The signal and the noise (2016) [single-component output with contextualising information]
- Submitting institution
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Bath Spa University
- Unit of assessment
- 34 - Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management
- Output identifier
- 3325
- Type
- Q - Digital or visual media
- Publisher
- -
- Month
- -
- Year
- 2016
- URL
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https://doi.org/10.17870/bathspa.c.4705931
- Supplementary information
-
-
- Request cross-referral to
- -
- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
- -
- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- Yes
- Number of additional authors
-
0
- Research group(s)
-
-
- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- Commissioned by Animate Projects and funded by a Wellcome Trust Arts Award
(£12,000), ‘The Signal and the Noise’ is a multi-component output that was
developed during collaborative research with biomedical scientist Dr Darren Logan at
Sanger Institute, Cambridge. The research considers how new methods of ‘design
fiction’ can foster new forms of collaboration within the field of Sci/Art, exploring how
science and art can develop a shared critical toolkit. In particular, how can such an
approach yield results that move beyond traditional research outcomes, such as data
visualization? Tweed engaged diverse audiences, generating debate about the
future of genetic science. Outputs comprise a script and storyboard for a film, as well
as the resulting film. Contextual information includes documentation of exhibitions
and other public engagement activities and images taken from the initial research.
Tweed explored Logan’s work on genetically influenced behaviour, the science
behind it and the technologies used to sequence and analyse genes. Tweed
examined the parallels between DNA coding and computer coding, and this was
interrogated via a fictional script, which considers futures of genetic and hardware
computing technologies, including the ability to manipulate behaviour and the future
possibilities of gene editing. Educational materials accompanied the work, including
a science guide for the public.
The film draws on a shared history of genetic and hardware computing, and is voiced
by anonymous future technologies who look at humans as ‘inefficient machines’. It
considers ways of improving their code (to ‘remove the noise’), speculating on future
forms of hybrid computing. The film was presented at film festivals, galleries and
science festivals. The research underpinning the work was presented at the Silent
Signal conference (Derby University, 2016). The film itself was selected for a
screening at the renowned Oberhausen Film Festival (2016) and a special edition of
Sci/Art magazine Labocine (2017).
- Author contribution statement
- -
- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
- -
