In new project, INL mixes art and science

IDAHO FALLS (AP) - Scientific research into nuclear fuel becomes art in a new exhibit launching later this month at the Art Museum of Eastern Idaho.

The exhibit by local artist Joe Pehrson aims to make the some of the science done at the Idaho National Laboratory more accessible to the public. Pehrson worked with INL spokeswoman Nicole Stricker, collecting close-up research photos and images of battery materials, algae, corn and other subjects. Pehrson then added digital colors to make them pop.

The idea emerged when the two happened to get on the same raft for a trip down Alpine Canyon in Wyoming last summer

"I said, 'Nicole, you know what we could do? We could do this art-engineering, art-science thing," Pehrson said. "And she goes, 'I've been thinking about this!' And we're rolling down one of these big rapids, and just geeking out on this art-sci thing."

Stricker brought the 60-year-old artist on as the lab's artist in residence in February, an internship position that ends this month. Pehrson then worked with Idaho National Laboratory researchers to find 32 striking images, and Stricker put together captions describing the complex research behind the images.

Stricker said the goal is to keep the project going in future years, if funding can be found. Other labs have put together similar exhibitions or calendars featuring their research, including Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington.

"It's not a completely novel idea," Stricker said. "But it's a way to help make the science more accessible to the public, and highlight some of the cool stuff going on at the lab."

The exhibit opens Sept. 30.