Scientific Illustration with Geoff Thompson

For hundreds of years recording scientific research and discoveries didn’t change much. From when Leonardo di Vinci was drawing his inventions, scientific observations and theories through to the time Charles Darwin was hand drawing creatures in the Galapagos, scientific illustrating had evolved – but not greatly.

With new discoveries being made in the world of technology, methods of recording and preserving science have accelerated rapidly in recent decades.

In this talk Queensland Museum’s award-winning, scientific illustrator and deep-focus photographer Geoff Thompson explores the ways scientists have captured their images and work through the ages.

From traditional methods of recording information, including a research book from the 1550’s to marvelling at today’s technology which reveals microscopic features of creatures on a scale you’ve never imagined before!

This talk was recorded during 2021 World Science Festival Brisbane.

[lynnefrench]

Geoff that was absolutely fascinating. You are a wealth of knowledge and talent. I think I am at the Rondelet standard (!) and just loved listening to your incredible journey and seeing your magnificent work.

[scottrawlins]

Wonderful and very complete presentation, Geoff! My students will be encouraged to watch the video ASAP!!

[landakcokelat]

thank you for sharing it online for free T^T i learn scientific illustration just recently and it's hard to find a free way to learn it first

[HilaryLorenz]

Geoff, Excellent talk. I love seeing your work, it is so amazing.

[nickmartin]

Wow, thank you for posting this fascinating presentation!

[chpayne]

Very interesting and informative presentation, thank you.

[ShakespeareCafe]

It's mind boggling to think that there are 200, 000-350, 000 species of beetles in the world and to meticulously draw and illustrate every one by hand...Digital photography and AI image processing will definitely advance the field of scientific illustration beyond our wildest dreams. That 200 mp Hasselblad is damn near approaching the resolution of the human eye.

[jesusorcon]

Me agrada la técnica avanzada estrabajo muy fino gracias por mostrar

[projectKhaled]

Excellent artwork although I feel the human effort is over-exagerated upon zooming in. I notice the layered impact of colors which is visually appealing but from an artistic perspective I feel it is worth highlighting that some of these works may have been autocompleted technologically -please correct me if I am wrong. I mention this because upon zooming in and looking at some of the artificats it's hard to believe that they were in fact entirely done by hand (by eye it looks to me as though some of the art is computer generated). Again please correct me if I am wrong as I am an aspiring artist and some of the patterns I see look to be autocompleted.

[StopFear]

I know the lady is cool, but when she tried to excite the audience "for in the beginning it sounded kind of anti-climactic. Like she was disappointed. Although when I listened further and heard her say the word "science" more I realized it was just her accent.

[Nusiosin]

I am sure the lady at the start was trying to be funny but the comment regarding millennials not holding a job role for more than 6 months was rather tasteless, I am sure she wouldn't appreciate being stereotyped - something her generation is good at doing but bad at taking when the tables are turned, we can really dig in there about the different circumstances regarding jobs during her time and now a days in most cases people have no choice but to move jobs unlike the privilege of her generation where you get a job and you become like unmovable obelisk refusing to retire so someone younger and with fresh ideas can come in and perhaps bring in some innovation?

I really liked the way Geoff presented the material but this lady was really rather grating on my nerves.

[rachellandry]

.. a great fruitfly man...
a combination of words I never expected to encounter in my life!