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? 

Join the Symbiosis email list here

Follow us on Instagram here

Interested in hosting a skill-share? 

Contact Aya and Chris at symbiosisskillshare@gmail.com 

Upcoming Events:

For October there is a chainmail workshop being cooked up.... we will send it out to the email list as soon as details are confirmed <3

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