Natural inspiration
Diarmuid Gavin heads outside to discover how does nature inspire?
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Do you feel art and science are equally creative?
Yes, very definitely.
How are your images put together?
The composite photographs are created digitally. The photographs of everyday situations are scanned from prints at high resolution. The molecular graphics images are created on a graphics workstation. The photographs and molecular graphics images are merged together and manipulated in graphics software.
What and/or who are your inspirations and influences?
I love chemistry and molecular sciences. I think it is a fascinating subject, which attempts to explain our world, within a very rigorous framework. The same is true of science in general. I also very much enjoy modern design, architecture and fashion.
Do you feel that chemistry is undervalued in our society? And scientists in general?
This is a complicated question, since society is made up of so many different groups of people. So there isn’t a simple answer to this. Surveys show a reluctance by some young people to study chemistry and other sciences, but I think the reasons behind this are likely to be very complex. Interestingly, recent surveys in this country have shown that the public rate scientists highly in terms of their trustworthiness, with many other professions faring considerably less well.
As a female chemist who uses computer technology to create your images, do you feel there should be more women working in both of these fields?
I would certainly like to see more women in influential positions within all branches of science and technology. There are progressively fewer women in increasingly senior positions.
What areas of chemistry interest and excite you?
For me the most exciting developments are in the interface between chemistry, biology and physics. Increasingly, we are able to look at and understand the workings of the healthy and unhealthy body in 3D molecular detail. This means we can design new drugs and therapies which can prevent, or treat, or cure an increasing number of diseases. Developments in this interdisciplinary area are extremely exciting.
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Content last updated: 31/01/2002
