Autodesk Sketchbook: An application that minimizes time and maximizes results of taxonomic drawing

Scientific illustration continues to remain a critical part of taxonomy. Illustrations often require lots of time and, in many cases, the results are not as expected. At present, taxonomy journals only accept high quality digital illustrations; thus, image manipulation programs using vector or bitmap graphics have become the new focus of attention. This paper provides a step-by-step guide to making illustrations using bitmap graphics in Autodesk SketchBook. This application provides an alternative to other known tools by allowing: 1) faster illustrations; 2) direct drawing with a wide range of tools that simulate traditional drawing; 3) more detailed illustrations; and 4) an easy interface and work-flow for novice illustrators, all while being completely free and compatible with multiple operating systems.

Embroidering the New Science

An unruly object of seventeenth-century experimental science is the metal needle, an instrument that begins Robert Hooke’s Micrographia (1665) but also was the essential tool used in women’s embroidery work. This article follows traces of the needle through the historical record and florilegia – a genre that bridged botanical and artistic studies – to argue that needlework provided a way of seeing that facilitated the development of empiricism. Using evidence from the works of Isabella Parasole, Elizabeth Isham, and Maria Sibylla Merian, I show how the needle surfaces in scenes of scientific illustration, thereby resituating natural histories and the scientific process of ordering minute organisms.

Ilustração científica: ensinando, aprendendo e desenhando botânica em uma Escola Família Agrícola

O desenho se apresenta como uma das mais antigas formas que o ser humano desenvolveu para expressar sensações e contar histórias do cotidiano. As imagens possuem um importante papel na construção das ideias, por se tratar de uma forma de linguagem que lida com os sentidos tanto do autor como do observador, permitindo inúmeras relações e diferentes possibilidades de compreensão. Da mesma forma, a ilustração científica auxilia a comunicação de estudos e descobertas científicas graças à possibilidade em evidenciar características especificas e construir modelos explicativos para diversos conceitos e fenômenos biológicos. O presente trabalho apresenta os resultados de uma pesquisa que envolve uma oficina de ilustração cientifica desenvolvida com alunos do 8ª ano de uma Escola Família Agrícola inserida no semiárido baiano. Investigamos como a produção de desenhos contribuiu para o desenvolvimento de habilidades e conteúdos científicos e artísticos. No decorrer de seis encontros foi realizado um diagnóstico dos saberes dos alunos sobre as plantas presentes no espaço escolar e desenvolvida uma oficina de ilustração científica. Nesta oficina, os estudantes se lançaram a uma aventura através da arte da ilustração, suas técnicas e suas nuanças. Com a pesquisa os alunos puderam desenvolver um olhar diferenciado sobre o universo das plantas, passando a vê-las também como um objeto de estudo científico. Nesse sentido, a prática do desenho se mostrou uma ferramenta para o ensino de ciências, possibilitando uma aprendizagem significativa de temas relativos ao ensino de Botânica.Palavras-chave: Escola Família Agrícola; Ilustração científica; Ensino de Botânica. ABSTRACT: Drawing is presented as one of the oldest ways that human beings developed to express feelings and telling everyday stories. Images play an important role in the construction of ideas, because it is a form of language that deals with the senses of the author and the observer, allowing numerous relationships and different possibilities of understanding what is around us. Similarly, scientific illustration allows the communication of scientific studies and discoveries through the possibility of highlighting specific characteristics and constructing explanatory models for various biological concepts and phenomena. This paper presents the results of a research that involved a workshop of scientific illustration developed with students of the 8th grade of an Family Farm School inserted in the semiarid of Bahia, Brazil. We investigated how drawing production contributed to the development of scietific and artistic skills. A diagnosis test was realized to comprehend the students’ knowledge on plants in school. A workshop was also held as an opportunity to engage students in the world of illustration techniques. During six weeks, the students developed a different view at the universe of plants, providing opportunities to see them also as an object of scientific study. Thus, the practice of drawing proved to be a tool for science teaching, enabling a meaningful learning of topics related to the teaching of botany.Keywords: Family Farm School; Scientific illustration; Teaching of Botany.

Natural Immune Boosters as First-Line Armours to Combat Viral Infection-COVID19: Myth or Science?

The coronavirus COVID-19 epidemic has wreaked havoc on inhabitants of earth killing thousands of humans from more than 150 countries. The epidemic has put a number of countries under complete lockdown and the deadly situation is still prevailing around the globe. Vaccines have been long known as the most effective means of preventing viral infections. However, the lack of vaccines against COVID-19 has further worsened the situation. In this time of health crisis, it is the duty of scientific research community to provide alternative, effective and affordable strategies to vaccinate human bodies against viral infections-COVID-19 based on focused experimental approaches. Growing evidence suggests that certain natural foods and lifestyle changes have potential to optimize immune functions against viral infections including improving defense function, resistance towards invading pathogens, while maintaining self-tolerance. Boosting immune system gives an edge in fending off viruses and staying healthy. This review presents the six smart steps to add to your to-do list which let the inner work of immunity take place against viral infections-COVID-19 by dissolving the powers of disease and illness. Many of these factors are associated in their functions to improve or properly maintain the immune function such as promoting anti-inflammatory functions, inhibiting pro-inflammatory mediators, modulating cell-mediated immunity, altering the antigen-presenting cellular functions as well as promoting communication between the innate and adaptive immune responses. Thus, a scientific illustration of boosting the immune system by proper sleep, moderate exercise, avoiding stress, utilizing vitamins enriched foods, intake of more water and use of fruits and vegetables will hopefully help the community to deal with the coronavirus by vaccinating the human systems naturally.

An Assessment of Digital Epigraphy and Related Technologies

This chapter reviews some of the historical developments in scientific illustration that influenced our modern-day approach to Egyptological epigraphy and discusses the idea of objectivity in scientific illustration. It then offers a brief assessment of the advantages of digital epigraphy over more traditional methods. A discussion follows regarding working on-screen with drawing layers, creating sun and shadow lines digitally, and reviewing the reasons to choose either raster images (bitmaps) or vectors—in the context of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator—to create facsimile line drawings of Egyptian scenes and inscriptions. It briefly summarizes the development of new devices that allow for digital epigraphy in the field and then takes the discussion one step further into 3D modeling and other forms of archaeological visualization, including the Giza Project at Harvard University. Concluding remarks touch on the sustainability of digital workflows, data management plans, and the challenges of keeping pace with new technologies.

Alexander von Humboldt’s contribution to the biomedical sciences and scientific illustration. In observation of his 250th anniversary

Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) is one of the most prominent Germans. His multidisciplinary activity set standards to science at the beginning of modern era. His personality is celebrated worldwide. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Bonn is still preserving his memory and endorsing research in all the fields. This paper is a historical sketch presenting his contributions to the development of medical sciences and also to the progress of scientific illustrations. We also introduce personalities of the Cluj-Napoca medical school who were fellows of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.