LOCOMOTE
A course on biological motion for artists

10 webinars in April, 2026
Applications due March 15, 2026

With lectures by guest research biologists on:
Great animal migrations, tracking wildlife, biogeography, invasive species, seed dispersal, assisted migration, fungal navigation, spread of disease and sensory orientation.

Scientists:
Locomote is a ten day webinar for artists to learn about biological motion of individual organisms, groups and vast populations directly from research scientists. The program offers daily video lectures and chats with 9 international biologists engaged in cutting edge research that explores how living bodies move in relation to their environments and how this movement evolves in relation to sensory experience.

Guest scientists will describe a broad range of movement strategies, mechanisms and abilities and biogeographies: why something lives in one place and not another. Scientists will show how they develop their experiments, make observations and interpret their data.

Artists:
Biophilium residencies are designed to facilitate research that will enrich conceptual artists' practice within a small group of like minded creative people. Visual artists, writers, musicians, film makers and dancers are invited to apply. A jury selects a group of artists based on their portfolios and interests. Resident's are invited to present their creative practices to the group. Built into the 2 - 2.5 hours of daily programming are discussions, demonstrations, recommended assignments and show and tell. Participants are invited to also have short daily one-on-one meetings or studio visits with our director and the other artists in the group.

This program is especially designed for artists interested in themes of autonomy, freedom, navigation, movement, migration and although it is rooted in biology it will likely facilitate conversation on physics & time.You do not need to have any previous naturalist or science experience or knowledge to participate. Participants will have opportunities to engage directly with scientists and bio artists.

Phoresy: hitchhiking on the backs of carrion beetles

The evolution of flagella and how swimming lead to hearing

Phototaxis: Moving towards the light with the International Laboritory of Plant Inteligence

Night time migrations: How moths navigate by starlight

Animal magnetism- How some birds sense North with Cornell University

Polynesian Wayfinding: Navigating the open Pacific by canoe

Seed spreaders: how plants move long distances as hitchhikers with Kew Gardens

Invasive species & climate refugees with the Invasive Species Council

Murmurations: The emergent undulations of large groups of Starlings

The multi generational migrations of the Monarch Butterfly

Mirror neurons and dancing

Slime molds that can run through mazes with Genspace

Bees that dance directions with the University of Ottawa

Zombie fungi and other parasites that steer their hosts into preferential locations with the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

Cost 
$600 USD
We are offering a 50% scholarship for all 2026 programs to artists who apply before Jan 15.

We are flexible and forgiving with application formats and deadlines. For best results let us know what you do and what you'd like to study with us as early as possible.

Residency places are limited to 18 artists.

Click here to see all the artists who have studied biology and ecology with us.

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