PubSci at the Parrish: Illumination

Spin-off of Brookhaven Lab's science conversation series will focus on the intersection of science and art

PubSci at the Parrish Logo

EVENT: PubSci—Brookhaven National Laboratory’s science café and conversation series—is making its way to the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill on Sept. 21 for a special spin-off event, called PubSci at the Parrish. The topic of the evening is “Illumination: Revealing the Secret Chemistry of Oil Paintings.” Researchers and art professionals will discuss how ultrabright x-rays at Brookhaven’s National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) uncovered the cause of degradation in a 15th-century oil painting. The audience will be engaged in a lively conversation framed around several questions:

  • What scientific mysteries lie within historic artworks?
  • How do ultra-bright x-rays expose molecular transformations, and what is the benefit of these discoveries to the art world?
  • Can modern discoveries preserve cultural artifacts?

All are welcome to come, join the conversation, and talk about science and art in plain language with our speakers: 

Pub Sci Speakers
  • Silvia Centeno, Research Scientist, Department of Scientific Research, Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)
  • Karen Chen-Wiegart, Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Stony Brook University; Beamline Scientist, NSLS-II
  • Terrie Sultan, Director, Parrish Art Museum
  • Juergen Thieme, Science Coordinator, Imaging and Microscopy Program, NSLS-II; Adjunct Professor, Geosciences, Stony Brook University

The event is free with museum admission ($12 for adults, $9 for seniors), and free for students and museum members. Advance registration is required. Tickets are available for purchase on the Parrish website. Specialty menu and bar items will be available for purchase.

WHEN: 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018

(Arrive early to view the exhibitions or attend a talk by a Parrish curator at 6 p.m.)

WHERE: Parrish Art Museum, 279 Montauk Highway, Water Mill, NY 11976

DETAILS: Organized by Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Stakeholder and Community Relations Office, PubSci brings scientists to public venues to discuss their cutting-edge research in an informal setting. PubSci at the Parrish is organized in collaboration with the Parrish Art Museum.

For more information, please visit the PubSci website

Media interested in attending should RSVP to Tara Shiels, tshiels@bnl.gov, (631) 344-2400.

Brookhaven National Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov.

Inspired by the natural setting an artistic life of Long Island’s East End, the Parrish Art Museum illuminates the creative process and how art and artists transform our experiences and understanding of the world and how we live in it. The Museum fosters connections among individuals, art, and artists through care and interpretation of the collection, presentation of exhibitions, publications, educational initiatives, programs, and artists-in-residence. The Parrish is a center for cultural engagement, an inspiration and destination for the region, the nation, and the world.

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2018-13042  |  INT/EXT  |  Newsroom