Celebrating 30 Years of Scientific Collaboration

Medical and biological illustrations have been an essential tool in recording and sharing science for centuries. From diagrams of the human body and depictions of surgical procedures to drawings of complex processes in scientific textbooks, these illustrations have educated millions.

These illustrations are even found in the National Aquarium, created during a 30-year-long collaboration with Johns Hopkins University's Medical and Biological Illustration graduate program. Aquarium staff use these illustrations in books and articles and to share animal science with guests.

Three Decades of Illustrations

In 1993, Johns Hopkins University professors, content expert Dr. Michael Stoskopf and medical and scientific illustrators Tim Phelps and Brent Bauer, developed an illustrated book about managing fish disease called "Fish Medicine." At the time, Dr. Stoskopf also served as the National Aquarium's chief of veterinary medicine. After "Fish Medicine" earned a certificate of merit from the Association of Medical Illustrators, Dr. Stoskopf and Professor Phelps formalized the partnership between the Aquarium and Hopkins in 1995 by having biological illustration students collaborate with National Aquarium experts.

Beyond the art itself, Hopkins' biological illustration class teaches students about client relations by having them illustrate for National Aquarium experts. In this workshop-style class, professors guide students toward creating an effective visual story. Aquarium experts provide content expertise, reference material and feedback on the biological accuracy of illustrations and text. For many students, this collaboration is their first time working with a client. They are graded not only on the quality of their art but also on their client relations skills.

"Through this master's program, students are building their toolbox to refine their storytelling," said Professor Phelps. "This collaboration with the Aquarium lets students work with a real client, develop organizational skills, communicate with a content expert, and see their work published in the Aquarium or a research paper."

As the clients, Aquarium staff kicked off the collaboration in January by presenting potential illustration ideas to this year's six students. The topics they chose included squid dissection, reverse molting in grey seal pups, ambassador animal behavior, Australian reptile feeding mechanisms, and ospreys in Masonville Cove.

The university's commitment to this relationship remains strong. Professor Phelps' successor and former student, Dr. Jeff Day, is slated to take over in the next few years. As a 2015 program graduate, Dr. Day knows firsthand about working with the Aquarium. When he was a student, he collaborated with Vice President of Conservation Programs Laura Bankey on a poster about the health of Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

"Laura was super supportive and full of ideas while also respectful of the artistic process," Dr. Day said. "I especially enjoyed the poster's conservation theme, getting to explore illustrating a wide variety of animals, and strategizing a visually clear design."

Dr. Day also remarked that many prospective students specifically ask about this collaboration and are excited to work with an organization like the National Aquarium. And that excitement goes both ways, as Aquarium experts love seeing what the students create and using it to teach guests and other audiences.

Even after 30 years of collaboration, there are always new ideas and methods to explore. This year, two posters achieved program firsts. One poster was completed by two students instead of the typical one and another solely focused on reinforced animal behavior rather than physiology.

An Ambitious Project

Aquarium herpetologists Matt Benedict and Drew Roderuck submitted an ambitious poster proposal about how 10 different reptiles eat in Australia: Wild Extremes. Due to the proposed landscape and number of reptiles, Matt and Drew knew this project would require two students. Inspired by the proposal, Katelyn Sima and Melody Zhang agreed to collaborate, making this the program's first poster designed by two students.

"I wouldn't think completing this project would be possible in just a few months," said Drew. "Katelyn and Melody are two powerhouses of their craft, and it's fulfilling to see them create something that's only been in our heads."

Throughout the process, Matt and Drew were impressed with the students' thoughtful questions and were quick to take reference photos of the reptiles at the Aquarium or join a video call to discuss a design.

Like many other illustrations from the past three decades, this one will live on long after the students graduate. The Australia: Wild Extremes team plans to house this poster in their office, which guests will see during special Aquarium tours, as an educational tool to point out feeding habits that guests might miss. They also plan to bring this poster onto the exhibit floor to show guests how the animals around them eat.

Showing Agency

Continuing the reptile theme, Manager of Behavioral Husbandry and Animal Programs Liz Evans' poster idea showcases reptiles' agency during the Aquarium's Animal Encounters. Instead of traditional animal presentations where someone holds and presents an animal to a group, the Aquarium encourages the animals to display natural behaviors and be active participants.

Due to her experience as a veterinary assistant, student Elise Butler jumped at the chance to illustrate the program's first poster solely about reinforced animal behavior. Liz began by showing Elise the process behind an Animal Encounter.

Each ambassador animal decides whether to participate in a presentation. They can also move around during a presentation and return to their habitat whenever they want. For example, Liz showed Elise how Oscar, a prehensile-tailed skink, will climb onto a cork log if he wants to participate in a presentation and freely move around on a tree-like structure during the presentation with access to a hiding space for his comfort.

"The artists do have some knowledge and understanding, and they have an artistic eye. To draw it, they have to know it," said Liz. "Having the students here in person makes the process more real and meaningful, and it helps the students understand the purpose behind the art."

This in-person access is one of the main benefits Hopkins students experience by working with another Baltimore organization like the National Aquarium. Watching the animals make choices allowed Liz to show the purpose behind the poster while also helping Elise figure out how to illustrate it. Liz and her team will use this poster during presentations to explain how the animals demonstrate agency and to help the audience connect with Oscar and all the Aquarium's ambassador animals.

Collaboration for Years to Come

For the past 30 years, this collaboration between the National Aquarium and Johns Hopkins University has produced beautiful and useful illustrations that become more innovative each year. The future of this program looks bright as both organizations remain committed to finding new ways to share accessible science.