THE University of Newcastle (UON) expects at least 10,000 people across the globe will enrol in its world-first online course in natural history illustration.
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UON has partnered with an online learning company favoured by Harvard and MIT, called edX, to offer the free six week program and has already collected 1800 registrations from as far away as the United States, Europe, Africa and Central Asia, despite zero advertising.
Program convenor Andrew Howells said UON offered the only natural history illustration degree in Australia and the online course was an opportunity to share its knowledge and give prospective future students an overview of the degree.
“Natural history illustration is the marriage of art and science – it’s an observational science that tries to explain how things work or show a new idea,” said Dr Howells, whose drawings of captive Asian elephants have created a reference index to help scientists visually assess the health of the species for breeding programs.
“We’ve already had really broad interest from people in the creative and science and related fields, as well as from a whole range of ages and academic and non-academic backgrounds.”
Dr Howells and Bernadette Drabsch have recorded six modules, including observational drawing; field sketching and recording techniques; the structure of flowers and leaves; and the structure of mammals and birds. Students should expect to spend between three and six hours each week watching the videos, self-reviewing and peer reviewing work; and completing tests and optional tasks.
Dr Drabsch said a lack of ability or experience should not hold people back.
“It’s not like fine art where you need to be ‘inspired’ or ‘creative’,” she said. “We teach you how to observe, measure and draw exactly what is in front of you. It takes patience and practice, but if you’re dedicated you can do it. You never know what it might spark.”
Dr Drabsch studied for a Bachelor of Arts majoring in ancient history and classical languages, before doing her honours and PHD in natural history illustration. She is now a lecturer who travels to Jordan every two years as an archaeological illustrator.
“I always get asked ‘Why don’t you photograph them?’ but you wouldn’t see how thick the pot is, or every facet of a stone tool’,” she said. “The skills allow you to get new insights that other people may have missed. We’ve even had students working with botanists who have discovered new species.” UON is developing other courses, which will start next year.
Helen Gregory
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
