Cranberry Lake Biological Station
SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATOR FELLOWSHIP
About the Program
Begun in 2023, this program seeks to engage a broader group of individuals in the ecological research conducted at CLBS. Collaborations between artists and scientists are increasing the quality of public engagement and the accessibility of the research being conducted. The cross-pollination of thoughts and ideas that comes from the incorporation of different academic and personal backgrounds can often lead to synergistic outcomes. This can lead to better research, more informed artistic representations, and increased community engagement.
The faculty and staff at CLBS are excited to provide scientific guidance and education to the interns. Interns will work with a faculty mentor who will help to advise and guide the intern throughout the summer, both in person and remotely. Interns will also have the opportunity to engage in a variety of courses offered at the station to inform their projects and to generally increase their knowledge of the area’s flora and fauna. Since the Fellowship is geared toward providing illustrators with a deeper scientific understanding, a strong illustration background is desired prior to the Fellowship.
The Fellowship
Eligibility: The fellowship is open to all individuals over 18.
Dates: Up to 12 weeks (4 weeks at the Cranberry Lake Campus, 4 weeks at the Newcomb campus, and 4 weeks remote) with a flexible start date in mid-late June
Expectations: It is expected that the intern will work with faculty to develop various illustrations for of our long-term monitoring projects:
- Line art and full illustrations of at least 50 mushroom species
- Collaboration on didactic materials for mushroom education using illustrations
- Editorial design and composition of guide
- Intern will not be responsible for generating text for the manuals
Compensation: This Fellowship will cover the cost of room and board for the duration of your stay (the equivalent of $3,800) and $375/week honorarium for up to 12 weeks, and up to $1,000 for a travel allowance.
Applications will be accepted from December 1st, 2024 to February 15th, 2025
Meet the 2024 Fellow
I'm Valeria Chiarini, I'm a 25-year-old Italian illustrator. After having graduated in comics and visual storytelling from the European Media Academy ACME in Milan, I completed a Master's Degree in Editorial Illustration at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence. This path led me to specialize in scientific illustration. My life goal is to spread the beauty of nature in artistic and scientific ways to people. For this reason, both of my dissertations are focused on translating the language of nature into artistic projects, mainly books or cards. I had been selected for different exhibitions around Europe. From Madrid to several other places, I had taken part to different shows focused on the beauty of the nature.
I have a keen interest in the dissemination and blend of art and science where these subjects coexist together artistically. My objective is to convey the beauty and ingenuity of nature through the language of art. My love for nature makes plants and animals the main subjects of my illustrative research. I love drawing the world around me and I'm happy if outside is sunny. I have been vegetarian since 2019 and I'm addicted to caffeine. My house is a jungle of plants, and there is always some ice cream in my freezer.
