ALANA MCPHERSON

VISUAL SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR

INTERSECTIONS OF ART & ACCESSIBILITY

Art, illustration & design have been valuable tools for engaging with challenging materials in my studies. In my current work, I aim to promote accessible learning and reduce misinformation by creating thoughtful visuals that can reach across various fields of understanding.

WHO AM I?

I am a visual science communicator, artist & storyteller with a focus on increasing the accessibility and impact of scientific research. As a recent graduate of the Biology Honours Program at the University of Victoria and current Visual Communication Design student at the Emily Carr University of Art & Design, I have a unique perspective and skillset as a communicator.

INTERSECTIONS OF SCIENCE & SOCIETY

As a student and researcher at the University of Victoria, I began to apply my illustration and design skills to communicate science. My core studies, combined with my anthropology electives, lead me to explore societal concepts (ethics, politics, public policy etc.) as they intersect with the life sciences. My work as a communicator aims to reflect the complexity of these interactions.

Science is one knowledge system, among many, that humans have developed to navigate the world around us.

Art, illustration & design have been valuable tools for engaging with challenging materials in my studies. In my current work, I aim to promote accessible learning and reduce misinformation by creating thoughtful visuals that can reach across various fields of understanding.

As a student and researcher at the University of Victoria, I began to apply my illustration and design skills to communicate science. My core studies, combined with my anthropology electives, lead me to explore societal concepts (ethics, politics, public policy etc.) as they intersect with the life sciences. My work as a communicator aims to reflect the complexity of these interactions.

Science is an entirely human endeavour, and is one knowledge system among many of others.

I am committed to creating impactful visuals to help research groups reach their desired audiences (e.g., other researchers in the field, policy makers, general public) in an authentic & accurate way. We are currently working within systems that do not benefit everyone equally. As the academic community continues to address the lack of equity, diversity and inclusion within the institutions, it is especially important to pay attention to the means of distributing information. I believe when used properly, visual communication design can be an effective tool in devaluing these hierarchical power structures.

VALUES STATEMENT

I am committed to creating impactful visuals to help research groups reach their desired audiences (e.g., other researchers in the field, policy makers, general public) in an authentic & accurate way. We are currently working within systems that do not benefit everyone equally. As the academic community continues to address issues of equity, diversity and inclusion within the practice, it is important to pay attention to the means of distributing information.

I am currently working and studying on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.