The Finch and the Phoenix: Birds Across Worlds

Successful collaborations between humanists, artists, and scientists are all too rare. The Arts|Science|Culture Initiative unites graduate students across disciplines to bring such collaborations to life. Hear from two A|S|C teams and learn about their research projects. “Syntax & Songbirds” analyzes the syntax and biophysics of finches to interpret birdsong through sound and imitation by an instrument of the research team's own invention. “The Phoenix Index” uses photographs of 130 years' worth of birds in the Field Museum’s collection to devise a novel means of tracking industrial pollution in the Great Lakes region.