Becca, PhD student Molly McDermott, and Aaron Treher (MFA, Art & Art History) recently hosted a community art and science event at the Cargill Ranch, a longtime Safran lab research site and home of Barb and Richard Cargill. Over the summer at the Cargill’s,
     
Aaron and Molly collaborated on a structure that is both art installation and barn swallow habitat: The Observation Station. Aaron designed and built the structure, and Molly studied visitation rates of barn swallows to the structure under various conditions.
    
Side by Side included a series of presentations from artists and scientists including Becca, Aaron, and other researchers from the Safran Lab: postdoc Georgy Semenov and undergraduates Elena DeAndrea and Abby Marynowski. Guests enjoyed light lunch, kids activities, a poster session, and a tour of the nesting area including the Observation Station.
    
Side by Side and the Observation Station were made possible by the generosity of the Cargills, NEST Studio for the Arts, The Art and Rural Environments Field School, The Sculpture and Post-Studio Practice Area, and Inside the Greenhouse. Read CU Boulder Today’s feature on the project here. Check out more of Aaron's work here.

Banner Photo: Patrick Campbell

Photo credit: Aaron Treher

Photo credit: Glenn Asakawa

Photo credit: Glenn Asakawa