and leader of June's BUG NIGHT) returned to teach us the art of bug pinning with the specimens we collected!! 

AUGUST 2025

For our August skillshare, Maggie McDonald (multidisciplinary artist, writer, and graduate student in the Master of Library Science and MA Curatorship) led into the world of ZINE MAKING <3      

JUNE 2025

For our June skillshare, Erica Nadolski (graduate student in the Genetics, Cell, and Developmental Biology PhD program) led us on an entomology survey at Griffy (aka using a high intensity UV light to attract and look at bugs in the woods :) 

MAY 2025

Our May skill-share was clay with me, Aya, on May 31st, 2025! Soon after I hosted a glazing workshop to finish our pieces! On the far right is work from Carrie Ganote (Bioinformatics), Shawn Bailey (Digital Art), and Lílian Caesar (Ecology & Evolution) (top to bottom)

APRIL 2025

Our first skill-share was microscopy with Chris Robinson (evolutionary biologist) on April 19th, 2025! Here are some images from the event:

FEBRUARY 2025