Carolyn Kirschner film screening and talk at Max Planck Institute, Dresden; art–science collaboration in zebrafish research

There Is No Such Thing as a Fish – Film Screening and Talk

As part of the exhibition “ usammen.denken. Who is actually researching here? ”, the artist Carolyn Kirschner presents her film “There Is No Such Thing as a Fish”. Together with the colleagues involved in the research from the Max Planck Institute and the TUD Research Cluster Physics of Life, she talks about zebrafish, their role in research – and what that has to do with us. The event will take place in English at the Max Planck Institute, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, Dresden . The film will also be on display throughout the entire exhibition period at the COSMO Science Forum. On 17 September, Carolyn Kirschner will be a guest for a conversation at COSMO as part of the format “ Researchers Up Close ”. Carolyn Kirschner (Artist S+T+ARTS Ec(h)o

Goldsmiths University of London) in dialogue with Dr. Rita Mateus (Research Group Leader Physics of Life Excellence Cluster, TUD & MPI-CBG); Moderation: Katrin Boes (Public Relations Office MPI-CBG) Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) With the short film “There Is No Such Thing as a Fish”, Carolyn Kirschner explores the scientific, cultural, and societal significance of one of the world’s most widely used laboratory organisms: the zebrafish. Created in 2024

25 as part of her S+T+ARTS Ec(h)o Residency at the Office for Academic Heritage (Kustodie), TUD Dresden University of Technology, the film emerged through close collaboration with researchers from MPI-CBG, CRTD, and TUD. It traces the zebrafish across its various habitats—from the research laboratory to pet shops, server rooms, and its natural environment in India—bringing artistic inquiry into dialogue with perspectives from Physics of Life research. Following the screening, Carolyn Kirschner and Rita Mateus will join Katrin Boes in conversation to discuss the making of the film, the collaboration between art and science, and how artistic research can open up new perspectives on scientific models and biological organisms. The event will be held in English. No registration is required, and admission is free.