Diffusive Bodies

Using dance as medium for science communication has proven to be a great success: For instance, the international competition Dance your Ph.D. supported by the Science Magazine, has established dance as a perfect tool to communicate science and, thus, has been able to generate a large (non)scientific audience over the years. In accordance with the actual FWF-project Diffusion in Glasses studied with X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy, dance should be used to communicate the physical topic concerning dynamics on a microscopic level. Using this kind of art form to describe physical properties of microscopic movement is enormously suitable. By the aid of microscopic pictures, like interactions between particles, diffusive, jump-like, oscillating atomic motion, the breaking of atomic bonds, moving randomly or in correlated manner or the instantaneous or gradual emergence of ordered or disordered structures, incentives for the development of new improvisation topics and innovative aesthetics of movement could be created. The observations of dynamical processes on a microscopic length scale can be exemplary for complex systems and every-day appearances, e.g. the growth of an epidemic, the diffusion of language, the propagation of ideas, information or knowledge. On this basis, the developed choreography should eventually result in a series of performances for a diverse (non)scientific audience. It is the aim to create a strong public awareness with regards of the significance of dynamical processes in general and of the content of the FWF-project in particular. To generate this widespread audience, a cooperation, with professional dancers together with the students of the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna (MUK) will be carried out. The diverse venues of dance performances, e.g. the Uni Campus Wien, the MUK and the Werkstätten- und Kulturhaus Wien (WUK), should also attract the attention of a larger community. To reach the younger generation, workshops for high school students will be additionally organized with the main focus on expressing the physical topic with dance (active participation of high school students) and with the aim of promoting and strengthening their interests in this scientific field in particular and in STEM-subjects in general. The close cooperation with the MUK University of the City of Vienna constitutes an important contribution of the development of this science communication project and should be seen as a starting point for further collaborations concerning the development of this art form as medium for science communication. Susta inability of this project is additionally guaranteed by continuous activities on social media platforms, by posting and promoting videos of the developed dance piece and by the submission of this science communication piece to various dance festivals.

The science communication project WKP161 "Diffusive Bodies" was based on the research project P28232-N36 "Diffusion in glasses studied with X-Ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy". The content of this research project was communicated using the medium of dance. A close cooperation was established with the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna (MUK). In the winter semester 2022/23, third-year students of the "Contemporary Dance Pedagogy" department created a dance piece on the basis of the research project together with 7 dancers selected through an audition. They were under the guidance of Katharina Holzweber, who brought both scientific and choreographic expertise to the project. The performances took place on February 26 and 27, 2023 in the large ballroom of the University of Vienna. There were around 500 spectators in attendance. The revival of the dance-physics piece took place at the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024 with the aim of staging a student performance at the BRG/BORG St. Pölten. On February 26, 2024, the piece was performed in the Schubert Hall of the BRG/BORG for around 120 upper school students, who then wrote a dance review of the piece. In addition to the performances, there were a number of public lectures, student workshops and teacher training sessions on the topic of conveying physics content via dance. Through all the mentioned outreach activities, over 1000 people were reached directly and engaged with the topic. The abstract, dance-based presentation of the physical topic raised even more questions, which became visible in the lengthy audience discussions following the performances. The student workshops were rounded off with feedback surveys, in which it became clear that dance could be a very good alternative to making physical concepts tangible on one's own body and thus sustainably comprehensible. Here, physics was not only limited to the questions and answers of the associated research project, but also extended to classical mechanics, which can be experienced particularly well with movement and dance: Force and momentum transfer in various partner exercises, the concept of kinetic and potential energy when swinging, falling to the ground and rolling up again, the spring force of a jump, gravity when landing, stability and sense of balance. Dynamics such as acceleration, uniform movement and braking were scrutinized from a physical and dance perspective. From a physical point of view, research of the dynamics at an atomic level in various materials formed the basis of our research project. From a dance perspective, the study of dynamics in the execution of movement is one of the most important cornerstones of dance. Variation in dynamics not only make movement sequences more interesting, but can also convey moods and emotions to the audience.