The INCUBATOR Art Lab: Reimagining Research
As part of our HHL Perspectives series, we are featuring the work of an incredible sister lab that shares a complementary vision and like-minded values with HHL:
The INCUBATOR Art Lab is housed at the University of Windsor, conceptualized and directed by Dr. Jennifer Willet, a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Art, Science and Ecology and Professor in the School of Creative Arts.
What is the INCUBATOR Art Lab?
The INCUBATOR Art lab was founded in 2009 by Dr. Jennifer Willet. It was the first bioart lab in Canada. It is found in the University of Windsor’s School of Creative Arts (SOCA) and home to the study of bioart: where biotechnology, art, and ecology meet. INCUBATOR Art Lab researches new and creative uses for the future of biotechnology, but it does so while encouraging the community to discover this future with them. It is not just a research lab, it is an immersive multimedia art experience as well. They create artworks by mixing technologies in molecular and microbiology with different art mediums (including drawings and theatrical arts like lighting and sound technologies). They even include live microorganisms in their work. You can view their projects here.
Willet, J. INCUBATOR Art Lab digital collage (2021)
“Our cross - disciplinary research integrates advanced digital and biotechnologies; feminist and post -colonial perspectives; historical, ecological, agricultural, and indigenous knowledges; community engagement; sustainability; love, joy, gratitude, and the acknowledgement of suffering.”
This excerpt comes from a recent publication by Dr. Willet – INCUBATOR Art Lab: Reimagining Biotech Futures through Integrated Laboratory Practices where Dr. Willet talks about new laboratory practices that she developed in her lab that can transform the way art and biotechnology research is performed.
Reimaging What a Lab Is
There are a few key concepts that Dr. Willet strives to incorporate into her lab practices. They are: love, community, and culture. Recognizing that scientists often have to make many sacrifices to keep their research and labs alive; Dr. Willet began to view it as a type of love that engulfed all human and non-human elements of a lab. In her 2012 piece, Biotechnology is a Technology of Love… , she illustrates the time and care it takes to cultivate a successful and nurturing environment within a science laboratory. Practicing love in a lab environment is essential to combat the sexism and racism within the science community and to create a culture of respect. Love helps create community and the INCUBATOR Art Lab is a community. Each member is treated with respect; their time and work is valued and interpersonal relationships are encouraged. Accepting whimsy and joy in the lab environment is also important to Dr. Willet, as it reinforces the relationships built between members of the lab. The INCUBATOR Art Lab believes in removing geographical barriers and becoming one with the culture of the community of Windsor around them. Dr. Willet hopes to model her lab practices after society's changing attitude by promoting diversity and acceptance within her lab.
Willet, J. Human Communities digital collage (2021).
HHL is continually inspired by the works of INCUBATOR Art Lab, and has shared individuals who work between our labs such as undergraduate student Hadia Nadeem. In her recent essay, Dr. Willet describes how she is using her lab as a means for transformation, taking inspiration from feminist scientists and other research labs in the community. It is an honour that she cites the Healthy Headwater Lab and our very own Dr. Catherine Febria as a source of inspiration … the feeling is mutual!
“Dr. Febria engages in highly locavore and applied ecological research restoring freshwater ecologies in collaboration with farmers, artists, and Indigenous communities. Her lab is committed to embracing diverse and interdisciplinary perspectives while conducting environmental research towards producing holistic solutions for restoring the freshwater ecology.”
Through the strategies outlined in her new publication as well as co-mentorship of HHL’s creative members, Shayenna Nolan, Mariah Alexander, and Hadia Nadeem, Dr. Willet is attempting to reimagine what a lab can do and achieve. She seeks to make the practices of love and community commonplace within a lab setting to combat sexism, racism, and colonialism in science.
Together with HHL, we are continually exploring new and exciting ways to work together, using art and science to connect land, water and people. In 2019, Dr. Willet and Dr. Febria were co-recipients of a teaching and learning grant to support HHL’s inaugural artist Mariah Alexander and an ongoing project at the City of Windsor’s Ojibway Centre. We can’t wait to see what else the future will bring!
