The Nature, Environment, Science and Technology (NEST) Studio for the Arts will leverage two of CU Boulder’s greatest strengths—internationally renowned scientific research and the broad range of cutting-edge artistic practices—to connect academia with public-facing communities such as museums and galleries. The new initiative is supported by a $750,000 CU Boulder Grand Challenge grant and led by Erin Espelie, assistant professor of Critical Media Practices and Film Studies, and Tara Knight, associate professor of Critical Media Practices.
Over the next several years, NEST will work with campus units that combine artistic practice and scientific research to explore our common and disparate ways of observing, recording, experimenting and knowing. Central to this idea is developing new undergraduate courses and exhibits in coordination with campus centers, museums, galleries and labs.