In the Service of Science

The art on display in this exhibition represents recent coursework done by students in the graduate program in Biomedical Communications (BMC) at the University of Toronto. This two-year professional Master’s degree (the only one of its kind in Canada) equips students with advanced knowledge of and proficiency in the creation and evaluation of visual media in medical and scientific contexts.

Today’s students carry on a long tradition of medical and scientific illustration. Although modern medical illustrators and animators rely more on pixels than pencils, the fundamental skills remain the same: close observation and detailed research, a thorough understanding of subject matter, and mastery of the appropriate media. At the outset of the program, BMC students must learn human anatomy at the same level as the medical students with whom they share their dissection tables. Next, they master basic visualization techniques (pencils and pixels), and study the central tenets of design, colour theory and typography; they apply this knowledge in the creation of static and moving images for use in research, education, clinical practice, and public outreach. Finally, each student completes an in-depth Master’s research project to solve a complex visual communication question and acquire expertise in the creation of advanced 3D animation or interactive media.

The illustrations, animations, and interactive displays in this gallery trace the student’s path from first- and second-year course assignments to the major research project.