In Center Court you can now see three beautiful scientific illustrations, the work of students and alumni of the Master Scientific Illustration at Maastricht.
The Master Scientific Illustration is an international study program, unique in Europe. It is a cooperation between the Faculty of Arts at Zuyd University of Applied Science and the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at Maastricht University. Alumni are specialists who make accurate visualizations of topics from the clinical, medical, and biological domain.
Becoming a scientific storyteller
Rogier Trompert, medical illustrator and Coordinator of the Master Scientific Illustration says: “To be able to create a scientifically correct image, you must not only be a good craftsman, but also an outstanding ‘storyteller’. Good scientific illustrations contribute to the communication of knowledge and complex data. It improves education of various target groups, for example about innovations in medicine, sustainable manufacturing, environmental science, and health.”
One image tells more than a thousand words
Trompert: “The job of a scientific illustrator lies in distilling complex scientific information to the essentials, by combining artistic skills with accurate anatomical and medical knowledge. With good visual storytelling the illustrator makes anatomy and science comprehensible for a specific audience.”
“It is not surprising that in biomedical sciences, illustrations have always been created to enable communication between scientist and author, teacher and student, physician and patient, and between scientist and society, like in the open innovation community of Brightlands. Art and science come together in scientific illustration.”
Scientific illustrations have been made for several projects at Brightlands Chemelot Campus, for instance for Chemelot InSciTe, to visualize various showcases for the general public.
Ambassador of scientific illustration
Rogier Trompert: “I have always been fascinated by biology, medicine and drawing, so by the time I had to choose a study, I wanted to combine them. I went the Art Academy and focused on visualizing nature and anatomy. There were no specific studies for scientific illustration at the time, so I gathered people around me that could train me in this rare specialization. At the same time, I was permitted to do self-study at the department of anatomy of the Medicine faculty of Groningen. After I graduated in 1996, I went to Maastricht to be the first student of the Postgraduate Course in Scientific Illustration at Maastricht University. In 1999, I started my own company in medical illustration, which still flourishes.”
Click for here more information about Rogier Trompert.
Trompert concludes: “Anatomy in both men and animal is, in my opinion, the most beautiful art ever made. It is a privilege to be able to study and visualize it.” Go and see the scientific illustrations in Center Court, Level 1.
