Distinguished lecture series to explore the beauty and biology of Florida’s freshwater springs, kicking off a student competition bridging two disciplines.
The University of Florida’s renowned York Distinguished Lecturer Series is set to return on September 3, bringing together the worlds of art and science to explore Florida’s unique freshwater springs. Hosted at the Harn Museum of Art and presented by the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), the 41st annual lecture aims to highlight the creative and scientific significance of these natural wonders.
This year’s lecture, titled “Seeing Versus Observing: Exploring Art and Science in the Liquid Light of Florida’s Springs,” will feature two co-presenters: Matt Cohen, a professor and director of the UF Water Institute, and Margaret Ross Tolbert, a celebrated Gainesville-based artist known for her large-scale, abstract paintings of spring scenes. Their presentation at 2 p.m. will be followed by a public reception at 3 p.m.
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“The beauty of Florida’s springs inspires artists like Tolbert, while their ecological importance attracts the research focus of scientists such as Cohen,” said Scott Angle, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources.
The lecture will also serve as the official launch of a unique student competition, encouraging collaboration between the UF College of the Arts (COTA) and the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). Student teams, each with members from both colleges, will compete for thousands of dollars in prize money to create projects that showcase the interplay between art and science.
Last year’s winning project, “In the Fields,” saw students tell the stories of small family farms by wrapping hay bales with narratives and images. This year, proposals are due by January 15, and students are encouraged to network at the post-lecture reception to find teammates. Projects should feature artistic and scientific elements that complement one another.
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Dina Liebowitz, director of the UF/IFAS Plant Science Program, noted that the competition challenges students to think beyond their individual disciplines. Elizabeth Ross, director of COTA’s School of Art + Art History, added that the competition encourages art students to engage with scientific topics and for science students to explore new ways of visualizing their ideas.
The York Distinguished Lecturer Series was launched in 1984 by an endowment from UF/IFAS founder E.T. York and his wife, Vam. The series brings internationally recognized experts to campus to discuss topics in agriculture and related fields.
The September 3 event is free and open to the public. For more information and to register, visit tinyurl.com/York-Fall-2025.
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