NPA Scientist in Residence
The Nski Paleo Art
Scientist-in-Residence Award
Exploring the intersections of art, science, and interdisciplinary research.
About the Award
The Nski Paleo Art (NPA) Scientist-in-Residence Award is a two-year collaborative initiative that explores how artistic practice can be used to communicate, demonstrate, and expand upon concepts within science, technology, and other STEM applied fields.
The initiative brings together artistic and scientific perspectives to explore new ways of understanding and communicating research. Rather than treating art as a final illustration added after research is complete, the collaboration considers how artistic methods can contribute throughout the research process, from the development of ideas and visual approaches to the communication of findings.
Through this partnership, Nski Paleo Art aims to encourage creative approaches to scholarly work and explore how art can make complex concepts more accessible, tangible, and engaging.
The Collaboration Details
The selected collaborator will work alongside Sam (Nski Paleo Art) over a two-year period to develop an interdisciplinary project that integrates artistic practice with their area of research or professional expertise.
The project will be shaped by the interests and expertise of both collaborators. Artistic approaches may include illustration, visual communication, model-making, sculpture, design, creative documentation, or other methods suited to the research question.
Throughout the partnership, collaborators will document their methods, decisions, challenges, and outcomes. This documentation will help establish a record of the collaborative process and provide material for reflecting on how artistic practice contributes to research.
The partnership will culminate in a jointly developed scholarly work, such as a research paper or article, prepared for submission to an appropriate journal or other scholarly outlet. Depending on the project's scope, other forms of presentation or dissemination may also be considered.
Two-Year Project Structure and Timeline
Year One: Exploration and Development
The first year focuses on establishing the research question, identifying opportunities for artistic integration, developing creative methods, and documenting the project's progress. The collaborators will work together to determine how art can contribute meaningfully to the selected field of study.
Year Two: Synthesis and Dissemination
The second year focuses on refining the project, evaluating the collaborative process, documenting outcomes, and preparing a jointly authored scholarly work for submission or presentation.
The timeline will be adapted to the project's needs, with the shared goal of producing a documented, interdisciplinary body of work.
Publication Support
The NPA Scientist-in-Residence Award may provide up to $500 in direct support for approved publication or submission-related expenses associated with the collaborative project.
Support is limited to eligible, documented expenses and is subject to prior approval. It is intended to help offset a portion of the costs associated with sharing the project's outcomes, toward the projects, and Nski Paleo Art’s goal of making interdisciplinary projects more accessible. It is not a salary, stipend, or cash prize, and it does not guarantee publication or acceptance by a journal or other outlet.
Who Is This For and Application Process
This initiative is intended for researchers and professionals working in STEM or other applied fields who are interested in exploring artistic interdisciplinary approaches to their work.
Applicants do not need to be professional artists. The goal is to bring different forms of knowledge and practice into conversation, creating opportunities for both collaborators to learn from one another.
Projects may explore how art can help explain a scientific concept, demonstrate a process, communicate research findings, develop educational materials, or investigate new ways of presenting specialized knowledge. Examples of accepted projects are listed below this listing , at the bottom of the webpage, along with the associated scientist or researcher.
The strongest projects will be those in which artistic practice is an integral part of the inquiry rather than simply a decorative addition to the final product. Researchers interested in applying are encouraged to consider how artistic practice might contribute to a concept, question, or challenge within their field, and are required to write a short biography about themselves and their interest in their respective field and art (I want to get to know you, and your motivation for using art in your research and engagement). A collaborative project proposal is also requested at the time of submission, which will include your project proposal and relevant background information, how Nski Paleo Art may be able to help with your project ( or how I may fit in), and broader impacts or goals statement, up to two images or figures are allowed per submission if relevant.
Submissions occur every other year, as a national call, and is open to any student or researcher in any STEM field looking to include art in their outreach or engagement process. The next call will have a submission link posted to this page, on January of 2028, and will remain open for 1month.
Typically, one proposal is selected to collaborate on, but individuals are encouraged to resubmit. Multiple proposals may be submitted in one given call year if there are a number of exemplary projects submitted.