Today at noon, go to Penn to see art inspired by networks

Five art students spent the summer creating networks.

They built visual representations of networks (think social networks or neural networks), working alongside researchers studying the field of network science.

The students were part of the Penn Network Visualization Program’s summer internship, a six-week arts- and science-focused program that Penn piloted this year. Developed by Penn engineering professor Danielle Bassett, it’s focused on using art to further the field of network science.

Today from noon to 2 p.m., you can see their work at Penn’s Towne Building at 220 S. 33rd St. Find more details here.

A piece called “Core Clustering” by Haley Sharpe.

The Penn Network Visualization crew will also take the artwork to different schools as part of a STEAM (science, tech, engineering, arts and math) outreach program.

“The goal of the internship is to provide scientists with new conceptualizations of their research and to provide the intern with new knowledge in scientific art applications,” according to the Penn Network Visualization Program’s website.

The only prerequisite for participants was that they be in an MFA or BFA program and pay for their own housing. Participants came from Philadelphia University, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of the Arts and Penn/Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts‘ dual degree program.

The group hopes to raise funds to be able to help pay for participants’ housing next year, program director Sara Hogsdon said through a spokeswoman.