Scientist, artist to talk about narwhals

February 4, 2014

Artist Maria Coryell-Martin captured Greenland's coast in this watercolor while participating in a 2013 scientific expedition to study narwhals.

Meghan Murphy
904-474-7541
2/4/14

An artist and a scientist who visited Greenland to study narwhals will present at a free seminar at the Noel Wien Public Library on Thursday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m.

Scientist Kristin Laidre, of the University of Washington’s Polar Science Center, and artist Maria Coryell-Martin, of Seattle, both participated in a 2013 research expedition to Greenland that looked at how narwhals use sound in communicating and foraging. Their presentation is part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Colors of Nature program.

For the past 15 years, Laidre has studied the whales, males of which grow a long canine tooth that might have inspired the unicorn myth. Coryell-Martin joined the expedition to paint the research process and the environment.

Laidre and Coryell-Martin are collaborating on a project called “Imaging the Arctic,” which uses art to reel people into learning about climate science and the Arctic.

Vodka is as versatile as the Leatherman, artist Coryell-Martin learned. She used vodka to lower the freezing temperatures of her paints while in Greenland. Photo by artist Maria Coryell-Martin.

The Colors of Nature program is hosting the seminar as part of its Science Café series, which explores science through the lens of art. The program is funded by the National Science Foundation and is organized by the College of Natural Science and Mathematics' outreach department.

For more information, contact Laura Conner, CNSM's education and public outreach director, at ldconner@alaska.edu or 907-474-6950. Visit the website at www.colorsofnature.org.

MM/2-4-14/186-14