Spring 2020 • Issue 5
Arts and Science
Published May 2020
This issue explores the powerful intersection where artistic expression meets scientific inquiry in the service of the Great Lakes. It showcases diverse creative approaches to communication, from detailed sketches of native species that illuminate biological complexities to papermaking projects inspired by local waterways and vegetation. Framed by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the issue argues that storytelling and visual arts are vital tools for engaging broader audiences and making complex ecological data accessible, fostering a deeper emotional connection to freshwater ecosystems through multidisciplinary collaboration.
Features
How to sketch a lake sturgeon
Scientific illustration communicates biological details through step-by-step sketching guides.
Waterways and local plants inspire papermaking artists
Artists create site-specific paper installations inspired by local waterways.
Crossing Borders
Three projects combine art and science to communicate Great Lakes research.
Departments
Catherine Masson
Catherine Masson's passion for swimming influences her research on Great Lakes governance.
Jérôme Marty
Jérôme Marty shares how music informs his work in science policy.
Darrin Hunt
Darrin Hunt draws parallels between punk rock DIY ethos and invasive bivalve research.
Cory Brant
Cory Brant explains how art enhances his communication as a sea lamprey researcher.
IAGLR amidst COVID-19
IAGLR transitioned to a virtual conference during the pandemic, discussing the future of meetings.
Looking for research on a specific topic?
Explore our Article Directory to filter all issues by topic, article type, region, or keyword. Or browse the Author Index to find a contributor.
Issues Archive
Great Lakes Policy
spring 2026 • Issue 29
Large lakes of the world
winter 2026 • Issue 28
Science & Innovation
fall 2025 • Issue 27
Science under threat: Stories from the field
Summer 2025 • Issue 26
Communicating Science
Spring 2025 • Issue 25
Science and Hope
Winter 2025 • Issue 24
Oil Spill Science
Fall 2024 • Issue 23
Remote‑Sensing
Summer 2024 • Issue 22
Water on the Move
Spring 2024 • Issue 21
Human Health
Winter 2024 • Issue 20
Plastic Pollution
Fall 2023 • Issue 19
Legal Frameworks
Summer 2023 • Issue 18
Acoustic Monitoring
Spring 2023 • Issue 17
Collaborative Research
Winter 2023 • Issue 16
Long-term Research
Fall 2022 • Issue 15
Coastal Zone
Summer 2022 • Issue 14
Biodiversity
Spring 2022 • Issue 13
Ecosystem Approach
Winter 2022 • Issue 12
Winter Research
Fall 2021 • Issue 11
Climate‑Change Impacts
Summer 2021 • Issue 10
Community Science (Citizen Science)
Spring 2021 • Issue 9
Community Service
Winter 2021 • Issue 8
Indigenous Knowledge
Fall 2020 • Issue 7
Pandemic, Conference Highlights
Summer 2020 • Issue 6
Arts and Science
Spring 2020 • Issue 5
International Collaboration
Winter 2020 • Issue 4
Technology
Fall 2019 • Issue 3
Science and Policy
Summer 2019 • Issue 2
Lakes Letter Redux
Spring 2019 • Issue 1