Mel Armstrong

Dr. Mel S. Armstrong (they/them) holds a BFA from The Rhode Island School of Design and a PhD in Zoology from The University of British Columbia where they studied how birds use visual information to guide their flight behaviors from a comparative neuroethological perspective.

Their current work lives at the intersection of neuroscience, critical theory, and visual art, arguing for the necessity of arts-based research and creation to engender radical shifts in scientific practice. They are currently working on a book project titled Science as Ritual, Art as Method that considers how scientific practices might transform (methodologically, epistemologically, ontologically) when fully open to affect, embodiment, uncertainty, and ambiguity. Their research output includes animations and sculptural objects, data visualizations, academic and creative texts, and pedagogy. Dr. Armstrong teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses including Biocommunication Visualization (HSC302), Data and Information Visualization (HSC301), Neuroanatomy (MSC2012) and Research Methods in Biomedical Communications (MSC2004). They have also taught Topics in Cognitive Science at OCAD University and they are a member of the editorial collective for Science for the People magazine.

Graduate Course(s): MSC2004, MSC2012