Field

Richard Box
Perspective

The Physics Department at the University of Bristol has played host to a number of artist residencies. In 2002 artist, Richard Box was awarded a Leverhulme Grant to become the department's third artist in residence. Whilst the starting point for other artists has varied, Richard's main interest was in the specialist glass blowing workshop that is integrated alongside the rest of the physics research activities.

His interest in glass has always required him to have objects made by others, but this residency offered him the chance to begin to learn how to develop his own glass blowing skills and so have greater authority over his own work. The highly skilled glass blower based at the University makes specific glassware for all the science department's needs. John Rowden was enthusiastic to pass on his knowledge and to work closely with an artist who was interested not only in learning these skills, but to re interpret some of the functions of what are primarily very beautiful looking objects. The influence of glass on all aspects of scientific discovery should not be underestimated, from the lens to the test tube, from the liquid helium dewar to the optical fibre.

Funding for the post ran out in 2003, but Richard is still getting to grips with the craft of glass-blowing. 'This is a labour of love.' he explains. 'I can see it carrying on for quite a while.'

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Denis Henshaw
Perspective

On certain nights in the past couple of years, at the top of a hill near Skenfrith in Wales, unwary walkers close to the pylons have been confronted with an unsettling sight: a solitary, quiet glowing brain, complete with spine, suspended just above the ground.

'I was very impressed', says Professor Henshaw, whose study of the health effects of close proximity to power lines is internationally recognised. 'It's very creative and it illustrates graphically that power lines do indeed have these electrical fields around them. Even when the bulbs are on the way out, and start flashing or flickering in their sockets, they still light up under the power lines.'

'I told him we should have a national event where everybody does this across the country, like the Jubilee chain of bonfires', says Professor Henshaw, 'but there is an element of risk to this - I'm not sure we'd want to encourage children to do it.' Richard has plans to do an installation in Wales that would be open to small numbers of people, but the logistics and the legal considerations have yet to be worked out.

Denis Henshaw is part of the Human Radiation Effects Group at the University of Bristol, which is interested in the environmental factors linked to the incidence of childhood leukaemia. One particular focus is the role played by electric and magnetic fields associated with the electricity supply. Two aspects are being investigated. The first concerns the role of corona ion emission from high voltage powerlines and how this may explain the observation of increased incidence of childhood leukaemia up to 600 metres from high voltage powerlines in England and Wales. The second concerns the mechanisms by which magnetic fields appear to increase the risk of childhood leukaemia as well as certain other diseases.

The Group is supported by Children with Leukaemia. Britain's leading charity dedicated to the conquest of Childhood leukaemia .

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